Off to Grandma's House Quilt

The holidays are about family and love, and making new memories. One of the holiday traditions I remember when my step children were around was going to "Grandma's" house. It was our version of following a bright, lonely star.

This elegant quilt by Alyce McNeil captures the adventure with embroidery by Brenda Morton, patchwork and lovely quilting by Barb Robertson. The quilt was on display at the 2013 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla, Missouri.

What memories do you have of going to Grandma's house?

Charlotte

O Christmas Tree Wall Hanging

Quilts aren't just bed covers any more. This sweet, patchwork Christmas tree wall hanging in blues is a lovely alternative to the traditional holiday reds and greens.

The quilted wall hanging was shared at the 2013 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild in Rolla, Missouri. Quilt shows are fun to visit, I get so inspired to see the lovely work people of all ages make out of fabric and associated materials. Not just women, some quilters today are very talented men.

Bedecked with glitter and beading, a little red applique cardinal provides the one pop of color in this elegant quilted wall hanging.

What colors did you use in your holiday decorating this year?

Charlotte

Christmas Tree Quilt Wall Hanging

With this Christmas tree, you can wait until the last minute to put it up! Not only were presents already under the quilted wall hanging but the quilt maker Portia Ellis had literally added small white lights to her embellished fabric tree.

Usually Christmas-themed quilt wall hangings are made just out of patchwork or applique designs in red and green holiday colors.

Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild, St. Robert, Missouri used Portia's lighted Christmas Tree Quilt Hanging to mark the Christmas Tree Lights Patchwork quilts section of their November 15, 2014 quilt show.

Humm, I've seen farmer bear before and love the gift-wrapped presents. Fun details, these gifts are ready to be unwrapped:

Now this is the way to quickly decorate a tree, hang it up and plug it in!

Charlotte

Red and Black Christmas Tree Lights Quilt

Some Christmas season quilts are very literal with Santa Claus and friends easily recognizable. Some patchwork quilts, like this one, are more abstract, suggesting more than showing the theme.

This Red and Black Christmas Tree Lights Quilt was pieced and hand quilted by Viola Cotton in 2013. The member of the Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild in St. Robert, Missouri made this quilt as part of a mystery challenge, which means she didn't know what the final design was until she put it all together.

Here's a close up of the Christmas Tree Lights Mystery Quilt block:

Here's the whole Christmas Tree Lights Quilt:

Interesting how individual patchwork quilt blocks look when they are all together. Do you see the Christmas lights?

Charlotte

Snowman "It's a Wonderful Life" Quilt

Inspired by the classic Christmas season movie "It's a Wonderful Life," this handmade Snowman 'It's a Wonderful Life" Quilt tells a different story.

Pieced by Laura Cook and machine quilted by Rose Hamer, both with Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild, St. Robert, Missouri, this is an artistic quilt rendition of Kathi Crawford's life "as told by my Mom." There's a little bit of everything in this quilt from applique and patchwork to embroidery and collages.

Now snowmen quilts I have seen are throwing snowballs, singing carols and, well, melting - not parachuting out of airplanes and riding motorcyles:

Yes, in this custom-made quilt the snowman - or should I saw snowwoman, is parachuting!

All in all, it is a pretty wonderful life, don't you think?

Red and Green Christmas Tree Lights Quilt

What fun, this patchwork quilt was a mystery to the quilt maker until she put all of the pieces together. Sounds a little like my putting up my artificial Christmas tree, I get nervous when I'm left with an extra branch or two but do I ever love the crochet snowflakes.

This handmade mystery quilt was made by Lisa Courtois machine quiilted by Joyce Ball, both members of the Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild in St. Robert, Missouri.

Here's the quilt from a distance:

Here's a quilt block close up representing a Christmas tree light:

Coming up next, another handmade quilt in the same design but different fabrics. Darn it, I should have left it a mystery!

Charlotte

Button Bandit Quilt Wall Hanging

I love the way Vicki Boaz, St. Robert, Missouri Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild, incorporated buttons into this charming quilt wall hanging.

This was a 2012 Quilt Challenge. It involved using a certain fabric as well as the letter "B" in her quilt wall hanging design. Vicki hand pieced, hand quilted and machine quilted - can you see the different kinds of quilting she used?

 

One of my favorite elements of this quilt wall hanging is the way Vicki incorporated buttons. Aren't these cute?

And then there's the cat. A black cat, of course, keeping with the "B" theme.

Dare I say it - "bravo!"

