Favorite Quilts over on FB - but the fun part - WHY! - is here!

Selvedge Yard  2011  

CAUTION:  Long story you might want coffee!!

Selvedges galore, Unruly lettering, I even put my practice longarm piece on the back!  2015 I sold this piece at Sisters!  Cheaply ... but still, it sold within the first few hours!

So, as an out-of-my-box experience goes - let me tell you - that quilt grew like a summer weed. Here begins the saga: years ago I started making string blocks incorporating selvedges. 6 inch blocks and they were fun. Something else came along ... distractions, many quilts, you know how it goes. 

There are 600-ish selvedges in the quilt - yes, there are repeats! And the most colorful ones came from the quilts made for grandkids and the many pair of pj pants I've made them. But there are many reproduction fabrics represented!!

I always wanted to do LazyGal's free-style 'wonky' alphabet and this was the project to do it. Those letters are fun - use a whole lot of thread and are bigger than you think they are.
I figured out my saying - hmmm - too long, shortened it and started creating. Let me tell you there were threads everywhere!! But words appeared. After I had the quote 'written' out, it was bigger than planned. [Of course, it IS that quilt!]

Revision - gonna need more blocks!! There was blank space at the end of the words - before the corners. Hmmm, I could lengthen the quote with quilted words - fill in, so to speak, but now I'm stuck with an "AN". 

Think of adjectives that start with an vowel, make lists in the middle of the night! Consult with mom over the phone. Using my own 'best' [HA! - my handwriting isn't known for it's clarity!!] handwriting I added these 'secret messages' to the quote and free-motion quilted the words. 

Think of adjectives that start with an vowel, make lists in the middle of the night! Consult with mom over the phone. Using my own 'best' [HA! - my handwriting isn't known for it's clarity!!] handwriting I added these 'secret messages' to the quote and free-motion quilted the words:

QUILTING NOT SO MUCH A HOBBY (you know) MORE LIKE AN (infectious) OBSESSION (and we love it sew!)

A & J's Wedding Quilt  2010  

I thought doing this king size log cabin quilt would get those out of my system, nope!  I'm still making mini log cabin blocks for one of my own.

This has 2 color combinations for each row and even though it was carefully drawn out ... I made 20 blocks with the wrong colors together.  "Recalculating ... "  

Wanted the Love stamp block in it to break it up, 3 of them.  Got it all laid out on the floor at Bayshore.  We all looked it over, moved a few things around and completely missed the log cabin block going the wrong way!!  Arrrrgh!

I cut the strips  2" and although finished 1.5" logs seem reasonable for a king-sized quilt - I have to admit the logs look really big! Don't ask me why! I don't know!

The Lights of Home   2006

I bought the silk screened lighthouses at Lattimer Center.  I found the lay-out on a barn quilt.   My friend, MW, helped me draw it up.  I made the quilt and R loves it too.  

The funny part about this quilt is when I was in Nebraska it reminded me of the Oregon coast.  And after we moved to Oregon, it reminds me of working on it in Nebraska!!  It's one of my DH's favorites because it's only 2 colors! 

There - we're all caught up.  Other than the blogspot problems, it's fun to look through 45 years of my quilts ... hope you're having fun too!

The Week of Quilts Challenge on FB

I just participated in the FB Quilt Week challenge. It was lots of fun to look back. I ignored the blog while I was doing it - so I thought I'd catch you up!! Enjoy! PS - don't worry about not being FB friends with me - I'm not very active out there! You know me better thru this blog!! Lucky you???


Day 1  Mary C challenged me to post a quilt I have made every day for a week. I'm at a Quilt Guild Retreat this weekend, and this is the only quilt picture on my computer that I have made! Recently finished - an I Spy quilt. Love the design.

I've been quilting for over 40 years and have never stopped for more than a couple of weeks. It is truly an addiction - errr - passion!! I love making small presents for friends and families.There have been baby quilts, graduation quilts, wedding quilts, quilt lessons, quilt retreats, even quilt cruises!! There are dozens (scores) of UFOs - Unfinished Objects - and more quilts planned than any one person can make in a life time!! Us quilters wouldn't have it any other way!!

