Friday, June 7, 2013

Patriotic Jamboree!

For the past several days, I've worded a post in my head a bunch of times - wondered if I should split into more than one post or just say everything at one time. So...one time it is!

I finished up the two quilts that a customer asked me to make for graduation gifts for two boys. So very simple and functional, but she loved them! (YEAH!!)



Glad to have that little project finished and with a satisfied customer!

Mandie (DD#2) asked me to quilt a lap quilt for her that she was giving as a gift (sorry no photo, but it was a cute scrappy blue/yellow/white chevron quilt). I wanted to try a new all over design, and felt like I needed to practice, so I made up a couple of practice sandwiches and - looked pretty good, but wasn't quite ready to put it on the gift quilt yet, so I got out the patriotic small quilt tops that I made last year and practiced some more!


I thought they turned out pretty good, so got two more and quilted them in "strings of stars".


I thought they turned out even cuter! I was binding them, when Mandie stopped by and she said, "Oh, Mom these are so cute - I want this one!!" Well I can't refuse my daughters, so I thought, okay, I've got quite a bit of some fabric I used for backing on two of the star quilts, I'll make some for the girls.

Here's the backing:


and I dug through my stash and found some red and white scraps and FQs to make a couple of small quilts...well six quilts later I said enough!


But I had SOOOO much fun making these and practicing different FMQ designs and ideas! I did cross hatching, pumpkin seeds, loops, stars and hooked feathers!! I must say I'm HOOKED on hooked feathers!!


They were a lot of fun and I think I'm even getting pretty good at them!

I also make three little flag quilts, too! They measure about 9" X 13" and Mandie wanted one of those too!!



So now the girls have several to choose from and I needed a couple of gifts, so I think I'm set for a bit.

While I was digging through my box of small quilt tops, I found one that I had forgotten about. It was a SAL with Joanne. Her SAL was fun and I loved it, but I wasn't crazy about my fabric choices, but I had it, so I thought I would machine quilt it also (and practice some more feathers - Joanne had used feathers on hers and I liked it so....)



I LIKED it! It turned out better than I thought (if you look close, you will see lots of mistakes - but I did want to so my progress!)

So in closing to quote a character in Marie Bostwick's latest book "Between Heaven and Texas":

"You know what I call a machine quilted, quilt? DONE!!!!"


21 comments:

JoAnne said...

Oh my! I love all of your patriotic quilts. The others, too, but you know where my heart lies... Great photography, too!

NanaNor's said...

Love all your quilts~ you certainly do a great job machine quilting. In fact, you make it sound so easy that it makes me want to try again-however since I love hands stitching, think I'll stick to that.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs, Noreen

Janet O. said...

Wow, Wow, and triple Wow, Doniene! Look at you go! I just marveled at all I saw here! LOVE the patriotic little quilts! Makes me want to drop everything and make some.
And look at those feathers, girl! You are amazing!! I am so impressed!

Raewyn said...

Love your post Doniene - wow you have been busy and wow look at that quilting!! How satisfying to get some of those quilt tops done and also well done on 2 more commisioned pieces! And so much more fun practising your quilting on actual quilts rather than just sandwiches :-) I love being able to place the photos you take but cant place the top two - I am guessing they are completely elsewhere?!! Hugs to you my friend.

Nancy said...

The small quilts are darling: I love them! Nice job.

Jeanneke said...

Prachtig allemaal! Jij bent druk bezig geweest!
~~~~~
I love them all! You have been very busy and productive, Doniene!

Groetjes! / Cheers!

Jeanneke.

Starwood Quilter said...

Mercy, you've been busy! Cheers for you for tackling FMQ and getting better and better at it. I loved seeing all of your quilts.

regan said...

The pic of your 6 minis on the bench is fantastic! They are all so sweet! Well done! And your quilting looks wonderful! I love those hooked feathers, too! :o)

Lyn said...

Love the patriotic quilts!

Aimee said...

About time I commented on your blog eh?
I came over from the link on Mom's blog and am so impressed with all your many little quilts! I love the patriotic ones especially...they are darling! Your FMQ looks amazing too :) Way to go!

Maureen said...

I think you've mastered this machine quilting thing! Well done! All your quilts are beautiful though I think my favorites are the ones with the white background. You are all set for flag day and the 4th of July! Congrats on getting the commissioned quilts. Very exciting!

Sue said...

I am sitting here reading in awe, Doniene, what a gifted woman you are! All are absolutely beautiful, and will be treasured for a very long time. WOW!!
Blessings,
Sue

Kris said...

Doniene - I LOVE your little patriotic quilts!! They are so inspiring and your quilting is wonderful!! Hopefully, I am going to have some time here soon to do some practice FMQ - hmmmmmm, maybe some small patriotic quilts!! Oh, and lucky daughters to have such an awesome Mom!!

Me and My Stitches said...

You are definitely on a roll! Love all of those patriotic quilts!

Ruth said...

Your quilting looks great! And the red, white & blue quilts are wonderful! You can't beat R, W & B!! I love quilting hooked feathers and think they look great and are easier to do than regular feathers. Sometimes I throw in a regular feather here and there, or a little swirl to fill in a space and it works!

Kindred Quilts said...

My goodness, you make me want to lock myself in my sewing room and make mini patriotic quilts!!! They are adorable, and one can never have enough of red, white, and blue quilts! Your FMQ is very good... especially like your feathering!

Loves to Quilt said...

Great projects! Did you design the patterns? Love your quilting!!

Teresa in Music City said...

Wow! You go girl!!! I would have loved to be there practicing with you. FMQ can be SO much fun! You have got those hooked feathers down pat too! I haven't tried that method of feathers yet, but that will definitely go on my "soon" list :*)

Carrie P. said...

wow! you were very busy. I love all those little quilts and you certainly do a great job on the feathers.

Marga (MarPie) said...

My goodness, you are going so fast and so good....I am speechless.
Your quilting is so good, really you go girl.

Warm regards,
Marga♥

Denise :) said...

Wow, girl, look at you go!! I adore the little flag quilts. I don't know if I served in the Navy because I was patriotic, or if I became more patriotic because I served, but I love anything U.S.A. and red, white & blue!! Lots of pretty things you've got going on! :)