Midnight in the Garden Quilt Wall Hanging

Midnight in Garden Quilt Wall Hanging

When I think of Halloween, black cats play a prominent place in those thoughts. My first cat was a gorgeous black cat with yellow eyes, and this quilt wall hanging reminded me of her.

"Midnight in the Garden" quilt wall hanging was shared at Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild's 2015 bi-annual show in Rolla, Missouri. Unfortunately the description attached the quilt was a complaint about not being able to use Pay Pal to pay for the entry so I don't have a lot of details about the quilt.

It was made by Dorreene Reynolds and is 23-inches by 19-inches, a nice wall hanging size, by the way. Installed at the right place on a wall this charming quilt wall hanging could easily "fill in" for a missing window.

Besides the black cat's green eyes, I love the circular flowers among the applique greenery. 

And why is the cat in the garden at midnight?

Check out the other garden visitor in the bottom left hand corner.

Charlotte

October Quilt Wall Hanging

October Quilt Wall Hanging

I have to confess, October is one of my all-time favorite months out of the four seasons.

October is the leading fall month in Missouri, a time when temperatures start to dip into sweater weather and trees bedeck themselves in gorgeous colors before leaves fall and grey days slip in.

Not to mention the sunflowers and pumpkins, lots and lots of pumpkins. So many that I have learned to buy extra if I still want pumpkins for Thanksgiving because most get ordered, and sold, for fall decorating and Halloween.

These landmarks of the month and charmingly detailed in this applique October quilt wall hanging that was featured at the 2015 bi-annual Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla. Although less obvious, I loved the "flying geese" triangles over the patchwork leaves in the top right corner, another wonderful sighting that marks the change in season.

I missed getting the card with the information on who made this charming quilt but it appears to have won a second place ribbon. Nicely done!

Anything you would have added to mark October in Missouri?

Charlotte

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging at Piece and Plenty's 2005 Quilt Festival in Rolla, Mo.

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging

I get a lot of inspiration from my garden. I also enjoy visiting quilt shows to see what other artists are making. The bi-annual Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in my hometown is a delight and one that lets me see what friends do with their fabric stashes.

This was one of my favorite small wall hangings, Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging. Quilts make wonderful wall art and this little gem would be a focal point in any room.

The color, red, is a personal favorite. Some quilters tell me they are afraid of that bold color but I love it, it not only easily adds an accent to a quilt but becomes a beautiful stage for detailed applique work.

Love the descriptions with each of the quilts at the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild 2015 show.

Picking the right fabric tones is an art form all on its own. I have seen too many beautifully-made quilts with poor fabric choices but this is not one of them. The red fabrics are just the right combination of reds, complimentary to each other without competing.

The marbled border fabric has some yellow, which is nicely reflected in the other red fabrics used in the center block.

In addition to the color, the applique birds and branches remind me of the trees surrounding my house. Also busy with feathered visitors, this handmade quilted wall hanging nicely captures the summer joy I hear in my garden.

The other major factor in this quilt is the quilting, beautiful details, you can see it in the cream white background close to the birds and branches.

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging received special recognition for the beautiful work.

Others apparently thought this was a special work, too, it won 3rd Place in the Special Exhibit category.

Aren't those ribbons special? They were made out of felt and what a charming idea to make the top into a dahlia-looking flower. 

Nice job, Alyce and Lee!

Charlotte

Corona Lanterns Lap Quilt Throw

Corona Lanterns is a lovely lap quilt and throw with beautiful ocean green and blue fabrics.

Corona Lanterns Lap Quilt and Throw

This is a charming throw made by one of my neighbors. Diana has a great eye for color, and it's apparent in this beautiful Corona Lanterns Lap Quilt and Throw.

The fabrics remind me of ocean colors, the aqua blues and greens merging into each other like ocean tides.

I told Diana this lap quilt and throw reminds me of Christmas ornaments and she laughed. She sees trees, which made me think this would also make a very interesting quilt wall hanging at an entrance where everyone can see what they want to see.

A detailed embroidered label on the back gives you full details of quilt materials.

To easily make this made in USA lap quilt and throw into a quilted wall hanging, we can add tabs on the back to thread a curtain rod. Or pick up wooden quilt hangars that you install like a picture frame.

Center bottom is a good place to add custom embroidery in a dark blue thread.

