The Backing to Jack's Quilt

Backing to Jacks Quilt

I am copying "Work Clothes" quilt from the Quilts of Gee's Bend for my teen son Jack - he surprised me by choosing such an abstract design.  Kids keep surprising me!

 I worked and completed the backing today.  

I took some log cabin blocks and paired them with some of the leftover fabric I bought for the quilt top

When you make a quilt for a kid or a teenager - pay attention to the backing!  It will show every time they don't make their bed!  Pretty much on a daily basis around here, sigh.

Sew on and sew on!

Pam

Sunday

Sunday

Baby Quilt

BABY QUILT

My nephew and his wife recently had their first baby!  I made this baby quilt for him - why a fish?  My nephew is a marine biologist!

I fused on the fish shape, fins and bubbles with fusible interfacing and then stitched the shapes down with a tight stitch as baby quilts get washed often!

I thought making waves for the quilting pattern was fitting!

This was quick, easy - and fun!

Sew on and sew on!

Pam

Up-Cycle Magnets

UP-CYCLE MAGNETS

Very easy way to save a picture I like, a copy of a painting I can't afford, or even a hotel room key if it's pretty and a great memory - mine is from the a Grand Canyon hotel.  You can always buy magnet paper - super simple to use

but why not use those advertising magnets we get in the mail?!  I used Mod Podge decoupage glue at first

I rough cut - cutting out more than the pattern I want to end up with

and the Mod Podge worked pretty well

and then fussy cut our the pattern you want to keep

I also used just plain glue - and I think that worked out better!

I found a great 'vintage' travel picture of the Hogwarts Express!  Who doesn't want that on their refrigerator?!

I used a magnet from my son's school athletic department, season's over - time to up-cycle!

Just glued it down this time, I think it came out better than the decoupage stuff

and now I have "art" on my fridge holding my grocery/to do lists!

I have a weekend guilty pleasure - I record an early Saturday morning PBS program called "Fons and Porter's For the Love of Quilting"!Yup!  The title is a little hokey, but it's fresh and honest in a home spun kind of way At the end of every show Mary and Marianne Fons always close with a "Tips" segment.  The tips range from taking tools to sewing classes 

to storing thread and project protectors.  If they use a viewer's tip on the air - the viewer gets a year's subscription to their magazine!

Why not give it a try?  

So I sent them my quilt pattern magnets - a little reminder of future projects you'd like to do.

I hope they like it!

Pam

Preschool Project

Preschool Project

and it's one of my favorites!

Simply collect pieces of scrap wood

Cut up a couple of dowels, thick and thin, add some pieces of wood shapes from the craft store

cut up some planks for the children to have as a base, sanding away any rough edges

some of the collected pieces will need to be sanded too.  

I bring sandpaper into the classroom with the pieces so the kids can try their hands at sanding - pre- sanded pieces that is!

This cutting area at Home Depot is a great spot to get funky shapes of wood!  When the customer is done cutting what he/she needs, the ends fall into a well or collection area.  I go over and collect the scraps that someone has left behind!  If it's small, thus unsellable, Home Depot doesn't charge for them!  The molding pieces are the best

Each of my students got a platform base, a bottle of glue and No instructions! Just build your sculpture to your hearts desire!

Each child's sculpture is different and unique to them

You can build up or build out - there is no wrong or right way to create!

Good winter day!
Pam

A very undone post!

Jack's Room Needs a Re-Do!

Curtains down (it's OK, he's away at college!)

Door replaced after boys knocking a whole in it!

Dresser and nightstand - out!

A neighbor is going to trash to treasure the pieces, he's a woodworker so I know he will!

This is going to be replaced too!

This print is from Potter Barn "Storming the Field"  was on Jack's wall for his high school years - it very big!  He's loved for a long time, but it's going to be up to him whether it goes back up or if it's run it's course and can go to charity.

Interesting - the paint chip we chose is in the "smoke" of this picture!

It's the center stripe.

I thought this print by Edward Hopper might look good with this color

but I think it might not be the right one for the boy

after all, he picked this abstract quilt pattern for me to make for his bed

So maybe something more modern and masculine!

Can we keep the pencil holder I made him years ago using Kaffe Fassett fabrics?

TIP:

When choosing a paint color - don't come home with just one paint chip.  The lighting in the store is different than whats in your home.  Plus - the lighting in a room changes as the day changes.

This is my front door testing paint samples this summer - so not what I thought we'd choose as the winning color!

Pam

Sunday

Sunday

A Quilt for Jack

A Quilt for Jack

When my son was in high school he was a part of the football team.  He's just about done with college now and I believe it's time to replace his high school quilt - he doesn't play college ball

It was a fun pattern and the #9 was his number - but it's getting on to be 8 years old, so it's time for an upgrade!  I didn't realize how wrinkled it get with the dog sleeping on it.

 He misses his boy (me too)

My son is attending West Virginia University and I found a pattern of what looks a lot like the

mountains of West Virginia in Winter

so I made it for him as a surprise!

The surprise was on me!  I could tell by the look on his face that it wasn't what he had in mind.  You know your kid (one thinks!) and I told him to be honest with me.  Honestly, after four years of brutal winters, this isn't what he wants.  Well, yah, that makes perfect sense now that he said it!  Which is fine, I have fallen in love with it and the quilt is now hanging in my "winter" living room!

 But what quilt pattern did he want?  I showed him pictures of Ohio star blocks  I started on a blue and white log cabin quilt

If this wasn't what he wanted, it would work in my other son's bedroom very easily

As it would turn out - it wasn't what he was thinking of.   Flying Geese maybe?  Nope.  I had saved a photo of "Work Clothes" from the Quilts of Gee's Bend collection - bingo!  He loves it!

This is what he would like me to recreate!  I wasn't expecting something so modern - I am looking forward to the challenge.
If you don't know the story of the Quilts of Gee's Bend - you should.  
During the Great Depression and on wards, the community of Gee's Bend Alabama was extremely poor.  The women of this community made the most amazing quilts out of NOTHING but what was around.

no shopping, only using up. It's pretty amazing how beautiful they all are.

I don't know who created "Work Clothes" but this looks similar and this quilt was created by Beatrice Pettway.

and this one was made by Mary Lee Bendolph.

Now that I have my inspiration, time to get started.

Pam