Texan meets Brit

Strangely, of late, many a friend and relative from the great State of TEXAS has decided to marry a Brit (I can name three couples...and know of a fourth who are probably considering tying the knot one day) For the union of a very very good friend, whose wedding took place in London, and I could regretfully not attend, I designed the quilt below. I'm hoping he loves it, I still need to map out the pieces, but have all the fabrics (the colors shown are exact matches to the Kona fabrics I purchased for the quilt)

This Quilt I plan to dub: God Save the Alamo!

Another Idea also came to mind, when I found the quilts below in The Quilt Engagement Caledar Treasury, The first quilt is from 1850, made in Yonkers, NY, and has the following sewn into it:

A Heart I send you Squire Baldwine

Reject it not I do implore thee

A warm reception may it meet

My name a secret I must keep

signed: Old Maid

The Quilt Engagement Calendar Treasury, by Cyril I. Nelson & Carter Houck pg: 96

The idea here would be to have the black top hat, a heart, and a brown cowboy hat beneath. I would still need to draft that option up, so I'm a bit more inclided towards the first option. Below is another version of a 'Hat and Heart' quilt from the 1980's, also in the Quilt Engagement Calendar Treasury, pg 123.

Feedback is welcome, so let me know your thoughts.

The Back. . .

The time has come to finish my quilt, and I am attempting to figure out the back. I was recently given a bird patch from Panama sent to me from my future in-laws of a bird. I thought I would incorporate this patch with a botanical print fabric, given to me by my sister Eve. I bordered the bird patch with blue and green, to help the colors pop a little. As seen below.
The front of the quilt is a series of log cabin patches, so I attempted to continue that theme a bit with the bird patch.
The remaining design has yet to be determined. The fabrics shown above will make up the rest of the back, I think I will add a boarder to the botanical fabric in blue? I'm still undecided on the composition, so any suggestions are appreciated.

Our old watering hole . . .

While looking through my photos, I found some pictures of the quilters at the Alabama Ice House from June 3, 2007. I thought they may be of interest to some, it is fun to see the quilts again, when they were still projects and not yet completed. Hope you enjoy!

ps. Photo credit goes to Rose, I think she just borrowed my camera to take these. I attempted, rather poorly, to add captions. The people who were actually there that day might want to explain the circumstances.

Quilters, focused on the task at hand, while enjoying their bottles of ice cold beer.

Margaret McKee (capital M) displaying the fine craftsmanship of her quilting hoop, as Andi and Ashley look on.

Andi and Margaret keep quilting fashionable, with their cool shades. Note the details of rose's quilting pattern, with overlapping circles as the quilting design, shown in front/center.

New Quilt Updates

Hey Quilters!
I have begun working on my blue and yellow quilt! It is following a square pattern and of course I am making it up as I go along, one day I will plan out and make beautiful photoshop layouts of a quilt like Margaret, but until then it will be up to chance. Tell me what you think so far!

Sewing Machine Antics

My most recent project: a sewing machine cat, made of brown fleece, buttons, and some needwork details. He has the initials D.C. possibly for the city/state, possibly for the Dancing Cat Anarchist Collective, possibly the initials of a friend, it works on so many levels.

Xtreme Quilting Update

March 2008: Quilting update:

Four quilters have completed their first quilts!!! A few have even ambitiously begun on quilt deux. Two of us are still finishing (and I might be forever); and we've added a quilter whose just begun, but is making spectacular progress. We're not the world's greatest bloggers ... but will be embarking on an Xtreme adventure to DC this April to visit one of our own.

Hopefully, the trip and related photos will inspire more posts. Until then, keep your stiches straight!

Needlework and Noshing!

Good day!

We had a great party this past weekend. A joyous occasion to celebrate the completion and partial completion of our first quilts. Also, the party served as a bon voyage toast to one of our quilters. The picture below shows us all decked out in retro-gear, for the party was set to a vintage cocktail party theme. For attire we channeled Grace Kelley, Jackie O, and Twiggy with a little splash of psychedelic funk. Friends, family and co-workers were invited and had the opportunity to view our handiwork. Heavy hors d'oeuvres were served, including pigs-in-a-blanket, meatloaf, veggie sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, a relish tray, fruit skewers and deviled eggs. For sweets rum balls brought by a guest were a party favorite! Two punches helped wash it down. All in all a fantastic evening. Thanks to everyone!