Summer is for Flip Flops (Quilt)

Summer is almost here!  Well we know it’s coming but we’re really waiting for Spring to appear and stay.  One day we have 70’s even 80’s and then the next day we have rain, sleet or snow.  Winter just doesn’t want to leave Kansas for some reason.  I know the heat is almost here and I hate hot, hot weather.

This wall hanging I want to share with you today reminds me of Summer.   There are many styles of flip flops, many colors and all ages wear them.  These flip flops are made of bright colors with a flower design in the center.  On the straps I used different yo yo’s, a small circle and a small heart to finish off the straps.  The pattern had small flowers attached to the straps but you could try decorative buttons.   I used an eight inch square for the flip flops and then used the remaining material to make the straps. I then sewed the flip flops and center flower down with invisible thread after adhering them with Seam n Seam.  Templates for the flip flops and leaves (center) were included in the pattern. 

This pattern was in the “Quiltmaker” August 6, 2012 magazine named “Flip Floppy Flower.”  The lady that designed this wall hanging was on a trip to Alaska when she saw flip flops arranged in a giant circle attached to a wall of a shoe store.  This inspired her to make a flip flop flower quilt.  This should tell you that you can take any design from anything and make it into a quilt.

I made this quilt for my friend that owns a quilt shop “Kessler Kreations” in Hillsboro, Kansas.  She sells fabric, quilting supplies, has classes and does beautiful longarm quilting.  She does beautiful custom quilting.  If you’re ever in the area be sure to stop in and see her shop located on Main Street.  It’s really a neat shop.  Oh and she has kits for this flip flop wall hanging available.  Tell her you saw it on my blog. 

Well better get working on my next quilt. Thanks for stopping in and keep checking my blog for new quilt ideas.

Keep Stitchin,

Connie

Pinwheel Quilt...................

Well Spring is suppose to be here according to the calendar.  Once the calendar said its Spring then we get Winter weather.  We’ve had snow, sleet, hail and then two days later we have nice weather in the 60’s and 70’s with rain.  We need the precipitation so I’m not complaining.  Would be nice to put my coat away and leave it in the closet.  I keep telling myself it will get here then you’ll complain about it being to hot!  Never happy are we!!

Today I want to talk and show you a small quilt, 26” x 30” that I made my granddaughter, Mariah.  It is so much fun watching her with this quilt.  She’ll lay it across her lap and just rub her hands over it.  I’ve seen her laying on it and again just rubbing her hands on it.  She’ll sit there with it on her lap and look at her books.  I do believe she might like my quilts!  Maybe some day another quilter in the family?

This pattern is from the book Country Threads Goes to Charm School.  I have used this book numerous times because I love to use Charm Packs.  The pattern is called “Use A Napkin” because we have to remind our kids “Don’t wipe your fingers on the quilts – use a napkin.”  I thought that was cute.

To refresh your memory a charm pack is 5” x 5” squares and depending on the company you buy from charm packs can have up to a quantity of 43 squares in a pack.  For this quilt you will need 30 squares of different colors and ½ yard of the background material.  In the book is a mini windmill template, using with a  2 ½” square, that you can cutout of cardboard or acrylic.  I used the cardboard back from the charm pack.  Worked great! 

On this particular quilt you will cut the 5" squares in half.  You will get four windmills out of each square.  If you don’t have a charm pack you can cut 2 ½” x 20” strips of 10 different colors. Then use your template to cut the windmills out.

This is a fun quilt to make, a different type of pinwheel.  I like this pattern because you don't have all the bulk of material in the center.  This would also be a great quilt to use up scraps that you have.  I love the bright colors and so does Mariah.

Give this quilt a try and let me know what you thought of it.

Keep stitchin' and until next time, thanks for stopping in……..

Connie

Heritage Quilt

Reunions or family get together's are a lot of fun.  Let me tell you about one of our family reunions that was in the year of 2001.  When the whole family gets together they usually spend the reunion at one of the hometowns.  This particular one was held in my hometown, Hesston.  The family members that live in that town take care of all the  arrangements.  This reunion is usually held on a Friday until Sunday afternoon.

The reason I'm bringing up family reunions is because this particular reunion I decided I was going to make a "special" quilt" a "A Heritage Quilt".  A little background when this family gets together they have an action to help with the costs.  This turns into a highlight of the weekend.  Sometimes a family member would bring something old that had memories when they were kids.  This would usually end up in a bidding war if one wanted it really bad.  A lot of good fun and lots of laughter was during this time.

Back to the quilt!  I made a special quilt for the auction that year.  I started with pictures of the parents, which on the quilt was the center, this was Abe Willems.  I ask the brothers and sisters to give me photographs of each one of them now and there wedding pictures.  Any pictures of the family while they were growing up, pictures of the house, farming, church, anything that would make this quilt have history.  I ran the pictures off on muslin through my printer.  I surrounded the picture with a log cabin design.  As you can see I had the names of the siblings machine embroidered between the now picture and the wedding picture.  The first name on the block would have been the siblings name followed by the spouse and last name.  I hand quilted around each block and on the border I quilted connecting hearts.

This was really a fun project and I learned about the family history through this process.  It was fun gathering all these pictures and figuring out how to put it all together in a quilt and make it very interesting.   The quilt was auctioned off and bought by a son for his father and mother and headed to Portland, Oregon.  A lot of memories were hashed that weekend, laughter was plentiful, and a good time by all.

So does this inspire you to try a Heritage Quilt?  It's a lot of fun and the history you learn about your family tree. Try it!  Have fun with it!  See what you can come up with.

Keep learning and stitching,
Till next time,
Connie