Charlotte

Crazy Pumpkin

What do you think about when you think autumn?  Each of the four seasons have unique aspects all to themselves, which is celebrated in this charming star of the fall season. Here's an example of how quilting, embroidery and fabric can be used to make a pumpkin.

This one was at the 2012 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild Show, Rolla, and immediately claimed my heart. Not just any pumpkin, each side of this handmade pumpkin has a panel dedicated to the different faces of autumn.

Let's see what panel comes up first.

Almost makes one believe in the "Great Pumpkin," doesn't it!

Charlotte

What To Do with Extra Quilt Panels

Sometimes when making a quilt from printed panels, you end up with an extra quilt block or two. In this case, we had two extra blocks, both too cute to pitch.

We used the extra blocks to make a matching pillow for a quilt destined to become a nursery wall hanging. It's a reversible pillow, with a cat on one side, a dog on the other.

To make sure the baby quilt lives a versatile life, we also added a 3-inch sleeve on the back so the baby quilt can easily be hung on a curtain rod. When not in use, the sleeve lays flat against the back and is almost invisible.

Nothing like being cute, and practical.

What would you do with an extra quilt block or two?

Charlotte

Fixing Noah's Ark Quilt

Over the year, I have periodically repaired a variety of quilts, from museum-quality to well loved ones. None, however, where in the condition of this vintage Noah's Ark printed panel baby quilt, with a matching printed cotton on the back.

When Dad contacted me about making the repairs, I said I was willing to look at the quilt to see if it was possible to salvage. The front was torn and worn; the back had several bad spots so we basically had to take the quilt apart and make a new one from the remaining pieces.

Luckily I was able to find another matching Noah's Ark panel for the front and I pieced the best of the packing fabric into a new back, adding a very soft blue cotton on either side to protect the center pieces from wear. A little machine quilting in a similar pattern as the original, with the same polyfill, and the quilt was "good as new!"

Charlotte

Custom Kids Drawing Quilt

This customer contacted me in the fall wanting to make a special gift for a wonderful someone moving to Seattle. After discussing several options, I suggested having kids draw their own quilt blocks we could scan and print on fabric.

After several months, I received a package of 5x7 inch cards, each with a special design.We settled on organic cotton with a tree pattern and a white solid cotton frame around each block. After outline quilting around each block with a small meandering pattern in between, the custom quilt was finished and ready to take it's wonderful good wishes to Washington State.

Blue Green Doxie Throw

A customer wanted a custom dachshund quilt but wanted her daughter to help pick out the fabrics. Since they couldn't describe the colors they wanted, I suggested they go shopping and send us paint chips in the colors they liked.

After sending us the paint chips of the right tones, it was my turn to go shopping to find a range of possible fabrics in the blues and greens they wanted. The first set of fabrics had two they didn't want in each fabric pile. One more double-check and we were all set to mix and max doxies, flopping ears, and fabrics.

One of the features of this custom quilt is that almost any fabric will work, the more different the patterns the better. We usually pick smaller prints for the floppy ears but even big prints work on those charming, three-dimensional ears. To give the doxies extra dimension, we use a meandering machine quilting stitch in the center of each of the blocks to help the dog shapes pop.

Aren't these cute?

Charlotte

Handmade Quilts

When I first moved back to the US, everything was a "quilt" because it was the one word my siblings and I learned to use for bedding. Some of our customers use other words to refer to quilts so here's the definition of some of the most-used words. According to Webster's Dictionary, a handmade quilt is a "bed cover made of two layers of cloth filled with down, wool and stitched together in lines or patterns."

Comforters are a "quilted bed covering," although some have told me it's a medium to heavy quilt that has been hand-tied instead of finished with machine or hand quilting.

Bedspreads are "a cover spread over the blanket on a bed mainly for ornament," which can also be a quilt.

Whatever you call them, handmade quilts are usually first thought of something that covers a bed, and can be much more!

What Makes Handmade Quilts Special

From who made the quilt to what fabrics and patterns are used, handmade quilts reflect the era in which they are made. They can also include the passion and artistry of the quilter as well as mark special occasions such as births, weddings and deaths. In Hawaii, quilts are cherished family heirlooms and rarely seen in public. Hawaiian families have their own unique family quilt designs, similar to coats of arms, and hand down both quilt patterns and quilts through generations. These stunning quilts, often in only two primary colors like red and white,  beautifully reflect unique floral designs, and colors, of those tropical islands.

