First Annual On-Line Quilt Show...My Favorite Quilt

April 2005

My dear friend Mary loves butterflies. It just so happened that my DH had given me the

book "Butterflies of North America' by Jeffery Glassberg for my birthday, which I truly love. That is when the idea began to form. I incorporate a few of the butterflies from his book to the quilt using embroidery method. Mary did not know I was doing this for her. It was a nice surprise for her. *smile*

Now, be sure visit Park City Girl's blog, and enjoy all the wonderful display of quilts participating in the festival.

Eli's quilt TOP

It is done. The top at least. 48 inches X 62 inches



Can you see me?!?!?! Doing the HAPPY DANCE?!?!!?

Now I will look at all the wonderful books I have collected...and decide how to machine quilt it...more to come, so please come back! If you want to see the other quilts I have been working on in this series, just click on 'quilt' in the labels section.

Nebraska's Western Meadowlark

Sitting on 'Goldenrod'.

This is embroidery block number 7 of the quilt I am working on. 50 U.S.A. State Birds and Flowers.

State bird and flower

Here is the Nevada's state bird, the Mountain Bluebird sitting on a Sagebrush.

My family in New Iberia, La. are without power since 11:30am.

So for, all is well.

Cardinal on Carnations

Here is Ohio's. Love the reds! That is why I went with the

male cardinal...they are so beautiful, don't you think.

Next, I am working on Nev's. Stay tune, I'll be done soon.

Goldfinch & Rhododendron

Last night I finished the Washington State bird and flower. Remember, I am NOT an artist and am so very new at this embroidery thing...perhaps when I get to the end, it'll look better.

Oops...I forgot the poor guys eyes! lol

Not to happy with the flowers...I think I will re work those.

Missouri Eastern Bluebird on Hawthorns

Here is the 3rd State Flower and Bird...only 47 more to do. lol
Yesterday we put together the New Joy quilting frame in the guest room. http://www.newjoyquilting.com/gold_standard.html
It is now at the largest position...so I can start to 'think' about quilting queen size quilts.
One step at a time...*smile*

I did order the DVD and workbook Pajama Quilting Reloaded by Dawn Tameriz. I need all the help and inspiration I can get. LOVE THE BOOK and DVD!!

Mockingbird on Bluebonnets

Here is the second one. Since we are in Texas, Austin thought it would be nice to do this one...the more I look at the flowers I now know that I will 're due' them...gaining a little more confidence in myself and embroidering...I know I can do better.

Western Medowlark on Sunflower

Now that that is done, I started on a quilt I have always admired. State bird and flower embroidery quilt. I first saw this quilt done by my mother-in-law. She made it in the 1950's.
My daughter had the patterns, and is sharing with me. So now, I will make my own quilt!
Yep, there are 50 blocks. I started yesterday with the Kansas bird (western meadowlark) and the sun flower...since Austin is from Kansas he thought that would be the way to go.
If I can do one a week...should take me about a year!

A little fabric painting...

Well, since I am at a 'stand still' with pieceing this top, I decided to play around a bit with the squares. I don't know if you can tell by the pic, but I used 'chain stiches' along her lepel, patted one of the flowers, and added a little yellow to the flower in her hair. Gives the squares a little texture. We'll see....

Finished sampler

Here it is. After making it into a wall hanging, I will hang it in my sewing room so I can enjoy.
When I was in Atlanta, my daughter handed me a bag of 'goodies'. It was from her grandmother and she wanted to share with me. They were vintage books of crochet patterns, lots of them. Also, were iron on patterns to embroidery. You know the kind, Aunt Mathas'. One was the complete set of 'State Birds'. I remember loving the quilt she made from this patten. (more than likely in the mid 50's) Birds, flowers from 50 states! Got me to thinkin'...could I do this for myself!?!??!? So, the first one I did was Alabama-flower is the camellia, bird is the yellowhammer. I spent 4 evenings working on the silly thing. The one thing that concerned me was the print marks on the fabric. Remember, these are old and having been stored away only Lord knows where. After consulting with my former mother in law, I took her up on her advice and bought a new set. Hey, for $6 she felt it was worth that to make sure the ink would wash out. So, there you have it. The story of why the lone Ark. bird and flower sits in the sample. I will make another one, soon.