LOG CABIN LOVE

It's no secret that I am a traditional quilter.

I love old fashioned quilts.

I love Antique quilts.

I even love the old, well loved quilts that are folded up on my shelves!

This beauty, was made by Barb.  Such a classic look, especially for fall.

This was made with Andover's Little House On The Prairie fabric.

We are beginning to decorate for our Pumpkin Painting.  I wish all of the posts had quilts!

You can see the Little House on the Prairie logo, and the Cabin in the Woods!

I loved those books.  I remember looking forward to my 2nd grade teacher, reading then

each day after our lunch recess.  

And the Baptist Fan quilting is perfect.  

Thanks @keepingitsimplequilts @pamjcole

The little surprise,  covered wagons on the back, make me happy!

This little baby quilt was made for my 3rd son, by a group of quilting friends.

It's worn and tattered, and the fabrics are funky, but I love it.

I made this Steak Of Lightning quilt, for my 2nd son,

when he was going into a big boy bed.  

It is soft and stained. Oh, so loved.

I started the embroidery in the center of the blocks, when I was in High School!

My aunt was having a baby, and I wanted to make something.  My mom and I took the 

bus, to downtown Seattle.  There was a large Woolworth store, with lots

of crafts in the downstairs.  These were stamped cross stitch blocks.

I didn't finish them, in time for that baby.

When I was expecting my 1st baby, I got them out, and finished the cross stitch.

It was about 4 years later, that I took my first Quilt Class.  I hauled these bunnies out, one more time

and made them into a quilt!  I am amazed at my persistence!

I hope you have a lovely fall day, filled with quilty love!

xo J

FABRIC AND KIDS 

SUCH A GREAT COMBINATION!

Over the past few years, 

as social media has become the way we communicate,

I've seen dozens of pictures of sweet babies and toddlers posed in the fabric, 

at Keepsake Cottage.

I wish I had taken pictures of my boys in the shop.

They were in the shop, a lot!

This was Madison, last week.  She is such a social little creature, I admire her spirit!

Children see things so differently.  Who would imagine that 2 bolts, lying on their side could

be a comfy place to rest?   Her mom's Facebook post said "I can't take here anywhere!"

Looks like an ad for Christmas fabric, if you ask me!

This is sweet Phoebe.  Her Mama just plopped her down in the color wall!  She looks like she

belongs there!  She has turned 1, is a walker, and has a little more hair.  I could

just nibble on her precious cheeks.  Her Grandmother was a quilter, maybe someday, I can 

help her take her first stitches.  

Ethan has spent a lot of time at Keepsake!  He likes the Cute Room the best.

At least he did when he was a little guy.  He started Kindergarten this year

and loves Wonder Woman, so his style may have changed

He is such a gentle little soul.  It has been a joy watching him grow.

This is Ethan more recently.  With his little brother Simon and Mama, Jera.

He is the best big brother!  They are standing in front of Jera's first fabric line, 

High Tea, by Lecien.  Soft vintage fabric.  Ethan is very proud! Simon

hasn't figured it all out yet.  

Jera's new book, arrived in the shop, today!

Quilting In The Rain

Way To Go, Jera!

Until next week, xo J

A BED FOR A TINY BABY!

I haven't blogged in a while.  

Life is busy, the shop is busy.  It's all great news.

My granddaughter turned 3 last week, and she loves a baby!

So I decided to make her a little storage bed. 

You might like to make one, too.

First I purchased a plastic tote. 

This plastic box was 9x16ish.  

I made a little mattress, using bleached muslin and 4 layers of cotton batting.

I measured the top of the tote, cut my fabric 1" larger, stitched it, I left a 4" open area to turn it

right sides out.  Then I cut the batting just slightly smaller, rolled it up, put it inside and then 

unrolled it.  I hand stitched the opening.  Then I put 4 ties, using 6 strands of embroidery floss.

Pink of course!

looking cozy!

Then I made a fitted sheet.  This was trial and error.  I did not round the corners.  If you know how, great.  I ironed the edges up, 1/4 " and then did it again, creating a clean edge.

I stitched close to the edge, about 3" around each corner, creating a casing.  I put a 3" piece of 1/4"

 elastic in each corner, securing it with a couple of rows of stitching on each end of the elastic.  This pulled the corners in.  Then I went bach and top stitched around the whole sheet, where I had ironed the edges up.  This fit nicely around the lid of the box.  Keeping it in place, but not too difficult to get off if you need to change the sheets!

I made a little top sheet, using a contrasting fabric, for the top edge.  It is the same size as the top of the box.

I made a skirt for the bottom of the storage box.  I measured the box, and doubled the measurement.  For the width.  I added 3 inches to the length, for the casing and the hem.  I used 3/4" elastic for the top of the skirt.  I made a 1" casing at the top, and added the elastic.  I put a 1/4" hem in the bottom.

I realized after I moved it around a few times, the skirt slid off.  So I added a Velcro circle to each side of the box,  and to the appropriate place on the skirt.  I used a glue gun.  Fun Times!

