The Last of the Grandma Quilts

I FINALLY got my Grandma Quilt done over the weekend.  Yea!!
But since we've talked on and on about these quilts over the last year, I can't think of anything more to say about it.  I'll just leave you with a few pics and move on...

 

self-portrait

Quilts #1-3,  Renae's,  Squares 

I thought it would be fun now that the Grandma Project is completely finished to show a collage with all the quilts we made.  Six in total.  All different and unique, but equally cool in their Grandma Awesomeness!  I'm sure (and I think my sisters would agree) that Grandma would be very happy that we recycled her shirts into such beautiful creations!

Details:

Hourglass Inspiration and Tutorial

Backing:  light blue/white striped thrifted sheet from my stash

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday 

Making a Dent!

Like I said before, I am trying to bust my way through my current WIP's.

I'm happy to report that I am making significant  progress!

This week I spent most of my time working on my Grandma Quilt.  The blocks have been done for awhile now, but I set about  putting them into top form this week. 

All those pinwheel seams were making me crazy, but after removing the bulk on over 200+ blocks I can now say I am pretty proficient at it!  Not my idea of a good time, though.

I thought I had the perfect vintage sheet for the backing in my stash already only to find that I had already cut into it! Bummer!  A search thru my favorite thrift stores this week yielded nothing as well.  So this quilt is on hold until I can find something I like.

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A little side project I also worked on was a "celebration" idea we came up with for quilt club.  This year marks the 10th anniversary of the club (I have only been in for 2.5 years).  After some discussion we decided to help each other make a quilt to honor the occasion.  

This is how it will work:  Each month the host of club gets to decide on her color scheme.  The rest of the members will then make her a 12.5" block (or 2)  in those colors.  After, she will have 12-24 blocks to make herself an "Anniversary Quilt."

It'll be fun to see what everyone chooses and comes up with.

This month Kae chose red/white/blue.  Since my ladies aren't too modern, I made her this block with some patriotic fabrics I've had for.ever! (They are churn dash blocks like my DQS)  I'm pretty sure she will love it, but quite frankly it's not really me.  

So, I decided to make her these scrappy postage stamp blocks as well.  They scream out "Emily" much more than the other one, don't ya think? 

I guess I'll giver her all 3 blocks and let her decide which ones make it in the quilt!

linking up to Finish It Up Friday @ crazymomquilts.
and WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

My own Grandma Quilt

Our family is heading south this week to Nebraska to visit family.  Can't wait to get out of town.  One of the things I am taking with me to show off is my Grandma quilt.  M.I.N.E.  After all the other quilts I've made using Grandma's shirts (#s 1-3 and # 4), I finally got mine completed and couldn't be happier. 

Based on this style, I put those HSTs to work and I L.O.V.E. how they turned out.

I sent it to Emily's quilter and she did a beautiful job.  Thank you, Lynn!

It really just makes me so happy. 

Merry Christmas to me.  I wrapped it up and put it under the tree, even though everyone in my family had already seen it.

Details:

• Finished dimensions 57 inches by 67 inches.
• Cut 1 1/2" strips of red/blue floral for inner border
• Cut 2" strips of white for outer border
• Thrifted striped chambray sheet for backing (about $3)

• Binding made from the red/blue floral fabric Grandma had in her sewing room--the consensus is we think she had plans for it to make a new apron.

Grandma Quilt #4

I should nickname this quilt the "Loaves and Fishes Quilt" because this is the result of making a 4th quilt after already using the fabric for 3 previous Grandma's Shirt Quilts.  What was left to choose from was scraps of already scrap fabric--literally scraping the bottom of the scrap bag barrel.

Also, I hesitate to share all of the story behind this quilt, but let me just suffice it to say that this quilt was not in the grand scheme of the plan when Emily and I divided everything up and figured out how to use Grandma's shirts for 5 different quilts (3 aunts and one each for us) back in February.  Fast forward a number of months and now we needed to come up with another one (#6), and this was after everything was pretty much cut apart, divided, and cut out.

Well, thank goodness for a minor miracle: there were enough scraps to cut 3" squares (albeit a few had to be pieced) and I found this quilt design from Oliver + S Moda that was perfect inspiration for less than ample amounts of fabric. 

Voila!! the "Loaves and Fishes" quilt.

Details:

• Finished measurements approx. 48" by 66"
• Cut 3" squares
• Sashed between and outside edges with 3" strips.
• Thrifted multi-striped sheet for the backing
• Cross hatch machine quilting
• Machine binding from thrifted stash

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This quilt is going to our cousin Doug, therefore, it needed to be a bit more on the manly side--even though he has 3 girls.  So why is Doug getting it?  Well, for a couple reasons: first of all his mother was the one aunt who didn't want a quilt (but then said he could have it), also he lived with Grandma for a number of years before he was married, and he is the first born grandson.  So I guess that rank does have its privileges.

And really, there is no more fabric to be used....really....there isn't.  So don't ask. 

Grandma's Shirts x 3

Somewhere in all the whirlwind of grandma's funeral and seeing all the relatives I volunteered to make whomever wanted a quilt out of grandma's shirts.  Three of our four aunts said they would like one.  So after I got back home and realized what I'd just committed myself to I begged recruited Renae to help me.  She is a crazy fast sewer so I knew she'd save my hiney help me big time. 

I deconstructed all the shirts and sent Renae a stack of fabric and some already cut squares.  We talked about designs and ideas, while keeping in mind that we needed them to be quick and simple.  HST's it was!  (For the record Renae made all three quilts, I just did the binding on one.)   So while all three quilts are made with the same fabrics they are all pretty different looking. 

Quilt #1
Pinwheels
For Aunt Elaine

Quilt #2 
Triangles

For Aunt Carol

Inspired by this quilt

Quilt #3
Crazy Pinwheels
For Aunt Sharon

Though it doesn't really show in these pictures each quilt is the same size, approx. 53" by 68".
Started with 6" squares, then cut into hst.

Now that these are done, Renae and I can start mulling over the making of our own "Grandma" quilts.  Again, we've been discussing different ideas, but I think we've both decided to hold off until after our kids go back to school.  Stay Tuned!

Linking up @ Quilt Story 

Grandma's Shirts

Here is one of the new projects I have recently added to my "to-do" list for 2011.

 

Our grandmother recently passed away.  She was 95 years old.  And although we didn't live close to her she was always very sweet and kind, and always remembered our birthdays.  She was also a smart, thrifty, hard-working woman who raised 5 children and ran a farm by herself after our grandparents divorced in the 50's. 

After she passed, the one thing I wanted from her were her aprons and her vintage sheets.  I got her aprons, but she didn't have any vintage sheets (turns out she was a solid color sheet kinda girl).  When it was all said and done, though, I was able to have her clothes as well.
 

Grandma's Shirts

Can you guess what her favorite colors were?  Yep, every single shirt in her closet was either pink or blue.  

So my idea is that I'm going to take all of her clothes and use the fabric to make a quilt out of it.  It's an idea that I've been tossing around for awhile now.  I think it will be awesome.  (I'm sure it will have the same sorta  feel as the one I made for my MIL.)  

I've enlisted the help of Renae because I actually have to make 3 quilts -- One for me, one for my aunt that took care of Grandma, and one for another aunt.  I'm hoping there is enough fabric for all of them.

As for her aprons, they aren't all pink and blue so think I will save them for something else.  Anyone have any ideas?     

(Today I'm linking to Fabric Tuesday Quilt Story.)