Genea-Quilters

Easy Fabric Resist Techniques: New eBook

2012-01-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

Glue gel resist dyeing (detail)
by Cynthia St. Charles.

Have you tried batik dyeing to create new fabric designs?

"...Lisa Kerpoe applies corn syrup as an economical and easy-to-find alternative to sodium alginate, a thickener used as a resist with fabric dyeing techniques. You'll love this kitchen-shelf method of tile dyeing.

Once you download this free eBook, Easy Resist Fabric Dyeing Techniques for Batik-Style Dyeing and Surface Design from Quilting Daily, you'll be creating easy batik fabric in no time." Source: Quilting Daily 16 Jan 2012 (e-zine), used with permission.

Quilting Valentine Hearts Using Charm Packs

2012-01-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

YES!! Three days ago, a new YouTube quilting video was posted. Missouri Quilt Company's Jenny Doan teaches how to make easy hearts out of charm squares (5" squares) Give it a shot, it couldn't be easier!!

Underground Railroad Quilts

2012-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Several postings on our Genea-Quilters Facebook page feature pre-Civil War US quilts.

Julia Langel writes: Did anyone else notice the mention of "Freedom Quilts" in the article about escaped slaves in the Sept 2011 NGS Quarterly? I thought I remembered some controversy about them, and the first hit on a google search is a wikipedia article about the consensus that they are probably a myth...

Quilts of the Underground Railroad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org

"In 1999 a theory surfaced indicating a possibility slaves used quilt blocks to alert other slaves about escape plans during the time of the Underground Railroad (approximately 1780-1860). Some historians support this theory while other historians dispute this as myth."

Lori Thornton writes: This reminds me of an excellent installment of the Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini entitled The Runaway Quilt. The plot involves this legend about the quilts and some genealogical and historical research by the characters.

To this, someone named Pat Richley-Erickson (grin) wrote: Julia Langel's post reminds me of the book Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad where the quilt "airing" on a window sill may have indicated if it was safe to proceed to the next station.

Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad

www.amazon.com explains "The fascinating story of a friendship, a lost tradition, and an incredible discovery, revealing how enslaved men and women made encoded quilts and then used them to navigate their escape on the Underground Railroad." "A groundbreaking work."

1812 Quilt Progress

2011-12-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since we have posted about the FGS 1812 quilt but that doesn't mean we haven't been working on it. We want to publicly thank all the quilters who submitted blocks. As we speak, the quilt is being pieced. We hope to have some photos of the pieced quilt to show here soon. After the quilt is pieced it will be sent to a quilter for finishing.

For those quilters who participated, please send a photo of your block and your write up to Tami Glatz ASAP. Her email is tglatz@gmail.com. Tami will then create a book to go with the quilt.

1812 Preserve the Pensions Quilt Project is ON

2011-08-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Thank-you to our wonderful quilters! Your enthusiasm for this project has come shining through. We are very excited to go forward with our fund-raising quilt project in support of the FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) 1812 Preserve the Pensions.

The FGS 1812 Preserve the Pensions digitization project is a joint effort of FGS, the National Archives and Footnote.com. FGS is raising $3.7 million dollars to make these images available online for free. Genea-Quilters can help by contributing to the FGS fund-raising efforts.

Squares and digital photos are DUE NO LATER THAN 30 October 2011.

HERE'S THE PLAN:

1. FABRIC: Your fabric choices are to come from any combination of fabrics in the FAT QUARTER CAROLINA QUILT FABRIC MEDLEY available through Keepsake Quilting, illustrated and linked below. A few fat quarter kits would be available at the 2011 FGS Booth in Springfield from DearMYRTLE by pre-arrangement. Just send me an email request.

It is not necessary to purchase the entire medley kit. Individual fabrics are shown below.

Flower Vine - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835A/medley/2835.htm

Tiny Paisley - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835B/medley/2835.htm

Stripe Carolina Fabric - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835C/medley/2835.htm

Berries Carolina Fabric - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835D/medley/2835.htm

(This is also our sashing fabric)

Tossed Tiny Flower - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835E/medley/2835.htm

Buds Carolina Fabric - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835F/medley/2835.htm

Tossed Leaf Carolina Fabric - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835G/medley/2835.htm

Tossed Tiny Bouquet - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835H/medley/2835.htm

Stripe Carolina Fabric - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835J/medley/2835.htm

Paisley Carolina Fabric - http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/2835K/medley/2835.htm

2. SIZE. Each square is to be 8 inches square (8-1/2" if you include the 1/4" seam allowance all around), no other dimensions will be accepted.

3. PATTERN. The pattern for a square may be of each quilter's choice, though we are looking for old-timey patterns that would have been used during the 1812-1900 time period when most War of 1812 servicemen and pensioners' wives and mothers would have been making quilts.

4. DISQUALIFICATIONS. Squares with glitter, sparkles or shiny finish, machine embroidery or any fabric not part of the above referenced collection will be disallowed, in order to maintain the old-timey feel of the quilt.

5. PHOTO OF QUILTER AND QUILT BLOCK. For a block to be added to the quilt, it must be submitted with a .jpg or .png photo of the quilter holding the square and a story about an ancestor who lived in America during the 1812-1900 time period. The ancestor need not have received an 1812 pension, but clearly all residents of the US, regardless of citizenship, benefited from the outcome of the war. Stories and photos in electronic format are required. Send digital images to tglatz@gmail.com

6. TIMELINE.

30 Oct 2011 - Saturday - SQUARES DUE at the office of Gena Philibert Ortega . Contact her directly for her snail mail address.

November 2011 - Sashing completed.

January 2012 - Quilt long-armed.

January 2012 - Binding completed, book completed.

Quilt On Display 2-4 February 2012 - RootsTech Conference, Salt Lake City - display quilt at FGS booth

Quilt On Display 9-12 May 2012 - NGS 2012 Family History Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio - display quilt at FGS booth

Quilt On Display 29 August - 1 Sept 2012 FGS Conference, Birmingham, Alabama - where quilt will be officially donated to the cause.

BACKGROUND ON THE PENSION PRESERVATION PROJECT

The FGS 1812 Preserve the Pensions digitization project is a joint effort of FGS, the National Archives and Footnote.com. FGS is raising $3.7 million dollars to make these images available online for free. Genea-Quilters can help by contributing to the FGS fundraising efforts.

This series consists of approximately 180,000 pension and bounty land warrant application files relating to claims based on service between 1812 and 1815. The files generally contain documentation submitted in support of a claim, such as the original application form, affidavits, and statements from witnesses.

The documents in this collection include full pension application files for soldiers and sailors who served in the War of 1812, as well as for their widows and children, or other heirs. The first applications were filed by servicemen who were disabled as a result of their service, or by widows who lost a husband in the war.

The descriptive pamphlet for the Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files, M313, published by NARA, http://www.footnote.com/pdf/M313.pdf provides a great deal of background and explanatory information about the pension files and the acts that provided for them.

1812 Preserve the Pensions Quilt

2011-08-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

How about a 1812 PRESERVE THE PENSIONS QUILT to raise donations for this FGS digitization project? Here's the deal...

The quilt would be displayed at RootsTech 2012, NGS 2012 and at FGS 2012 where it would be given away.
Most states now outlaw or severely limit the use of the term "raffle", so the quilt project wouldn't be called a raffle.
We would each choose from the same fabric collection available through Keepsake Quilting A few fat quarter kits would be available at the 2011 FGS Booth in Springfield.
FAT QUARTER CAROLINA QUILT FABRIC MEDLEY - Product Details
www.keepsakequilting.com

Each square is to be 8 inches square (8-1/2" if you include the 1/4" seam allowance), no other dimensions can be accepted. The pattern for a square may be of each quilter's choice, though we are looking for old-timey patterns that would have been used during the 1812-1900 time period when most War of 1812 servicemen and pensioners' wives and mothers would have been making quilts.

Please avoid fabrics, trim, threads with glitter, sparkles or shiny finish, in order to maintain the old-timey feel of the quilt.

For a block to be added to the quilt, it must be submitted with a .jpg or .png photo of the quilter holding the square and a story about an ancestor who lived in America during the 1812-1900 time period. The ancestor need not have received an 1812 pension, but clearly all residents of the US, regardless of citizenship, benefited from the outcome of the war. Stories and photos in electronic format are preferred, if possible.

The FGS 1812 Preserve the Pensions digitization project is a joint effort of FGS, the National Archives and Footnote.com. FGS is raising $3.7 million dollars to make these images available online for free. Genea-Quilters can help by contributing to the FGS fundraising efforts.
This series consists of approximately 180,000 pension and bounty land warrant application files relating to claims based on service between 1812 and 1815. The files generally contain documentation submitted in support of a claim, such as the original application form, affidavits, and statements from witnesses.

The documents in this collection include full pension application files for soldiers and sailors who served in the War of 1812, as well as for their widows and children, or other heirs. The first applications were filed by servicemen who were disabled as a result of their service, or by widows who lost a husband in the war.

The descriptive pamphlet for the Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files, M313, published by NARA, provides a great deal of background and explanatory information about the pension files and the acts that provided for them.

We need to know your commitment now, though to decide if we can go through with this project, and will need finished blocks by about the end of October... firmer deadlines to be posted shortly.

A Visit to Springfield Illinois quilt shop during FGS 2011 Conf in Sept

2011-08-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Paula Stuart-Warren who is attempting to locate good quilting shops in the Springfield, Illinois region so that we can have an informal Genea-Quilters Field Trip during the 2011 FGS Conference Sept 7-10. I have been holding back because my oldest daughter is expecting a baby, but her due date has now been changed from 7 Sept to August 30th. Good thing, since I am scheduled as a luncheon speaker during FGS. (but I digress!)

