Red Hat Society Quilt Wall Hanging

the red hat society is all about having fun over 50! (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Red Hat Society Quilt Wall Hanging

The Red Hat Society is a women's social club that began in California in 1998. I remember older friends getting their red hats and purple scarves out and watching their excitement about celebrating life as they grew older.

In a society that emphasizes youth, it was a refreshing change to see women realizing their lives don’t end at 50 years old and they can have fun. The only rule of the Red Hat Society is that there are no rules.

This charming quilt wall hanging celebrates the spirit of the Red Hat Society.

this quilt celebrates the red hat society. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

The custom, one of a kind quilted wall hanging would be a charming addition to a den and “she shed” or for a friend who brightens your day.

Can someone younger than 50 join? Why yes, and they wear pink hats and lavender clothes!

Charlotte

New Double Wedding Ring Quilts

we featured our new double wedding ring quilts in our flower bed. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

New Double Wedding Ring Quilts

If you’ve tried to find double wedding ring quilts, you know they are hard to find. If you’ve tried to make them, you know double wedding ring quilts are one of the hardest patchwork quilt patterns to make. So we’re delighted to introduce you to our custom imported double wedding ring quilts.

Similar to our best-selling country double wedding ring quilts, this version has a solid white cotton background instead of beige, giving the wedding quilt a splash of elegance.

these brand new imported quilts are extra large to provide full coverage. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Each of the brand new double wedding ring quilts are finished with hand quilting in a four petal floral design in the center of each of the circles.

The mixture of plaid and solid fabrics means these wedding ring quilts will fit into any decor.

Each of the quilts is cotton filled and backed in a green and peach plaid fabric, a nod to the garden.

the green and peach plaid backing is a nod to a garden vibe. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

To personalize, the three corner double wedding rings have room for names, dates and a dedication. We have examples of how other customers have customized their double wedding ring quilts for wedding and anniversary gifts at the links for each of the double wedding ring quilt options.

corner quilt block is a perfect spot for custom embroidery. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Over the years, double wedding ring quilts have been favorite wedding and anniversary gifts. We’re happy to now have these in oversize king 105x95, queen 90x90 inches and throw 50x60 sizes.

No sewing required on your part, just let us know what you need embroidered on the double wedding ring quilt and we’ll do the rest.

For more easy home decor, gardening, beekeeping and cooking tips, subscribe to Garden Notes.

Charlotte

Antique Log Cabin Quilt

Antique Log Cabin Quilt

We’ve finished a number of antique and vintage log cabin quilts but this is not one of them.

We don’t provide cost estimates until we see the quilt and this is a good example why. The 1/4-inch wide satin fabric strips were falling apart. There was no way to hand quilt the quilt top and secure the delicate fabrics without first stabilizing. There are quilt restoration services who can secure the delicate fabrics before handquilting gets added.

One more tip if you have an antique quilt. Make sure to air it twice a year and don’t store in plastic. Cotton pillow cases and cotton fabrics can protect the quilt without collecting scents in a small contained space.

We loved seeing this heirloom quilt and sent it back to the customers with recommendations and aired out. Hope they can find someone who can help them preserve this family treasure.

For more easy home decor, gardening, beekeeping and cooking tips, subscribe to Garden Notes.

Charlotte

Precious Moments Handmade Baby Crib Quilt Gift Set

Unique baby crib quilt gift set includes a quilt and Precious Moments figurine. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Precious Memories Baby Crib Handmade Quilt Gift Set

One of Missouri’s successful gift companies is the Precious Memories collection of cards, figurines and other related collectibles started in 1978 by illustrator Sam J. Butcher. His signature illustrations feature teardrop eye characters with sweet positive sentiments now recognized worldwide.

What began as gifts for friends expanded into an extensive line of collectibles with the help of Enesco Company, which made the Precious Moment figurine we added to this one of a kind, made in USA Precious Moment Baby Crib Quilt Gift set.

