Quilting Blog - Cactus Needle Quilts, Fabric and More

Valentine Quilts

2012-02-13T05:00:00.002-07:00

For our February meeting with the Nimble Thimbles, the members were asked to bring their Valentine Quilts to share for the program.
Isn't that a great idea for a guild activity?

Barb combined quilting with work on her embroidery machine.

Love Birds

Barb's Little Twister Heart

This pattern uses the Little Twister Quilt template.

Appliqued hearts

With a fun pieced border, topped with embroidery stitches.

Remember the loooonnnnggg poinsettia table runner I showed you a few days ago?

Another one by the same maker, this time her table is ready for Valentines Day

With a matching table topper.

This could be for Christmas or Valentines Day.
Do you see the hearts?

Nice job ladies! Thanks again for Show and Tell.

Love

2012-02-12T05:00:00.001-07:00

"Love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there's plenty of room at both ends."

Park Bench Quilters
from Mary Lou Weidman's book Outside the Box- Unleashing Your Creativity

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Comes To Arizona

2012-02-11T05:00:00.004-07:00

Arizona is celebrating 100 years of Statehood in 2012 with grand activities.
This weekend they have invited the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir to perform.
This is the first time in 40 years, and only the 2nd time the choir has put on a concert in Arizona.

The 360 member choir, accompanied by the 110 member orchestra are all volunteer.
This is the longest running choir in the United States, with 83 years of continuous network broadcasting.

Last night's performance was held in the US Airways Center, home to the NBA Phoenix Suns.

They asked that we not take pictures during the performance, so I took a few shots before the event began.
The center holds about 18,000 people, and last night it was filled nearly to capacity.
Tonight Arizona Governor Jan Brewer will be in attendance, along with many dignitaries.
I was impressed with how smoothly the event was coordinated.
The Choir even flew in their own organ.
And the sound was amazing!
President Ronald Reagan dubbed them "America's Choir" rightly so.

I work for Deseret Book, and spent the evening working the booth where we sold Mo Tab CD's and DVD's

I told Mr. Cactus that I had a Friday night date planned different than any previous, and that it would involve wearing a white shirt and tie, plus beautiful music.
Boy, did that teaser make him curious.
He was a good sport and helped bag product while I rang up purchases on the cash register :)

February Just Takes 2 Blocks

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

The patterns for the February blocks from Just Takes 2 were up last week, but it took me a few days to get to them.
For the first of the month, there are just 2 blocks.
They mentioned that we should try and keep up, because the 2nd half of the month blocks will be more challenging.

Block #12
Finished size 12 1/2" X 12 1/2"

Even though these are traditional blocks, they are instructing us to paper piece them.
I've never paper pieced a block this size, but with a little practice I can tell my skill level is increasing.

On a positive note, with paper piecing the seams always match up clean and crisp, and the paper keeps the bias edges from stretching.

At first I considered making the flying geese block with a ruler, the way I've always made them.
But then I got on board, and decided to try it their way with paper piecing.

I have to admit they turned out very accurate.

I am pulling reds from my scrap pile, so the blocks will have a variety of fabrics.

February Show and Tell

2012-02-09T05:00:00.001-07:00

The Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild continues to impress during February's Show and Tell:

Beautiful Bargello!

I love the curving visual effects of this Bargello's center.

And the ribbon borders continue to add movement to the quilt.

Another completed Jelly Roll Race quilt.

Darlene's quilt group meet each week in a conference room at the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa, Arizona.

As a thank you, their group made this wonderful dinosaur quilt for the museum.

A table runner made for a very looooonnnngg table.
The bells at the end keep her cats busy for hours.

The pattern was taken from Quilt In a Day Mini Dresden Plate, where the maker interpreted poinsettia's rather than Dresdens.

A Pinwheel Rag Quilt

Made with dog fabrics for the dog lover in the family.

Bright and Happy Turning Twenty quilt

Nice use of Sunflower fabrics.

Barb has been busy making place mats using the same technique as It's A Wrap fabric Baskets.
A great way to use up scraps.