From Paula:
So far this is what I have found:

http://www.sewunique.org/
http://peacenapplique.com/ (in Rochester, IL, 8 miles from Springfield)

Maybe these folks could give you some suggestions:
http://quiltinggallery.com/quilt-guilds/listing/40/383/quilts/

And see the July 19th posts about the two shops I already sent you: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-55172-1.htm.

OK, gang, have any of us visited the shops in question?

Just wondering what we might do to arrange a little visit, but would like your input.

2011 GeneaQuilters Jamboree Quilt Winner

2011-06-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree marked the GeneaQuilters first quilt block challenge. What a beautiful quilt! Thanks to everyone who helped make this challenge a reality. The finished quilt was machine quilted and included a label on the back.

During our Quilt Breakfast at Jamboree we drew the winning ticket for the quilt. The winner was Marina Espinoza who was very excited about her quilt.

2011 Jamboree Quilt is nearing completion

2011-05-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

About this quilt...

Here is the Jamboree 2011 Quilt Challenge Quilt ready to be quilted! The money raised by this quilt at Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree will benefit the Jamboree Scholarship Fund.

Genea-Quilters took up the challenge and in less than six weeks came up with enough squares for this beautiful queen-sized quilt. It is amazing what quilters can do for a good cause!

A big thank-you goes out to April Layher for piecing the quilt which now goes to Jill Seebert Snider for quilting. Thanks to April for the beautiful job she did. Gena and Ol' Myrt contributed to the sashing, batting and backing fabric. Tami Glatz is creating the book with all the blocks and the quilter's pics that will be given to the lucky winner of this beautiful quilt.

Honoring one's ancestors is what genealogists do, and making these ancestral-inspired quilt squares is a natural for quilting genealogists. The stories behind each square speak to the strength and vision of our ancestors who carved out an existence for their families despite hardships. Many fought for freedom, and tragically, some lost their lives for a cause greater than themselves. From these brave men and women we have inherited resiliency and a yearning for peace.

Quilting is a ancient art. Many quilters have been women whose names would otherwise have been lost to the ages. As modern quilters gather our resources, determining patterns and color schemes, we harken back to an earlier age of creative men and women who put thread in their needles and created quilts to provide warmth against the winter storm, comfort the disheartened, cheer the newlywed couple and welcome the new baby into the family.

My own 2nd great-grand aunt speaks of the trials crossing the plains of Nebraska in 1859 with these words:

"There were nights when the memory of merry England came back and contrasted desperately with the awful lonesomeness of the barren unbroken plains; the terrible despair of the howling wolves; and the terror of the snakes skurring [scurrying] around us as we shifted our feet into the baked sand dunes. I was often so weary and footsore when I lay down on a quilt thrown upon the ground that I could not sleep. The food was so poor that it left a nightmare memories of the bacon and flour masquerading in ghostly forms over the sandy mirage." (1)

Though times may be rough, the comfort of hearth and home is channeled by the quilts we sew. We salute those whose colorful designs and tiny stitches have been handed down through the generations.

May those who benefit from the 2011 Southern California Jamboree Quilt Challenge Scholarship Fund hone their research skills and break through those genealogical brick walls.

May you who inherit this quilt feel the love of family and home expressed by each quilter's stitch.

DearMYRTLE, your friend in genealogy.

Co-Founder, Genea-Quilters

(1) Ellen (Wasden) Christensen's personal recollections; photocopy of typescript at the Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Transcript online: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rhutch/famhistory /twasden/ellen_wasden.html

Jamboree 2011 Quilt Challenge Blocks

2011-04-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

We are getting closer to Jamboree and the unveiling of the 2011 Challenge Quilt. I've had the honor of receiving these blocks and am now getting ready to send them off to be pieced together and prepared for quilting.

I thought I would post some photos here of some of the blocks so you could see the beautiful blocks that will make up our raffle quilt.

Leah Day's free-motion quilting tutorials

2011-03-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

Wiggly Woven Lines is one of many Free Motion Quilting videos offered by Leah Day on YouTube. I am SERIOUSLY considering ding the 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs Project. Even if I take time off to attend genealogy conferences and the week-long studies at Samford this year, I'd certainly know a lot more about free motion quilting when I got done.

Although Leah has a website, the Free Motion Quilting Project was so big, she devoted an entire blog on the topic. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com. There's advice about maintaining consistent lines and improving your sewing machine setup.

This girl is rockin'

Fons and Porter: free pattern book with e-newsletter sign-up

2011-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the offer I spotted on Facebook:Sign up for the Fons & Porter quilting newsletter and get Block Buster for FREE!

To sign up for the FonsandPorter.com newsletter and product announcements
PLUS! the FREE Block Buster booklet, just enter your email address
and press the "Subscribe" button at http://www.fonsandporter.com/newsletter/fp_news_optin.html
That's it!

Here's what they said about their booklet:

"This information-packed booklet is full of SUPER block ideas you can stitch up in no time! The quilting experts at Keepsake Quilting with Marianne Fons and Liz Porter share with you some of their favorite ideas for quick-cut quilt blocks and a Revolutionary new technique for cutting triangles! Color photos of each block provide inspiration, cutting instructions for three block sizes let you be your own designer, and piecing diagrams guide you through block assembly. You'll get 34 different blocks in 3 sizes —
THAT'S OVER 100 PATTERNS! The best part? This booklet is FREE when you sign up for our newsletter!"

So I checked out the offer. They simply want your email addres. No credit card. And in exchange, you immediately receive access to a darling 16-page booklet with patterns in 6, 9 and 12 inches. Then the newsletter will arive periodifically. (Those I have yet to evaluate.) But hey, a free booklet of patterns is certainly worth a try, especially when it is from our friends at Fons and Porter. There are some great color selections and a few rotary cutting ideas.

Jo Arnspiger's Confederate – Mississippi Flag pattern

2011-03-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

GREAT! Another block for the Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge, this one from Jo Arnspiger. Harking back to her Confederate ancestry with this beautifully executed Mississippi Flag pattern (a blue background with white star) Jo writes:

My father’s family were almost all from Mississippi and Alabama. I choose the dark blue background and white star block pattern which represents the first flag flown by Mississippi in 1861 when they seceded from the United States. This flag was never officially adopted but was raised over the capital building and inspired the song “The Bonnie Blue Flag”. See: Free Union and Confederate Quilt Patterns, ( by Judy Anne Breneman.

My great great grandfather Henry Stephen Archer Sr. served in the 32nd Mississippi Regiment from Mar 1861 through 1864. Sometime in 1864 he was reassigned as Chaplain for the 41st Mississippi Regiment. Copies of some of his military papers indicate President Davis was instrumental in approving his reassignment to the 41st Regiment as Chaplain.

I have recently discovered the existence of the personal diary of Henry S. Archer for the years of his service in the Confederate Army. A microfilmed copy of the diary has been ordered through Interlibrary Loan. Can’t wait to get my hands on that.

John Samuel Smith, a brother of my great great grandmother, Elizabeth Hurt Smith, also served in the 32nd Mississippi Infantry and died in battle 15 May 1864 in Georgia. My great great grandfather, Joshua Atwood Tilton, enlisted in Co. D, 8th Regiment Alabama Infantry 10 May 1861. He was discharged 23 Oct 1862, having suffered a severe gunshot wound to the arm, leaving him with little or no use of the arm. He was a railroad engineer before the war and apparently continued that occupation after his discharge.

THANK-YOU Jo, for sharing your quilting talents, and for the stories about the service of two second great-grandfathers, and your second great-grand uncle. How very special to find the diary of one of these soldiers. Perhaps you can transcribe it for a series of blog postings? Just thinking... ;)

So, DearGenea-Quilters, remember the Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge runs through 15 April 2011. We're going to raffle the resulting quilt at the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree on Saturday, 11 June 2011 at the Marriott Burbank Conference Center. Proceeds will be donated to the Society's scholarship fund for the 2012 Jamboree.

Free Motion Quilting Suggestions from Cracy Mom Quilts

2011-03-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I discovered the Crazy Mom Quilts blog. Her color work continues to inspire me.

But useful to perhaps many of you will be Crazy Mom's ideas for Free Motion Quilting. I've tried this, and have several practice squares, which in and of themselves would make a kewl quilt.

AmandaJean's post includes a video, and lots of practical advice.

Have you done any free motion quilting? Just curious how you overcome that "bending" needle issue.

National Quilting Day, Saturday 19 March 2011

2011-03-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

It took a non-quilter genealogist to bring "National Quilting Day" to this gal's attention. Thanks to our friend Thomas MacEntee who keeps tabs on all sorts of things including Geneabloggers and GeneaPress. Somehow, he manages to find out about doings over at the website for The National Quilting Association, Inc. as well. KUDOS!

My good excuse is that I've been busy working my quilt blocks up for the Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge to benefit the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree scholarship fund.

The National Quilting Association's website encourages us to "Build Your Own Log Cabin for National Quilting Day 2011" Download the free pattern here, and check out other free patterns while you are visiting the site.

JUST what I needed was a national holiday to celebrate quilting! Now I am sure Mr. Myrt won't mind my observing this special day by diligently quilting away, while he take his woodworking class.

April Layher's Pride of Ohio Block

2011-03-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

WOW! April Layher is the second Genea-Quilter to submit her entry for the Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge to benefit the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree scholarship fund. April has also graciously volunteered to piece all our blocks together and prepare the quilt for tying during Jamboree 2011 in June.

