Three Small Quilts and a Book Giveaway

This will be my "Happy Thanksgiving" post.  I don't know why I chose these quilts for this post, but I often don't know what I'm doing....as you know...so for some reason....these are the ones you are getting tonight.  They are some of my favorites, actually, so maybe that is why.  This first one began with that little square of muslin.  My friend, Jim, drew these little one inch drawings and wrote the words during a class I was teaching about writing on quilts.  He later gave it to me and I said I would make a quilt out of it.  He doubted me....but here is the quilt. 

I had watched him during the class and couldn't believe he got so many little drawings done in so small a space...and during the same amount of time others spent writing their letters or poems or whatever they had chosen to do. 

Jim works rather quickly and these are some of the smallest drawings I've seen him do...and they are special.

So, I just pieced this little quilt and among the quilt stitches are the hearts.....they are stitched with red perle cotton in a back stitch which in this case, became the quilting stitches....yes, they show on the back.

Here is the label for the quilt....gosh, this sure happened a long time ago!  But, truly, it seems like yesterday!

Here is another quilt containing some of Jim's work and mine too.  He told me he could draw something better than those little squares in the previous quilt...so one day an envelope arrived in my mailbox with this little square in it.  He knew I loved birds.....so he created this little nest with birds just for me!  I do love it!  And, once again, I said I'd make a quilt with it.  On this quilt, I used a lot of buttons and simple piecing.  All these quilts are about 24 - 30 inches.  Not very big. 

I had this little brass bird I just had to add to the quilt.  Fitting, as Jim loves to embellish his quilts with lots of 'stuff.'

This is the edge of the quilt.  I just had to bead the edge....it looks pretty good and was fun to do.

Simple piecing, as I said....and simple quilting too. 

This is the label.....I cut that spray of flowers out and used fusible web to iron it to the fabric.  Something I don't normally do, but I really did like the way this one turned out.  And, then, the 'story' too.  There's always a story!

I like the way the beading provides extra interest in the finished quilt.  Seeing it again makes me want to SEW!!!!

Jim always said I couldn't make a quilt on the sewing machine.  Mostly because I just don't much like sitting at a sewing machine.  One day, I decided I would make a quilt top on the machine.  Fusible applique and all.  This is the pattern I drew and the top was made in speedy fashion.  Of course, you can probably tell, I had to embroider something...that orange wavy design....and it is hand quilted. 

So, I guess he was right...I can't really make a quilt on the machine.  I really enjoyed embroidering that orange wave...Herringbone Stitch meandering along the border.  It was great fun!

Can you see the little plastic fly on that leaf?  Jim gave me a couple of them, encouraging me to 'embellish'...he thought I wouldn't use it, but I thought it added a little fun to the quilt!

Machine stitched the outside edge of the leaves and the veins......

This is the back of the quilt....just loved this Fall fabric and had to use it...so colorful....it almost looks like this around our area now as the leaves finally turned. 

When I taught the class that Jim took...writing on fabric....I made this little book.  It was meant as a souvenir of the class.  I ended up having hundreds of them printed and have sold and/or given them away for years.  I'm down to the last few.  Today I decided I would give those last few away.  If you would like one.....(I have TEN of them).......kindly comment on this blog post and I'll  pick ten winners.

I plan on taking a little  blogging  break....my son is coming for Thanksgiving and we will have around 38 folks for the holiday....so you comment, and I'll choose TEN winners on Tuesday, November 27th....it will all be over by then and favorite son will head back to California.  Make sure I have a way to contact you!

So....please have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  Stay warm, safe and have FUN!  take care out there, pat