T-Shirt Quilt

When my sweet daughter-in-law, Nicole, brought me a bag stuffed full of her FFA T shirts that she had acquired during her time in high school and being a state officer, I was excited to make a quilt for her.

 

 

However, the bag set on my sewing table for several months. Then when I decided to clear my tables for scrapbooking, I was quite easily distracted by this bag. I started to empty it and placed the T shirts on piles by color. And without even thinking, I started to cut out the blocks. After I arranged them, they came together pretty fast.

 

I asked Nicole if she wanted to help tie it, and she was up for it. So one Saturday she was here bright and early and we tied a little over two thirds of it. I finished the Tuesday after and sewed down the binding by machine. I used fleece for the backing, so it is quite cozy. She is using it for a throw, but it is large enough for the top of a bed. 

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt ~ My Version

 

Although I completely stuck to Bonnie's color scheme, I struggled with the way the pattern came together. The double triangles were my biggest dislike, so I experimented with chevrons. I made enough for one block, then I laid out a block using them, and one using the double triangles.

 

I felt the double triangles made the block so busy, while the chevrons calmed it down. So, although I had all the double triangles made that I needed, I went to work and made 100 chevron blocks. Yes, I ripped up 50 of my originals. The remainder went into the end borders. I chose to use them to add length to the quilt rather than having a square quilt.

 

I am so happy with how it turned out. I opted not to go scrappy this time, and since the pattern is so busy, I am glad I made that choice. It is hand quilted, as are all my quilts.

Hawaii ~ Kauai ~ Waimea Canyon

I think my favorite island of all was Kauai. It is so beautiful. One day we went to Waimea Canyon State Park, which reminded us of a miniature version of Grand Canyon in Arizona.

 

 

One big difference between Waimea and the Grand Canyon is that Waimea is green and has waterfalls, one of which is visible in this photo.

 

Noah posed for me.

 

Gorgeous.

 

 

 

On our way back to the ship, we stopped at a coffee farm. We enjoyed sampling their delicious flavors.

 

 

Coffee grove.

 

Coffee beans

"Floating Stars"

I have always wanted to do a Feathered Star quilt, and when I found this pattern in a book at an estate sale, I was delighted.

 

 

I put the quilt together two years, ago and it waited patiently in the closet until December when I put it into the frame. It came out of the frame the day before Christmas.

 

It is entirely hand quilted.