Here's what April has to say about her "Pride of Ohio" block:

"I chose this quilt block because it represents generations of my family. Although I am not the historian that my sister is, I do know that our family helped to settle Ohio and has been in Northeastern Ohio for many generations. My favorite place in the world was my Grandfather’s dairy farm in West Farmington, Ohio.

My Aunt Polly and Uncle Elton Bland owned a grocery and dry goods store with plank flooring and hitching posts in West Farmington. They were the dearest people in the world to me. Many cousins still live there, their homes sandwiched in between Amish houses. I fondly remember waking up in the upstairs bedroom of the farmhouse to the clattering of hooves and buggies driving past.

The little cemetery in town, Hillside Cemetery, features the names and dates of my ancestors, going back over 200 years, and some of the stones are so worn now, that only a rubbing will clearly discern the names. Osmer, Hosmer, Curtis, Hatch, Christy – so many familiar names in one graveyard that make me feel a part of this little town in Ohio, even though I have never lived there."

Here are some of April (and Tami's) Ohio ancestor photos:

My grandfather Addison Osmer as a young man.

My Dad at 17 in his town baseball uniform.

My Mom, Marcelle Burge Osmer and her little brother Bruce Burge.

"For all these reasons, I chose the Pride of Ohio block because my family, though simple, working people, formed the backbone of Ohio and, indeed, of our country. I am grateful and proud to have such ancestry."

2011 NGS Charleston Genea-Quilters Field Trip

2011-03-18T06:35:00.000-07:00

How would you like to visit a shop Better Homes & Gardens magazine Quilt Sampler listed as one of the top ten quilt shops in North America for the year 2000?

We're planning a Genea-Quilter's fiend trip to People, Places and Quilts, just a few blocks from Charleston, South Carolina's French Quarter the day before the 2011 National Genealogical Society Family History Conference. The shop has no evening hours during NGS, (Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm), so keep that in mind. Here's the scoop about our field trip:

The NGS 2011 Family History Conference will be held at the North Charleston Convention Center in Charleston, SC, Wednesday through Saturday, 11–14 May 2011.
Meet at the Convention Center on Tuesday at 1:30 pm. You may have already checked in at registration, which runs on Tuesday, 10 May 2011 from 12:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. For your convenience, here is the link to the other NGS pre-conference events. We know you have a lot of choices, and quilting is just one of them. I'll be driving Gordon's maroon Ford Van where there is room for 6 additional people, plus NGS registration packets and quilting treasures.
We'll drive downtown to the shop and have a blast.
After the shop closes at 5pm, we'll return to the Convention Center for NGS check-in that concludes at 7pm.
For those of you who will be sightseeing but wish to meet us downtown, the People, Places and Quilts shop is located in downtown Charleston in an old, neighborhood grocery store at 1 Henrietta St. Take I-26 exit at Meeting St./Visitor info exit… drive along Meeting St. several blocks, turn left onto Henrietta St. (after Charlotte, before Calhoun). The shop is at the end of the block with a small parking lot is next to shop. The address is 1 Henrietta Street, Charleston, SC 29403. (843) 937-9333 Click here for online map

When you RSVP, I'll send you my cell phone number to facilitate communications in Charleston.

Another Casserole Kimono

2011-03-18T05:51:00.000-07:00

So I went exploring today, and discovered the photo of Linda Woodward Geiger's Kimono Casserole Cozy on one of her blogs. Yesterday, we saw Linda's fine quiltmanship with the posting of her 2011 Quilt Block Challenge for SoCal's Jamboree. With today's spotlight, we get an expanded sense of her eye for color.

If you'd like to make one of these darlings its the Casserole Kimono pattern from www.MakingALegacy.com.

You know, when Linda and I made our casserole kimonos, we never could have imagined how our friends in Japan would be experiencing such devastation with the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster during the bitter cold and snowy days of March. How I wish we could stitch up some really warm kimonos to let them know we care.

Quilts have warmed and comforted families for centuries. So have heartfelt prayers.

Jamboree Quilt: Linda Woodward Geiger sends these gems

2011-03-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Today is a GREAT day! Linda Woodward Geiger just sent these pics of her quilt blocks. The story behind them is very precious. Linda writes:

I’ve sent off three quit blocks to Gena Ortega. Now that I’m looking at your Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge instructions, I regret that I do not have a photo of me with the blocks.

I’m attaching images (low resolution, but have high resolution copies if you need them) of the three blocks inspired by my maternal grandmother Alice (Brown) Perkins whom we called Nana Perkins, and my father’s sister, Virginia (Woodward) Smith.

I grew up in rural New Hampshire where I never knew anyone to produce a quilt that was not made from scraps left over from clothing. The backing was generally a sheet and instead of batting, the innards were generally two sheets that had been patched and/or very worn. It wasn’t until I left rural New Hampshire that I learned there were delightful block patterns and that some folks actually purchased fabric just for quilt making and that cotton (and later polyester) batting was available for loft and warmth. Nana Perkins started me off quilting, but we never used a particular pattern or “block design.”

We did pre-determine the size of the squares and the width of piecing strips and the number of square we’d need for a particular project. Our blocks were built from non-descript strips and sometimes with embroidered elements (generally inspired by Aunt Virginia who did lots of hand embroidery and crewel work). The squares I’ve submitted reflect the teachings of the two special women in my life, Nana Perkins and Aunt Virginia.

The first full size quilt I made for my son was a combination of embroidered and appliquéd squares of our favorite things. As I had been taught the back was a sheet and the interior layer was a couple of worn sheet.

So a GREAT BIG THANKS goes out to Linda for contributing these squares for the quilt to to be tied at the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree. One lucky person will receive the quilt which will be raffled off at the June 2011 Jamboree. Funds collected will be used for scholarships to future Jamborees.

McCalls: 10 tips to improve your machine quilting

2011-03-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

McCalls 10 tips...

This just in from our friends at McCalls:

Ready for some machine quilting fun of your own? Check out Jennifer Gigas' 10 Tips to Improve Your Machine Quilting on our website, and join in our quilter March Madness!

For me, the number one thing is to change the needle often. I tend to use #14 sharp for machine quilting.

April Wall Quilt Project

2011-03-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks to ~ Kim Schaefer's Calendar Quilts: 12 Months of Fun, Fusible Projects for providing the pattern and inspiration. April's little umbrella and bright shiny yellow rubber boots is right on the money.

If you upload a pic of your final project to Facebook, be sure and link it to the Genea-Quilter's Group page there. We're dying to see what you've done.

The Design Board at E-Quilter

2011-03-10T03:24:00.000-08:00

One thing I LOVE about eQuilter.com is the drag-n-drop design board. You go through the site picking out various fabrics and adding them to your wish list. Then you click to view your wish list in "design board" mode. You'll find all your fabric swatches in the upper left corner. Drag and drop them where you wish on the white board.

This way you can determine if you like the fabrics together before you purchase them. This is particularly useful when you find fabrics that are not part of a set of companion fabrics.

I am considering remaking my DearMYRTLE quilt banner, though a bit smaller than the 8x2 foot one I use in my design studio. Right now I've decided to eliminate the pink fabric in the upper right, because I I just don't like the tone.

I also ran across the cute multi-colored random dots fabric in the lower right, which looks a lot more interesting for a border sash than the usual pindot in the upper left of my design board.

What do you think about the eQuilter online design board?

March Wall Quilt Project

2011-03-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

This month is a week old today, and I'm just now uploading the sample quilt hanging for the 2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge.

No shamrocks?

I'd add in a few. ::giggle::

What are your fabric choices? I'm working on mine and will let you know. If you upload yours to Facebook, be sure and link it to the Genea-Quilter's Group page there.

Sunbonnet Sue

2011-03-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

You'd think it would be a simple thing to find a Sunbonnet Sue pattern for two of my additions to the 2011 Southern California Jamboree Quilt Block Challenge. I've seen everything from Holly Hobbie-type Sues, to Southern Sues and everything in between.

Finally I located this snapshot from a quilt made by Paula Bundick's grandmother, Alta P. Meador Probasco of Floydada, TX, shown above. "Alta lived to be 93 and 3/4 years old." I guess I like this pattern because of the traditional white background, and the use of yellow sashes between the blocks. I remember the ladies in our Seattle First Ward Relief Society quilting two twin-sized quilts for my room in a similar pattern with the yellow sashes. I couldn't have been more than 5 years of age, so that would put it at about 1955-56.

So I printed the picture, reduced it 50%, then used my lightbox to trace the essential elements. I've printed the resulting pattern on some "June Taylor Ink Jet Printable Freezer Paper" which I purchased at JoAnn's to compare with making my own sheets with real freezer paper. Right now, I'd say the June Taylor paper is very thin, compared to your normal freezer paper

Here are some contenders, if you are also in the hunt and would like to see some of the alternatives I liked:

Crazy Mom Quilts Blog

2011-03-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

Surfing the web for new (to me) quilting blogs is almost as good a shop hopping, and it is a lot less expensive!

Tonight, I discovered Crazy Mom Quilts and her post "Moving on Up." What I like is AmandaJean's admission that what she thought she'd do with her quilt initially was completly different from how it shaped up at the end. The use of the white and various chartruse fabric choices sure blew my mind. I tend to think of traditional colors like Williamsburg blue to go with something like the burgundy and deep rose colored fabrics also in this quilt.

How inspiring!

Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge

2011-02-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

Support the 2012 Scholarship Fund for
The Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree

We need your help to make at least one quilt block in this super-quick, high-profile block challenge.