The approximately 5-inch pre-loved porcelain figures are standing on either side of a tree trunk with two bluebirds perched on top. “I love you” is carved in the center of the tree trunk. The Enesco #-3116 figurine is called “Thee I Love” A Girl and Boy Standing Around A Tree and the value of the collectible figurine ranges from $20-$60.

I wasn’t concerned about the value, I just liked the little bluebirds on top and was happy to find something to keep our Precious Moments Baby Crib quilt company.

Precious Moments Enesco figurine with two bluebirds Enesco E-3116. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

The brand new baby crib quilt features printed Precious Moments panels with an alphabet theme. C is for cat with a cute yellow cat that reminded me of my yellow Shirley Honey hanging off the blue green letter.

Doesn’t this cat look a little worried?

Love these doe-eyed characters, this one a frightened feline. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Another charming Precious Moments bear keeps the letter B company.

This bear stands in for another favorite alphabet letter. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

There is space under each one of the alphabet panels to add custom embroidery to personalize this lightweight baby crib quilt.

There is also a 3-inch space at the bottom where a baby’s name and birth date can be added with custom embroidery.

Baby quilt border has space for custom embroidery. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

This baby crib quilt has bright pastel colors that will stand the test of time in the washer.

The backing of this baby crib quilt is white and soft.

Let us know what you want on the free gift card and we will be glad to ship it to a different destination for you. Truly a sweet, precious baby gift idea!

For more easy home decor, gardening, beekeeping and cooking tips, subscribe to Garden Notes.

Charlotte

Boo-tiful Handmade Quilt

love the spider making her way down the quilt. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Boo-tiful Handmade Quilt

It’s almost Halloween and this custom quilt epitomizes some of the favorite US Halloween scenes.

Pieced and quilted by Elizabeth Rowden, Rolla, Missouri, it was on display at an earlier local quilt show.

She said she started the quilt in 2000 but didn’t finish it until 2018.

Dapper ghost joins spider, cat and pumpkin. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

A black cat has a yellow ribbon tied on its tail in front of a ghost holding a pumpkin.

The patchwork quilt details include hand embroidery - look at the cat’s claws!

nice details include embroidered eyes, face and cat claws. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

One of the nice features of this custom quilt are the fabrics incorporated in all of the designs. Fabric selection is an important part of making the quilt’s overall design look good.

this pumpkin has a candy corn vibe. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

The other interesting aspect about fabric selection is how it looks up close and from a distance. They can definitely look different!

This custom Halloween quilt would make a charming wall hanging and easily add a Halloween theme to any room.

every quilt has a story; here’s the one for this quilt. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

This is a charming custom quilt representing Halloween!

Charlotte

Crochet Flowers Lap Quilt

this unique crochet flowers lap quilt throw is ready for cold days and a good book. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Crochet Flowers Lap Quilt

It’s still summer but I’m ready for a seasonal change.

One of the ways to quickly change the look of a room is to change your quilts and throws. I keep throws tossed on the back of chairs so they are handy whenever I want to plop down and read. Or take a nap.

One of my favorite throws for fall and winter are hand crocheted throws. They tend to be heavier than cotton ones and provide more comfort during those cold days.

each flower is three-dimensional and moves. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

This charming handmade crochet flowers throw was made with extra soft yarn in a yellow cream background. The flowers are three-dimensional and add a bit of whimsy.

This would make a lovely gift for someone recovering from surgery, moving into a new house or heading off to college.

Charlotte

Birds and Blossoms Handmade Quilt

Combination of quilting and applique enhances this quilt design. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Birds and Blossoms Handmade Quilt

We are starting to have those wonderful sunny fall days when birds are singing, bees are humming and all seems well with the world. This year the cooler days after record hot weather remind me of spring and this lovely Birds and Blossoms custom handmade quilt.

Birds and Blossoms Handmade Quilt was shared at a Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla, Missouri a few years back. I enjoy looking at these quilts, each one has such details and wonderful stories attached.

This is a lovely combination of very detailed quilting along with the applique and quilting. Quilting makes all of the difference on a quilt, regardless of the kind of quilting it is.

