Token Quilting

Have been saving these old NY subway tokens for years!  I just can't bear to throw things out.  Probably the main reason I took up quilting in the first place.  I really try to recycle everything, and I am always so happy when I can re-purpose in a creative way.   I've been newly inspired by my visit to the new Punk exhibit at the Met museum where designers had made beautiful clothing with discarded materials...black trash bags, staples, ball chains, zippers, smashed bottle caps, and old clothing of course!  I am going to quilt with metal today...

Bars and Blocks

Third strip completed!  Grey flannel borders are on and turning this quilt into an Amish Bars design.

Strippy Stripes

 

Pete's navy pin-stripes are looking good here!  Never cared much for that suit before...

Old Art/New Method

My most favorite applique is Bird of Paradise in the American Folk Art museum.  It seemed way beyond my ability until I attended a workshop at the Long Island Applique Society.  I started with the apple leaves on the Girl block below, using the back-basting technique.  What an improvement over my   old method of marking!  It is much neater, smoother, and more accurate.  I'm definitely a convert to this new technique.  Diane Rode Schneck (best applique teacher ever) made these blocks and showed us her process.  Says this is her favorite method and I expect it will be mine as well.  She also recommended working on it while watching the daily news.  Surprising how much gets done in only 15 (or 30) minutes a day!

Something Completely Different

Am trying a different arrangement for my tumbling blocks.  I want to make a Strippy quilt out of my husband's wool suits and my friend's silk ties.  I English paper pieced the blocks and am appliqueing them now.  Lots of hand sewing, but I am loving it so far...

Mom and Me

I just got back from a visit to my mom in Arkansas.  She is 93 and is in a nursing home now.   My son took this picture of us on my birthday.  When I told her I have loved her for 74 years, she replied "I have loved you for 74 years and 9 months!"   The competition never ends...

(Click on the arrow to see the photo.   Andy didn't know he had the camera on video)

And do take notice of the quilt.  I made this tesselated leaf quilt for her years ago, and she won't go anywhere without it.

On the Road

Am taking Maureen's scraps on the road.  They have traveled far and can't stop now!  I am wanting to try a different method for these timeless fabrics...using simple tools and lots of freedom!  Love that owl!