Deadline: 15 April 2011 (revised!)

We're going to raffle a quilt at the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree on Saturday, 11 June 2011 at the Marriott Burbank Conference Center. Proceeds will be donated to the Society's scholarship fund for the 2012 Jamboree.

Genea-Quilters is sponsoring the block challenge, with the Glendale Quilting Guild's able assistance. All quilters are encouraged to participate by providing blocks. The Glendale Quilting Guild will piece the quilt, safety pin, install binding, then set the quilt up on a frame for tying during the first two days of the 2011 Jamboree. Genea-Quilter Myrt will make individual postings at the Genea-Quilters Blog out of your photos and write-ups. Genea-Quilter Tami will create a .PDF doc, and Genea-Quilter Genea will have the resulting book printed out in full color at her local copy office. The book about the quilt will be given to the winner of the quilt raffle.

The Southern California Genealogical Society will administer the funds, reporting to Genea-Quilters by July 15th about the amount our quilt raised for the scholarship. A panel of both Southern California and Genea-Quilters will review applications for the 2012 Jamboree Scholarship received by 15 October 2011. More information on this process to follow. Scholarship winner will be announced on 1 January 2012.

HERE'S HOW QUILTERS CAN PARTICIPATE

A. Post a comment to this blog entry indicating your participation in this quilting challenge, including the number of blocks you will complete.

B. Choose a quilt block design that reflects your heritage in some way, perhaps the design, or maybe the name of the block itself (i.e., Ohio Star, Road to California, etc).

C. Quilt fabric choices can be from your stash or from new fabrics as you choose. We are going for a muted US Civil War era color scheme, with either dark brown or black for sashes, backing and binding. For color inspiration see: www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-MF-3340-BOM-QK

D. Quilters may submit multiple quilt blocks. However, EACH block submitted must include:

One 8" finished quilt block
Name of quilter and name of quilt block design
Photograph of quilter holding the completed block
Photograph of the quilt block (closeup)
Quilter's small signature in a discrete corner or side of the block. This may be embroidered or written with a thin permanent marker.
A writeup about how your block was chosen and how it relates to your heritage or family history.If you include an ancestral photo of an individual, his home, or a quilt, so much the better.

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

DEADLINE: The quilt blocks, with accompanying photos and write-ups must be in Gena's hands no later than 15 April 2011. No exceptions. See Gena's contact info below.

__ Submit a digital copy of your photo with the block(s) to Myrt.

__ Submit a digital closeup photos of your quilt block to Myrt.

__ Submit a digital writeup of your Name, email address and the writeup about your block(s) to Myrt.

__ Submit a digital copy of any related ancestral photos.

__ Contact Gena Ortega personally for her street address. She is collecting the blocks, and working with Paula Hinkel and the Glendale Quilting Guild to produce the quilt.

__ Print out a copy of the 2 photos and your writeup, to include with your block(s) when you send them to Gena.

__ Make a comment at the Genea-Quilters Blog indicating your block(s) are on their way to Gena.

ONE MORE THING!

Quilters will receive one "free registration" raffle ticket for each quilt block submitted -- to receive free registration at the 2012 Jamboree! AWESOME!

WI: Norwegian Quilt Lecture

2011-02-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

Looks like Mr. Myrt is on the "quilting" wavelength, as he sends the following information from one of his Norwegian genealogy research journals, the Vesterheim Current 23 February 2011.

"Peggy Derrick, Curator at the La Crosse County Historical Society in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Linda McShannock, Collections Curator at the Minnesota Historical Society, will present Two Norwegian Silk Quilts in America at Vesterheim on Sunday, March 13, at 2:00 p.m. in the Gathering Room of the museum's Amdal-Odland Heritage Center at 523 W. Water Street. The program is free and is the final presentation offered in conjunction with Vesterheim's exhibition Pieces of Self: Identity and Norwegian-American Quilts, which is on view through March 20."

For more information about the program, including the family history angle, see:
http://vesterheim.org/events/QuiltLecture.php

Now I should go make Mr. Myrt some of his favorite cookies!

Tina receives a gem from WraggedyPatches' Candice

2011-02-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

Who says it is better to give than receive? :::giggle:::

Tina Sansone is the lucky recipient of this gorgeous quilt. She wrote "I did some family history for my son-in-law's grandparents. His grandmother makes AWESOME Quilts, even has a blog for it. She made me an AWESOME Beautiful Quilt and I received it today. Was so excited and I knew this group would appreciate my happiness. My first Quilt...Thank you Candice Wragg. LOVE IT!" Thanks for posting the picture of this gem on the Genea-Quilters Facebook page.

Another quilt blog? I did a Google Search using "Candice Wragg +quilt" (without quote marks) and found Candice's Wraggedy Patches quilt blog! LOVE that name! The February 16th posting involves getting ORGANIZED. This gal has quite a stash. When you visit Candice's blog, be sure to spot her treasured Featherweight on the top of one of her shelves.

Thanks for sharing the quilt, Tina, so we could learn more about this creative quilter!

Cheryl's firey-hot new quilt

2011-02-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

Looks like Cheryl Fleming Palmer doesn't have too much more work to do on this screaming hot quilt for the Harley enthusiast in her family. Notice the prre-printed rectangles are bordered by wacky shapes, and off-center corner fabrics. Cheryl posted a close-up of her piecing technique:

And speaking of fabrics, Mary Hartmann-Bowden says "I really like that sashing fabric, this is going to be so cool!! Or should I say hot!"

YUP, firey hot! Curling up with Cheryl's "hot new quilt" on one of our a long, cold winter days here in the norther hemisphere is just the ticket for keeping warm.

What have other genea-quilting friends got on the fire? We'd love to have you join us at the Genea-Quilters Facebook page.

Loving Twist on Sunbonnet Sue design

2011-02-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

Patricia Smith takes Sunbonnet Sue to a whole new level with this contribution to the 2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge. Don't you think that is the cutiest little swirly Valentine in Sue's hands? I love the tiny red on white background fabric, as it puts color there without competing with Sunbonnet Sue for attention on this quilt.

AWESOME, and very inspiring, Patricia. Thanks for posting this the Genea-Quilters Facebook page.

February Quilt Project - Way to Go Diane!

2011-02-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

Diane Gianini has completed a MARVELOUS rendition of the February wall hanging from the 2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge. Posted on Diane's Facebook wall, the striking use of printed fabric for the center hearts really jumps out. That fabric is killer, Diane. I've been with you on the shop hop in Knoxville, and think your alternative choice of colors and modified design are marvelous. I just now noticed the lazy heart stippling in the lower right portion of the white field. AWESOME.

Note the "Snoopy" bits of whimsy in the corners. ;)

Darling white on white backing fabric & detail of border stitching.

Diane got really creative. Her machine has some fancy stitches, used to letter the sentimental "Be My Valentine" and the tiny hearts on the border. I am wondering if the silk organza was slippery when doing the machine applique. This quilted wall hanging is a testament to Diane's skill at adapting a design, using color and patterns to create a delightful reminder of the year's most beLOVEd holiday.

SLC Shop Hop: 15 Jan 2011

2011-01-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Just sat at lunch with Kim who suggests we do a little quilt shop hopping on Saturday, 15 Jan 2011. How delightful! We'll meet at the Plaza hotel at 10am, and then head south to the following shops:

Material Girls

1645 Towne Center Drive, South Jordan, UT 84095
(801) 495-4290

This fun little shop just off South Redwood Road is chock full of great fabrics.

Quilts, Etc., 11 East Main Street, Sandy, UT 84070
(801) 255-2666 ‎

This shop has an annex across the street to the south where they've set up several long arm quilting machines, have even more fabric, and a lot of notions. You'll love the 7,500 bolts of fabric and tons of cute patterns.

QuiltingArts: Use scraps for postcards

2010-12-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

Today's email provided the directions from the Quilting Arts Blog for using all those left-over scraps by making them into postcards. A few clicks later, I've found the online version to share with my genea-quilters friends. See: Zap Your Scraps with this Easy Collage Postcard Technique.

Casserole Kimono for Carrie

2010-12-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

You can make this project in about 60-90 minutes -- from cutting to machine quilting. I fell in love with the Casserole Kimono pattern from www.MakingALegacy.com while we were snow-bound in Laramie, Wyoming just after Thanksgiving. Mr. Myrt is so good about going to quilt shops with me! ;)

When I saw this fabric, I just knew this would be for my youngest daughter Carrie. Active in her church work, and busy as a mom and PTA president, Carrie can keep something warm or cold as the case may be. I had to shop around for a 9x13" pan with a clear plastic lid (most are red or blue, that would clash with my fabric choices.) The pattern says this also fits an 8x8" pan, so I guess you'd just fold things in a bit?

The pattern called for batting, but I used Insul-Bright which is needle punched and has "a reflective metalized poly film" just perfect for making pot holders and such. I got mine at my local WalMart, one of the few I've shopped lately that hasn't closed down the fabric department.

Isn't the wooden spoon a great touch?

Wall Hanging for Stacey

2010-12-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

This is the wall hanging I outlined stitched with my good Pfaff Quilt Expressions 4.0. I haven't had much experience stippling, so this panel was a perfect study for me.

Gordon made the quilt hanger -- it took us forever to find the right knobs. I painted it black to match some of the furniture in my daughter Stacey's home, and then finished it with a gloss sealant.

The parts I added:

The dark brown borders. (I thought black would be too dark)
Coordinating rust/cream stripped fabric from the inner border for the backing.