A table runner using the Jelly Roll Races pattern, this time with 1" strips.

1896 Crazy Quilt

2012-02-08T05:00:00.001-07:00

During our guild meeting, Darlene Reid brought a Crazy Quilt made in 1896 that had recently been given to her.
You read that right.
Can you imagine? Someone gave her this amazing antique quilt.

Darlene works as a volunteer at the Gilbert Museum each week, where a group gathers together to hand quilt tops that have been brought in by the public.
One day a lady came in to the museum, and said this Crazy Quilt had been made by her grandmother, and that no in her family was interested in keeping it.
She wanted the treasure to go to a quilter who would appreciate the workmanship.
With all the hours Darlene has volunteered in behalf of the quilting world, the gift could not go to a more deserving person.

The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition had a big impact on quilt designs. The Japanese Exhibit displayed samples of ceramics made with asymmetrical art work.
Women adapted the abstract arrangements into quilt designs, adding embroidered motifs with a wide variety of stitching styles.

Crazy Quilts were quite the rage from the 1880's until around 1910.

Women documented family histories or special events in their lives with additions of ribbons, cigar bands and souvenirs.

Crazy Quilts are really not quilts in the traditional sense.
Most do not have batting, and are sewn together with tacks, rather than quilted together

In the 1800's Crazy Quilts became a Status Symbol, and were treasured objects.
The making required a large amount of leisure time. If a man was a good provider, he made enough money for hired help, allowing his wife long hours to work on her quilts.
He would often invite friends and family into his home to view his wife's Crazy Quilt, symbolic of their wealth.

Crazy Quilts were generally not intended to be used as quilts, but as piano scarves or parlor throws.

1896 was an interesting period in the history of the United States.
Think back.

It was in 1896 that Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for an invention he labeled The Telephone

Colorado became the 38th State.
The Indian Wars raged on, with Battle of Big Horn taking place in June.

Heinz tomato Ketchup was introduced.

136 years later we still have much in common.
Telephones are in every pocket, and Heinz ketchup sits in my refrigerator.

And most of all, through the distance of time, women are drawn together in our appreciation for all things beautiful.

Stairstep Quilts Book

2012-02-07T05:00:00.001-07:00

I've always been a big fan of The Selvage Blog by Karen Griska.

I've followed her posts for years.

What amazing things people can make with selvages!

I was especially happy when Karen contacted me recently and sent me a copy of her new book as a gift:)

Thank you Karen!
Stairstep Quilts is my kind of book.

Eleven fabulous versions of Stairstep quilts, that can all be made from fabric scraps (if you choose).

Right up my alley.

And, these quilts look so easy and do-able!

Oh, which one do I love the most?

Might be Steps of Santa Fe.

I'm really drawn to red and white quilts right now, and the pattern does have an Arizona kind of design.

I also really like Staircase Wall Hanging, although you could make this in any size depending on how many blocks you make.

I have a feeling Karen knows how much I want to use up my fabric stash right now, and these projects are the perfect way to dip into the baskets that are filled to overflow.

The patterns would also serve a useful purpose for quilt guilds looking to do charity quilts with left over bits of fabrics.

Karen's book can be ordered and downloaded as a pdf file on her Etsy site at Selvage Blog.

Farmer's Wife Finish

2012-02-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

I got so distracted last week working on getting caught up on some BOM blocks, that I forgot to show you that I finished my Farmer's Wife Quilt!

Yay! A finish!

This really was a fun Quilt Along to be part of this last year.
I enjoyed making the blocks from my scrap pile, and increased in learning some new quilting techniques.

For the border fabric I decided to use the same fabric as the sashing.
The solid colors allow the bright and busy blocks to do all the talking.

Finished size 61" X 70"
which also fit very nicely over a picnic table.

My thanks:) to Angela (Fussy Cut) and
Amanda (Hey Pork Chop!) for hosting this wonderful
Quilt Along!

