BLOOD, SWEAT, & SIGNATURES - EXCITING NEWS

"Blood, Sweat, & Signatures", a celebrity signature quilt I made way back in 1992, has been acquired by the International Quilt Study Center & Museum Quilt House, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I'm honored and thrilled that this special quilt will be cared for, studied, and enjoyed by their visitors. Hopefully the names of the celebrities who grace this quilt will continue to be fondly remembered for years to come.

BLOOD, SWEAT and SIGNATURES 66.5" X 66.5" © 1992

Commercial cottons, hand quilted, original design featuring 96 quilt celebrity signatures. Click here to view more photos and learn the back story.

Linking to these inspiring blogs:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts.

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THE JOKES ON ME

After nixing further work on a large string quilt, intended for our BIG stairwell wall, I decided to dig out some quilts I made back in the early days.  As you all know, I'm no longer particularly fond of piecing......though that construction method was my entry point into quiltmaking in the mid 1980's.

I truly CAN NOT believe I actually pieced this complex quilt....and hand quilted it.  My memory led me to believe that these older quilts were too small for the wall.  Apparently not!

It's still a bit wavy at the bottom after being folded for far too long, but it should hang out nicely.  The hardest part in replacing a quilt for this space is getting the wooden quilt hanger off the wall and back up!  The feet of a tall extension ladder rest on the stairway and the top leans against the wood ceiling. 

The previous quilt was removed and replaced with this Storm At Sea quilt.  "The husband" spent his career in the scaffolding business and thankfully is not afraid of heights!!

Check out these links to see what other creative folks have been up to this week:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, and Crazy Mom Sews.

HAND QUILTING

Our Asheville Quilt Guild show will be held in September.....as a member I like to participate if I can.  Unfortunately, most of my work is not large enough, nor are they quilted through 3 layers as required.

My 2+ month long fit of organizing uncovered lots of goodies.  One is a hand appliqued and pieced holiday theme wall quilt top.  Very traditional and so unlike the style I work in lately. 

  As you may know...I whine when I get into a panic about not having any evening hand sewing to do.  So....I sandwiched the top and set about hand quilting it like mad.....I've kept this quiet since I didn't want the pressure of actually feeling as though I HAD to get it finished by the upcoming (very soon) deadline.

I may make it.....I have the outer borders to go....then of course the binding etc. and if I'm pleased I'll share it in the show. (Now I think I should add more background quilting in the applique area...sigh)  

 I love to hand quilt....though I admit I reserve it for only special projects these days.  It's impossible to sell a piece for a price that will compensate one for that much work.  Perhaps if it does end up hanging in the show, it may inspire others to take the time to do some hand quilting.