The BEST part was giving my middle daughter something both Gordon and I had made. We had a ball working together on this project.

Stashbooks: Insulated bags

2010-12-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

I've been quietly quilting presents for Christmas -- and since my three daughters internet savvy, (one even blogs!) I cannot say much about what's been cooking in my sewing room. But this blog entry I simply must bring to your attention:

Lunch Bags Are Not Just For Lunches Anymore blog post by Carolyn Aune is sure to inspire your last minute gift giving of the colorful AND useful type!

You'll want to order some heat resistant "insul-fleece" batting. After reading a bit about it, I've ordered some for a casserole carrier I am making for one of my daughters. (OK, the cat is halfway out of the bag. But at least they don't know which one is getting it!) Check out the Meet Insul-Fleece blog posting over at CTPubBlog.For instance, I had the same question as a few others who are just discovering this project -- namely, is there a right or wrong side of the fleece for enhancing the heat resistant properties? The answer...

is NO, there is no right or wrong side. This same blog entry features an 8" x 8" casserole cozy that I think is idea for dressing up your holiday table. (Halfway through the directions, they start calling the project a casserole carrier, but since it has no lid, I don't think that qualifies. The cozy ties in each corner, and isn't at ALL like the larger casserole carrier I'm making that requires a 9" x 13" covered casserole pan for the inside.)

What projects are your working on -- that you can share with the gang?

Find us over on Facebook...

Christmas Quilt Show

2010-11-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

So it is nearing that time of year again -- with Thanksgiving in the US just around the corner, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are not far away.

If you'd like to see some of the entries in the Christmas Quilt Show 2010, head on over to the Insights from SewCalGal's quilt blog and click to view each entry ~ there are 41 thus far.

VIDEO: Sandwich Quilt

2010-10-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

I discovered this video, part of a series from Expert Village, that discusses using washable spray glue as part of sandwiching a quilt in preparation for machine quilting.

Quilt Read: Heart for a Hero by Ed Ditto and Laura D Patrick

2010-10-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Genea-Quilters went on a field trip during the FGS 2010 conference to a quilt store, Mammaw's Thimble Fabric and Quilt Shop and while there my friend Madaleine Laird picked up a book for me. Heart for a Hero by Ed Ditto and Laura D Patrick combines family history, quilting and life as a mother all into one story that ends with a Korean veteran getting the acknowledgment he deserves.

First let me say that I enjoyed this book very much. I typically don't read a lot of fiction but this story speaks to the all too often problem of our veterans not getting the credit they deserve. I don't want to give to much away about the book but this is the story of PJ Hathaway and her life as a mom to two small kids and her talent for quilting. Her life is given a jolt of mystery when a package addressed to her grandmother, who has been dead for years, arrives in the mail. The book is about PJ, her hubsand Ross and her friends discovering who the sender of the package is and why he was important to her grandmother. But it is also the story of two veterans and their sacrifices during the Korean war that included stays in POW camps. There is some family history in the book, but once again I don't want to give away the story too much.

This is a difficult book to read, emotionally. There are descriptions of POW camp life, while not as graphic as it could be it's still hard to read of the experience of these fictional soldiers, that I'm sure must mirror real soldiers. The main character, PJ is experiencing a hard time in her life prior to the arrival of the package. Her difficulties increase as the story goes on. However, her quilting talent allows her to insure that one soldier is given the credit he deserves. Her solution is one that might be something other quilters may want to consider for a favorite cause.

This is a book that I didn't want to put down. I would have liked to have read it in 1 day but ended up taking 2 days, since I had to feed my own children ;).

Heart for a Hero is available through Amazon. This book is published by American Quilter's Society (AQS) Publishing. It is also available from AQS.

VIDEO: 1 Jelly Roll and 1 Layer Cake

2010-10-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

You'll love this short but very sweet video video from the folks at The Missouri Star Quilt Company, www.missouriquiltco.com.

They are using one Jelly Roll and one Layer Cake to come up with this darling quilt.

VIDEO: Honey Buns versus Jelly Rolls

2010-10-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

You'll love this HONEY BUNS video from the folks at The Missouri Quilt Company.

Even Eleanor Burns has sewing room issues

2010-10-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

So you think you've got troubles? One of our favorite quilting gurus, Eleanor Burns shares views of her sewing room, and what she'd like to do to fix things up! She debuts this awesome make-over.

I just wish I had those folks to help me clean out my sewing room. Can you believe that remote-controlled riser to change her cutting table to a sewing table? Very, very kewl.

Fabric Shack in Waynsville, Ohio

2010-10-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Twice we've left Cincinnati without stopping, but this past week, I couldn't resist taking a side road through the country to visit the FABRIC SHACK in Waynesville, Ohio. My sister-in-law took me the first time, and I fell in love -- who wouldn't with the plethora of design books and bolt after bolt of delicious fabrics?

So we stopped -- and I had a blast. Fortunately Gordon is the patient sort (but then I do go to all his woodworking trade shows, showing equal enthusiasm!) Gordon has been known to scour a fabric shop looking for just the right shade of green to go with some Christmas fabric I'd picked out, but I digress.

As I was waiting in line to have my fabric cut, the employee explained that most of their fabric isn't in the store. Much more is available online. So I could hardly wait to get back to the keyboard once we returned to our home in Alexandria, Virginia, to see what's up at the Fabric Shack website.

Their new blog is called QUILT KARMA and its got some interesting postings, though it's only been around since June. They are probably better quilters than they are bloggers, if the number of entries is any criteria for judging. I really like the "curvy" nature of the squares in the Twilight Quilt below, but it could be that this quilt merely strikes a cord since it boasts my favorite color combination of blues and light greens.

Twilight Quilt from the Quilt Karma blog.

Once you've placed things in your shopping cart, you can use the "design wall" to determine your final choices. It seems the better websites offer this option for determining which mix and match options are most pleasing for your project.

I picked up one of those Gypsy Quilter The Gypsy Cutting Gizmo thinking that it will be a time saver. I do a lot of piecing in long stretches, without cutting the thread between pieces. The weight of the gizmo should suffice, and save me the "drudgery" of picking up my seam ripper after every long stretch. Its a silly thing, but I think it may just do the trick.

Fabric Shack99 South Marvin Lake
Waynesville, Ohio 45068

info@fabricshack.com

www.FabricShack.com

LostQuilt.com

2010-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

As genealogists, we have DeadFred.com for reuniting lost photos with family members. LostQuilt.com strives to reunite quilts with their owners.

This problem comes up more than you'd think -- and most instances have to do with items lost by the mail or package service.

Facebook friend and Genea-Quilter Heather Wilkinson Rojo reported that Sue Reich lost 5 of her World War II quilts. The quilts were stolen in transit (Fedex) as they were being returned from a quilt show; the empty box was found in New Jersey. 4 of the quilts are shown in her new book World War II Quilts.

So spread the word about LostQuilt.com and do what we can to preserve the rightful heritage of our fellow quilters' work.

SewBaby.com has got what it takes

2010-09-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

What Auntie or Gramma quilter among us doesn't dream of making a cute quilted comforter for that new baby in the extended family?

SewBaby.com offers patterns, snaps & tools, notions, ePatterns and delightful kid-focused fabrics designed to inspire your next creation.

So be it plush fleece (aren't they divinely soft?), woven cottons with tiny turtles, awesome knits, soft ribs, or something waterproof (always a necessity) check out SewBaby.com.

It's GREEN to shop online ~ saves time, gas, wear and tear on the car (and you!) and more importantly gives you more time in your design studio.

And who doesn't need more time these days?

Quilting & National Parks

2010-09-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

How delightful to see that two of the national parks here in the US offer quilters unique souvenirs - vintage postcard quilt kits.

Above see the 4-postcard quilt kit (add your own borders, batting & backing) we picked up in the gift shop at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on Monday. The kit included four 4x6 inch cotton fabric imprinted with vintage postcard prints already mounted on applique media, directions for using the appliques, a pattern for making a nine-patch quilted wall hanging.

The company behind this venture is Olde America Antiques. They'll have booths 211, 213 & 215 at the 2010 International Quilt Market held in Houston, Texas 30 Oct thru 1 Nov. (That certainly sounds impressive!) I surely hope some Genea-Quilters get to attend. The rest of us will have to settle for this company's wonderful website.

We also picked up a smaller postcard kit from the same company while visiting Zion's National Park on Sunday.

Although Olde America Antiques doesn't have postcard quilt kit designs for each of the national parks, their collection of vintage seasonal, patriotic, children, art nouveau and gardening graphics is impressive. You'll surely find something inspiring.

Why limit the appliques to a wall hanging or carrying bag? How about embellishing a jeans jacket, adding lace, ricrac and trinkets?

OLDE AMERICA ANTIQUES
512 S. 12th Ave.
Bozeman, Montana 59715
USA
(+1) 406-587-0937
NOTE: the contact page on the OAA website is here.

VIDEO: How to Tie a Quilt

2010-09-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you need to whip up a thick, warm comforter. Learning to tie a quilt is useful when using a high loft batting ~ much too thick for hand or machine quilting. Check out this video with CTQuilting's Karen Johnson demonstrating great ideas for getting the job done.

ModaBakeShop.com

2010-09-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Check out ModaBakeShop.com "a division of Moda Fabrics that provides online recipes which you can use with the wide range of Moda Pre-cuts."

What got me immediately was WHY NOT ADD ANCESTOR PHOTOS for one square in each of the color groups on the 14 X 30 inch City Windows "recipe" featured on the home page today?