Applique Handmade Quilts

One of the most beautiful handmade quilts are applique quilts. Applique is the process of cutting different fabrics into shapes, then sewing them into a pattern with even stitches either on the outside or invisibly. Applique is one of the most popular quilt designs second only to patchwork, which are geometric, repetitive designs out of a variety of fabric combinations. Applique takes patience, a lot of practice and is often used in floral quilts and throws.

Not All Handmade Quilts Sized the Same

For years, handmade quilts did not have standard sizes. Quilters made their bedding to use upall available fabric instead of trying to match a quilt to a bed size. That's why handmade vintage quilts don't fit today's standard beds. Even through vintage quilts may not cover modern bed sizes, they work wellas throwsover the back of sofas, at the foot of a bed and as a quilted wall hangings.

Handmade Quilts Can Be Finished Different Ways

After being quilted, handmade quilts are finished with binding to "seal" quilt layers around the edges. Handmade quilts may also be edged with more detailed edging such as scallops, sawtooth or other fabric pieces that make a complimentary pattern around the outside edge of the quilt. This additional edging may not be included in the original quilt size. Handmade quilts are finished by either and quilting or machine-stitched patterns to seal fabric layers together.

Reversible Handmade Quilts

Handmade quilts are not usually reversible but I make our reversible whenever I can. Adding a solid-colored fabric or putting a pattern on the back side of the quilt easily and quickly gives you a second home decor look and gives you extra space to preserve memories through clothing, photos and other mementos. I also recommend you look at the back side of the hand quilted quilt to see how even the stitching is. The more even and smaller the stitches, the more experienced the quilter!

Handmade Lap Quilts and Throws

Handmade lap quilts and throws are the same thing.

Standard throws and handmade lap quilts are 50x60-inch and can be smaller versions of larger handmade quilts, or unique designs all their own.

If your are starting to quilt, start with a throw size before tackling a larger bed size quilt. Throws and handmade lap quilts are also popular sizes for quilted wall hangings, lap wraps, car blankets and personalized gifts. Look for handmade throws and lap quilts with 3" flat sleeve on the back so they can easily be made into wall hangings. You can also add tabs or use quilt hangars to turn a quilt into a wall hanging.

Here's to Whatever You Call Quilts!

Charlotte

Handmade Quilts

When I first moved back to the US, everything was a "quilt" because it was the one word my siblings and I learned to use for bedding. Some of our customers use other words to refer to quilts so here's the definition of some of the most-used words. According to Webster's Dictionary, a handmade quilt is a "bed cover made of two layers of cloth filled with down, wool and stitched together in lines or patterns."

Comforters are a "quilted bed covering," although some have told me it's a medium to heavy quilt that has been hand-tied instead of finished with machine or hand quilting.

Bedspreads are "a cover spread over the blanket on a bed mainly for ornament," which can also be a quilt.

Whatever you call them, handmade quilts are usually first thought of something that covers a bed, and can be much more!

What Makes Handmade Quilts Special
From who made the quilt to what fabrics and patterns are used, handmade quilts reflect the era in which they are made. They can also include the passion and artistry of the quilter as well as mark special occasions such as births, weddings and deaths. In Hawaii, quilts are cherished family heirlooms and rarely seen in public. Hawaiian families have their own unique family quilt designs, similar to coats of arms, and hand down both quilt patterns and quilts through generations. These stunning quilts, often in only two primary colors like red and white,  beautifully reflect unique floral designs, and colors, of those tropical islands.

Applique Handmade Quilts
One of the most beautiful handmade quilts are applique quilts. Applique is the process of cutting different fabrics into shapes, then sewing them into a pattern with even stitches either on the outside or invisibly. Applique is one of the most popular quilt designs second only to patchwork, which are geometric, repetitive designs out of a variety of fabric combinations. Applique takes patience, a lot of practice and is often used in floral quilts and throws.

Not All Handmade Quilts Sized the Same
For years, handmade quilts did not have standard sizes. Quilters made their bedding to use up  all available fabric instead of trying to match a quilt to a bed size. That's why handmade vintage quilts don't fit today's standard beds. Even through vintage quilts may not cover modern bed sizes, they work well  as throws  over the back of sofas, at the foot of a bed and as a quilted wall hangings.

Handmade Quilts Can Be Finished Different Ways
After being quilted, handmade quilts are finished with binding to "seal" quilt layers around the edges. Handmade quilts may also be edged with more detailed edging such as scallops, sawtooth or other fabric pieces that make a complimentary pattern around the outside edge of the quilt. This additional edging may not be included in the original quilt size. Handmade quilts are finished by either and quilting or machine-stitched patterns to seal fabric layers together.

