More Handmade Ornaments - Getting Ready To Put Them Away

These are the only ones of this type I have left, although I had made many similar ones.

These were made from muslin, cotton lace and ribbon. 

 

This blue bird ornament was made from felt.

This ball and Sunbonnet Sue ornament were made from printed polyester double knit.

My Hand Painted Christmas Ornaments

 I've never considered myself a painter but I had fun creating this groups of ornaments.

These watermelons were a fun project for my tree.

Raggedy Andy and the soldiers were fun clothespin ornaments, though time consuming to create with all the detail.

These sweet innocent angel ornaments are painted on both sides.

Ornaments From Christmas's Past

 Over the years I have made a lot of handmade ornaments.

I have given away most of them.

I made these felt beaded Christmas tree ornaments 62 years ago. The felt was leftover from the circle felt skirts I made in the 50's.

The beaded bird ornaments came soon after.

This groups followed about 5 years later.

This final group of my beaded felt ornaments were created in the 1970s.

Corn And Beans Quilt in Progress

 I currently have quite a few quilts in progress that I am sharing my time working on.

I started it with left over patchwork pieces from a quilt I created about 22 years ago.

I have no idea where I am heading or how big it will get. 

I did find it was more interesting diagonally.

It is one of 8 quilts I am actively working on so it only gets added to when it tells me "Work on me, see what I want you to do next?"

Most Beautiful Amaryllis

 I received this as a Christmas gift from Greg and Julie.

This is what it looked like when I received it December 22.

This is what it looked like on January 5th with the third stems flowers.

There are 4 flowers on this stem. 

It is a gorgeous specimen that has kept changing and getting more beautiful.

Everyone who has seen this is amazed.

Amish Double 9 Patch Quilt

 

This is another time lapse quilt I started at least 20 years ago.

It finally has been quilted and is finished.

I used many different black fabrics in this quilt to add texture.

Upcycling Denim Jeans

 This is one of 4 quilts I pieced at least 20 years ago. 

I used the good parts of my sons jeans to make these.

The other 3 were finished and I gave them to my nephews.

This one was finally quilted in 2020.

Branching Out

Yes, you have seen this quilt before.

But it took on new meaning when it was installed in this spot.

I was surprised by the effect of the branches on each third of the display.
 

Yes, Quilts Were Finished in 2020 Even Though I Didn't Blog

 

This is a quilt that was finished in 2020. It was definitely a time lapse quilt.

I silk screened the heart motifs over 30 years ago, overdyed the squares about 8 years before I constructed it, and constructed it several years before it was finished.

It was one of 12 quilts finished in 2020.

The year started with 29 works in progress and finished with 26.

It was constructed 

As 2022 Begins

 This is the groups of quilts I currently have on display in the stairwell of my studio.

Welcome to 2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

I hope your year is colorful and that you are surrounded by quilts. 

Quilts Plus Color Returned To Blogging In 2021

This is the final quilt I completed in 2021.

After 15 months of not blogging I made a post on December 7, 2021.

I have not missed a day as I have a lot of catching up to do.

I started the year with 29 quilts on my list to finish,

12 quilts were finished.

The year ended with 26 quilts to finish.

If you are trying to figure out the mathematics here, don't!

There were quilts that never made it to my list as well as ones I started during the year.

Hope you are finishing 2021 on a positive note.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Another Trip Around The World

 I came up with a very efficient way of creating a Trip Around The World Quilt.

I published a pattern for my method but it is sold out.

I made a slight change in this one and added black which makes the colors sing.

Wine Amish Shadows

When I started quilting seriously many years ago I thought every quilt had to be king size because we had a king size bed.

This was going to have a very wide border.

I realized it was a generous size quilt even without that border so it is now quilted and finished.

 

PS: Don't ask how many unfinished KING size quilts I have!

June 21 Quilt

 This is a time lapse quilt. The first 20 in the series were finished many years ago.

I was not pleased at the time with this one.

I finished it a few days ago and with all the quilting I do love it.

A Quilt I Built With Two Sets of Fabrics

 Often I just start sewing fabrics together and wait until the quilt tells me what it wants to be.

This was the way I designed this quilt which was finished a while ago, altough it is a time lapse quilt too.

This quilt was created with two groups of 8 hand dyed fabrics each. One group was mottled rainbow fabrics. The other groups was loosely 8 gray toned neutrals.

After sewing the strips together I sliced and diced and this is what happened.

Orange and Green Quilts

 Recently I shared this quilt on Facebook. It created a lot of interest and my friend Debby wanted to see the other quilt I made with the same fabrics.

I did find the companion quilt and I am sharing it here for Debby, myself and everyone.

I had a system to create both of these at the same time. But I can't for the life of me figure out how I did it. That is the way I work. I do NOT keep track of how I create my ART as I have no desire to repeat what I have done. Each new piece is a new adventure.

Merry Christmas, Y'all

 

From Our House To You

Christmas Lights

 

This house that belongs to a member of our family won the prize for the best decorated home in the vilage a few years ago.

This  is the approach to the house.

My Studio Assistant

 Have you ever wondered how I get so many quilts finished?

I have a full time studio Assistant.

Her name is Quilting Granny and she is a whiz with a needle and thread.

Double Digits

 

The hand quilting on this miniature quilt is amazing.

I drew the feather design that was hand quilted.

It also uses a variety of black fabrics to add texture and interest.

Nine Patch Heart Quilt

 Another finish.  

This Nine Patch Heart quilt was made with a variety of colors and I used various black fabrics to give texture to the background. 