The fabric manufacturers aren't dumb. They know that pre-cuts made it easy for quilters to purchase an array of mix and match fabrics without having to run all over the quilt shop (unless you want to!)

This website is a brilliant extension of their marketing techniques -- and BOY DO WE BENEFIT. We can have our 'scrap bag' and quilt it too, with the simple-to-follow, step-by-step patterns at this website.

Love those 'Jelly Rolls'!

Deseret News: Grandma makes genealogy quilt

2010-09-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Annaleise Taylor Dearinger who submitted this link via Facebook:

Grandma Makes Genealogy Quilts
By Carma Wadley, Deseret News

and in my searching on that newspaper's website, I discovered:

Stitching quilts & friendship

Harvard University historian to speak about 1857 pioneer quilt

So apparently the craft of quilting is still making news.

AWESOME!

EASY Dresden Plate how-to video

2010-09-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

GOSH, I was just scouring the web, and found this MUCH easier way to create a Dresden Plate design. I had previously used the "freezer paper" method. a GREAT big THANKS to the Missouri Quilt Company.

This is so simple, I think it would be worthwhile to make one up and put it on a fabric carry-all as a gift for one of my daughters for Christmas.

Christine weighs in with her Jan 2011 color choices

2010-09-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Via Facebook from Christine Sharbrough.

The second of our Genea-Quilters has provided a pic of the color choices for the January 2011 wall hanging, part of the 2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge.

Don't you think the fuschia is a great mix with the dark blue background? AWESOME choices, Chris!

See also: My colors ~ January 2011 wall hanging.

Who else has chosen their colors?

It's not to late to get in on this monthly wall hanging challenge!

Portable Design Wall Instructions

2010-09-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

Did you know our friends over at Bella Online have a quilting department? While browsing tonight, I discovered a nifty set of directions for making a portable "design wall" from Bella's Quilting Editor Judie Bellingham. This is a perfect idea for those of us working the 2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project. Several of us have been attempting different color options than specified in the original pattern.

Having a design wall requires a fuzzy fabric covering so the pieces we lay out to look at from different angles can be switched around to arrive at a pleasing design before stitching.

So head on over to Bella, and see what Judie has concocted!
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4336.asp

Dutch Doors & Crazy Quilts

2010-09-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

From WikiPedia we read:

"The term "crazy quilting" is often used to refer to the textile art of crazy patchwork and is sometimes used interchangeably with that term. Crazy quilting does not actually refer to a specific kind of quilting (the needlework which binds two or more layers of fabric together), but a specific kind of patchwork. Crazy quilts rarely have the internal layer of batting that is part of what defines quilting as a textile technique."

Dutch Door - used with permission.

While I didn't inherit a crazy quilt, I remember visiting the elderly lady who lived next door to us on Perkins Lane in Seattle circa 1954. She had a crazy quilt of brilliant satins and black velvet draped across the baby grand piano in her living room. I remember all sorts of fancy hand embroidery stitches holding the pieces together. It was like nothing I'd ever seen.

Just going to visit this woman was a treat. She had a "Dutch Door" which simply fascinated me, particularly since my parents espoused an affection for the mid-century modern. I'd never seen such a door, and initially thought it was broken.

She also had a full-sized harp, and lampshades with all sorts of tassels and trims hanging down. I wasn't more than 5 years old, because we moved over to a home on Lake Washington by 1st grade. But my recollections of our neighbor's wildly colorful, crazy patched quilt still stick with me.

(I was always afraid that harp would fall over on me!)

Rag Quilt Video

2010-09-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

With the cooler weather coming on, you might be interested in making a quick and easy "rag quilt".

As I was searching the web (for comic relief as I'm currently tending 4 grandchildren for 2 nights!) I came across this great video on YouTube - Rag Quilt Video from Beverly's. You can also download the written directions. I prefer to do my rag quilts in long strips, but these directions are fine.

My colors ~ January 2011 wall hanging

2010-09-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

OK, so I thought if I've just set-up the 2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge, the least I could do is get started on January 2011's entry, so that I can take it easy in December with all the planned holiday events. I thought about purchasing the fabric combination suggested, but ended up using these scraps from my sewing room. (Imagine that!)

These colors reflect my preference for various shades of aquamarine. I think the light background is much like the air on a snowy day.

So far, six of us have committed to the 2011 wall hanging challenge.

I'm wondering what colors you've chosen. Drop me a line, or upload a pic of your color swatches to our Genea-Quilters Facebook page.

2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge

2010-09-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

Whilst on our 1st Semi-Annual Genea-Quilters Field Trip to Mamaw's Thimble & Quilt Shop last month in Knoxville, Tennessee, I picked up this kewl pattern booklet and full-size patterns ~ Kim Schaefer's Calendar Quilts: 12 Months of Fun, Fusible Projects. I am not usually into fusible quilt projects, but see this as a way to make 12 wall hangings to brighten a corner of my kitchen dining area.

HERE'S THE CHALLENGE:

1. Order your own set of the pattern. (It is a little over $12 at Amazon today.)

2. Create each monthly wall hanging by the 1st of the month in question. (January's needs to be completed 1 January).

3. Submit a pic of you with each month's completed project to me so it can be added to our Calendar Quilts Hall of Fame that will appear in this blog.

4. Have fun!

What say ye, fellow Genea-Quilters?

This may be the first time I'll actually complete a quilt project and keep it! (I am prone to giving each quilt away!).

Bookshelf: A People & Their Quilts

2010-09-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

One of the Federation of Genealogical Society 2010 Conference evening events was a trip to the Museum of Appalachia for some down home cooking and delightful music. We strolled through the collection of old log cabins (purchased and moved there by curator and historian John Rice Irwin). We felt like we were getting closer to an understanding of a bit of the Tennessee history. We chose to walk throughout the park, as the music was carried by the summer breeze to the blacksmith shop, and various display barns on the museum grounds.

During our tour we discovered this woman demonstrating hand quilting, until the light grew to dim to continue. She sat just outside a small log cabin, where she had draped some smaller quilts on the porch rail.

On our arrival at the Museum shop, I had occasion to meet Mr. Irwin, and I picked up his book A People and Their Quilts. More than a book about quilt patterns, it is about the people who made the quilts. John visited with quilters in far away spots throughout Appalachia, and tells the story of their lives and how quilts figure in. I spent every spare moment reading about the quilters in John's book, during the week that followed FGS.

John writes "When a person admires the beauty, art, and workmanship of a quilt he surely wonders about its background, the people who made it and the location and type of home from which it came. Yet it is often impossible to learn anything about the history of old quilts."

Perhaps that is the lure -- the reason we love old quilts.

Even those who don't quilt can clearly see the tiny hand stitching, and marvel at the patterns and designs.

Quilt in a Day

2010-09-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

One of the most influential quilters in my life is Eleanor Burns who invented the "Quilt in a Day" process. Since I was a young mother, with little extra time for sewing, Eleanor's shortcuts inspired me to quickly assemble my first log cabin quilt, in the days before we had rotary cutters. (I am STILL hand quilting it though, but I digress!)

El' offers a free pattern for a nifty and cute APPLE A DAY bag, a green alternative for shopping quilters. This is something our friends in California will need if the initiative to outlaw plastic bags is passed.

With Halloween coming up next month, perhaps you'd like Eleanor's Pumpkin Grins pattern. Diane Giannini (who won those two Halloween patterned fabrics at the 1st Semi-Annual Genea-Quilters Raffle at Knoxville last month) might make note! Just what you need, Diane, another quilt project, eh? LOL!

I've got Eleanor's large Flying Geese ruler, but have yet to use it. Looking for the right fabric I guess.

Eleanor's even got her own Facebook page. Check it out!

Quilting Arts & the role of non-traditional quilt projects

2010-08-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite reads is Quilting Arts Magazine, as it reflects my more recent interest in bold color combinations and non-traditional quilt patterns.

Don't get me wrong ~ I appreciate the intricacies of a Baltimore Album Quilt. Be sure to see the online quilt exhibit at the Maryland Historical Society website with some prime examples.

Maybe I'm just not that disciplined anymore. (Was I ever?!) Or maybe I am just spreading wings to embrace non-traditional fiber art. For years I've hid behind my old-fashioned black-and-white DearMYRTLE logo, but I recently updated my blog to include a wacky background design.

I still see quilts as precious family heirlooms - evidence of the creativity and skill of the women (and some few men) who quilted.

When it comes to my own work of late, I tend to play around with color. I am influenced by the trip to Alaska this spring where the Native totems offer bold design elements in my sketch book. Batik fabrics intrigue me.

Where once I used to piece by machine and hand quilt, I am now poised to do more machine quilting with the new Pfaff Quilt Expressions my husband purchased for me last fall. It is so much easier than just lowering the feed dogs on my old Singer. We set up a sewing center in the daylight basement of our home out west, complete with a 4x6 foot, 38-inch high cutting table. (Read that no more back aches!) We also created a sunny, bright upstairs sewing room at our townhouse in Virginia. Gordon had to remove a few battlefield maps, and he even understood I'd prefer the shocking pink office chair to a black leather model from Staples for my new sewing space.

I never cease to be amazed by the gorgeous quilts our ancestresses created, totally by hand in less than ideal conditions. I've been reading a book about Appalachian quilters, and have seen pictures of their quilt frames suspended from the ceiling. Their projects could be rolled up when not in use. Isn't setting up space for quilting projects a big problem for any generation?

High tech for previous generations brought the advent of a foot-pedal sewing machine. But no amount of mechanization can replace the creativity of color choices and patterns.