Reversible Handmade Quilts
Handmade quilts are not usually reversible but I make our reversible whenever I can. Adding a solid-colored fabric or putting a pattern on the back side of the quilt easily and quickly gives you a second home decor look and gives you extra space to preserve memories through clothing, photos and other mementos. I also recommend you look at the back side of the hand quilted quilt to see how even the stitching is. The more even and smaller the stitches, the more experienced the quilter!

Handmade Lap Quilts and Throws
Handmade lap quilts and throws are the same thing.
Standard throws and handmade lap quilts are 50x60-inch and can be smaller versions of larger handmade quilts, or unique designs all their own.

If your are starting to quilt, start with a throw size before tackling a larger bed size quilt. Throws and handmade lap quilts are also popular sizes for quilted wall hangings, lap wraps, car blankets and personalized gifts. Look for handmade throws and lap quilts with 3" flat sleeve on the back so they can easily be made into wall hangings. You can also add tabs or use quilt hangars to turn a quilt into a wall hanging.

Here's to Whatever You Call Quilts!

Patchwork Quilts

They are named for the way quilts are "patched" and pieced together into geometric designs. Changing a fabric color can complete change the design, which is part of the fascination of patchwork quilts. The first official unique North American patchwork quilt pattern was Log Cabin in 1872.

Great American Quilt Revival

Patchwork quilts once again become popular in 1970s during the Great American Quilt Revival. The basis of this movement centered on people beginning to take an interest and looking into their ancestors and family histories. The concept of a patchwork quilt design has recently morphed into other art forms.

The concept of a patchwork quilt design has recently morphed into other art forms.

Project Started to Honor Mom

The Appalachian Quilt Trails Projectincludes more than 24 states where patchwork quilt patterns are painted on the side of old barns. It all started in 2001 when Donna Sue Groves of Ohio painted a quilt pattern on her barn to commemorate her mother who had passed on.

Earth Quilt

Norma Bradley designed the Earth Quilt, a garden in the shape of a patchwork design at University of North Carolina-Asheville.

Charlotte

Patchwork Quilts

They are named for the way quilts are "patched" and pieced together into geometric designs. Changing a fabric color can complete change the design, which is part of the fascination of patchwork quilts. The first official unique North American patchwork quilt pattern was Log Cabin in 1872.

Great American Quilt Revival
Patchwork quilts once again become popular in 1970s during the Great American Quilt Revival. The basis of this movement centered on people beginning to take an interest and looking into their ancestors and family histories. The concept of a patchwork quilt design has recently morphed into other art forms.

The concept of a patchwork quilt design has recently morphed into other art forms.

Project Started to Honor Mom
The Appalachian Quilt Trails Project  includes more than 24 states where patchwork quilt patterns are painted on the side of old barns. It all started in 2001 when Donna Sue Groves of Ohio painted a quilt pattern on her barn to commemorate her mother who had passed on.

Earth Quilt
Norma Bradley designed the Earth Quilt, a garden in the shape of a patchwork design at University of North Carolina-Asheville.

Custom Personalized Wedding Quilts

Do You Take This Quilt.....

Over the years, handmade quilts have been a favorite personalized gift idea for weddings, wedding showers and anniversaries as well as gifts for parents. From smaller throw-size lap quilts to over-sized king size quilts, handmade quilts are practical and thoughtful wedding gifts.

Double Wedding Ring Quilts

The most popular wedding quilt gift with our customers is Country Double Wedding Ring Quilts (photo). These traditional patchwork quilts from the 1930s feature circles of smaller pieced-fabrics interlocking fabric rings. Considered one of the more difficult patchwork quilt patterns to make, Bluebird Gardens carries a range of double wedding ring quilts, from made in US to imported quilts, that can easily be personalized with embroidery for wedding gifts.

Add Embroidery to Personalize Wedding Gift Quilts

Another way to make unique wedding gifts is to add custom embroidery and photos with a special dedication to make unique parent's gifts. You can simply add the couple's name and wedding date, or select favorite poems, sayings and photos that can then be added to the quilts to make them more personal.

Charlotte

Custom Personalized Wedding Quilts

Do You Take This Quilt.....
Over the years, handmade quilts have been a favorite personalized gift idea for weddings, wedding showers and anniversaries as well as gifts for parents. From smaller throw-size lap quilts to over-sized king size quilts, handmade quilts are practical and thoughtful wedding gifts.

