Amanda's Memory Quilt (#2)

When Amanda sent me the box of fabrics to make a memory quilt from her mom’s fabric stash, I quickly concluded I could make many quilts from the fabric in the box. I decided I would secretly make three quilts – one for each sibling. (More details on the post for Quilt #1.)

Amanda's Memory Quilt (#1)

My husband's half-sister, Amanda, went to clean out her mom’s house after she had passed away in order to have a garage sale. She discovered that her mom had quite the fabric stash and asked if I would make a memory quilt for her. Of course, I agreed!

My mom went to the garage sale to potentially buy some fabric, but discovered it all to be dated and mostly not quilting cotton. She showed Amanda what fabrics would work for quilting. Amanda said she would pick some she liked and mail me a box.

Flannel squares baby quilt

A woman posted in our local Facebook garage sale group that she was looking for someone to make a quilt. I messaged her and another woman who commented she was looking too. The second woman replied back and wanted me to make her a quilt! The quilt was for her soon-to-be grandbaby and she wanted it to match the nursery colors.

Hexies a la Mode

In December 2014, Beth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs posted on Facebook that she needed a “quilt tester” – someone to make a quilt from her pattern to make sure the measurements were correct and directions were clear. It sounded right up my alley – so I volunteered! (I ignored the fact that I was nearly 9 months pregnant with my second child!)

I'm not even sure how I stumbled across Beth on Facebook. It was probably one of those suggested pages. I'm sure glad I found her! She is super fun, and her writing style on her blog makes you feel like you really know her!

LSU T-Shirt Quilt

Our friend, Matt, is a big LSU fan. He's been collecting t-shirts for quite awhile. When he discovered that I could make a t-shirt quilt with them, he was happy to pick out his favorites!

I had learned quite a bit after making the baby clothes quilt. I knew a better interfacing was needed in order for the finished quilt to be cuddly and not stiff. I decided to try Pellon 911FF.

After a few conversations with Matt, a plan was born! I waited patiently for the best combination of sales and coupons and ordered LSU cotton and fleece fabric from Jo-Ann's.

I cut each shirt apart at the seams and ironed on the interfacing. I measured all the shirt designs and cut all shirts the same size square based on the largest design.

To market! To market!

To quilt market that is!

International Quilt Market is held twice a year. It is where fabric designers, pattern companies, and all companies quilty release new fabrics and products to quilt store owners. There is much hype in the quilting world around quilt market. Designers and quilters dream of having their work at the market, and quilt shop owners flock to the market to find the latest and greatest items.

One large fabric manufacturer that reveals their newest fabrics at quilt market is Windham Fabrics.

In preparation for this year's fall quilt market in Houston, TX, Windham (on their blog) asked for 16 quilters to volunteer to make a mini quilt using their newest fabrics. These mini quilts would be displayed in their booth at the market to showcase the new prints.

Of course, I raised my hand calmly threw my hands in the air and shouted, "Pick me! Pick me!"

Then I got the email saying I was one of the sweet 16!

The catch? I would have less than one week to complete the quilt. And I wouldn't have any idea what fabrics I would be receiving. "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit."

The rules? Make an 18" mini quilt with the fabrics they send in a way that highlights the patterns.

I waited patiently impatiently for the overnighted FedEx package to arrive. It came at 1:30 on Wednesday, October 1st.

 

I couldn't wait to see what exciting challenge was waiting for me inside!

Flannel Four Patch

While garage saling in Las Vegas, NV one day, I found a bag of flannel. The blocks for this quilt were already sewn together in the bag! (At this same garage sale, I got this one and these too! Five quilts!)

I didn't start working on the quilt until after moving to Missouri a couple years later. A few of the blocks were sewn "backwards" so I ripped out the vertical seam and sewed them together on the other side.