The concept of quilting bees is something I believe all to many 21st century quilters may be overlooking. Women getting together ~ quilting, talking, sharing ~ all great elements offered by quilting bees. Historically quilting bees were a socially accepted break from routine. Sharing squares, making quilts for church fund-raisers and wedding presents -- so much of a woman's social life revolved around this creative artistic outlet.

Maybe the enthusiasm to be together quilting -- even if virtually -- is why the Genea-Quilters Facebook page and this blog have become so popular in just two weeks of existence.

So what are the driving forces behind your quilt work?

What's Your Favorite Quilt Read?

2010-08-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

I love quilt books. I even have some that mix genealogy with quilting. My favorite quilt magazine is Quilter's Home. This magazine is fun and has great articles. It's very different than your everyday quilt magazine.

My favorite quilt books are those that involve the state quilt documentation projects. One example is North Carolina Quilts. These books are great because they not only tell the history of quilts in that state but they include the maker's photograph and bio. These are a great genealogical source for finding information on women's lives.

So what is your favorite quilt read?

FGS 2010: Genea-Quilters Field Trip pic

2010-08-17T18:07:00.001-07:00

We've gone.
We've shopped
We even learned the Quilters' Theme Song.

If you twist our arms, we'll sing it for ya!

#FGS2010 Genea-Quilters Field Trip INFO

2010-08-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

WHERE
Mammaw's Thimble Fabric & Quilt Shop
4028 Papermill Drive NW
Knoxville, Tennessee 37909

From downtown Knoxville, take I-40 west to Papermill, turning a sharp right at the exit. 2/3 of the way there you'll pass a school on the right. About 20 blocks on the right you'll find the innocuous strip mall on your right. MawMaw's is about 2/3 of the way down the line of businesses.

WHEN
5pm Tuesday, 17th August 2010

CARPOOL
I'll be leaving the front of the Hilton Hotel, 501 West Church Avenue, Knoxville at 5:05 pm.

OTHER SCHEDULED ITEMS

Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010 - APG Professional Management Conference, 8:30am - 5pm. at the Hilton, Salon AB on the BR level (one of the FGS conference hotels.)
Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010 - FGS Conference Registration 3-6pm, Knoxville Convention Center.
Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010 - OUR FIELD TRIP to MawMaw Thimbles 5pm.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 - APG Roundtable, 7-9pm
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 - ProQuest Librarian's Day.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 through 21 August 2010 - FGS Conference at the Knoxville Convention Center.

#FGS2010 Genea-Quilters Raffle INFO

2010-08-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Be sure to stop by the Fairfax Genealogical Society's booth #613 in the exhibit hall at the Knoxville Convention Center Thursday (doors open at 9:30am) through Saturday Noon (when we have our drawing!) to examine the three prizes in our Genea-Quilters 1st Semi-Annual Raffle. Buy raffle tickets:

$2 each
10 for $10
20 for $15

OUR DRAWING will be held at noon on Saturday at the booth -- while we're doing our FAT QUARTER SHARE!

Exhibit Hall Hours - Map

Wednesday: (set-up only; not open to the public)
Thursday, August 19, 9:30am - 5:00pm
Friday, August 20, 12:00pm - 7:00pm Due to banquet being on Thursday night, Friday night will be EXHIBIT HALL NIGHT.
Saturday, August 21, 9:00am - 5:00pm

3rd PRIZE
Six fat-Quarters shown below -- enough to do a mini-wall hanging, a quilted bag or embellish a vest. Value $15. ( I am piecing a quilt out of these companion fabrics. Great hand, gorgeous colors and snazzy patterns! I think you'll love this combination, too!)

2nd PRIZE
Snap Happy II Pattern for a cute little bag that snaps closed by using part of a carpenter's metal measuring tape. No raw seams, and has an inside pocket and a boxed bottom. Whip several up with the combination of brights (1 each fat quarter in orange and an orange/blue polka dots) or traditionals (1 each fat quarter prints in green, larger multiprint, burgundy, gold and navy) as shown below! Value: $25.

GRAND PRIZE
11th Edition 2010-2012 Quilters' Travel Companion ($19.95 value) 2 yards each pink flannel (one polka dots, one animal print); 2 yards each Halloween Prints (candy corn & Boo!); 3 fabric-covered book marks ($12.50 value); Summer Song mix 'n' match fat 1/8ths (pinks, oranges & bright greens). Total Value $125.

And just HOW to do you get Genea-Quilter's name badge? Visit Fairfax Genealogical Society's booth #613 on the side wall in the Exhibit Hall, buy some raffle tickets, and get the tag to attach to your conference badge. Otherwise, I'll also have a few to hand out as I see you at the APG-PMC and other events during the week.

You need NOT be present to win, but you must claim your prize by 3pm on Saturday 21 August 2010 at the Fairfax Genealogical Society Booth #613 as noted above.

How to Bind a Quilt: 12 NEW Quilt Binding and Finishing Methods for Your Art Quilts - Quilting Arts

2010-08-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

HALF the battle to actually FINISHING that quilt or wall hanging is figuring out how to do the binding. Here's the link to a free e-book from our friends at QuiltingArts.com chock full of ideas for getting the job done.

How to Bind a Quilt: 12 NEW Quilt Binding and Finishing Methods for Your Art Quilts - Quilting Arts

It's a quick, FREE 2.3 MB download, and your Acrobat Reader will open in this colorful book in a jiffy. So if you are into a bias tape mitered edge, plan on using the backing as the frame, or are dealing with a non-traditional "arsty" shaped wall hanging, this book is for you. They've even got one project where the quiltis mounted on a stretcher frame as if it were an oil painting.

These folks at Quilting Arts Magazine think outside the box.

Luana's Color Ideas from Italy at eQuilter Studio

2010-08-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

We don't live in a black & white world, and sometimes you've just got to go wild -- hold nothing back.

If you are on the fence, then you'll probably love this EQuilter.com's video featuring Luana Rubin on Quilting Arts TV about using inspiration from your surroundings to determine colors for your next few projects.

Tell me, what do you think of Luana's studio? Don't those bright colors get your creative juices flowing?

Across our sewing table - 12 August 2010

2010-08-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

Thank-you for sharing your photos of family tree quilts, old timey-quilts ~ each a treasure created by loving hands. Some of you are pretty darned good quilters, too!

These folks who posted links via Facebook or email :

Roger Moffat sends a link to his Family History Quilting, about a quilt made for his Aunt Jean's 70th birthday. Note the joint effort of quilters, scanning, photo printing, etc.
Leslie Ann sends a link to her Treasure Chest Thursday -- The Salt Lake City 14th Ward Album Quilt, 1857 posted at her Lost Family Treasures blog.
Heather Wilkinson Rojo sent the link to this year's Lowell Quilt Festival starting 12 Aug 2010.

These folks posted photos of quilts by uploading them to our Genea-Quilters group on Facebook.

Gena Philibert Ortega uploaded a pic of her multi-fabric & well-stitched Crazy Quilt
Becky Jamison posed with her family photo quilt showing every member of her family from grandchildren to her grandparents. Love those colors, too Becky!
Tami Glatz uploaded a shot of her family tree quilt made for her Dad, reporting that her sister embroidered the names and dates on all the leaves.
Tami Glatz also included a link to her public Picasa Web Album of quilts. You'll find a heart applique quilt made for the wedding of one of Caitie's friends, a baby quilt for Linda's 2nd baby, an Attic Windows baby Quilt for one of Caitie's Swiss babysitters (I'll volunteer to sit!), a delightful Christmas Tree Quilt, a collaboration quilt (look for the "spools" in one of the squares!), and a whimsical Cat Puzzle Quilt using reproduction prints. This girl can quilt!
Frenette Brown got busy laying out her heirloom quilts and taking pics of them. See the quilt made in 1957 for her wedding by her grandmother. She had to pack this up because her son took the quilt to the beach, of all places!
Frenette Brown included a quilt made by her grandmother, a modified Bear Claw design that looks like little May baskets of pink flowers on a field of lavender.
Frenette Brown explains the 1915 North Georgia multi-pieced star patch quilt was made by her great-grandmother. "This may be the oldest one I have, and the black fabric is rotten. Don't guess it could be fixed, but I have saved it - love the design. [...] It was made by my Great-grandmother, who raised my Father and his 2 siblings after his Mother died. This was in North Georgia, probably around 1915."
Frenette Brown shared a predominately Yellow and Lavendar Rose Quilt -- all hand stitched.
Frenette Brown also added the Tufted Blue & White bedspread shown in the upper right. She explains "This may not be of interest to quilters, but maybe to historians on bedspreads. Dalton, GA. was the start of tufted spreads, A woman invented the single-needle tufting machine- lot of women had one in their homes and sewed designs printed on the sheeting supplied by a company, or made their own. This was made by my Mother. This led to machines with many tufting needles, and eventually to carpet-making, and Dalton is considered the 'Carpet Capital of the World' now."

I'm CERTAINLY interested, Frenette, and I am sure other Genea-Quilters will be as well. I never knew about the tufting patterns and the printed patterned sheet tufting kits. Very kewl!

By the time I was a little girl, one could purchase these tufted spreads. Mine was white on white, and I had one for each of the twin beds in my room. They replaced the yellow "Sunbonnet Sue" quilts my mother had made for me by the local Relief Society. I remember walking under the quilt frames as the ladies did the hand quilting.

Somehow I'll try to keep up with posting the links to things people share with me privately or publicly. Folks have written to ask if hand tatting or crocheted heirlooms might be added to the mix. I say YES! What a wonderful way to honor the handiwork of our ancestors.

