California Baby II - Back of California Baby II

California Baby - I took classes using the techniques in Alex Anderson's Keep Quilting. When our CA daughter had a baby I thought this pattern might work for the materials she picked. The fabrics were really difficult for me to work with and I bought many added fabrics to try to make it work. It's one of the most expensive quilts I've made because I made so many changes! The backing is minky. It's a good thing bright colors are nice for babies ! (I made California Baby II with just some of the leftovers and fabrics I couldn't use)

Fuzzy Wuzzy Ribbons - My sister-in-law was just diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38. I made this quilt for her to hopefully lend her some support during chemo and surgery. It is made with flannels and homespuns and then chenilled. Since I'm over 600 miles away, I wanted to do something special to remind her that my thoughts and prayers are with her and my brother. Plus, pink is her very most favorite color!

Botanicals & Butterflies - This was a 2006 BOM from Silver Linings Originals. The flowers, etc. are paper pieced and then appliqued onto the background. The kits she sent were perfect! It was a lot of fun but took me 3 years to make.

2006 Block Exchange Quilt - The flying geese in the quilt were from a "block exchange".

Triple Treat - I bought these fabrics as a kit from a shop in Minnesota. I quilted Maple and Oak leaves into the blocks by copying the designs onto tracing paper and removing the paper after the quilting was finished. I also stipled around the leaves in clear thread. The backing of the quilt contains the leftover pieces from the front along with a multi-colored batik. I'm very happy with the results!

Ye Ole Fishing Hole - My brother is a fisherman BIG time. So I bought this fish fabric with him in mind but wanted something with a round pattern to create fishing hole theme. Had bought the Circle Magic template a long time ago and had messed up my first try with it so it sat collecting dust. I found a pattern in Fons and Porter Magazine giving tips on the Circle Magic Pattern so I got brave and tried again. It came together great but didn't have enough fish fabric for each block so threw in navy. Used fannel instead of batting- looks thin, drapes great but very heavy for those Iowa winters. He LOVES it.

Christina is College Bound - I recently took a class from J. Michelle Watts. She taught us to draw, cut and make our own stencils then to use paintsticks to apply the stenciled pattern to the fabric. I had a ball. Since my granddaughter has just graduated from high school and is heading to Arizona State University, this was a perfect time to use the technique learned. So I set out to produce the "Sparky" mascot into a quilt. I was able to draw the sparky, from another picture. Then made the stencil. I used paintsticks for his body, then used the sewing machines decorative stictching features to completely fill in the pitchfork, and his face. It was fun and I was very proud of the final result. This is a reversible quilt, I used the Cotton Theory to quilt it, one side is done in the rail fence pattern 12" finished blocks intersperesed with solid maroon or gold 12" blocks. The other side is made of simple 12" blocks of alternating colors. Sparky is placed prominently in the middle.

Becky's Paisley Star - Since Becky and her hubby had built their house, I thought the carpenter's wheel would be the perfect pattern for them. The fabric colors would work for her livingroom or bedroom. The block was made with squares and quarter triangles. Very easy to piece. I free motion quilted first time playing with feathers. Also learned print fabric wasn't a place to showcase quilting so I didn't do feathers in the paisley borders. Instead since the backing was the cream fabric I quilted reverse lettering so from the back, she could read "For my sister, Becky With Love, your sister Cindy" Thought that was clever of me. ha ha

IOWA SUMMER NIGHTS - I made this for my sister, Amy. Background fabric was green or navy stars on cream. Couldn't decide which so I made the stars navy & green to let the viewer decide if background was green or navy. Once finished, I was reminded of our summer nights in Iowa growing up. Us laying in the grass after chasing fireflies, looking at the stars and waiting for a falling star to make a wish. I free motion quilted large loop de loo with stars scattered in. In the sashing, I created a way to do continuous line of stars. Easy and fun to make.

Welcome Spring - Together with five quilting friends had an informal workshop with another friend who had taken Louisa Smith's "Strips and Curves" class. Chose a batik for my "focus fabric" that had areas of aqua and light green with large splotches of purple because I had a lot of fabrics in those color ranges. It was a really new experience working with fabrics in that way and lots of fun.

The Gate - This quilt incorporates piecing, trapunto, applique and dimensional applique techniques. It was inspired by the wrought iron gate in the archway of Trinity Hopsital Alms Houses in England. It's been in-work for two years.

The Gardeners Journal

Oriental Sunrise - Begun in a class, this quilt is being raffled off for Relay for Life in Shippensburg, PA, June 14, 2009.

Wagon Wheel I - This was started in a class with Ruth McDowell. It was designed from a photo taken by my husband who is an amature photographer.

Barrett Quilt - This quilt was made by Susan Barrett in 1855 for her own 80th birthday. She is my great great great great grandmother. Lineage: Susan Barrett 1775-1881 Sally Barret Cortright Dean 1799 - 1889 Sylvia Barrett Cortright McArthur 1821 - ? Julia Ann McArthur Peck 1858 -1923 Carrie Peck Tiedeman 1880 - 1975 Donald Tiedeman 1919 - Suzanne Tiedeman Cubberley 1954 -

Quilt for Brian

Flying Colors Flying Geese - This quilt was made using the folded one-seam flying geese method. It is made from Ricky's hand-dyed fabrics.