Sunflower Quilting Bee

2012-02-05T07:52:00.002-07:00

"When you have once seen the glow of happiness on the face of a beloved person, you know that a man can have no vocation but to awaken that light on the faces surrounding him." (Albert Camus)

"The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles" by Faith Ringgold.

Elephant Quilt Block

2012-02-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

With my posts about Circus Quilt, I have received several e-mails from readers with additional leads.

My thanks to Karen K. who shared links to this Elephant block pattern.
The pattern was so easy that I sat down and made one with a few scraps.

In keeping with the exotic style so prevalent in the 1920's and 1930's, I made my elephant out of some wild fabric.
Not sure what I am going to do with the block yet, but I had so much fun making him (or her?) that I am going to make some more.

The original block is designed by Miri of Milk and Honey Quilts, who offers a free pattern.

Eileen of Eileen's Attic made her own version, adding embroidery.

Elephants must be having a resurgence in popularity.
I love the appliqued quilt blocks Lurline (Lurline's Place) is making right now.

Valorie Well's fabric line Karavan Marrakech is another delightful example of keeping with the exotic.
*
Have you ever wondered why Elephants have such an excellent Memory?
From Softpedia:
In a top of intelligence, humans are followed by apes, elephants and dolphins. The elephant brain is denser than the human's, and the temporal lobes, associated to memory, are more developed than in humans. Elephant's lobes also have more foldings, so that they can store more information. That's why elephants have excellent memory.

Millie's Closet

2012-02-02T05:00:00.001-07:00

My friend Lori Holt (Bee In My Bonnet) has just released ANOTHER new fabric line!
Millie's Closet

This line was named after Lori's Grandmother Crane (Millie) who recently passed away.
Lori has told me many stories of this wonderful woman, who had such an impact on her life.

When you see Lori's vintage style, with colors and patterns reminiscent of days gone past, you will see Millie's influence.

Think of a sweet grandmother who lived nearby most of Lori's life.
Grandmother Crane knew the value of hard work, was a wonderful cook, and had a listening ear.

Many of those qualities have been passed down to Lori, who honors her heritage.

These fabrics are so wonderful!
I love every single one of them!
To see more of Millie's Closet, make sure to run over to Lori's blog Bee In My Bonnet.
The fabrics are just in and will be available ONLINE and in quilt shops mid-March.

Joe Versus The Volcano Quilt Block

2012-02-01T05:00:00.001-07:00

John (Quilt Dad) designed January's Blogger's Block of the Month.
He titled his creation Sands of Time.
I can see how he would think of this block as symbolic of an hour glass filled with sand.

But, as I pulled out my Kaffe fabrics and worked on my blocks this month, I kept thinking this block looked more like a Volcano to me.
Even as I made the block in two different color ways, I kept visualizing hot molten lava spewing from ruptured volcanic cinder cones.

Am I the only one who sees this?

So, with all due respect to John and his great design, I am personally renaming my blocks
Joe Versus The Volcano after one of our family's all time favorite movies.
Such a classic.
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan look so young in 1990.
Can it really be 22 years since they made this film?

Joe Versus The Volcano can be ordered on Amazon.com.
and is one of those movies you love to quote.
When ever I forget something, I always blame it on having a "Brain Cloud".
*
"Brain cloud! I knew it. Well, I di- I didn't know it, but - I knew it.
And another:
Patricia: "My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement."
*
Thanks John for a nice quilt block design this month. I like it!

Just Takes 2 January Blocks/ Part 2

2012-01-31T05:00:00.001-07:00

The instructions for Part 2 of the January blocks from the Just Takes 2 Quilt Along are now available.

I've finished the first 4.

Block 7
*remember: these blocks are from the Infinite Variety quilts.

Block 8

Normally, this would look like an easy block to rotary cut and sew traditionally.
I thought it was interesting that the instructions for Block 8 were to paper piece.
One of the reasons I like signing up for BOM patterns is to increase my quilting skills, so I followed the given instructions.
I like how paper piecing makes for such accurate points and sections.

