Quilting for Mom

Improvisational block quilted pillow case

Last week in a sweat I worked up a little patchwork project and developed a gift for my mother. I worked up a design of strips using the same improvisational technique I have been doing in orange for that big quilt. This project was inspired  by a fat quarter of fabric my high school pal Valerie gave me a while back. We explored all sorts of Appalachian traditions  during our Junior and Senior years in high school together including quilting and dancing to blue grass bands at festivals.  Her choice really set my imagination running. I love the Ottoman/Mongol theme of this fabric which reminds me of the Persian and Mongol (Indian) miniature paintings seen at Sackler Asian Art Museum down town. The colors in the print are some of my Mother's favorites so I had to keep adding more to my stash and the DC Modern Quilter Guild's scrap exchange last month really helped expand my choices for the improvisational block building.

Last year's pillow the Rose Star in purples 

Last year I did a Rose Star English paper pieced pillow design. So this year it's a new cover done by machine with machine quilting.

fabric strips and pieces laying on the ironing board ready to sew

Finished and ready to use by Mom. 

Mom doing her word search puzzle in the big teal chair (soft focus) 

another block in my purple green theme with the Mongol towers in the center

Streak-o-Lightning quilt revealed

 Last evening March 18th the day after Irish St. Patrick's day I completed a throw quilt in four fabrics from Joann's Fabric store. I sewed the last binding and my embroidered label on so now it is ready to wash and dry. Soon it will be used to keep off the spring chills that have been in the air this month.

Streak-o-lightning throw 41x 64 inches

hand quilted with two colors of pearl threads: dark green and pale blue/green

quilt on my design wall

fuzzy photo of quilting and label 

a long strip of the three front blocks added in one side of the backing 

did you notice all the orange berries in the calico print?

Streak-o-lightning throw, thrown on my chairs shows front and back and label in one view! 

At our DC Modern Quilt Guild sewing day Sunday there were lots of quilters and lots of beautiful quilts in progress and a few completed to show and tell. I got a few photos (here) and had a very good time visiting and working with the many members as the group grows. It was hosted by a Fraternity House Mother! Lovely Anna blogs at Hoot'n Hollar who got permission to use the house while the boys were on Spring Break for us two days over the St. Patrick's day weekend. Anna's Frat house was a great place to meet and we all enjoyed our day of quilting. I came home with a big hand full of scraps from a couple of quilters who were clearing out their scrap bins. They had some beautiful fabrics I have never see in my fabric store. I took some photos of my mostly masculine scraps laid out when I got home. Looking forward to playing with these and I wanted to say thanks to the people who generously opened up their bins for me to dig through and pick out some cools designs. 

Anna with her big smile at an earlier DC Modern Guild meeting 

scraps bin finds, brought home from DCMQG

Melinda who blogs as the Quirky Granola Girl previewed a really popular quilt Sunday at DC Modern Quilt Guild meeting. I got a couple bad photos of her showing. She blogged about the project recently of houses. It's her own international community, quilted little houses that represent her friends around the world.

Thanks to everyone of the DC Modern Quilt Guild for all your enthusiastic support and making me feel like one of the gang even if I am the only guy quilter in the group I always feel right at home.