I have spent most of September enjoying quilt shows in three different states, vending at one. The Des Moines Area Quilt Guild (Iowa) quilt show is one of the best “local” shows. The variety of quilts from art to artful to traditional with special exhibits …
Dyeing Vintage Linens There are as many ways to dye fabrics, fibers and textiles as there are reasons to do so. I love to dye linens and needlework made many years ago, now abandoned or relegated to drawers, never to be used. My two favorite …
I love making quilts that are inspired by nature especially in rural areas. A drive through some very rural back roads near our home a few days before Memorial Day revealed an old cemetery that is sure to inspire some artful quilt designs. The lichen covered wrought iron fence attracted our attention indicating it was on the verge of being abandoned. As we stopped to explore further the grass had been carefully mowed around each headstone so someone was still taking care to respect the souls resting there. According to dates on gravestones no one had been laid to rest there since the 1970’s. The majority of stones were from the 1800’s. Some were broken or had fallen from their base. Some were still standing although in precarious positions. Inscriptions were fascinating to read and made one wonder about the rest of the story. Many headstones were commemorating the death of babies and very young children causing one to wonder the cause. One stone recognized a private in the infantry during WWI. One modern stone was engraved with a birth date of 1901 but no date of passing had been recorded.
I’m sure every stone had more to tell just as our quilts have more to tell than the first glance reveals. The brief information on a headstone give us a glimpse of the life lived Our quilts are labeled so that generations to come will have a small glimpse of our life. Perhaps we can share more so those who come after us have fewer unanswered questions. The premise of my book, Hand Me Down Quilts, was to help you share your quilts and the family stories that preserve our heritage for future generations.
As much as I love dogwood blooming in the spring, I also love the bright magenta of the redbuds that dot the roadsides near my rural home. They, of course, have just inspired a quilt as I reviewed all the related colors in my stash. …
Dyed and delicious It’s no secret that I love dyeing fabric and other textiles, especially vintage needlework and linens. I also love sharing the process via an educational workshop that has become quite popular. The second in Iowa this year is coming up Thursday, June …
My newest project in Love of Quilting May/June 2023. Look for the magazine on newsstands. It features a dimensional mock cathedral window border. I love using that technique for borders as well as for accent within a quilt design. The center block is a pieced block titled Cathedral Window. I design with Electric Quilt 8 so I can rearrange colors and change the look easily before actually cutting any fabric. Photo below shows another version minus the dimensional border.
As I’m watching the media replay what they consider the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2022 I wish to share the good of my year pursuing my quilting passion. I tend to be a person who is thinking about “what’s next” rather than …
Many asked for a process and even a pattern for my creative art quilt, Green House Effect. It is an art quilt so not a pattern but I can share an overview of the process as I made it. When making an art quilt it …
The making of Evan and Cassie’s infinity wedding quilt, from fabric selection to completion.
Congratulations and many years of happiness!
I am so honored to have had my quilt Roses Remembered on display at the International Quilt Festival. It is now going to be part of their traveling exhibit for the 2023 year. The pattern is now available on my Etsy site, PosieLaneLinens. It is …