Love the Layer Cakes

Don't you just love Moda Layer Cake?    You can do so much with them by cutting them differently.   Check out the cutting variations to see all the things you can do with a Layer Cake.  http://www.unitednotions.com/measurements_layer-cake-cutting.pdf

Two Bees Fabrics now has layer cakes in the Pom Pom de Paris and Grace fabric lines. 

Redwork Quilt

YES, the borders are on the Redwork quilt.  One more of my UFO's completed for my New Years resolution.   It's all ready to be quilted.  Now, to figure out how I want it quilted. 

Infinite Variety: Thee Centuries of Red and White Quilts,  the quilt show I blogged about earlier inspired me to finish a redwork quilt I started in 2001.  Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I've even looked at these blocks.  This will also be another UFO I'll be completing this year.  The box held all the embroidered blocks and the pieced setting squares which I pieced together last night.  I don't know what took me so long to finish this quilt, I really like it now that it's up on the design wall.   I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do for the borders.  I have some of the red fabric left but, I'm very limited on the ivory and I'll never match it after all these years. I'll come up with something though, I just need to think about it for a few days.

The layout patttern and some of the tracings are from the Quilts & More Redwork book by Laurene Sinema.

Redwork became propular in the late 1870's whenTurkey Red was the craze. The root from the Madder plant was used to create the secret recipe for the "Turkey Red" dye.  The durabilty and color fastness of the dye were highly valued back then and attributed to it's popularity. It reached it's peak of popularity between 1888 and 1935. As other colors or embroidery thread became available redwork lost it's popularity. 

Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White quilts

I  commented in March that this show was coming to New York. Now that it has come and gone, I've seen the photos and read the reviews, I am so sorry I didn't make a point of going to NYC, just for the show.    Check out the link to Martha Stewart's Blog.   It contains a slideshow of 37 photos of the show.   It really was spectacular and the title, "Infinite Variety" is perfect.   All 650 quilts are from the private collection of Joanna Rose.

Why Quilt?

Have you ever asked yourself, “why do I quilt?”  I’m a quilter, I have friends who are quilters, my mother-in-law was a wonderful quilter and I’ve met many people throughout my life who are quilters. But what is it that motivates people to quilt? Is it to make blankets to keep us warm, to create something to hang on the wall for people to admire, is it something we do to simply occupy our spare time or is it something else?

Recently, to pass the time during a long drive, my husband and I decided to check out an audio book on cd from the library. We couldn’t quite decide what book to get until my husband came across a book cd titled, The Quilters Homecoming, by Jennifer Chiaverini. Now, it didn’t surprise me that my husband, who is not a quilter but comes from a long line of quilters, would be interested in this book. The book, In a word, was great, we both loved it and we are now listening to Jennifer’s, The Sugar Camp Quilt.

Now I can speak only from listening to The Quilter’s Homecoming (Narrator Christina Moore) but if you are one of those quilters who has ever wondered what it is about quilting that makes you want to cut fabric into little pieces and then meticulously sew them all back together again in a completely different pattern…you will want to read or listen to one of Jennifer Chiaverini’s books. She is most definitely a quilter, a wonderful author and most important, she is very familiar with the phrase, “a labor of love.” Quilting is truly a labor of love.

When you get a chance:

http://video.app.msn.com/watch/video/author-jennifer-chiaverini-discusses-the-quilter-s-homecoming/1dwee6kt6

http://elmcreek.net/books  

Quilt Retreat Treats

I just returned from a quilt retreat this past weekend in East Texas.   For dessert one evening the hostess served Oreo Balls.   They were sinfully delicious and I can't wait to make them the next time I have a gathering at my home.   They are so easy and only require 3 ingredients.   Check out this Oreo Ball Recipe !!! 

Quilt related events in New York City this March

March is the month to go to New York City if you are interested in quilting.   There will be 4 great exhibits going on in March.  

Super Starts & 9/11 Tribute Quilt - The American Folk Art Museum/Lincoln Square Branch.   This will be going on through September 25th.

Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts - Park Avenue Armory

March 25-30

Empire Guild's Urban Inspirations 2011 - Fashion Institute of Technology
March 26 - 27

Quilts :  Masterwork - The American Folk Art Museum
Part 1 through April 26, Part 2 opens May 10

I wish I could get away this month to NYC, I'm sure all of the shows listed above will be fabulous. The one I personally would love to see is the Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts. I'm partial to 2 color quilts and red is one of my all time favorites.  Just imagine there will be over 650 quilts on display!