I don't know if I'll find a way to post a picture tomorrow - you might just have to settle for a quilt story - I have quite a few!!

If you've received a quilt product from me or have spent "quilty" time with me, leave a comment!!! I promise photos Sunday and beyond!




22 Likes and Comments included:

DeEtte T: Quilt Retreat memory: We were shopping in Omaha during a Spring Retreat. Just browsing around and you hears a whistling noise. You decided it was coming from me & I was determined it was NOT. You win!!! I had stuck my hearing aid in my pocket and it accidentally got turned on smile emoticon I always get a grin when I think about that. Miss retreating with you Doni Boyd. Enjoy your weekend!


Jamar B:  I was just thinking about all our quilts yesterday. The problem is we will never be able to get rid of any of them because they are all made with such love. My favorite is the one you made me for my graduation with all my favorite colors. I also love the jungle animals and Eric Carle theme. The boys love their Halloween quilts especially the one with super heroes on the back.


Mary W: You, yourself are addicting (contagious?) You gave me a lesson on rotary cutting 15 years ago, and I've been quilting ever since! It's been great fun!


Bronna C: I have two baby quilts from you! Still love them 20+ years later.


Kathleen K: Hi Doni, long ago you gave me a postcard sized quilt of a kitty cat. It always makes me think of you and water aerobics and your love of quilting. Cheers!


Lindsay R: I have a few favorite memories....i loved helping as a kid "underneath the frame" when you had large quilts. I also loved it when you would constantly ask me to help you find needles in the carpet when you dropped them. My favorite quilts are our wedding quilt, my cat quilt as a kid, and the kiddo Halloween quilts!


Joni S: You introduced me to quilting by having me look at quilting magazines. I found a pattern and you graciosuly provided all the fabric, cutting board and rotary cutter. I believe this all took place on Super Bowl Sunday. I have been addicted ever since and I thank you.


Twy H: Great I Spy Quilt,


Day 2  Hi! Home from Quilt Retreat - happy to say that a good time was had by all! It was a beautiful drive home too!

This is the wedding quilt I made for my son and his lovely bride 5 years ago. A log cabin in a zig-zag pattern with 3 "love stamps" spaced in. I thought by making a huge log cabin it would get it out of my system.

I started planning the next one immediately!! What pattern is like that for you?? Share with us!




26 Likes and Comments:

Claire G:  Wonderful! What an heirloom for your son and daughter in law!

Betty W:  It is a really outstanding quilt!

Tamara R: We love our wedding quilt. You are so talented and do such beautiful work! A and J's is absolutely beautiful!

Marcie S:  That is just beautiful!

Donna S:  Beautiful! What a special gift!

Day 3 of My Quilts! Two years ago our Brooking Guild made quilts for Quilts of Valor. I made one for them, but then made 3 quilts for 3 Veterans that I know personally! I was nervous about giving them quilts. I made the labels long, so they could pass the quilt on to someone else, if they wanted. But they all LOVED them. I even got thank you notes from MEN!!! I highly recommend this charity and to also make a quilt for someone you know!




13 Likes and Comments included:

Betty W: My favorite quilts are for veterans

Saun S: Awesome

Ok - Now I have to tell this quilt story!! Nicole, my awesome Great-Niece, received a tied string quilt my mom and I made for my dad.

She felt something hard in the left side, and she's a curious gal! There was a small opening on the right side of the quilt. So she carefully threaded this object all the way across the quilt to the opening. At first she thought it might be his plastic hospital bracelet ... But it was a 120 inch tape measure!!!!

When she returned it, she mentioned where she found it. Mom aka Granny replied, "I've been looking for that!!!" LOL! Thanks Nicole for sharing that story - it's so Granny!!

23 Likes and Comments:

Nicole S: I love this story!!! I was hoping it was something magical, left there for history... But no just a great laugh!!!!! I could not believe it when I pulled that measuring tape out. 

Gretchen L:  Too funny!


Day 4 of my quilts - This is a guild challenge project. The challenge was Things that Fly! I immediately thought of air mail and then stamps. I had cancelled stamps and then started searching the internet. There were birds; ducks; Mary Poppins; Superman ...

