Lucy Boston

Monday, April 30, 2012

brother spending my $

I don't recall if I've shared this before:

I love both of my brothers and sis's-in-law.

But this time I'm talking about the older of the two bros...

My next older bro and sis in law?
They regularly call me from auctions.
Isn't that nice that they're thinking of me?
They call to see if they can
spend my money.
See, isn't that nice?
(They do usually call before they spend my money :)

This is the latest result
of them spending my money:
Isn't that great???!!!

It's a whole stack of old quilts
& quilt tops 
& there is a box of hand-pieced/embroidered blocks.
And if that wasn't enough?
The top box is full of aprons!!!

THAT is family love...
knowing what to add to each others collections!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Abundance & knock down, drag out

ABUNDANCE...
I love that word.
And I love that I am so blessed
with abundance in my life.
I also love the abundance in my quilting studio.
Which brings in the second part of the title:
Knock down, drag out...

It's time for a good ole'
KNOCK DOWN, DRAG OUT FIGHT!
A fight with the abundance of fabric!!!

At this point, the fabric might be winning...
this is the cutting mat under my sewing machine -
completely covered with pieces of "hot pad" blocks
and a pile of brown fabrics that are awaiting cutting into binding strips.
You know it's time for a major overhaul
when you can't get into your sewing area
because of all of the piles everywhere.
note the stack of fabric ON
the top of a pretty "organizing" box
that covers the first 5 inches of my cutting table!!
by the way, that box contains nothing at this point!!
I really don't know how this happens!
OK, I do KNOW how this happens...
but really,
where did all of these piles come from?

the pressing mat at the side of my sewing desk -
starch alternative and iron SHOULD be here...
but it's also completely covered with
"hot pad" block tops, backs, and batting,
along with the cute tin of basting pins.
I could not have possibly left all of this out! I'm really a very organized person
(in my own mind, anyway :).
But looking at all of these piles,
maybe I'm not organized at all.
Maybe it's just that I remember in which pile I left something?!


Happy Stitching and
Happy fabric fighting!
I'm going in for round two!

If you don't hear from me in the next week,
please send rescue teams...plural!
It might be that
the stack on the box
on the cutting table
took me down!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

meanderings

Joell has been busy again!
Check out her finishes:
Ooops, I think I have this one upside down.
the beautiful back of the above quilt
Both are between queen & king-sized!
And, as usual, perfect points, Joell!

Also on the machine this week
more of the Potholder Blocks from the
Civil War Quilts
Sewing Circle at the Good Wives Co.
First up - Sandy's:
Sandy's six

Sandy's second six
 Next up are Jean's Potholder blocks:
Jean's first six

Jean's plus five
These girls are just hoppin' on these blocks!
Mine are coming along just a little slower...
Well, not really,
as I also have twelve potholders completed,
with binding on.
They are just half the size as the other girls potholders. 
So four of mine equals one of theirs.
So, I'm behind size-wise. 
But that's ok, as I'm not in it for the race :).
And it is an enjoyable process, doing the quilt this way.

OK, back to stitching!
Hope your week has been great.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

iqf inspiration

Circles and squares:
great colors and applique -
those circles were perfect!

The border of a quilt - all applique:
Each little brick was maybe
one half inch wide by one inch long:
And the WHOLE BORDER was done this way!!!
Yes, that is hand-embroidery done
over the top of that great applique.
Amazing!

Another great applique quilt:
Close-up of above quilt:
another close-up...
check out the beading and sequins!:
and finally, the credit for this one-
not only a wonderful quilter, but designer too!:
Lastly, I have one that was just plain fun:
Plaids, flying geese, and applique...
the best of everything all in one quilt...
LOVE it!

There were also some really, really wonderful quilts that
were in the section that no photos were allowed.
Bummer, 'cause they were spectacular!!!
(Next year you'll have to go and check it out.)

And, it's time for me to get a new camera, I guess,
as there are a few more pics that I CAN NOT retrieve to share.

The International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio
this past weekend was a great place to have been
if you have any interest in quilts...
Truly inspirational!

Thanks to all of you inspiring quilters out there.
Happy Stitching!!!

Monday, April 16, 2012

wonderful indulgence

Wonderful friends!
Wonderful International Quilt Festival!
Wonderful weekend!
Yep, just plain wonderful!

The wonderful friends:
pretty much explains it - I have wonderful friends!
Shared Thursday and Friday with some of them,
and it could not have been better.

The IQF was in Ohio this past weekend, and
I attended with some of the above said friends.
Put those two together, and THAT equals
the third part of the equation:
Wonderful Weekend!

Here are a few shots of some of the "stuff"
that I needed.
(yes needed:)
 We met Judie Rothermel and found this GREAT book of hers.  I loved the pack of fabrics, so I picked those up.  Then I fell in love with a quilt she had in her booth.  Ohio Star Medallion.  Using her Templates, I can make all of the little Ohio stars with center-on-point fussy-cut blocks - with these conversation prints as centers:

Then I found this great fabric:
and a half yard came home with me.
AND, I heard my name being called
by these three patterns:
wool on cottons...
Love wool on cotton.
 Then, another great civil war inspired quilt:
 And, finally, a cute little bound booklet, by Liberty Homestead:
This little booklet is only about 4 x 5 inches
which seems to me that it's
just calling out to be lost in the madness of the studio :) 
but the pattern is oh, so great, I couldn't resist!  (we'll see how long before I can't find it:).
And I love how they, Liberty Homestead, write their instructions- if you have used one of their patterns, you'll understand.  But that is how my brain works, so it's good with me.

I did get myself another little blue thimble.
And, it was buy one/get one on the Havel's scissors,
so two more pairs of scissors made the ride home with me.
Another thimble and more scissors- I may have issues:)!

