American Hero Quilt 3

Here is another American Hero quilt.
The piecing work on these tops are so beautiful. It is fun to get to work with them up close and personal.







I did keyhole designs along the side, I won't do this again unless I pre-mark
the quilt first, fitting them in is hard and of course there is no way to gauge
the size as you go along without marking or putting them inside a block.

This is a very simple and none descript pattern, but I still like the way it
came out, it also gave me alot of time to practice my timing, working on the
evenness of my stitches. It has made a huge difference in the 2 quilts I have done since
this one was completed. It is now winging its way to get its binding and then be
given to one of our Heroes. I am thankful I can do this small thing to say
Thank You.

American Hero Quilt 2

Here is another American Hero quilt. The piecing is beautiful and the content just as beautiful, I only hope that my longarm work has enhanced this wonderful quilt. My prayer is that one of our soldiers will be comforted with this quilt and will feel the love sent to them.

If you would like to help in this work, see the American Hero link to the right.

I spent a awsome day out in nature yesterday. With 6 friends I went hiking in the nearby mountains, now I am not a hiker but I do love what the Lord creates. The fall colors are beginning to develope, it was breathtaking and thought I was very tired, after hiking about 6 miles up and down steep trails, I was not ready to come home. I have posted pictures of the beauty in the Wyoming Big Horn Mountains on my Webshots page it is in the Wyoming album if you'd like to follow the link to the right.

Todays seam treatment was inspired by
Sharon b's, 100 details in 100 days. On day 38 she featured a ribbon trim held down (couched) with thread, I wanted to try it so I fashioned my own design, I really like the way it turned out. Thank you Sharon for the idea.

I found this stitch in Crazy Quilt Stitches by Dorothy Bond, on page 75 is the Rosette stitch, then on page 78 is a web like motif with the rosette at the points. I wanted something round in this space so I made a circle with the web like stitches putting a rosette on each point, but it was lacking "pop". Under each rosette I put a set of lazy daisy leaves, still needing something I added french knots in the top set of diamond shapes and in the center. I really like how this came out and I keep going back to look at it.


The seam treatment is straight stitch in a V shape with 3 lazy daisy atop each point and french knots along the inside of the zigzag.

My Cherry Tree

My rendition of a Cherry Tree. I took a class on my online list Crazy Quilting International a Yahoo group. This block is done all in cotton fabrics in whites, creams and tans. I then decided to do all stitching in greens and pinks.

The flowers on the tree are all French knots, done in DMC cotton floss, with a mix of variegated rayon threads. The trunk is Perle cotton 5, in a straight stitch.

We will take a closer look at the seams tomorrow.

Opps, this was added after I took the picture of the whole block. Once again done in DMC floss, written freehand, while stitching, with french knots in the spaces.

The seam treatment is alternating buttonhole stitches with streight stitches forming a flower with french knot center.

I shared this photo once before but thought I would again since it is part of this block. I like to do 'studies' in different stitches and this was my study in French knots. I did this in the beginning of my CQ journey, each is a single knot.

Below the flower is an antique lace, and looking at it now I am thinking of perhaps adding some beads to it...what do you think, should I add to it or leave it because it is antique?

First I would like to introduce Rusty, he came to live with us today, he is helping Kirk with some metal work. He was born July 1, is part Jack Russell and we believe some Healer, too.


Today's tidbits are the letter D, done in gold metallic DMC thread, 4mm SR and embroidery floss. I placed a lapel pin in the middle, it matched so well.
The seam to the left is the Chevron stitch with seed beads, to the right is ribbon tacked down, with French knots along its length.

Details of block 3

This is block 3, I want to feature each detail and thought I would give you a look at the whole block first. Humm, which seam shall I show a close up of first?

Until tomorrow.

The last detail of block 2. The fabric on top is very fancy and busy so I left it alone, it shines on its own. The seam treatment was created with DMC floss using a double Herringbone done in black and red with a set of 4 straight stitches and a french knot in each opening. Next I couched some decorative cording in a flower shape and then added a vine of lazy daisy leaves.

