Once Upon A Time

This story could begin…Once Upon A Time there was a family that moved in to a beautiful Colonial home in the suburbs.  This home was filled with many traditional rooms.  The family of three lived there comfortably and happily for many years. But this is where the fairy tale derails.

A quilter lives in this wonderful 1960s Colonial.  She (meaning me) decided these traditional rooms no longer would house guests tucked into trundle beds or have dinner parties on the beautiful Berkey & Gay antique dining table.  Instead there would be quilting everywhere.  You could imagine a beautiful table cloth perfectly smooth atop the table…nope…not in this dining room.  Instead, at least150 yards of fabric of all different shapes and sizes adorn the room.  (The basement has 100s more too)

The centerpiece on the dining table isn't a bouquet of flowers it is a Bernina sewing machine. Scissors and rulers take the place of silverware and collapsible garbage containers replace serving dishes.  It would be very difficult to have a meal in this room unless you ate from your lap.

Fabric for new design

General Wives fabric from Windham

 I know there are a lot of beautiful pictures on the web of sewing ‘studios’.  I also know there are more quilters out there that sew on their dining room table and don’t have one of those well designed, beautiful ‘studios’.  I say whatever your circumstance, fairy tale or reality, make the best of what you have.  Don’t let your surroundings deter your progress and ability.  I enjoy my work and love sewing everyday – even in my disaster.

Lizzy's Little Quilt

Amy's Choice

Pictured above are my 2 latest Jo’s Little Women club quilts.

Have a great time sewing today.  Hope you enjoyed reading about my ‘fairy tale’ world and looking at the pictures.  Please don’t think less of me for my mess.  I create a lot of quilts in it and from it.  Here’s hoping you can make quilts from your mess too!.

Happy stitching,

Annemarie in MN

Quilts...

The title ‘Quilts’ just says it all.  I love quilts!  My life really revolves around them and the fabric that goes into them.  Every day I am working on them; thinking about them, cutting or sewing them or just admiring them.  Now I am even blogging about them.  How did this happen to me? 

One day in 1988 I got a bug to make a quilt and now it has taken over my life.  Sometimes I feel sorry for my family because of all the quilting ‘stuff’ around…but then I get over it.  I started working in a quilt shop (Glad Creations Quilt Block in Mpls, MN) 22 years ago and still teach for them today.  I have met some wonderful quilters that share my passion for quilting and if they read this they will understand what’s in my head. 

Today I thought I’d post a few quilts that I have made over the years.  The quilts hung in staff quilt shows at Glad Creations between 2004 and 2010.

Improved 9-Patch 2004

This quilt was started at a Minnesota Quilters Conference at least 15 yrs ago.  The class was taught by Sharon Hultgren using template by John Flynn.  Its machine pieced and hand quilted.  I love 30s fabrics!!

Jamestown in the 30s 2009

Andover Fabrics has a great website.  Often they post quilt patterns for their fabric lines.  I really liked this pattern.  It was a pattern to be used with the Jamestown fabric line by Jo Morton.  But obviously I made it using 30s fabrics.  It is machine pieced and quilted.

Wyatt's Lone Star 2010

This quilt is for my son.  He will receive it when he graduates from college…whenever that may be.   The center star was constructed using a printed interfacing foundation available from Quiltsmart.  Machine pieced and machine quilted.

Hope you enjoyed the mini quilt show. 

Happy quilting,

Annemarie

More Antique Quilts!

 Day two of Pat Cox’s Antique quilts...

Patrica Cox and her Feathered Star Quilt ca. 1850

Pat Cox’s display of Antique quilts is in full swing at The Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN.  (Show details are listed in my last blog.)  I am very fortunate to know Pat and have been able to enjoy her quilts for years.  She is a consummate collector and always willing to share her collection.  She really seems to love sharing their history too!  Here are a couple more pictures of her collection. 

Rose of Sharon ca. 1940

Many Trips Around the World ca. 1935

2 Drunkard's Path variations

New York Beauty ca. 1935 (hanging) & Dolly Madison  Star ca. 1920

Marie Webster's design - French Baskets ca. 1920 (my personal favorite!)

I truly hope you have enjoyed this small sampling of Pat Cox's collection.

Happy Quilting,
Annemarie in MN

A Hands On Collection

High everyone!  I went to the Minnesota Quilters' meeting last night to hear Patricia Cox speak about her antique quilts.  She has a collection of around 350 antique quilts.  She brought about 50 with her last night.  The dates ranged from 1825 to 1970.  It was a wonderful night of quilts.  Now here's some good news for you...The quilts will be on display for the next 2 days.  Saturday July 9th (10am-4pm) & Sunday July 10th (12pm-4pm). Pat will be there both days to answer questions (9th 10-12 & 10th 1-2.)  The exhibit is located at The Textile Center, 3000 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.  There is a $3 charge for non-members of MN Quilters.  Many of these quilts will be donated to the Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, NE later this year.  I will post more pictures on my blog tomorrow too.

The first quilt she showed is this Feather Star (it was sold to her with the name ‘Princess Feather’).  Pat purchased it from Mary Silber, Julie Silber’s mother – both avid quilt collectors.  This quilt began Pat’s love of antique quilts.

The Second quilt is an appliqué quilt dated 1872.  It is the most recent of Pat’s antique purchases.

Caesar’s Crown is another beautiful appliqué.  The background is of linen.

This final quilt shows the merging of 2 quilt patterns.  The Double Irish Chain and the Chips-Whetstone block.  The provenance of this quilt  - Slave made & from English settlers.

I hope you enjoyed the mini quilt show.  Please come by the Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN or check back later this week. I will post some more of Pat’s quilts (with her permission of course.)

Thanks…please let me know what you think of the quilts and I will pass your comments on to Pat.

Happy quilting,

Annemarie in MN