Friday of last week started out as a beautiful day. By 7:00 a.m. Mac, our Westie, and I were out taking our morning stroll through the back yard when I decided that I would take advantage of the weather to find a new home for the new perennials that I had purchased the day before. I had to replace a few plants that didn’t make it over the winter and others that were starting to thin out with age. Four hours later, everything was in the ground and it’s a good thing that I did it in the morning because by mid afternoon, the high winds and cool rain arrived which lasted throughout Saturday as well.
I hand quilted the two remaining mini nine patch doll quilts that I pieced a couple if weeks ago. I finished the first one at the end of April, just in time to give it to Lucie as one of her birthday gifts.
I did all the piecing of the three minis with my Mom’s Featherweight machine and fittingly, I also used the Featherweight to sew the binding on the remaining two yesterday, Mother’s Day. It was a bittersweet yet meaningful way for me to pay tribute to my Mom who passed away on June 23rd, 2005 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. The hand stitching was completed this morning.
I used Civil War and shirting fabrics for the pieced tops and a brown and white toile for the backing.
The finished quilts measure 17” square.
The weather is supposed to remain cool until the end of the week at which time it’s supposed to return to more seasonal temperatures. It looks like the new plantings survived the cold, rainy weekend.
The unpredictable wonders of Spring!
Happy stitching!
Kaaren ♥
Wonderful crafting. Love the story about the socks!
ReplyDeleteThe weather was wild on the weekend, wasn't it? We've got the heat back on. :-(
ReplyDeleteYour mini quilts are beautiful -- I'm intrigued that you put the binding on with your Featherweight. I had thought about trying that once but thought it might be too many thicknesses for the little machine. Will have to try it!
Your garden is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou have my sympathy, but what a wonderful tribute to your mother. I lost my lovely mother-in-law last June and she was buried on my daughter's 30th birthday, June 23.
Then on Aug. 1 I lost my mom. Yesterday was a hard mother's day for my husband and me. I'm so thankful Mom taught me to sew.
Neat socks and love the quilts. Your gardens look great too. It was also cold here in Ohio this morning but only 36 degrees. I am ready for warmer, not HOT weather.
ReplyDeleteKaaren I love your little quilts. What size strips did you use to make your blocks? My own Mom passed away 30 years ago, and it just does not seem that it was that long ago. I still miss her, but the Lord gave me a sweet mother in law and a dear Aunt to step in her place.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a nice garden:-). Think the wheather is special all ower this spring - in Mid-Norway we woke up to snow this morning :-( and all gardening and farming is still waiting for SUN and temp...
ReplyDeleteLove your mini quilts - hope to be able to make some one day - have to exercise......
Happy quilting and gardening:-}
I love the socks. What a great way to honor your mom. My quilter gal pal and I were talking on the weekend about how every minute we spend at our sewing machines brings us joy. My mom bought my machine and she is no longer here to honor on Mom's day. Sewing is a great way to do that!
ReplyDeleteKaaren, I love the little quilts! I have some shirtings that I must run right to the sewing room and cut them up!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun custom. Wildly windy and cold here this weekend so the plants we bought are sitting indoors until tomorrow when it's warmer. Very sweet little quilts.
ReplyDeleteThose socks are so fun! What a great tradition. Your little quilts are just so precious. So beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteI have so enjoyed your post and all the pictures, than you for sharing.
ReplyDeletecheers
Christine
I just love those little quilts! Your really got some great things accomplished. I've never tried socks, but maybe one day. Something about the heel scares me. The pictures of your garden are beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! Kaaren, your pieced mini's are just darling...and all that quilting in one weekend? Hello! Need some Aleeve??? LOL! You're a real trooper. And they are sooo cute. The backing you chose is stunning. Congratulations on two more finishes, you are on a roll now!
ReplyDeleteI hope to see a picture of the socks on the brother.
ReplyDeleteYour new little quilts are so nice. I guess having bad weather inspired "inside" projects to be completed.
Your garden is blooming and so are your little quilts. A fitting Mother's Day tribute.
ReplyDeleteyour gardens are looking as lovely as your minis kaaren. and how sweet to use your mum's machine on mother's day.
ReplyDeletexox
I love these two sweet little quilts!! Adorable!
ReplyDeletePaulette
Your garden is beautiful and I love your little quilts. You mentioned a while back that you were considering offering Raggedy & Friends as a free BOM. I hope your decision will be yes. Thanks for sharing your designs so generously, they are greatly appreciated! Have a great week!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful bit on the socks and i just love those dolly quilts with the little shoes!