Home, and a belated family Easter dinner,
so just a little indulgence there, too:
I made escalloped potatoes for fifty.
Also did sausage gravy and biscuits, cut-out iced sugar cookies, and a big bowl of fruit to share...
.
All in all, a wonderful weekend, wouldn't you say?
Just a little wonderful indulgence!

(I'll share a couple of quilt pics from the festival tomorrow, promise.)

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Pot Holder blocks and a sewing circle.

After my last post about the Pot Holder blocks,
I received some many questions.
Questions about the WHO's making them ,
 not the how of making pot holder blocks.
So, here's a little more-

There is a group of quilters
at the LQS that are working on
Pot Holder quilt blocks.
(And, I've been lucky enough to be able to quilt for some of them!)

History lesson first :D...
If you don't know what Pot Holder quilt blocks are,
here's the scoop thread:

In the same method of crocheting or knitting  "granny squares",
you make a specific size of finished quilt block.
And finished means each of the quilt blocks have been
pieced, layered, quilted, trimmed, and bound.
Each woman in the Civil War times"group"
would make as many finished blocks as she could.
Then the group would get together with their finished blocks,
and whip-stitch those finished quilt blocks together to make
quilts for the soldiers aid.
A quilt made, long and narrow,
just big enough to fit a soldier's cot.
Then these cot quilts were sent to the
soldiers serving our country.
If a soldier gave his life in the line of duty,
his possessions might have been taken and used by his comrades.
Or, those possessions were raided by camp followers or area residents.
 Occasionally, his possessions were buried with him,
his cot quilt used as his burial wrap.
Because of the tough times and hard conditions,
there are few Civil War Pot Holder quilts
that have survived until today.

So, back to this group of women at
we have started a sewing circle to
make Pot Holder quilts,
reminiscent of this historical time period.
We all enjoy quilting, and also enjoy the history of quilts.
And doing a couple of finished blocks here and there
seems to fit right into our schedules!

So we came up with our own
pattern/fabric kit for each of the 14 inch blocks,
similar to an antique signature quilt
(**shown in the book, below) 
made in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts.

Here are Cindy's first blocks:
 and more of Cindy's blocks:
 Here are Sandy's first blocks:
And, here are a couple of mine:
My blocks are only 7 inches square, as you can see from the cutting board scale.

If you enjoy the history of quilts,
and specifically the time period of the Civil War,
then get yourself this great book**:
The LQS - Good Wives
has the book in stock if your local shop doesn't have it.  They also have the kits for each Pot Holder block, with fabrics chosen to replicate the antique quilt; just call to order and they'll ship right out to you! You can find their link over on the right side or by clicking on their name above.
AND, YES, there are a couple of these groups meeting!!!
If you are local, please feel free to join in!!

Hopefully that cleared up a few things.  And, maybe some of you will join our sewing circle making Pot Holder Quilts.  Let me know, and I'll add your block pictures, too.
I'm still thinking I can put together my "Path to the Civil War" blocks this way,
using the Pot Holder method...What do you think?

OK, I'm off to bed. 
I'm heading to the International Quilt Festival tomorrow,
(now TODAY as it's after midnight!)
and I still have to pack!

Back soon to share potholder blocks and IQF finds!
Happy Stitching!

Monday, April 9, 2012

the hot pad blocks

Don't know if you have ever read any of the
books or historical writings
about the quilts made of hot pad blocks....
it's like the crocheted granny-square method:  
A group of women make-up some
crocheted blocks in a specific size. 
Who doesn't have the time to crochet
a few squares every day? 
Then the crocheted squares are collected and whipped together,
and to make a blanket or blankets...

Well, this is the same theory...but in hot pad/quilted style.
There is a great new book that tells the history:
(I love the history part of quilts and blocks, don't you?!)
  Cot quilts
made with hot pad blocks!!!
The blocks in these quilts
are for the most part, large in size.
Each woman in the sewing group
made as many large, quilted blocks as possible.

Each block was
pieced, layered, quilted, trimmed and bound-
essentially, made into a hot pad...
When the group met with their finished Hot Pad blocks,
they whipped-stitched together enough finished blocks
to make a cot quilt. 
Here's one of my blocks:
layered and quilted

trimmed and ready for binding
Now, I will tell you that I have down-sized my blocks.  Nothing wrong with a 14" hot pad block.  I just prefer smaller... it will take twice as many for me to get a cot-sized quilt made, I know. Don't know if that's a good thing or not. 
Anyway,
I'm considering doing my
"Path to the Civil War" blocks this way.
That way, they would still be bound in the chrome orange,
but it wouldn't "jump in your face" so much.
What do you think? 
For my Path to the Civil War, I have most of the blocks pieced already.  Only about a row and a half left to do.  And I'm stalling on finishing it.  I'm stalling because I don't think I want as much of that chrome orange in the quilt as is pictured in the pattern.  But I love that chrome orange!  Here's the quilt pictured on the front cover of the pattern book:
A Path to the Civil War: Aurelia's Journey Quilt
That's a whole lot of chrome orange right there.

I have a friend who did her quilt as pictured.  And, I love it.
Here's a pic of Laura's living room...
Notice the chrome orange over the back of a couch?
Oh, my, I love it. 
Decisions, decisions!
What do you think about finishing a quilt in this "pot holder block" method?
Let me know, please.

OK, back to quilting!
And thinking about my unfinished quilt blocks. :)

Happy Monday!!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

peep, peep!

That's Happy Easter to you
in Peeps language :)
 One of the local quilt shops had this
bolt of Peeps fabric in stock and it made me smile.
I couldn't resist a half of a yard.

I've been working on a few quilty commissions this week,
but I also had the chance to
whip up a couple of
cutesy placemats for grandkids:
So, peep, peep!
And I hope your Easter is wonderful.