1st Semi-Annual Genea-Quilters Raffle @FGS2010

2010-08-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

FOR DETAILS of the #FGS2010 raffle, click here.

WHAT would you like to see in the Genea-Quilters 1st semi-annual raffle?

Visit EQuilter.com

A new rotary cutter?

A sought after quilt book?

Fabric brights or pastels?

An cache of fat quarters?

Fabric for Halloween? Christmas? New Years?

What about a gift card to use at your favorite fabric store?

A pack of ink-jet printer fabric for photo transfers?

A subscription to your favorite quilting magazine?

Give me some ideas, and I'll try to make most of it happen for the 1st semi-annual Genea-Quilters Raffle at FGS 2010 Knoxville next week, building up to the 2nd semi-annual Genea-Quilters Raffle at NGS in the spring.

How to Make Photo Memory Quilts

2010-08-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a smattering of suggestions for making photo quilts like the one I made my Dad for his 70th birthday.

How to Make Photo Memory Quilts (from HowtoDoThings.com)
Make a Photo Transfer Quilt (from Essortment.com)
C Jenkins Miracle Fabric Sheets (with directions & photos of the creation process for how to use them!)
June Taylor Colorfast Fabric Sheets for Ink Jet Printers (See also her tips & trick, though I don't recommend the "Iron On" transfers.
How to Print on Fabric with Computer Printer (from Tipnut.com, where basically you make your own fabric sheets for your printer using freezer paper and 200+ thread count fabric)
Photos on Fabric Ideas, Projects & Supplies (from Quiltbug.com, includes supplies)
Instructions for making Computer Printer Fabric (another freezer paper idea)
Quilting and fabric printing basics (from our friends at HP - that's right, the printer and computer company.)

If you'd like someone else to make the memory quilt here is a suggestion. I don't know these folks, but their website looks pretty good.

QuiltStories.com (by Sandi, with lots of completed quilts on display! They will make a personal web page for you, so you can help them arrange the photo layout, select your basic color scheme, etc.)

FGS Conference - Genea-Quilters field trip & fat quarter share

2010-08-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

OK, Gang! Let's meet up ~ just before our annual FGS Conference next week!

FIELD TRIP
I know of a great shop in Knoxville -- Mammaw's Thimble Fabric & Quilt Shop. Gordon and I shopped there during our honeymoon on our way to FGS-Little Rock last summer. It is located in an innocuous strip mall about ten minutes from the Knoxville Convention Center. I think you'll agree that the owner is a kick, and she has some GREAT fabric collections.

We will meet Tuesday the 17th at the front of the ~~Knoxville Convention Center~~ Hilton Conference Hotel, 501 West Church Avenue, Knoxville at ~~noon~~ 5pm. I have enough room in my bright red GMC Envoy for 4 riders. If we have more takers, perhaps someone else can drive as well. We will be gone 3 2 hours, and be back in time ~~to pick up our FGS registration materials when the desk opens at 3pm.~~ to attend the 7-9pm APG Roundtable.

Here's the schedule for the APG, Librarian's Day & FGS Conference schedules, in case you are worried about a conflict with your genealogy-related events for the week.

Tuesday ~~Wednesday~~, 17 18 Aug 2010 - APG Professional Management Conference, 8:30am - 5pm. at the Hilton, Salon AB on the BR level (FGS Confernce Hotel) - Ooops! The FGS conference brochure was incorrectly listed this event for 18 Aug on page 16.
Tuesday 17 Aug 2010 - FGS Conference Registration 3-6pm, Knoxville Convention Center.
Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010 - OUR FIELD TRIP to MawMaw Thimbles!
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 - APG Roundtable, 7-9pm
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 - ProQuest Librarian's Day.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010 through 21 August 2010 - FGS Conference
Thursday, 19 August 2010 - Exhibit Hall opens at the Knoxville Convention Center.

FAT QUARTER SHARE
Even if you cannot go on the field trip, you CAN participate in our first semi-annual Genea-Quilters Fat Quarter Share. We will hold the share in the vendor hall on Saturday, 21 Aug 2010 in the FGS Exhibit Hall at the Nashville Convention Center just BEFORE the drawing to see who wins the raffle! I've just got to find a vendor who is willing to share a tiny bit of space with our group!

RAFFLE TICKETS
Purchase a raffle ticket from Ol' Myrt at FGS to win a basket of quilting supplies. The drawing will be held on Saturday, 21 Aug 2010 in the FGS Exhibit Hall at the Nashville Convention Center as we finish up the Genea-Quilters Fat Quarter Share. Proceeds repay the donor and go toward the next raffle, to be held at NGS. If we work this right, as the years go on, the raffle prize could include some really great stuff!

What haven't I thought of yet?

Honor Your Ancestor: Share her quilt

2010-08-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

Kansas Troubles

Got an heirloom quilt to share?

Want to be a contributor to this blog?

Wish to honor an ancestor & tell the story of his/her quilt?

Just drop us a line or join us on Facebook.

Dad's 88th Birthday Quilt

2010-08-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

This is the quilt I made for dad for his 88th birthday, 15 Sept 2006. He already had everything, and he LOVES family. That is a picture of Dad and Blanche in the middle. Scattered around are appliques of each of their children and grandchildren. I arranged them in family groups.

Little did I realize that Dad would request we look at the quilt whenever we knew a family member would come by for a visit. He said he was afraid he'd forget who was who, and he wanted to be able to ask real questions in his conversations. "So they know that I love them!"

Blanche died the day after Christmas 2006, and then Dad died 28 Sept 2008.

I never dreamed I'd inherit this quilt so quickly.

WELCOME quilters!

2010-08-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

We're excited to develop this new group for genealogists who also love quilting.

What sorts of activities do you think we could do -- long distance, and at regional and national genealogy conferences?

The Facebook page for this group will open shortly.

Genea-Quilters

Easy Fabric Resist Techniques: New eBook

Quilting Valentine Hearts Using Charm Packs

Underground Railroad Quilts

1812 Quilt Progress

1812 Preserve the Pensions Quilt Project is ON

1812 Preserve the Pensions Quilt

A Visit to Springfield Illinois quilt shop during FGS 2011 Conf in Sept

2011 GeneaQuilters Jamboree Quilt Winner

2011 Jamboree Quilt is nearing completion

Jamboree 2011 Quilt Challenge Blocks

Leah Day's free-motion quilting tutorials

Fons and Porter: free pattern book with e-newsletter sign-up

Jo Arnspiger's Confederate – Mississippi Flag pattern

Free Motion Quilting Suggestions from Cracy Mom Quilts

National Quilting Day, Saturday 19 March 2011

April Layher's Pride of Ohio Block

2011 NGS Charleston Genea-Quilters Field Trip

Another Casserole Kimono

Jamboree Quilt: Linda Woodward Geiger sends these gems

McCalls: 10 tips to improve your machine quilting

April Wall Quilt Project

The Design Board at E-Quilter

March Wall Quilt Project

Sunbonnet Sue

Sunbonnet Sue Pattern Page

Sunbonnet Sue: Free Quilt Pattern

Sunbonnet Sue from FreeApplique

Crazy Mom Quilts Blog

Genea-Quilters 2011 Block Challenge

WI: Norwegian Quilt Lecture

Tina receives a gem from WraggedyPatches' Candice

Cheryl's firey-hot new quilt

Loving Twist on Sunbonnet Sue design

February Quilt Project - Way to Go Diane!

SLC Shop Hop: 15 Jan 2011

QuiltingArts: Use scraps for postcards

Casserole Kimono for Carrie

Wall Hanging for Stacey

Stashbooks: Insulated bags

Christmas Quilt Show

VIDEO: Sandwich Quilt

Quilt Read: Heart for a Hero by Ed Ditto and Laura D Patrick

VIDEO: 1 Jelly Roll and 1 Layer Cake

VIDEO: Honey Buns versus Jelly Rolls

Even Eleanor Burns has sewing room issues

Fabric Shack in Waynsville, Ohio

LostQuilt.com

SewBaby.com has got what it takes

Quilting & National Parks

VIDEO: How to Tie a Quilt

ModaBakeShop.com

Deseret News: Grandma makes genealogy quilt

Stitching quilts & friendship

EASY Dresden Plate how-to video

Christine weighs in with her Jan 2011 color choices

Portable Design Wall Instructions

Dutch Doors & Crazy Quilts

Rag Quilt Video

My colors ~ January 2011 wall hanging

So far, six of us have committed to the 2011 wall hanging challenge.

I'm wondering what colors you've chosen. Drop me a line, or upload a pic of your color swatches to our Genea-Quilters Facebook page.

2011 Monthly Wall Quilt Project Challenge

Bookshelf: A People & Their Quilts

Quilt in a Day

Quilting Arts & the role of non-traditional quilt projects

What's Your Favorite Quilt Read?

FGS 2010: Genea-Quilters Field Trip pic

#FGS2010 Genea-Quilters Field Trip INFO

#FGS2010 Genea-Quilters Raffle INFO

How to Bind a Quilt: 12 NEW Quilt Binding and Finishing Methods for Your Art Quilts - Quilting Arts

Luana's Color Ideas from Italy at eQuilter Studio

Across our sewing table - 12 August 2010

1st Semi-Annual Genea-Quilters Raffle @FGS2010

How to Make Photo Memory Quilts

FGS Conference - Genea-Quilters field trip & fat quarter share

Honor Your Ancestor: Share her quilt

Dad's 88th Birthday Quilt

WELCOME quilters!