The direction of a design can also easily update a quilt square. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Fabric choices can also easily change the overall look of a quilt. Of all of the choices one has to decide, the choice of fabrics can make or break a quilt.

Every quilt has a story. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Well I would say this quilt was a winner, wouldn’t you?

Charlotte

Vintage Feed Sacks Quilt

Vintage feed sacks from the 1930s and 1940s make up this custom wedding quilt. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Custom Vintage Feed Sacks Quilt

It’s hard for me to imagine people making underwear out of flour and sugar sacks but it’s not that much of a stretch. That was one of a number of ways people repurposed items during the US Depression and World War II.

This custom vintage feed sacks quilt features an interesting variety of patterns on the feed sack cloth. Manufacturers picked up on the repurposing trend and started to add interesting designs which became everything from curtains to underwear.

Fun to look at the fabrics that were used for feed sacks. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

This custom 85x80-inch feed sacks quilt is finished with machine quilting. Machine quilting is sturdier than hand quilting, and less expensive.

The back of the polyfill custom quilt is a solid beige cotton, making this quilt reversible.

Solid beige cotton fabric finishes the back of this weeding quilt. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

There’s a nice combination of old and new with this new, one of a kind wedding quilt.

Charlotte

Custom Wool Quilt

Barbara Cribb’s Four Seasons wool quilt. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Custom Wool Handmade Quilt

So before anyone is prompted to ask, we didn’t make this lovely custom wool handmade quilt. One of our quilter’s finished the handmade quilt for the marker with hand quilting so I’m here to celebrate this lovely work of art.

The queen-size handmade quilt features the four seasons all interpreted in wool fabrics. That’s right, not cotton but wool, a first for us in the 23 years we’ve been in business.

Don’t those robin eggs in a nest make you smile? (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

For those of you interested in the design, it was made by Barbara Cribb of Wild Thymes Pattern Company out of Bozeman, Montana. Phone: 406-586-1235.

This beaded sunflower is stunning. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

The use of wool adds an interesting dimension to this lovely handmade quilt. Not only is it heavy, but the details have some interesting additions. Flower petals, for example, have button centers and that sunflower is full of beads forming the center.

The beautiful handquilting seen on the back of the quilt. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Now we were privileged to see this work because one of our quilters finished the handmade quilt with hand quilting. And not just any hand quilting, she used a thicker thread as recommended to compliment the overall design. Her work is easily visible on the back side of the custom wool handmade quilt.

Love the delicate fabric butterflies on this lovely custom wool quilt. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

I know this is designed to be a bed cover but I sure would be tempted to use is as a wall hanging so I could enjoy the work all year long!

Charlotte

Vintage Knit Flowers Quilt

Counted cross stitch forms the flower designs. (*PHoto by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Vintage Knit Flowers Quilt

Every once in awhile I find an unusual quilt that catches my eye and comes home to Bluebird Gardens with me. This Vintage Knit Flowers Quilt is one of those.

Why yes, this twin size 60x80-inch quilt features 5x5 inch blocks of flowers - and a lot of flowers at that. But what got my attention was that the flowers are the basic embroidery technique young girls used to learn, counted cross stitch. If you look closely, each floral pattern is made out of small x’s forming the designs.

Secondly, the work is not by a novice. Or if it was, she was a well-taught one. Look at the back of the vintage quilt.

Done so well, the stitching is barely visible on the back side and note the crochet edging. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

One of the ways you can tell how well someone finished a quilt is to look at the back. This counted cross stitch embroidery is done so well that you don’t see the work on the back of the medium weight quilt. Well, there are a couple of embroidery stitches that came through but for the most part the knitted blocks are unmarked on the back.

Also note the crochet edging so this vintage custom quilt combines knitting, crochet and hand embroidery. Even if the supplies were provided in a kit, most makers will alter things a bit to end up making the quilt a custom personalized quilt to suit their taste.

bright and eye-catching, here are more of the flower blocks all together. (Photo by charlotte ekker wiggins)

Finally, I can imagine using this as a wall hanging as well as a bed covering. It is so bright and cheery, it will be eye-catching however it is used.