A Colorful Scrap Quilt

 

Anyone who makes a lot of quilts accumulates a lot of scraps.

This is one of the quilts I made from an accumulation of my scraps.

It was a lot of fun to make and it almost emptied the sxrap drawer.

Quilt Made From Extra Sampler Blocks

 

These were blocks I used to demonstrate how to make them when I taught a sampler quilt class.

I made a king size bed quilt with similar blocks that has been used and abused and needs repair work.

There were enough blocks to make a quilt that is about 70 x 80 inches.

This also qualifies as a time lapse quilt.

 

I'm sharing the top 2 tiers of my corner bakers rack that holds some souvenir ornaments and other items that have meaning for me.

When I was in high school I made red and white stripe cotton flannel nities for the sisters and my Mom and PJ's for my Dad and brother..

We had this photo put on out family Christmas card.

This was before color photos were available!

Christmas Quilt

 

Christmas Quilt

This is one of my favorite Christmas quilts I have made. It is in a private collection.
I designed a vest that used these blocks and made enough extras to make this quilt.
If really made a striking quilt with a lot of sparkle in the fabrics and the threads.
It was a lot of fun to make.

My Grandma Koeper's Quilt is finished

I think this is the only quilt top my Grandma Matilda Gruenwald Koeper ever pieced.

When she passed away I became the custodian of the top.

It took years for me to find someone sho could do the hand quilting as I could not longer hand quilt.

It took two hand quilters to do the quilting.

I finished the binding and casing recently.

I'm so happy to add the quilt with a family heritage connection. 

 

Is This The Real Santa

 

I was sure when Santa walked in the door 3 year old Jeff would be scarred for life when he saw Santa. 

No he was in awe and all he could say was "Oh Santa....Thank you Santa!"   

It's all a matter of perspective.

Let There Be Light

 

 

Twas 2 weeks before Christmas

And all through the house

It was cold and dark this time of year

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

BUT A PACKER LAMP, THAT MADE EVERYTHING CLEAR

Blanc n Noir

 This quilt was started at least 30 years ago and was finished recently.

The quilting is amazing.

Christmas Tree and Santas

 

It's time to share some of my favorite Christmas things with you.

Sorensen Heritage Quilt Number 4 and the Story of the Quilts

 This is the story of  the Sorensen Heirloom quilts.

It is printed on a label on the back of each quilt.

Heirloom Quilt made by your grandma Kay Koeper Sorensen

To Blake, Jessica, Nicholas and Jared Sorensen

This quilt is quite different than what you are familiar with as the quilts I currently create.

It was made with scraps of fabric from sewing projects I created from 1954 through 1962.

It is one of 4 similar quilts that were originally 2 twin size quilts.

The 2 quilts were the first quilts I made and finished.

They were originally made for your great grandparents Harold and Florence Sorensen as Christmas gifts in 1962.

They were patchwork on both sides as I had more time than money.

They were filled with old fashioned cotton batting and tied with wool worsted yarn on the floor in Edon, Ohio while I was 8 months pregnant with Greg Sorensen.

The reason they survived and have been made into 4 quilts were because your great grandma Florence Cooper Sorensen didn’t use gifts she was given for whatever her reasons were. Had she used and washed them they would have probably had frayed seams as I did not use adequate seam allowances in some places and the batting would have been one ball of cotton inside the quilts.

When she passed away in 1971, I again became the custodian of these quilts. I took them apart intending to make 4 quilts. I was concerned the light green thread I had purchased at a Junior House clothing fabric sale on a large cone might have deteriorated but found it to be as strong as the day they were made.

This took many years to accomplish but I am happy they now are finished for you and future generations to love and cherish for the future.

Since none of you or your father were familiar with any of these fabrics, I am also creating a memory story sharing some of the fabrics and their stories.

Sorensen Heritage Quilt 3

 

Nick is my tallest grandson and towers over his quilt.

Another Sorensen Heritage Quilt

 Each quilt is similar but different,

They were created from the scraps of my fabric I accumulated from sewing cotton clothing from 1954-1962.

Family Quilt

 I hope you can read this new blog post.

This is one of 4 Sorensen Heritage Quilts I created for 4 of my grandchildren,

A New Unique Quilt

 This is a totally new way of creating a quilt for me.

I had this section of irregular strip piecing so decided to trim it and attach in to a black base. I had intended to use black cotton for the base. When I went up to the studio in the treetops I remembered I had this rough silk and decided to use it.

One thing led to another and I decided to do a lot of curved quilting. It was really an enjoyable way to stitch. I did find a long repeat variegated thread that was perfect for the project.

I was concerned I'd have trouble with bulk in the corners when I did my usual facings. The corners are as close to perfect as any I've ever done.

This quilt is only about 13 by 18 inches. I am in love with it and hope to use a variation of what I've done for a future project.

I Couldn't Wait For Christmas So Here's the Series I Finished

About 20 years ago I started a set of luggage for my daughter in law Julie. I finished one piece and gave it to her.
The remaining 5 pieces were not finished until this past week. I had intended to save them for her for a birthday or Christmas gift.

Yes, this is the series of 5 pieces I mentioned several times on Facebook.

I was too excited about them and gave them to her yesterday. She loved them.

This is the piece I gave her 20 years ago and she uses it all the time.

I'm so happy to have the entire set completed so she can enjoy it all.

 

How Long Does It Take To Make A 24 Inch Quilt?

   

This one took 34 years.

I marbled the fabric and soon after I made the blocks and sewed them into strips. 

I was not impressed so I put it away for over 30 years.When I discovered it again I loved it so I finished it.