I made a simple little quilt.  She was having a Unicorn party, so this sparkly fabric seemed just right for her!  I love my serpentine stitch, for easy peasy

machine quilting!  I am a hand binder!  And I am proud of it.  

So, I put my stitches of love around the outside, using a cute stripe.

I included a tiny baby, that smells like Vanilla.  I love buying these sweet babies.

I get them at Toys That Teach, here in the Village.

Also, 2 magic bottles and a couple of little outfits. I forgot a pillow! 

I really had fun making this!  It would be great for American Girl Dolls.  Just get a bigger box!

It feels good to be back!

xo J

SLOW STITCHING

I love the term, Slow Stitching.

When I began quilting, in 1984, we were all, Slow Stitchers.

We cut with Scissors.

We pieced by machine, but not in strips.

We hand quilted, or tied our quilts.

And our bindings were done by hand.

We were quilters.  

Then there were rotary cutters.  

And rulers.

My first set of rulers were clear acrylic. 

I believe there were 6 in a set.

Each was 1/2" larger than the next.

If you wanted to cut a 6" strip, you would use the 2 1/2" and the 4" next to one another.

They did not have any markings.

The first ruler I purchased with any markings was a Nancy Crow ruler.

It wasn't very accurate.  But, it was a start.

Then there were patterns, for sewing strips, cutting them apart, and resewing.

And books!  Lots of books.  Template Free Sewing.

Then we were making quilts faster than we could quilt them.

Enter the Longarm quilting machines.

You would never have to quilt a quilt by hand again!

And finally, lets figure out how to stitch the binding down by machine.

Now, there is a New Movement.

SLOW STITCHING.

I feel like I am back to my roots. 

Hand basted, dresden plate blocks, that I started in the 90's.

I have taken them out before, but they have been put aside.  

Usually, I needed to get something done in a hurry.

I really can't do that right now.  

So, I am enjoying the process.

Slow Stitching to my hearts content.

xo j

2016

The start of 2016 has been busy, busy,  for me.

I have worked in the Shop, a lot.

I have spent a lot of time with new employees. (Yay!)

I seem to spend a lot of time on Face Time, with my grand baby, (Hip Hip Hoorah!!)

Physical Therapy twice a week, takes a lot of time, and a lot of recovery.

It is hard to believe we are nearly 1 month into the new year!

I am still not sewing.

I had a big fall in September.

But, I love to look at quilts, and search for new projects and ideas online.

Today, I was looking at a little quilt I bought in July.

There is a great 'Tail Gate Sale' in Country Village each year.  I love to dig 

around, and find a vintage treasure or 2.

This child's quilt is so sweet.  Lots of love in those patches.

It is stained, and some of the fabrics are frayed.  I like to think it was well loved.

Most of the fabrics on the front look like late 1800's era cloth.

But the back looks a bit more like the '20's or '30's.  

It is tied with yellow yarn.

The inside batting is very lumpy.

I always try to imagine the life of the Quilt.  Where it started, what it did along the way, 

and how it ended up at a parking lot sale, on a beautiful summer's day.

I've missed you.  I will be back soon!

xo j

CHRISTMAS IS AROUND THE CORNER!!

I've seen other people's blogs,

Facebook and Instagram posts.

I know that I am far behind the rest of you.

I made a few Christmas samples for the shop.

This is a tried and true table runner from Atkinson's Designs.

Terry's instructions are the absolute best in the business.  

I love the Vintage Postcards from Olde American Antiques.
They are beautifully printed on quality fabric.
You can put a wall hanging together in a couple of hours.
Love.

This was a quilt top I made several years ago.  I love sock monkeys, 

and just had to make a baby quilt for 'someday'. 

It has been quilted for a couple of years, but I added the binding 

and mailed it off to the Love of our lives!!

Sweet Baby Aiyana.

This is who I think about, and sew for.

Our 1st grandchild.

She is the perfect model.

xo J

SPELL IT WITH MODA

Some of you know that my husband (boyfriend) had

a Cardiac Arrest last February.

It was a terrifying time for our family.

He is much better, hard wired with a Pacemaker/Defibrillator. 

This was taken in August, while on a trip to Mt. Hood.

During his long recovery,

I wanted a fun, easy project to work on.

Something, that I could do if he was napping.

My choice was the Spell It With Fabric booklet,

by Moda.

Using as many Pam Kitty Morning fabrics as possible!

 

Always a rule follower, I started with the letter A.

I believe the B was taking far too much time to think about,

so I must have skipped it for a while.

Looks like I got back on track!

You needed to make a few filler blocks.  

My boyfriend loves to sail, so this one was for him.

Finished, quilted and bound.

I love this quilt, and it helped heal my heart.

We have these little booklets in the shop,

and I will hang the quilt next week, when I am home from Quilt Market.

I will be there, visiting with Miss Pam Kitty, 

and buying all of her newest fabric.  Having a happy heart is very important!
Check back, I will be blogging and on instagram, while I am in Houston.

xo

Pam Kitty Morning