Block 9

Block 10
The instructions for Block 10 directed us to foundation piece using freezer paper templates.
That seemed like a lot of extra work to me, so I paper pieced this block also.
Easy to do and it came together quickly.
Block 11 is the traditional school house block, but it's not my style, so I will be finding another substitute at a future date.

Nancy's Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Makes a teacher proud.
When we lived in St. George, Utah I used to teach classes for a wonderful quilt store called Quilted Works.
One of the classes I taught was Grandmother's Flower Garden, which involves making hundreds and hundreds of hexagons and then sewing them together by hand using the English Paper Piecing technique.
GFG's have always had a kind of love/hate type of effect upon quilters.
You love to have a portable, easy- to- do hand type project that can be tucked in a purse and worked on where ever you go.
You hate the time consuming nature of the project, and that it can take years (upon years!) to finish the top.
You love the fact that you can use fabric scraps to make the flowers, and that English Paper Piecing can be quite therapeutic and yet addictive all at the same time.
Back and forth. Back and forth.
I have taught GFG to many students over the years, and in turn have been the the recipient of many wonderful stories and e-mails.
This is the kind of quilt that touches people's hearts, and weaves it's way into your life.
I received a nice e-mail, complete with picture from Nancy M, who will be hand quilting (!) her GFG next!
Applause, applause, clap, clap, clap!
Beautiful job Nancy!

Nedra,

I just had to share my quilt that I finished from the class you
taught at Quilted Works. It turned out so beautiful and I can’t wait to start
hand quilting it.

Thanks for teaching me how to make this. It will be a family treasure for
generations to come.

Nancy

Nice Thought

2012-01-29T06:15:00.005-07:00

"May all of your ups and downs in life be with a needle and thread"

Cirque Du Soleil La Nouba

2012-01-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

I think one of the reasons I have been fascinated with anything Circus lately, had been because we recently watched the DVD La Nouba.
When we lived in Southern Utah, we were able to drive to Las Vegas for the evening and catch a Cirque Du Soleil show.
Watching a DVD isn't the same as live, but it's a second best.

This spectacular performance is shown nightly at Walt Disney World.
Available on Amazon.com

After viewing the aerial ballet in silk I was ready to run away to the circus.

The Power Track/ Trampoline number provided an amazing closing act!
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the choreography and physical strengths exhibited by the acrobats and gymnasts.
From Wikipedia:

This high-energy spectacle has performers literally bouncing off the walls and through the windows and roof of a three-dimensional building. This seven-and-a-half minute act includes athletes performing 394 flips and 62 twists.

Clowns, trapeze artists,tight rope walkers, music: Cirque Du Soleil La Nouba has it all. They label it the Avante-Garde blend of Circus and Theatre, and yes, it is extreamly innovative.

Crib Quilts and Other Small Wonders

2012-01-27T05:00:00.001-07:00

If you are like me and would like to make Circus Quilt, the pattern can be found in the book
Crib Quilts and Other Small Wonders
by Thos. K. Woodward and Blanche Greenstein
Available on Amazon.com

This is a wonderful book to keep in your library and to peruse.
Including 150 color plates, curators Woodward and Greenstein give a detailed history of each vintage quilt and provide several patterns, including Circus Quilt.
What mother hasn't made or received a crib quilt with the birth of a child?
I found the history included in the book as interesting as the quilts themselves.
Did you know that there have been many strong opinions on how to make crib quilts over the years?
"Readers of The House Book published in 1840, were instructed to use two discarded silk dresses to make a 'light and convenient article' for a child's crib, especially useful in a 'sickroom' as a moral booster. For reasons unexplained by the author, the quilt was meant to be quilted only in large diamonds, and in another passage, patchwork quilts of old calicoes were declared unfit for use anywhere except in 'inferior chambers' where they would work well for the servants' beds." (pg 86)
I've always held a romantic notion that it would have been wonderful to live in the 1800's.
As a quilter, I think I far prefer the 2000's where there are not so many do's and don'ts in the quilting world.

