Great-Grandma Leaf's 90th Birthday Quilt

Last fall I found some Michael Miller fabric at the Every Thread Counts quilt shop in Hood River, Oregon that screamed Thomas Kincade. Since my great-grandmother absolutely loves Kincade’s work and even has one of pieces in her living room, I knew I had to get some fabric for her and make her a quilt to match!

I started working on it last summer when I was in the process of moving, which was tricky since I didn’t have access to all of my quilting supplies. I borrowed a sewing machine and got the top pieced in about a week. The project then got put away into a bag for a few months. Christmas came and went and I still hadn’t gotten around to finishing my great-grandma’s quilt. Finally this February I decided I should alternate an UFO (Un-Finished Object) with a new project, after all, I had several projects that just needed to be quilted and bound.

One of the first UFOs that I decided to tackle was the one for my great-grandma Leaf. I used several free motion quilting designs in the different areas of the quilt to finish it off. I was very happy with how the free motion quilting complimented the design elements of the fabric.

Quilting Detail of Great-Grandma Leaf's Quilt

I just hope my great-grandma enjoys the quilt… I realize that for most grandmas this would not even be a question, but since Great-Grandma Leaf thinks quilting is old-fashioned and she can’t understand why I think quilting is so wonderful, I am not entirely certain what her response will be. (For the record, at 90 years-old, I think she can think and pretty much do anything she likes – she’s earned it!) Cross your fingers for me that the fabric and it’s similarity to her favorite artist will win her over. And, if not, well, I enjoyed working on the quilt so that will be fine too!

Check out this quilt I made which will be up for auction at the Washington Stealth game on Saturday, March 27, 2010. I used the “One-Piece Wonder” quilt pattern from the Quilts and More Fall 2008 magazine. I especially loved using up some of the pinks from my stash (along with buying a few more of course!) to make a quilt for charity.

Nichey's Pink Wonder Quilt

The proceeds from the sale of my Pink Wonder quilt will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation in their efforts to find a cure and otherwise stamp out breast cancer. I used pink ribbon fabric for the back and included a different pink ribbon fabric on the front. You can find pink ribbon fabric in local quilt stores now.

Welcome to Quilt Cravings!

I created this blog to chronicle my creative exploits in the quilting world.  I became hooked on quilting a few years ago when I began having chronic foot pain.  As a “do-er” I couldn’t just sit still and not do anything – I was going crazy!  So, I found a fat quarter kit online, ordered it, and made my second quilt ever.  It was a lap quilt in the pinwheel pattern.  I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved it!

Pinwheel Quilt

After that I took a beginning quilting class at a local quilt store.  That was the best move I could ever make!  My teacher, Beverly, was amazing.  She walked us through making a quilt from beginning to end.  She had us pick out our fabrics, taught us strip piecing, rotary cutting, pressing, sandwiching, quilting, binding, and more.  In two days I made my third quilt.  I was officially hooked!

Beginners Quilting Class Ballerina Quilt

In the future, I will be posting what projects I am currently working on, what tools I use, and maybe even pics of my quilting room.  Now, I’m off to play with fabric and hope you are too!