ReplyDeleteHugs - Lurline♥
Your gardens beckon me!! Just lovely. I really love your mini-quilts, they should add a wonderful touch to your collection. I think we all are missing our moms this Mother's day, I know your mom was very special, because she was your mom. What fun socks, and a fun tradition!
ReplyDeleteKaren, you do have the most lovely gardens. The socks are very bright and should bring smiles to everyone at the wedding.
ReplyDeleteLove the mini quilts... I am trying to fit in time to stitch for myself,too many customer quilts right now (I'm not complaining just would like to sew for myself for a little while).
The weather is still cold here today, bring on the warm weather again I am ready!
Hi Kaaren--what lovely garden pictures that you shared with us!
ReplyDeleteAnd I still love those mini quilts you did!!
I just posted a day or so ago how I finished off my April FFF the Annie block--so drop by and have a looky see!!!
Hugs. DI
Beautiful Mini Quilts. I lost my Mother in August of 2005. I miss her but know she is in a better place.
ReplyDeleteLove your garden. Wish mine looked that good.
Oh, and I finally got your FFF button to work on my blog! Can't figure out why it was so difficult!
Nola
Winter is back here, but almost gone - it'll be nice by mid-week, but rainy! I love the story of the socks, my goodness they're wonderful but they will stand out! I love unusual socks.
ReplyDeleteI love love your mini's - they turned out so sweet! How lovely that you use your mum's machine. A good way to feel connected.
The weather is crazy, winter is a few weeks away and it's still summer clothing for us. Your garden is looking lovely and just love the little quilts, a sweet gesture for your Mom.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks lovely, hope all the flowers survive!
ReplyDeleteI really love your little uqilts. Nice quilting on it too. This time I can see it quite clear! Better pictures!!!
Your quilts turned out so nicely, Kaaren! I love the fabrics that you used for them. I like the socks, too. That is so neat about the French Canadian custom of dancing in socks if a younger sibling marries first. I'm basting hexagons for quilts for my daughters that I've (half) joked they'll get on their wedding days, figuring that will give me about ten years or so. That prompted my older daughter to inform her sister that there is NO way she would be allowed under the Rules of the Universe for Siblings guide book to marry before she did. ;) I'll have to tell her the story about the socks!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
The mini quilts are really wonderful and a very nice sentiment behind them.
ReplyDeleteYou had a busy but pleasant weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe socks are going to be the hit of the wedding.
The little nine patch quilts are delightful.
Thanks for the inspiration.
I just adore those quilts, so beautiful! The garden is really inspiring, I can't wait until the weather stays warm to get mine started. Jenna Louise
ReplyDeleteYour doll quilts are lovely and it is nice to hear that they provided you with some comfort over the passing of your Mom. I love the vintage baby shoes in the picture as well. I have been on the hunt for a pair and finally found some the other day. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteI love those mini quilts, and using toile for the background was awesome.. Love your garden too. I love my featherweight too.
ReplyDeleteMaggey
Your garden is lovely! And I love the little quilts you made, what a wondeful way to spend Mothers Day remembering your mom.
ReplyDeleteNice socks and lovely pieced mini quilts. Love the colors..
ReplyDeleteI have never made socks. Once I made a sweater, but never got into knitting that much. Love the mini quilts, beautiful quilting and choice of fabrics. I wish my yard looked like that, I need to get out and start planting.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
The little quilts are precious! I love 9-patch. It is so basic. It is a perfect block for little quilts or big quilts.
ReplyDeleteI love knitting socks, it's been a while tho. Those 9 patch mini's are so adorable. Love the garden shots.
ReplyDeleteboth of those minis are beautiful. Love the simplicity of the 9-patch....and the shirtings backgrounds are awesome too ;)
ReplyDeleteLove from Texas! ~bonnie
I love your mini quilts and your sock are lovely. You are one busy, talented lady!
ReplyDeleteMicki
Great stuff going on at the Painted Quilt. Love your new header. I did get both copies of the FFF designs and they are great. I think the flowers would look so pretty on some pillowcases. Congrats on working on your pattern being in production. I can only imagine how much time it must take. I am sure it will be a big seller.
ReplyDeleteYou sure do have a beautiful yard. Thanks for coming by my blog. I sure have missed reading your blog too. I am still taking it slow.
I will be thinking of you today (Wed 6/23) as you remember the passing of your mother... today 6/23 is my oldest daughter, Nora's 6th birthday and although she's excited about it = it's gonna be a miserable day I'm sure b/c she is so sad that we aren't having her Birthday Party on her "birthday day"
ReplyDeleteShe wanted a pool party and the first date we could book it - isn't until 7/17.
Thinking of you as you remember your mother. Love from Texas! ~bonnie