A Quilt A Day

February 26, 2010

Bluebirds of Happiness

Filed under: applique, baby, embroidery, flickr, vintage — jennicakes @ 5:25 pm

I want to end the week on a good note (who doesn’t???), so here’s a dose of true cuteness:

Bluebird Quilt

Vintage bluebird quilt, photo by Jaspenelle of Paganites. There was a time I wasn’t wild about tied quilts, and now I’m not sure why. Maybe because ties are sort of casual and playful? And, wonderful as that is, casual doesn’t go with every quilt top.

These blue birds, however, are perfect candidates for ties. The yarn looks wonderful with the embroidered detail on the birdies, and I can just imagine each little knotted length blowing in the breeze. Ties aside, these solid colors are so simple and stunning. Even the white binding, which I normally don’t care for, adds such lightness and freshness.

Love, love, love. I hope some part of your weekend looks even a little bit like this quilt.

January 29, 2010

On just going for it.

Filed under: applique, flickr, vintage — jennicakes @ 3:59 pm

galadrielthompson found this amazing quilt at an estate sale, which is pretty amazing. I don’t know if I’m crushed that it wasn’t passed down as an heirloom, or thrilled that it somehow managed to find its way out into the wild where it could be adopted into a loving home.

At any rate, looking at this and beholding its infinite fabulosity, I’m reminded of all of the smaller projects I’m working on, and I wonder how many of them would add up to something as gorgeous and complicated as this.

The fact is, it’s tempting to believe that, in the old days, quilters had more time than we did, but I’m not sure that’s true. This quilt started out as nothing more than an idea, and somebody, whoever it was, somehow found the time to finish it.

Did she give up on it once or twice, or a dozen times? Maybe so, but then, obviously, she picked it up again. Did she doubt her design choices? I sure hope not! What’s clear is that she wasn’t afraid to commit to the project, because made it got.

This quilt is a lot of things, but, above all, it is a reminder that even the biggest projects can be finished. And we can put a lot of hours into less complicated, more “finishable” efforts, but, if what we really want in the end is a quilt like this, we need to start it, and keep going.

Or we need to get really, REALLY lucky at estate sales!

January 28, 2010

quirky little quilts

Filed under: applique, doll quilt, etsy, vintage — jennicakes @ 6:56 pm

If you’re jonesing for a little art this week, might I suggest the “quirky little quilts” section of extra toppings etsy shop?

They truly are quirky, and priced and sized for gift-giving. And if the recipient is yourself? So much the better.

(And if the recipient is me, get “Serving Mr. Man,” pictured here. They’re all great, but this is my fave.)

January 25, 2010

Case of the Mondays.

Filed under: applique, vintage — jennicakes @ 11:11 am

If this sweet kitty resting atop this sweet Dresden Plate quilt doesn’t clear up your case of the Mondays, I don’t know what will!

CalifornianTurkeyVulture posted it to the tied quilts pool, but it would be just as welcome an addition to Cats & Quilts. Which is usually more cuteness than I can handle in one Monday.

January 17, 2010

Amish Abstractions

Filed under: events, vintage — jennicakes @ 1:10 pm

I didn’t post yesterday because I was at the de Young yesterday, getting my mind blown by some Amish quilts. Here’s just one of them:

If you’re near San Francisco and are a quilter – or are just interested in graphic art – you MUST see this exhibit.

Fair warning: Amish quilters were and are masters, and it will probably make you feel like a total amateur. Still, it’s worth the mental anguish for the inspiration! Trust me.

January 15, 2010

Bibbidy, bobbity.

Filed under: baby, etsy, flickr, free pattern, tutorial, vintage — jennicakes @ 3:04 pm

I hate to plug my own products (ok, that’s sort of a lie), but when someone flickr-faved on of my quilted bibs today, I wanted to share it, if for no other reason than to talk about the pattern I used to make it.

jcasa.etsy.com not only make the easiest-to-follow bib tutorial I’ve tried yet, but generously allows people to sell products made from her patterns. Awesome!

For more on her quilty and non-quilty, for-sale – and FOR FREE(!) patterns, visit her blog.

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