Proceeds from this vintage quilt will be donated to our local Salvation Army, which over winter will help struggling families pay for their electric bills. Seems appropriate for the sale of this warm quilt to help keep others warm.

Charlotte

Whimsy Handmade Custom Quilt

Whimsy Handmade Custom Quilt

We could all use a smile these days and Whimsey Handmade Custom Quilt is just the thing to make us smile.

A collaboration among friends in a quilting group, this custom personalized quilt features quilted sections contributed by various quilters. Take a close look, this handmade quilt has a nice collection of quilting patterns and styles from traditional patchwork to applique.

From clothes hanging on a line to frolicking rabbits, the colors of this custom personalized quilt remind me of the colors in a rainbow, from blue to pink and yellow. After all, rainbows make us smile, don’t they?

As you look at the details, don’t miss out seeing the lovely machine quilting that gives this custom personalized quilt it’s extra dimension.

The details on this custom handmade quilt are charming, from three-dimensional flower petals to fun buttons forming the centers of other flowers.

The story behind “Whimsy” custom handmade quilt reflects the fun that went into this charming work in fabric.

Love the name “loose threads” for the quilting group, too, if you’ve ever quilted you know your house is decorated in these thread remnants all on their own.

This is the kind of custom personalized quilt that makes a lovely quilted wall hanging, a good place to be able to enjoy the whimsy of this quilt design.

See if any of our custom quilts make you smile, too!

Charlotte

Spooky Handmade Quilt

This black cat looks more spooked than spooky! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Spooky Handmade Quilt

Two of the best ways to stay in touch with trends is to walk through fabric shops and quilt shows.

This Spooky Handmade Quilt is a combination of current printed fabrics and was displayed at the 2019 Piece and Plenty Quilt Show in Rolla, Missouri. The printed panels have charming Halloween scenes, from black cats and pumpkins to witches and spiders.

Charming handmade Halloween quilt in spooky colors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Everyone has a different experience with Halloween. This custom handmade quilt includes a number of them from haunted houses to ghosts but the black cat is definitely a personal favorite. So are pumpkins, which may explain why we carry Halloween Cats Pumpkins Lap Quilt Wall Hanging.

If you walk through a fabric store, the seasonal section beckons with a variety of interesting printed panels from skulls and skeletons to less scary and more delightful options. If you want to update your home decor, these printed panels provide a great way to make printed quilted wall hangings, which easily updates a room into a seasonal theme.

What do you consider scary and spooky?

Charlotte

Snowy Log Cabin Throw and Wall Hanging

The traditional log cabin patchwork design in whites and off whites. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Snowy Log Cabin Throw and Wall Hanging

It’s getting to be that time of year, not only when it snows but when customers want custom personalized quilts for gifts.

Since custom personalized quilts can take three months from when details are finalized, they are not an option for this year’s holiday season.

There is an excellent alternative, though, and that is to purchase a ready made handmade quilt and have custom embroidery added.

One of my personal favorites is this Snowy Log Cabin Throw and Wall Hanging. A traditional patchwork quilt design in elegant white, off white and cream cotton fabrics, this 50x60 inches throw is the perfect size to curl up in on a cold winter - dare I say - snowy day.

Prairie points edge this lovely all cotton handmade quilt and wall hanging. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Finished with hand quilting where the fabric seams come together, this soft all cotton lap quilt would be pretty both hanging over the back of a sofa or chair. It can also easily be used as a quilted wall hanging.

Log cabin fabric strips are 3/4 inch each. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Versatile handmade quilts have a flat fabric sleeve on the back that can easily be threaded through a curtain rod for wall decor.

A fabric sleeve on the back easily turns this quilt into a wall hanging. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This elegant throw and wall hangings can easily be made custom by adding custom embroidery. Since this example has an hombre blue fabric as well, blue thread would be a nice option.

Embroidery shops offer a variety of fonts, here are the ones we have. The name of the font is the embroidered example.