Original Circus Quilt

2012-01-26T05:00:00.001-07:00

In the early 1920's and 1930's Americans were fascinated with anything "oriental" or exotic.
The trend not only had an impact on our furniture and clothing tastes, but also our quilting designs.
In doing research on Circus Quilt, I found this original photo courtesy of Karey Bresenhan

47" X 61" Gilmer, Texas
Hand pieced and quilted by Myrtle Augusta Patterson for her son Clovis Calvin Patterson
From the collection of Karey Patterson Bresenhan
In my research, there has been a little confusion on the date this quilt was made. One source said 1910. Another listed C. 1920-1930
Circus Quilt quite possibly gained attention through publication in a 1920's woman's magazine, the main source women turned to for quilting patterns in their era.
If you would like to read more, I found a fascinating article Exotic Quilt Patterns and Names by curator Marin F. Hanson that provided a wealth of information, including some insights on Circus Quilt.
As a side note, Karey Bresenhan is the founder of the Houston International Quilt Festival and proud of her 5 generations of Texas quilters.
Circus Quilt was made by her grandmother.

Circus Quilt

2012-01-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

It's always such a privilege to rub shoulders with outstanding quilters.
Darlene Reid is the 2010 recipient of Arizona's Quilters Hall of Fame award, recognized for her vast contribution to the world of quilting.
She is also one of the founding members of the Nimble Thimbles quilt guild.

During Show and Tell, Darlene brought her latest finish.
Circus Quit is taken from a vintage pattern, and I knew the minute I saw I had to make it too!
I have been researching as much of the history as I can find on this wonderful crib quilt, and will be sharing with you my discoveries in future posts.

Darlene saw the pattern 20 years ago in the book Crib Quilts and Other Small Wonders, and kept it in a special place on her to-do list.
She recently had the opportunity to spend 6 weeks at her daughter's house in Ohio, and brought along Circus Quilt as her project.
Each block has 64 one-inch squares.
Darlene said it took most of one day to make an individual block.

Darlene shared "I try to leave my own particular mark on each of my quilts."
In Circus Quilt she added embroidery, which was not part of the original pattern.
Mahout is the Indian word for Elephant Rider

At our next meeting, I was especially happy to see Lynn's vintage quilt made from the same pattern.
Lynn has a large collection of antique quilts, and said the only information she has on this one is that it came from Pennsylvania.

The two Circus Quits are varied in size and construction, but draw from the same pattern.

Where Darlene's pattern is constructed from 1-inch blocks, this quilter used larger templates.

The Twins

Darlene's Twin block

Isn't it interesting to see that quilts made in the 1920's- 1930's used many of the solid fabrics that have seen a resurgence of popularity today, especially in our Modern design quilts?
More about Circus Quilt tomorrow.

Farmer's Wife Setting Triangles

2012-01-23T08:39:00.005-07:00

I've made a little progress on my Farmer's Wife quilt in the last few days.

I now have the inside assembled with sashing, cornerstones and setting triangles.

Many have asked what color I was going to use for the setting triangles.
I decided on another Kona solid, opting for a lighter blue.
Why?
Because I had a piece large enough in my stash, and I liked how the colors played together.
*remember, one of my goals in making this quilt was to use fabric only from my stash :)
This really has been a scrappy quilt, using somewhat the same process our grandmothers used when they made quilts.
I didn't have clear idea of how the finished quilt would look when I started.
I just jumped in, started making blocks with left over scraps and hoped it would all come together in the end.

I like this quilt even MORE now that the inside is complete .
Next, I will be auditioning some fabrics for the outer border.
I still have enough of the darker blue originally used for the sashing.
What do you think?

Responsive To Change

2012-01-22T05:00:00.003-07:00

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” (Charles Darwin)

Hands of Time by Liz Lemon Swindle

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Triangles

2012-01-21T05:00:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite quilts from Show and Tell with the Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild was made by Denise Holland.