This brand new lap quilt and throw is also easy to customize by adding custom embroidery at the bottom. I would recommend a dark navy blue thread color so the embroidery could be seen through the darker fabrics.

Lovely corporate gift to that special client, or family member.

So pretty, regardless of what you see in it!

Charlotte

Don't Store Quilts in Plastic

One of our personalized ABC baby quilts wrapped in plastic to ship. Should be temporary!

Don't Store Quilts in Plastic

I know, here I am telling you not to store quilts in plastic and I just wrapped a personalized Alphabet in Clouds baby quilt in two plastic bags.

It's temporary, just for shipping in the event the box gets damaged. It happens very infrequently but when it does, I don't want our customers getting a damaged gift quilt at their end.

Once you get the quilt, remove from plastic and discard. To best store the quilt, fold like a sleeping bag. If you want to protect it, tuck the quilt into s cotton pillow case or wrap in a piece of cotton fabric.

How do you currently store your quilts?

Charlotte

All Blue Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Our all blue double wedding ring quilt features a nice variety of blue-toned fabrics.

All Blue Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Double wedding ring quilts are one of the most popular wedding and anniversary gifts. When I started Bluebird Gardens in 1998, it was one of the most requested patterns by beginning quilters, not something I recommend. The traditional patchwork design is one of the hardest patchwork quilts to make, which is why we started to make and offer them.

This all blue double wedding ring quilt in a king size was inspired by blue flowers in my garden: spring-blooming bluebells are the light blue, false indigo Lobelia suggested the darker navy blue tones.  Since blue is still the leading favorite bedroom color, I thought weaving a variety of blue-toned fabrics would help the quilt fit into a variety of blue home decor choices.

The high quality cotton fabrics include a white cotton with blue flowers to a solid navy blue fabric at the ring corners.

A wide range of blue fabric colors make this a very versatile gift quilt.

The double wedding ring quilt was made in the larger king size so that it can be used on both king-size and queen-size beds. Most beds these days have extra padding, making the traditional quilt sizes a little short on the sides.

By selecting a larger size, the quilt will definitely cover the bed sides and, if one size larger than the bed, provide full coverage down the sides.

I still recommend to customers that they measure the mattress size and the height of the mattress to make sure the quilt they are selecting will give them the home decor look they are wanting.

This made in USA quilt was also finished with renewable, sustainable bamboo fill, which adds a warmth similar to cotton but eliminates the environmentally-damaged process for harvesting cotton.

The quilt is machine quilted for easy care. Machine quilting makes the washing and drying of this double wedding ring quilt easy in a home washing machine and dryer. Wash on cold; dry on cool.

The flower inside each of the rings adds a lovely dimension to the overall design. 

Double wedding ring quilts are wonderful to personalize by adding a couple's name and wedding date in a corner block.

Charlotte

Personalized Pooh Bear Baby Quilt Gift Set

Our Pooh Bear Baby Quilt has been personalized with the baby's full name and birth date.

Personalized Pooh Bear Baby Quilt Gift Set

I have to admit, I love getting our personalized baby quilts customized and gift-wrapped to ship. It's one of the reasons why we started offering gift sets, all of our customers have to do is tell us what they want embroidered on the quilt and written on the gift card.

This was a return customer wanting another unique made in USA baby crib quilt for a nephew. After getting the Pooh Bear Sweet Dreams baby crib quilt personalized, it was time to get it ready to ship. That includes adding our care tag on the back of the quilt; wash in cold, dry on cool.

I add care tags to our custom baby crib quilts before packing for shipping.

No Pooh Bear baby crib quilt would be complete without a friend. For this Pooh Bear baby crib quilt, we added a Tiger toy to keep the quilt company and to carry the quilt care guide.

Tiger toy delivers the quilt care guide for the custom Pooh Bear baby crib quilt.

Once I added the quilt care guide to Tiger, it was time to get them tucked into a box and on their way.

So exciting to be a small part in welcoming another baby to the world!

Charlotte

Dresden Plate Flowers Quilt

It's summer and my garden has something blooming at all times. The imminent arrival of more flowers reminded me of this charming quilt at the 2015 Ozark Festival of Quilts featuring a very traditional patchwork quilt pattern, dresden plates. This patchwork pattern turns the traditioanl plates into whimsical flowers:

This handmade quilt was titled "Fun with Dresden Plates" by Cynthia Felts.

