For Final Friday

Lawrence hosts Final Fridays, a downtown art walk on the final Friday of each month. We'll have a few mini quilts there - for sale and to publicize our upcoming Kaw Valley Quilters Guild Quilt Show coming up on April 21-22. This quilt I just finished will be there. It was inspired by the work of my friend, Sonie Ruffin, in her book Opening Day. 

I used lots of fabrics I love - mens shirts, bold cottons, even a wonderful old sheet. It measures 12" x 26". I'd like to make another one some day BIG, like Sonie's.

This one will benefit the good work of our Douglas County AIDs Project. You can find us in the ground floor gallery of the Hobbs Taylor Lofts at 8th and New Hampshire, 5-9 p.m. See you there!

A Very Odd Quilt

So! I can imagine some grandma fashioning this little quilt with a grandchild in mind.....then having the grandchild run in fright from the almost life-sized doll figure on the front (it has NO FACE!). It was brought to me a by a friend who I suspect wanted to see my reaction mostly.

It's a great child quilt in many ways. Right size, 35" x 35". Nice and soft, with a fine flannel backing. Grandma even added SpongeBob SquarePants binding, something a child would love. The doll figure is appliqued to the front. The black fabric is a shiny synthetic, the dress and headdress a familiar quilting cotton.

I like the earrings. I'm not sure they would meet some safety standards, but they are a nice touch.

I am sad to report, this quilt seems quite unused.  And the maker might have felt low self-esteem after it was rejected.... It only cost a dollar at the garage sale where it was discovered.

Behind the scenes with Maggie

We had a photo shoot for Maggie Bonanomi's next book last week. It is always inspiration galore at her house. Look at this tiny rug - aren't the colors wonderful? It is only coaster size.....made of tiny braided scraps.

We take over her 1841 house in historic Lexington, Missouri and shoot all over it. Maggie arranges some shots before we arrive, we collaborate on others.

Here is the team in action. Photographer Aaron Leimkuehler is partly hidden by his camera. Designer Brian Grubb is peeking in behind him while Maggie looks on too. Of course, I was off in the other room admiring one of her quilts, or rugs, crocks, arrangements.......

Best thrifty packing material

Remember our No Scraps Too Small to Save mantra? Well, it applies to quilt batting also.

I save all my batting scraps, I just throw them into a bag in the closet. When it comes time for a daughter or a friend to move, I pass them on. They are excellent packing material for dishes. They are clean and light and cushion glassware just right.

Try it, you'll like it!

Letting Go #1

You might remember this comforter, I blogged about it when I first acquired it in Sept. 2010. 

It was made to be used. The top is wool. There is some order to it, and then again, there's not. I think that is why I like it. The oatmeal-color wool has a lot of texture. Notice that the embroidery floss tie colors vary. Some are red and some are white.

And what about the surprise border! It's red and light green.

This quilt measures  65" x  72". The rows are  ~3" wide. The backing is a great homespun. I'm offering it for $55 plus whatever it costs to ship it. If you're interested in it, send me an email - my address is at the right.