If your guild has challenges - take them up on it! Nothing is better to get you working outside your box! And that's a good thing. Plus Challenges are usually small - and fun!!

9 Likes and Comments:

Mary C:  I love seeing these! Thanks for sharing.


Day 5 (with a little break in between!!)Presenting my Grandkids' Big Girl and Big Boy quilts! You know you have to keep things 'even' with grand kids. So don't try to give everyone a quilt when you give a quilt. Give each a quilt when they reach a certain stage! When the kids each moved into their "big bed" they got a quilt from Nana! Miss P was the first with a pink fish quilt. Mr M got the patchwork "Bear went over the Mountain" quilt and Mr D got the Eric Carle panel design. Mr D went into a youth bed before the bunk bed and I was very relieved he liked his quilt. I made it early and THEN he went "all super-hero all the time" But too late for the quilt!! Mr K is fast approaching his Big Boy Bed, but I've got it started!

After bed quilts come the Kindergarten Quilts! Everyone draws a picture for Nana to applique on the quilt! So far we have a unicorn quilt and an alligator quilt!! Mr D will have to work on his picture this year! He turns 5 in April!

These quilts are my favorite kind to make! They're not for a show, they're for love and I'm happy to announce that they have been loved to death!!  My job is done!  ... for now!  Tee-hee!

 

     






17 Likes and Comments included:

Diane E: You make great quilts. My kids loved theirs - and still have them.

Mary C: I am behind in making the Bigger quilts for my Grandkids. I get reminded every time I see a certain grandson, that his quilt is too small. Thanks for sharing your reasoning. Making 20 grandchild quilts in a year would be HARD!

Saun S: Awesome!

Tamara R: Such a great and talented Grandma! You're grandchildren have been truly blessed and so have you.

Twy H: Love seeing them, Doni.


Day 6 of My Quilts! I know I wander far and wide from just showing my quilt of the day ... those who know me well are NOT a bit surprised!! 

One Christmas oh-so-many-years-ago a good friend took charge of Lindsay to buy me a Christmas present. She bought me this awesome quilt covered 3-ring notebook! I think Lindsay was about 3rd grade when she bought this for me ... I won't say how old she is now, but she has a 3rd grader!!! (Can you believe I still have this?!?!?)

What do you put in a special notebook like this??? Well, a quilt journal of the quilts you've made and the ones you received from others!!

I really have to organize the pictures of my older quilts - I have them electronically -somewhere- And there lies the problem. The page I'm showing you is my first quilt!! Ignorance is truly bliss, because if I'd known what I was doing ... this quilt would not exist!

         

You can read all about it on the sheet! I still have the quilt and it's in great shape - I won't let anyone use it!!! We really use our quilts and I'm very afraid that this Baby Block quilt would not survive washing gracefully!

It wasn't the first one done - that was a simple royal blue and yellow Irish Chain. Long destroyed by use!! But this one is what created the quilter in me. Long before it was even done, I'd started the next quilt and the next ... I've never stopped - for 41 years!!! And I don't plan to any time soon.

Yes, I've got UFOs to finish; projects lined up for decades ahead and I don't care to hear how that isn't very practical. Thank you anyway.

I love my notebook; even if it only goes to 2000! (I started it because I was afraid I was losing my mind! - I still am!) But I also included stories about the quilt; who worked along with me and what was happening in my life. I love reading the stories over and over again!

SO - if you're a quilter, or a quilt collector, you should have one of these journals. It doesn't have to be Smithsonian worthy! It doesn't even have to be in a special notebook! But it should exist.

I know when I'm in the rest home, totally out of my mind, I'll love reading this book day after day! And I picture my kids and grandkids looking through it, remembering me.

So - your mission should you decide to accept it - is to make a scrapbook/journal like this. And I'll try to bring my memories up to 2010!! I have lists of projects finished every year; and I have photos of my quilts - somewhere!! AND I just got Photoshop elements; maybe an electronic journal that I can print and/or give digitally to those kids and grandkids!!!

Let's get busy! Well, as soon as I finish my current project! LOL!

PS - someone asked me when the next age is for quilts for the Grandkids. I was told to give a quilt to them when they turn 13. Those teen years are tough, Nana may no longer be a favorite in their lives, but at least I'll know they are wrapped in a quilty hug from me! Then HS graduation; College graduation: marriage and then for their kids of course!! When did you get quilts? What have I missed????