The quilter, Cynthia Felts, offered more details about this handmade quilt and I particularly like the use of "fun" in the title:

Cynthia Felts machine pieced, hand appliqued and quilted this charming quilt. Nice job!

I would be happy to have these flowers in my garden, wouldn't you?

Charlotte

High Flying Baby Crib Quilt

High Flying Baby Crib Quilt has primary colors that will last longer over time and wear.

High Flying Baby Crib Quilt

A customer recently asked why some of our baby crib quilts are so bright. She was looking for an airplane baby quilt but wasn't sure non-pastel options would work.

It's a wonderful question because we used to only carry soft, pastel-colored baby quilts and crib quilts. Then a distraught aunt called us to say her nephew's birthday was coming up and she needed to replace his favorite blanket because one couldn't see the pattern. The baby quilt was only 2 years old.

That's when we started to carry brighter baby quilts, such as High Flying Baby Crib Quilt, knowing that their colors would last longer so the baby quilt did not need to be replaced. The strategy worked because since then, we have heard from customers who have noted their baby quilt gifts have held their colors and lasted a lot longer when they started out with bright, primary colors.

High Flying Baby Crib Quilt has a navy blue strip for custom embroidery to personalize.

We also look for a good place to personalize the baby crib quilt. In the case of High Flying Baby Crib Quilt, there is a nice navy blue strip at the bottom where custom embroidery can easily be added.

Which baby quilt would you choose, a pastel or a primary color?

Charlotte

Custom Yellow Rag Baby Crib Quilt Gift Set

Packing a quilt gift set for shipping including a complimentary toy.

Custom Yellow Rag Baby Crib Quilt Gift Set

There are several steps to making our quilts and baby quilts. There are also several steps to packing the quilts for shipping, in this case a yellow rag baby crib quilt going east to welcome a new nephew or niece.

Our baby quilts are offered both alone and as gift sets, which include a complimentary toy. For this gift set, I found a blue green bunny toy to keep the baby quilt company on its voyage. Besides keeping the baby quilt company, the toy is responsible for the blank gift card I usually tie in a ribbon around its neck.

Rabbit toy has gift tag and we also include a certified quilt care card with quilt information.

Humm, that doesn't look quite right. Although light blue ribbon is our company ribbon, it looked too "boyish." This was supposed to be a gender-neutral gift.

Back to the ribbon bin to try something else.

Now the rabbit toy is modeling a new ribbon option, a yellow ribbon to match the baby quilt.

Much better, this ribbon pops against the blue green toy color and nicely matches the yellow rag baby quilt, I like the yellow ribbon, don't you? 

One additional benefit, this ribbon is wired at the edges so it can be easily fluffed up once it is removed from the box.

Ok, time to tuck the toy into the baby rag quilt and get it ready for shipping.

Our baby quilt gift sets include not only a toy but a complimentary lightweight fleece baby blanket, perfect to bring the baby home from the hospital.

How to Store Quilts Reminder

We ship our quilts in plastic just in case something happens to a box corner. Quilts should not be stored in plastic. A good alternative is to store quilts in cotton pillow cases rolled up like a sleeping bag so no creases establish themselves. It's all in the enclosed free custom quilt guide.

Finished packed quilt, ready to be boxed up and shipped!

One last check before the baby crib quilt gift set gets tucked into a box and off it goes to welcome a new baby into the world. I love that thought!

Charlotte

Custom Printed Wedding Quilt Block

A customer's wedding invitation he needed printed onto our custom fabric blocks.

Custom Printed Wedding Quilt Block

This Bluebird Gardens customer was making a quilt as a wedding gift and needed this "Eternal Love" wedding invitation design printed on fabric.

We have tried a number of printable fabrics and this one is the best one we have found on the market, an especially-treated white muslin that peels off the paper backing so that it can be cut to size.

These custom fabric blocks are washable in cold water; dry on cool, just as our custom quilts should be washed.

The wedding invitation now printed on our custom fabric block.

Anything that can be printed can be scanned and placed on these muslin fabric blocks. Photos, original art, mementos such as tickets, invitations, cards - whatever is special that can be scanned can be printed.

We use these same photo fabric blocks when making our custom photo memory quilts, custom children's art quilts and quilts out of clothing with photos incorporated.

A close up of the design of this charming wedding invitation we printed on muslin fabric.

So pretty, and the printed colors look just as bright as the original design!