Of all of the fonts, Zapf Chancery is the top favorite followed by Diane Script.

Curly font is a great choice for baby quilts followed by Cooper font.

Regardless of what font you choose, adding custom embroidery is an easy way to turn a quilt into a custom personalized quilt.

Charlotte

King Flower Garden Custom Handmade Quilt

This lovely king Flower Garden handmade quilt has extra large patchwork flowers. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

King Flower Garden Custom Handmade Quilt

When I started Bluebird Gardens in 1998, I found two flower garden quilts for a friend of my Mom’s who wanted the quilts for graduation gifts for her daughters.

Since then, the traditional patchwork flower garden pattern has been an all-time favorite and one we keep in our inventory because this business is based on gifts from the garden. And what better gift than a custom quilt with a flower pattern.

According to Judy Anne Breneman, this is a very labor intensive quilt pattern, usually pieced and quilted by hand like this king Flower Garden Custom Handmade Quilt.

Roots in 18th Century Hexagon Quilts

Breneman said this pieced hexagon quilt has roots in England as far back as the 18th century. European immigrants brought this pattern to America. Hexagon templates for these quilts have been found that were made around 1770. This leads historians to believe that the hexagon pattern might be one of the oldest pieced quilt patterns.

The earliest known American made hexagon quilt is dated 1807 while an English hexagon quilt is dated even earlier. It's likely they were made for years before that time as quilts of this era were often not dated and few of the quilts made this early have survived.

The extra row of patchwork hexagons around the flowers adds an extra dimension. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Honeycomb or Six Sided Patchwork

In the 19th century hexagon quilts were known as Mosaic quilts, Honeycomb quilts or Six Sided Patchwork.

Godey's Ladies Book, founded in 1830, published the hexagon pattern in 1835. It is thought to be the first pieced quilt pattern published in America. All things English were emulated by cultured American women during this period.

The way the hexagons were arranged changed over the years. By the 20th century, hexagon quilts were usually made in the Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern. They became popular during the Depresssion re-purposing fabric remnants into colorful, and cheerful, bed covers.

The traditional Grandmother’s Flower quilt pattern includes a center hexagon circled by six colorful printed or solid hexagons with another row of 12 hexagons around that. The centers were sometimes yellow to represent the flower's center. Between each flower was a row of colored solid hexagons to represent the background. A green background might have been the garden while white could have been a white picket fence.

Green fabric backing highlights the hand quilting around each hexagon. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilts

Breneman said during the first decades of the 20th century most quilt makers aspired to make at least one Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. It was part of their wedding trousseaus, collections of special home decor and bedding made and stored until the maker married.

These later custom quilts may have been made up of slightly larger hexagons and were more often sewn together with a running stitch but finishing one was still a major accomplishment. 

Each flower has both contemporary and vintage cottons. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This custom Flower Garden quilt has an extra row of hexagons making the flowers larger and more dramatic. The size is helpful since the quilt is made for a king size bed.

Even if they aren’t quilters most gardeners know about this traditional patchwork quilt. Even I made one from clothing remnants and it’s one of my prized possessions.

Charlotte

Phelps County Bicentennial Quilt

This is the center of the Phelps County Bicentennial quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Phelps County Bicentennial Quilt

One of the ways Missouri celebrated its bicentennial in 2021 was to encourage quilters to make handmade quilts.

A group of Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild quilters, Rolla, took on the challenge, making a custom handmade quilt about Phelps County combining printed photos, patchwork, applique and embroidery.

Hand embroidery provided details of a map of the county. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Another kind of embroidery, machine-made, helped to incorporate some state flavor such as the state bird, the Eastern Bluebird.

Missouri joins a number of other states with Eastern Bluebirds as the state bird. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

My small contribution was printing the historic photos of key Phelps County founders onto fabric. Those printed fabric blocks were then incorporated in to the custom handmade quilt.

The founder behind the James Foundation, a patron of St. James, population 2,000. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

As an implant to this area, it was interesting to see what the quilters decided to include. Working with the Phelps County Historical Society, they incorporated photos of key founders such as Lucy Wortham James and Edward Bishop.