Sorry that I didn't get this posted earlier, computer problems that I hope are solved now.

This bunch of flowers is made with wool yarns. The roses are spider roses, or at leas that is what I call them. Beginning with 5 spokes and then filling in as you go around the circle, weaving over and under the spokes. French knots make the centers. The buds are done bullion style.

M........is for Michele. This letter idea came from J. Marsh Michler's book The Magic of Crazy quilting. I will be featuring letters from her book again in this series.
Done with gold metallic thread by DMC, purple silk ribbon for the roses and leaves and DMC floss for the triple french knots.
Other seam treatments to the right is button hole with ribbon running underneath, above is a sheaf stitch, and below is a star stitch.

Block 2 Details

Buttonhole stitch, this is one of my favorite stitches, there is so much you can do with it. Here I added french knots to the waving line of stitches, then 3 lazy daisy stitches with french knots along the other side.. Next I decided to use a piece of lace I had been holding onto for years, threading ribbon thru and adding flowers down the center.
I shared the M with you all earlier, this is for Michele, done in gold DMC metallic thread, 4mm silk ribbon and DMC floss french knots.

The upper left corner of the block was needing something so I added a spray of leaf sprigs, done in variegated cotton thread. Here is another view of the yellow SR rose vine. Below is a full view of block one of the quilt. Tomorrow we will begin to look at the details of block 2. Enjoy.

Today's picture shows the crochet piece done by Letha, I have added a heart pin to bring more attention to it. The fabric is a civil war cotton. Next to it is a seam treatment that run full length of the quilt, featuring feather stitch, lazy daisy leaves and 3 yellow french knots for the flowers.
Next is a peak at block 3, the fabric here comes from my wedding dress and to it are added pink seed beads.

On this part of the block you can see the lace and ribbon treatment better, also you will note the month and date the quilt was begun. Using the ginko leaves in the fabric, I choose to use a single thread of silver thread to outline a few of the leaves. The red and green seam treatment runs thru two blocks and is done in DMC floss. Below the ginko fabric I couched some trim to cover the seam of the blocks joining. To the upper right is another crochet by Letha, but we will take a closer look at that tomorrow.

This part of block one features a crochet piece by my MIL, Letha. Clear glass beads and a gold flower button help to bring demension. The seam treatment is again done in DMC floss with a star stitch flower. To the right is a lace treatment, where I threaded ribbon through, added small pearl like beads and lots of french knots, can you tell yet that I like french knots.

Today I thought I would share this portion of block one of the wall hanging. The blocks graduate from white/light pink to burgundy/black with a total of 6 blocks. The butterflies are on a wonderful cotton I found at my LQS, no additions have been made to them at this point. The grape clusters are made with DMC floss, using lazy daisy, stem stitch and french knots. The silk rose is 4mm ribbon. A stem stitch with lazy daisy leaves surround yellow SR rose buds, formed with french knots. Next you will see straight stitches, lazy daises and french knots to form what looks like bouquet of roses.

Happy Holiday

I am going to take a couple of days off from posting. Our son and his family have come for a visit. You all have a great weekend, I'll see you on Monday.
Gail

Per request, here is the quilt that the Garden Party quilt tag goes with, a swap quilt with my online quilt group Quilters on Review, swaped in 2003 put together into a top 5/06 while on retreat for the same group. The top is now awaiting its turn on the longarm machine.

Quilted tag

Today I wanted to share another quilted tag I made.
The theme was garden party, because I have a quilt from a swap that is themed garden party and this is made to go with it. The swap was in 2003, this tag was completed in 2006. The SR rose is done with 4mm ribbon, next to it is a row of beaded flowers with lazy daisy leaves, next it babies breath with a honey bee enjoying the flowers. The next seam treatment features fans with pearls added. The butterfly is satin stitched with french knots for color on the wings. The finial treatment is 3 lazy daisys to create a flower with green beads. This is topped off with a organdy bow at the top. The tag measures 4" x 6".