Charlotte

Custom Personalized Memory Throw

A friend made this custom personalized memory throw for a family member.yM

Custom Personalized Memory Throw

Just in time for Christmas planning, here's how to easily make a custom personalized memory throw.

This is a quilt one of my friends made for a family member. She had never sewn, or quilted before so you know this is going to be an easy project. So simple, she used marbled solid fabrics so family members could write on them with an indelible ink pen.

Did they write on the quilt blocks before or after it was put together? Afterwards!

We printed some of the photos on fabric and she cut them into the same size as the fabric blocks.

She added a solid frame around the blocks and an prairie point quilt edging. 

The custom personalized memory throw was finished with prairie point quilt edges.

Turned out quite well, don't you think?

Charlotte

Here Kitty Kitties Quilt and Cat Pillows

Don't these hand embroidered cats just want to make you smile?

Here Kitty Kitties Quilt and Cat Pillows

I have to confess, I sometimes I am not disappointed when some of our quilts don't immediately sell. Here Kitty Kitties Twin quilt is one of those quilts!

There's something so charming about this little made in Missouri quilt. Every hand-embroidered block has a different cat in a variety of poses. I particularly smile at the eyebrows, they seem to give each cat a little extra "tude sitting in their white cotton quilt blocks between strips of brown floral patterned cotton. It's like they are playing in a garden!

Another view of this charming made in Missouri, USA cat quilt.

I took this posting down when I thought I was going to take the quilt apart to make it bigger to fit my queen size bed. Yes, that's how much I love this little collection of playful, embroidered cats!

That's not an easy thing to do, take a finished quilt apart so after much deliberation, I am listing it again.

Having grown up doing a lot of embroidery, I appreciate all of the work that went into this made in Missouri, USA twin-size quilt and complimentary pillows. The pillows are the perfect size for a young cat lover's room decor, a good size for napping and yet not too big for the proportion of the twin bed.

This is a one of a kind, lightweight quilt. All it needs now is a home with a real cat to complete the look!

Charlotte

Scottie Dog Mischief Baby Crib Quilt

Scottie Dog Mischief Baby Crib Quilt was hand embroidered and hand made in Missouri, USA.

Scottie Dog Mischief Baby Crib Quilt

If you have seen our hand-embroidered and handmade days of the week kitchen towels, you know we are fond of a mischief of the day theme. That's exactly what this charming 40x42-inch Scottie Dog Mischief baby crib quilt offers, hand-embroidered quilt blocks featuring a Scottie Terrier Dog getting into trouble.

Not in all of the blocks. Some show the hand-embroidered Scottie Terrier Dog sitting quietly wearing a hand-embroidered red ribbon as if mischief was far from the dog's mind. Other blocks have the Scottie Terrier Dog in soap suds, waiting to chase a ball and diving into a picnic basket with a partner in crime helping.

The red and white checkered cotton fabric is bordered with white fabric and includes a 3" border at the bottom where you can easily add custom embroidery.

Backing is a white cotton.

Wash in cold; dry on cool.

Charming baby gift for the Scottie Terrier dog lover on your gift list!

Charlotte

Pink Applique Tulips Quilt

Pink Applique Tulips Quilt from The Williamsburg Collection hints at the history of the pattern.

Pink Applique Tulips Quilt

If you have been to Williamsburg, Virginia, a re-enactment community that simulates the early European settlements along the East coast in the 1600s, you will appreciate the historic background of this brand new, Pink Applique Tulips Quilt.

Pink Applique Tulips Quilt pattern is based on a historic applique pattern, a design European settlers carefully packed with them when they travelled across the Atlantic Ocean with their bee hives and edible orange daylilies.

I can imagine how much beauty this design added to a spare bedroom, and how much time young women put into making these applique floral quilts by hand.

Lovely hand quilting adds another dimension to this brand new imported quilt.

A sweet blue applique flowers finished a corner of Pink Applique Tulips Quilt

In those days, people re-used all fabrics, turning clothing into curtains, tablecloths into quilts. It was the lucky young woman who could buy fabrics specifically to make a specific quilt pattern. Young women who had time to applique also tended to be in more affluent families.

I love this Pink Applique Tulips Quilt because, in addition to the lovely colors, the detailed hand quilting adds a beautiful third dimension to this brand new, imported quilt. It would also make a beautiful wall hanging.