Double Wedding Ring Quilts
The most popular wedding quilt gift is Double Wedding Ring Quilts. Green Williamsburg Double Wedding Ring Queen ($239) not including custom embroidery. These traditional patchwork quilts from the 1930s feature circles of smaller pieced-fabrics interlocking fabric rings. Considered one of the more difficult patchwork quilt patterns to make, Bluebird Gardens carries a range of double wedding ring quilts, from made in US to imported quilts, that can easily be personalized with embroidery for wedding gifts.

Try Same Pattern in Something Smaller
For the budget-conscious bride, consider our double wedding ring throw pillows, featuring one set of rings and still having a center space for embroidery. We can make double wedding ring pillows in custom wedding colors to celebrate the wedding decor.

Add Embroidery to Personalize Wedding Gift Quilts
Another way to make unique wedding gifts is to add embroidery and photos with a special dedication to make unique parent's gifts. You can simply add the couple's name and wedding date, or select favorite poems, sayings and photos that can then be added to the quilts to make them more personal.

Vintage Quilts

If you've found a box of quilts at an auction, chances are you have found a stash of vintage quilts. Vintage quilts are from at least 20 years old to less than 100 years old. Quilts older than 100 years old are considered antique. Quilts may last for several centuries depending on how they were made and how they have been preserved. Most vintage utilitarian quilts either fall apart from use or are re-purposed into quilt filling, pillows or other household items.

Kit or Not Kit

For many years, quilts made out of pre-made embroidery flower and animal kits were considered to be vintage. Since renewed interest in quilting in the 1970s, embroidery and patchwork quilt kits are once again popular and no longer a good indicator of a vintage quilt. Quilt blocks made decades ago and now finally finished are not considered vintage. A quilt is dated by the last work that is completed on it. I recommend if you have incompleted family quilts, go ahead and get them finished. That way you can appreciate the work of your quilting relative and have a wonderful family heirloom. When finishing quilts, add the quilter's name and, if known, date the quilt blocks were made.

Ways to Help Date a Quilt

If you are not sure how old a quilt is, check the back of the quilt and look at the quilting. Older quilts may have very detailed hand quilting with intricate quilting designs and very tiny stitches. Detailed, precise quilting is a sign of an experienced quilter who used their skills to make practical bedding and other items for their home.

Check Fabrics

Sometimes the types of fabric used in a quilt can help date it. Quilts made out of feed sacks, for example, are from the 1930s and 1940s. If quilt fabrics look brand new, the quilt may be made out of new reproduction fabrics.

Favorite Quilt Patterns

Sometimes the quilt pattern can help narrow down the period in which the quilt was made. Some quilt patterns were not easily available or distributed.

How to Make Sure You Are Getting a Vintage Quilt

The best way to make sure you are buying vintage quilts is tobuy them at estate salesanddirectly from quilters. These days some companies deliberately make quilts to look old so double check the quilt source before buying.

Charlotte

Vintage Quilts

If you've found a box of quilts at an auction, chances are you have found a stash of vintage quilts. Vintage quilts are from at least 20 years old to less than 100 years old. Quilts older than 100 years old are considered antique. Quilts may last for several centuries depending on how they were made and how they have been preserved. Most vintage utilitarian quilts either fall apart from use or are re-purposed into quilt filling, pillows or other household items.

Kit or Not Kit
For many years, quilts made out of pre-made embroidery flower and animal kits were considered to be vintage. Since renewed interest in quilting in the 1970s, embroidery and patchwork quilt kits are once again popular and no longer a good indicator of a vintage quilt. Quilt blocks made decades ago and now finally finished are not considered vintage. A quilt is dated by the last work that is completed on it. I recommend if you have incompleted family quilts, go ahead and get them finished. That way you can appreciate the work of your quilting relative and have a wonderful family heirloom. When finishing quilts, add the quilter's name and, if known, date the quilt blocks were made.

Ways to Help Date a Quilt
If you are not sure how old a quilt is, check the back of the quilt and look at the quilting. Older quilts may have very detailed hand quilting with intricate quilting designs and very tiny stitches. Detailed, precise quilting is a sign of an experienced quilter who used their skills to make practical bedding and other items for their home.

Check Fabrics
Sometimes the types of fabric used in a quilt can help date it.
Quilts made out of feed sacks, for example, are from the 1930s and 1940s.
If quilt fabrics look brand new, the quilt may be made out of new reproduction fabrics.

Favorite Quilt Patterns
Sometimes the quilt pattern can help narrow down the period in which the quilt was made. Some quilt patterns were not easily available or distributed.

How to Make Sure You Are Getting a Vintage Quilt
The best way to make sure you are buying vintage quilts is to  buy them at estate sales  and  directly from quilters.