14 Likes and Comments included this interesting conversation:

Saun S: Wow, how many quilts do you think you've made?

Doni B: Oh my!! I haven't counted for a long time - so I did. From lists (see above). In 41 years I have made 73 quilts - twin size or larger; 190 small projects, that includes baby quilts and smaller; AND 79 Christmas stockings!!! Thanks for asking!! 

Lynne Q:  OMG!!!! Prolific!

Day 7 of my quilts! This has been fun and harder to pick quilts to share than I thought! My last quilt is just to remind you that you can use every part of the fabric you buy. You can use the front, the back and even the selvedge!




But beware - it's addictive! This is Selvedge Yard which now lives with someone else. I sold it last July at Sisters. String blocks and outside border pieced with selvedges. The lettering is "Unruly Letters" from Tonya Ricucci's book -Word Play Quilts- You can read about the process in this blog entry:

The whole quote is -Quilting: not so much a hobby [you know] more like an [infectious] obsession [and we love it sew]- the quilted words are in the brackets!

13 Likes and Comments:

Leona K: Love it

Ruth Y: My favorite quilt and reason I joined the Quilt Guild!

Twy: Now I know why we were saving selvedges for you

Georgia P:  Amazing

Ta-Da!!  So that was a full week in the life of a quilter!! You'd think that looking back at what you made would get you going again in the sewing room! Not so much!! Reminiscing takes up a lot of time.

Before I disappeared from FB' again - I wrote this:  Happy Valentine's Day!

This quilt was made for a guild "Holiday" challenge. I had been reading about the "slow movement" and used that method when working on it. I was shocked, I tell you, when I found 18 shirtings with Red in them to choose for the background!!  "Be Mine" is of my favorite wall quilts!





20 Likes and Comments:

Andrea M:  Your sister Rita C would love this!

Joni S:  Happy Valentines Day! Love this quilt.  Love all the buttons.

Leona K:  Nice

Kathleen K:  Beautiful, Doni!

Ruth Y:  Love it, Happy Valentines Day

Georgia P:  Beautiful - so talented. Happy Valentines Day.

Selvedge Yard quilt Done-done!

So, as an out-of-my-box experience goes - let me tell you - that quilt grew like a summer weed. Here begins the saga: years ago I started making string blocks incorporating selvedges. 6 inch blocks and they were fun. Something else came along ... distractions, many quilts, you know how it goes.


The blocks were buried - but I still cut selvedges when I could. Those little gems are deceiving - a 'muffin-top' filled shoebox goes a very long way!! I have to admit, most of those selvedges are my very own. I did collect some from friends; at workshops and actually bought a fat quarter just for the selvedge at the end!!! I was convinced I absolutely needed, had to have, a selvedge that said 2011!! I have selvedges that have many, many dates - at least a 20+ year span. And I organized a list of all I could actually find on the quilt. If only I could find that darn list now!! There will be a later update on that!!! Much later!!!



There are 600ish selvedges in the quilt - yes, there are repeats! And the most colorful ones came from the quilts made for grandkids and the many pair of pj pants I've made them. But there are many reproduction fabrics represented!!

I always wanted to do LazyGal's free-style 'wonky' alphabet and this was the project to do it. Those letters are fun - use a whole lot of thread and are bigger than you think they are. I made the choice early on that I was going to use 'many' muslins in the words. Knowing me, it was going to happen anyway!!

I figured out my saying - hmmm - too long, shortened it and started creating. Let me tell you there were threads everywhere!! But words appeared. After I had the quote 'written' out, it was bigger than planned. [Of course, it IS that quilt!]



Revision - gonna need more blocks!! I had 25 ready to go - optimist!! Like twice as many! Oh Dear! Sew machine - sew! Most of the parts were together - altogether 49 6inch string blocks - I fit the pithy quote around the outside. Using some fudge factors - it fit pretty well!



There was blank space at the end of the words - before the corners. Hmmm, I could lengthen the quote with quilted words - fill in, so to speak, but now I'm stuck with an "AN".

