I have had the honor of finishing a couple of quilt tops made by my good friend Verna, who sadly passed away in 2013. The quilts have gone to her daughter Kat as wonderful family heirlooms. 
Happy 4th! 

When ever I work on a quilt, I have the person in mind whom I am making it for. This quilt was a little different in that I made it in memory of a special person.This is an old quilt pattern called Robbing Peter to Pay Paul but I call it Big Red. I started it about 8 years ago as a project to take along when I traveled - it took me that long to hand applique all those half-square circles to solid fabric squares. Whenever we took a trip back to Rhode Island to visit my inlaws Wil and Phyl out came Big Red. 

When Wil and Phly came to visit us in Raleigh out came Big Red as we sat on our deck watching the birds. Wil (my father-in-law) would always watch me sewing and say "I don't know how you have the patience to do that". So every time I worked on Big Red I would think of Wil. Unfortunately he suffered a stroke in January of 2007, and I took Big Red with me when I sat with him and Phyl at the hospice where he passed peacefully away in March.

It is hard to believe that he had been gone from us for 5 years now, but I can still hear that laugh.
We miss you, Wil.

I don't know what there is about cats and quilters, but every quilt studio needs a cat or two. Sammy is now discovering the joys of my sewing room...he is fascinated with all of my gadgets, especially my bobbins. I now have to put all the dangers away, and there are quite a few in my sewing room. It is like having a toddler around. 

I have been busy finishing up my Primitive Gatherings "Folk Album" wool quilt. It has been a pleasure working on this for the past 3 years (no - really, I am not kidding). I love hand-appliqueing with wool, especially these beautiful hand-dyed wools. I decided that because all of the applique was done by hand, it deserved to finished off with hand-quilting. It was worth all the work - it really is beautiful.

I have also finished machine quilting a Carolina Lily quilt for Tamah, which came our really nice.

Last but not least here are some updated pics of Kip and Sam, who are having the best time together.

It's that time of year when Mocha and Buddy's collars start to look worn out. I love to look through my stash to find the perfect fabric to suit their personalities. I make them new dogs collars once a year using a kit called Playful Pet Collars from Love the Fabric. It come with easy to follow directions and all the hardware you need to make a couple of dog collars and a cat collar. Here are my favorite models (as long a you have a treat in your hand they will do anything) wearing their new collars.

And now to the quilt...I was making this wallhanging from a Jane Sassaman Garden Diva fabric that I fussy cut and arranged to my liking. I was delighted that it was also to my daughter Sara's liking. My kids see me making so many quilts and don't often comment on them. So when Sara said she liked this one I was more that happy to give it to her for her new apartment.

It has been a busy spring with helping Craig transplant tomato seedlings and quilting. Here are a few things that I have completed since my last post (I feel like I am in confession). I have made a few custom quilts as well as some gifts and did some machine quilting for clients.

I blogged about Vintage Pink Churn Dash quilt back in May. I donated it to the Capital Quilter guild, to be auctioned at their Heritage Day Quilt Auction taking place October 2nd. 

I was pleased and surprised to find out that it won 3rd place in the viewers' choice awards at theCapital Quilters Guild meeting last night. I knew it would be loved by someone but never expected it to win a prize! 
Elizabeth Ginder, who pieced this quilt about 70 years ago, is up there smiling along with me!

The Heritage Day Auction in Raleigh, NC is a wonderful way to buy amazing quilts at great prices. The proceeds go to Military Mission in Action. This is a locally based, non-profit organization that provides housing and household improvements for disabled veterans. Last year the Capital Quilters Guild raised $11,000 for this organization by auctioning off quilts made and donated by members of the guild.  I am so proud to belong to a quilting guild with so much talent, expertise and compassion.

This quilt started out to be a baby quilt, but it is perfect as a smaller wall hanging. I fused and machine appliqued the birds, and machine quilted it with a small stipple. It is so cute, if I do say so myself.

I finished my bird quilt and sent it off to Leigh and Ann in Oregon. It is a house warming present. I haven't seen their new house yet but hopefully we will get to visit.

The past few weeks I have been finishing up some long overdue UfO's and using up some of my fabric stash.
This colorful kids quilt was an easy stack and wack pattern, it was a good way to use up fabric that I have had for years.
The blue lap quilt was done with a crazy eights pattern
The green and pink baby quilt is an easy four patch. I made it for my daughter's friend's new baby.

Tyler's quilt is finally finished. I am really pleased with it. Happy Birthday Tyler!
I quilted the outer border in a kind of wave and water design.