Quilts for My Grandsons

This is the quilt that nearly made me lose my mind!  When I knew grandson #1 was on the way, I decided I wanted to do something out of the ordinary: spotted this pinwheels within pinwheels pattern in a magazine, adapted it to the colours of his nursery, and .... proceed to spend eons making tiny 1/2 square triangles.  I've changed my technique since then, and had I known then what I know now, probably could have made it in about half the time!  I still love the pattern, but will easily be able to refrain from making it again. Ever.

This one was for grandson #2.  The pattern was a mystery quilt for a quilt retreat, and I picked material to coordinate with the nursery (lime green and bright blue in both quilts), but added some brights rather than pastels in this one.  I learned two things:  first, that I do NOT like paper piecing, and second that mystery quilts can be a bit frustrating!  I love the stained glass effect that resulted from the print material.

The quilts certainly are different, anyway!

QUILTING

My other "sharp shiny" object hobby is quilting.  I made few quilts way back when:  one for my own bed before I was married, and two others for my girls' beds when they were small.  After years of not quilting, my friend Lou got me back on the bandwagon several years ago.  I have to admit my favourites are baby quilts:  they're fun to design, and are usually finished before I've lost interest.

This picture shows some of the projects Lou and I were working on during one of our quilting weekends:  the Indian silks table runner is hers, and she is working on the very colourful purse.  I made the purse with black/brown prints on the right, as well as the baby quilt with half-square triangles.   Triangles show up a LOT in my work; Lou avoids them like the plague.  She, on the other hand, is addicted to nine patches.  I do them when I can't avoid them!

 

 

This one went to a new baby boy:  hope Felix enjoyed it!  With both applique and half-square triangles, I certainly didn't get bored!  The only challenge was fitting them all together.  It was based on a pattern from a magazine, but modified slightly to use some leftovers from other quilts.  The "crazy quilt" patch at top right, the pinwheel, and the orange/blue bowties all appear in quilts made earlier.  I knew there was a reason I held onto them!

 

Wool work is a new and fascinating part of my hobby:  I was introduced to it at a quilt retreat a year ago.  The biggest advantage is that I can use it to keep my hands busy with something OTHER than food while I'm watching tv!  This small hanging is my own design, and also has embroidery on the back.  I made it for a friend of mine last winter.

Because most of my quilting projects are given away, I try to take pictures before they leave.  It's been "fun" trying to find them in my picture cds, though:  I'm going to start keeping a separate folder so I can file them there as I go.