Think of adjectives that start with an vowel, make lists in the middle of the night! Consult with mom over the phone. Using my own 'best' [HA! - my handwriting isn't known for it's clarity!!] handwriting I added these 'secret messages' to the quote and free-motion quilted the words. I'm pretty proud of how they came out. I even added interface to that area because the back was shadowing through. But, seriously, you could even read them!! Who knew!!

Darn - you know what would look really good finishing it off - a selvedge border!! So four 3" borders 58 inches long - I'm back in sweat shop mode! I'm loving that new ironing board that works. Sewed all four at the same time, chain stitching 60" long strips, well, better planning might have avoided that tangle!! Onwards and upwards.

Why the 'sweat shop mode'? Well, at the beginning of the summer, our local guild issued a challenge - use something in a quilt you usually don't use. Bring it to the September meeting. Of course, you mull it over, you gather the blocks, you check the selvedge supply, you have company come, you go to an awesome retreat in Sisters with Sue Spargo and Tonye Belinda Phillips, you revise ... CRAP! It's now September - hello-o-o, it has to be a finished project!!! I'm sure this sounds familiar to others as well! I do 'sweat shop mode' really, really well - lots of practice, etc!!



The back: Well, I was certified (I know you believe that now!!!) on a longarm this year and that practice piece was driving me bonkers! Too big to throw away; to big to store in my itty-bitty sewing closet - what to do! Of course, it was too small for this brute now. Pull out a way-to-dark-for-me blue backing I bought on sale eons ago - add it on. Need more batting - so I whip stitched some pieces together - yes I did!! Another first in a very long list of challenges incorporated into SY.



I considered using Tonya's alphabet to make my label - but I'd have to figure out how to make it tiny. So-o I sewed 3 blank selvedges together - and wrote my own selvedge label.

I sewed the binding down by machine, added the label and sleeves by hand. Threw that puppy in the wash with a dye magnet and ended up with the first quilt that ever obviously bled for me in a 36 year quilting career. Oh yeah - it WAS that quilt!! Poop - I washed it again with Oxy-clean and Tide stain-remover. Still bleeding. Of course, being me - I dried it in the dryer so I may be doomed. I'll go into town this week and see if they have that magic dye product and try again.

Ta Da - without further delay - presenting Selvedge Yard:



The original too long saying was: Quilting: not so much a hobby, more like an obsession. I love me some (quilting)

The revised saying with the quilted words is: Quilting: not so much a hobby [you know] more like an [infectious] obsession [and we love it sew]

Thank you, thank you very much. Elvis has left the building!!

Pity Party at the coast - y'all come!

Mr M gave DH and I both a bad cough/cold. 5 month olds will cough in your face with no apologies!!! And I was afraid that I'd get nothing for Mother's day!! LOL!

I participated in the Oregon CoastRun quilt shop hop and did their FQ challenge. Let me tell you - those 13 fabrics DID NOT go together! AND some shops had the nerve to charge $3 for the required FQ - that's just not nice. I had a heck of a time coming up with a design ... finally I laid the fabrics in a stack with the selvedges showing and that seemed to calm them down.


I wanted to do something with selvedges - since it's all the rage now! The quilt is called "Did someone say shop hop?" You could only add 2 other fabrics - the green check selvedge and the roadmap border are the ones I added. The green check is the selvedge from mom's 'Gather ye rosebuds' I was working on at the same time. I needed another selvedge to make my squares square! I added comments about the shophop in the blank selvedges ... and the black spotted fabric made awesome spinning tires! I googled cars and came up with the pattern for the VWs I appliqued driving up and down the coast. I had a heck of a time finding roadmap fabric - looked far and wide and finally found it at "Greenbaum's Quilted Forest" in Salem. It's actually a map of France - but I figured 'wine-ing' was involved! All in all - it was fun and I got to experiment with a different technique. Alas, I didn't win - but I did get a free yard of fabric from the shop. Someone with an embroidery machine made a beautiful lighthouse/coast wallhanging - it was hard to believe she used the same 13 fabrics!! The different ocean machine embroideries really blended them. Well done!

Wishing you all a happy "Mother's Day Weekend". Hope you have time to do something you love to do!