And even better yet, no deer will munch on the flowers!

Charlotte

Lovely Hibiscus Quilt

"Hello Hawaii" Hibiscus Quilt

It's summer in Missouri, a time when my potted tropical hibiscus keep me company on my outside deck. These are more than just potted plants. Tropical hibiscus also keep me company inside over winter, chasing away the winter blues with their lovely flowers and a promise of warmer weather to come.

So it was great delight that I spotted this lovely hand-pieced and hand quilted Hibiscus quilt at the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild bi-yearly show in Rolla in 2015. I enjoy their quilt shows for the variety of entries, many by people I personally know.

This lovely floral quilt was easy to spot, as was this vintage floral quilt. The bright reds and yellows easily stood out against the darker, blue and green-toned fabrics. 

Here's the quilt maker's further explanation:

And is it any surprise that this lovely flower quilt won first prize? Look at the blue ribbon, don't you love the flower for the award rosette?

Congratulations, Ruth, beautiful quilt and quilted wall hanging, hope you are using this as a wall hanging so you can enjoy seeing it every day of the year, regardless of the weather! 

Charlotte

Rhapsody in Bloom Quilt and Wall Hanging

Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild 2015 second place winner in quilted wall hanging category.

It's hard to tell from the pictures because this could be a full size quilt but it is, indeed, a quilted wall hanging. Beautifully rendered in primary colors and finished with hand-quilting, almost any favorite pattern can be made in a smaller size for a wall hanging.

This reminds me of some of the tulip-designed quilts we offer, such as the vintage-inspired pink applique tulip quilts. 

Yes, it's time to start thinking about making gifts for holiday giving. This lovely work helps to get me in the mood. How about you?

Congratulations on your award, Cindy Felts!

Charlotte

Custom Sleeping Cats Quilt in Pink Fabrics

Choosing fabrics for a custom sleeping cats quilt in pinks.

Custom Sleeping Cats Quilt in Pink Fabrics

Making custom quilts are a lot of fun because we get to know our customers. In this custom sleeping cats quilt order,  the customer wanted a queen-size quilt in pink tones. Since pinks can range from cheek-soft to sunset deep pink, we start with a variety of pink fabrics so the customer can tell us which direction they want to go in with the fabric tones.

In addition, choosing fabrics is a treat since we can make all of them different or repeat fabrics and fabric color patterns. If in doubt about the colors, send us a paint chip card to make sure we are matching the colors you want.

In this custom order, the customer liked the five fabrics in pink and white tones so that is what we will be using.

Why pink? 

The customer has two rescue cats. From their descriptions, pink is their color!

Charlotte

Felt Flower Ribbons

Felt Flower Ribbons

Loved these handmade felt flower ribbons! 

The ribbons were awarded at Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild's 2015 annual show, a lovely tribute to the dozens of beautiful quilts and other quilted items guild members made.

Since it's now mid-July, time to start making holiday gifts - I know, it snuck up on me, too - I will be featuring some of my favorite quilted items including handmade quilts, bags, wall hangings and seating for gift inspiration. I know I review some of the photos for color combinations, textures, even quilt descriptions all give my creativity a boost.

And those felt flower ribbons? Well, wouldn't hurt to collect one of those someday, would it, such a lovely little personalized floral-themed gift, like our flowers day of the week dish towels. A flower a day makes the blues go away, or at least brings a smile!

Have you been awarded a ribbon for your quilt?

Charlotte

Play and Giggle Baby Quilt and Throw

Play and Giggle Baby Quilt and Throw works well as both a quilt and wall hanging.layP

Play and Giggle Baby Quilt and Throw

Where to list a standard-sized 50x60 inch throw that has a child's theme?

I decided to list Play and Giggle Baby Quilt and Throw in our baby quilts section, primarily because I can easily see this charming brand new imported baby quilt as a charming wall hanging.

The baby quilt features delightful blocks with a dog, a cat, a ladybug, an owl, a dragonfly, birds, and more, all very happy applique characters in strong baby pastel fabrics. A number of fabric blocks make perfect places to add custom embroidery, such as this yellow chenille rectangle:

Play and Giggle Baby Quilt and Throw has several fabric blocks that can be personalized.

This lightweight baby quilt is finished with hand-quilting and can easily be used as a wall hanging by adding loops on the back or using wooden quilt hangars.

Charlotte