Denise participated in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Triangles (a friendship triangle exchange) sponsored by The Quilt Show in 2011

Each participant was asked to use 2-inch HST papers for the exchange to help control accuracy.
They could submit as many as they wished, knowing that the number sent in, would be the same number sent back.

Denise received 280 HST that traveled from 40 states in the USA and 5 other countries;
Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand and Switzerland.
She felt that some of the fabrics sent back were rather ugly, and yet when all placed together, the quilt turned out beautifully.

There was even a HST signed by Alex Anderson!

and Ricky Timms!
I read on The Quilt Shows web site that there were a total of 615 participants from 14 countries before they closed the exchange in January 2011.
What a wonderful way to share quilting on an International level.

January Nimble Thimbles

2012-01-20T17:45:00.010-07:00

It's been a busy week, and I haven't been home to get much quilting done.
I did have a chance to go to the Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild on Tuesday night.
They always offer a great Show and Tell.

This was quite a large quilt, and the maker used a quilt as you go method and sewed in sections.

Ruth finished a sampler Block of the Month.

Darlene made a table runner for her daughter who loves pigs.

Gudrun uses the most beautiful combination of batiks in her quilts.

Getting ready for Spring

Hugs and Kisses pattern

and Kim said she has always had the goal to make a Cowboy quilt.
More from the Show and Tell tomorrow.

A Quilter's Brain

2012-01-16T22:08:00.002-07:00

The research is in....

....and now being published on facebook, and pinterest.

Limbo Land

2012-01-13T08:00:00.005-07:00

Ellen said...

I love the sashing. It works so well...my question for you is, did you have that sashing in mind as you selected your scrappy block fabrics? What process did you use for fabric selection? I can't wait to see your choice for the setting triangles. Thanks for sharing your journey.; January 12, 2012 8:21 AM
Ellen: your e-mail came as a "no reply comment" , so I will answer here. Others have been asking similar questions, and hopefully I can shed some light on my process for making the Farmer's Wife quilt.

Each quilter travels their own journey. I feel that many the quilts we select to make are a reflection of particular events or experiences going on in our life.

These are individual paths, and one of the beauties of quilting is to see the unique reflections of each person in their quilt.

I love to see the same pattern made in a wide variety of fabrics. It tells me so much about the quilter. Have you noticed how much our tastes in fabric change over the years? Mine certainly have!

For my particular situation, we recently moved to be near our two oldest daughters and our most precious, heart stealing grandchildren.
With the slow real estate market, we have rented out our home in Southern Utah, put all of our belongings in storage and have moved into an apartment in Arizona.
Mr. Cactus told me to bring along only the bare essentials until the house sells.
For me, that translated into my sewing machine, and quilt fabrics.

O.H. M.Y.
I thought I had a pretty good concept of how much quilt related items I had gathered over the last 13 years, plus I'd sorted out and donated quite a bit before the move.
Then reality hit when we began lugging bins of fabric to our apartment.
(you know, that ESSENTIAL stuff you just can't part with?)

Thus: my goal has been to use
What I Have!
One of the reasons I joined the Farmer's Wife Quilt-Along is because I knew it would be a good stash buster.
I did not have a pre-planned color scheme before I started.
The fabrics selected for the blocks were random pulls from my baskets that have been sorted into colors.
When I reached the point to select a sashing, I looked into my basket of solids, and auditioned several colors. I ended up selecting the gray Kona because it framed the blocks well, and I had a large piece.

I wish I could tell you there was more of science or technique to my quilt, but in truth, it is a reflection of what is going on in my life right now.
We are living a little bit in
LIMBO LAND
waiting for the real estate market to bounce back.
(hmmm... Limbo Land just might be a good title for my next stash buster quilt)
I must mention how patient and supportive Mr. Cactus has been of my quilting addiction.
He agreed to let me cordon off the entire dining room of our apartment for my fabrics, quilt books, cutting table, and boxes of quilt related stuff.
He has been kind about hauling quilt bins up stairs and having my sewing machine set up in the living room.
But, do we want to move ALL of it again when we purchase our next home?
(nope)