They also celebrated the beauty of the area with a reference to Mark Twain National Forest and the historic Route 66.

My old employer, Mark Twain National Forest, was given a quilt block. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The old School of Mines, now Missouri University of Science and Technology, maintains the mascot of Joe Miner, making an appearance carrying a slide ruler.

The individual handmade quilt blocks are each quite unique. Here’s how the Bicentennial custom handmade quilt looks together.

Here is the Bicentennial quilt currently touring the state. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The custom quilt is making the rounds around the state as part of the Bicentennial celebration. If you have a chance to go see it in person, it’s worth the trip.

Happy 200th Birthday, Missouri!

Charlotte

Vintage Valentines Applique Quilt Blocks

There can be hundreds of fabric pieces to hand applique each of these quilt blocks. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Vintage Valentines Applique Quilt Blocks

This was a labor of love and not because it is a vintage Valentines design. Applique, or the art of hand sewing fabric pieces to make a final design, has been the most expensive way to make a handmade quilt since I started Bluebird Gardens in 1998. Even then, applique quilts were primarily affordable in the US only because they were imported. Depending on their experience and skill level, applique quilters back then were asking $15-$30/hour for their work, and those prices have only slowly increased.

This customer had started one of the 12 quilt blocks in this hand-applique Vintage Valentines applique quilt and needed help getting it finished. One of our excellent piecers volunteered to help her get this completed.

If you don’t know what applique is, it is the process of cutting out fabrics in designs, hand-sewing them so you don’t see the stitches and layering the fabric to make a pattern. It calls for meticulous skills and attention to detail.

Each heart is individually hand-sewn onto the valentine design. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You can see how many fabric hearts make up this detailed applique quilt block. There is little room for error because the fabrics are hand sewn in a specific order to create the overall design.

Compare this to All Hearts Quilt, made with machine embroidery and patchwork strips sewn by machine.

This applique quilt block looks simple until you look at the pieces of each flower. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

If you’ve done any kind of sewing, you know keeping everything flat is a challenge. In applique work, keeping the fabrics from puckering is an art form.

The largest applique quilt block is the center block with over 150 individual fabric pieces. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

So let’s do a little math. Can you guess how many hours it took to hand applique 12 different Vintage Valentine quilt blocks?

The total was 215.10 hours.

If we apply a couple of hourly rates:

At $15/hour = $3,226.50

At $30/hour = $6,453

So the next time you go to a quilt guild show or see a handmade applique quilt, take a closer look. Handmade applique quilts continue to hold their own as the most intricate, and most expensive, handmade quilts to make in the US.

Charlotte

Children's Hands Handmade Quilt

Children’s Hands Handmade Quilt hanging at one of our local church community rooms. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Children’s Hand Handmade Quilt

I found this charming Children’s Hands Handmade Quilt and wall hanging in the church community room where our local master gardeners meet. The handmade quilt happened to be made under the direction of a gardening friend who happened to be at the same meeting so I was privy to some of the inside stories of how this was made.

Harriet said the fabrics were tie dyed, also by hand. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The fabrics of this custom handmade quilt are interesting. Turns out the quilt fabrics were hand dyed, giving the charming custom quilt a rainbow effect.

Each hand also has the name of the child at the bottom of each quilt block.

Meet Harriet Bain, the co-director of the quilt project and my gardening friend. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Harriet shared that they added what the children did in the margins, a lovely way to mark their accomplishments and celebrate them at the same time.

Stippling quilting gives this custom handmade quilt a third dimension.

Now here’s how all of the handmade quilt blocks look together.

Here’s the entire quilt, isn’t it interesting how every hand is different? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Such a simple design, the outline of a child’s hand. And yet every hand looks just a little different - in size, shape and dimension.

Charlotte

Standing Cats Mostly Handmade Quilt

Standing Cats Mostly Handmade Quilt

Every year we introduce a new made in USA handmade quilt to our line. If you’ve been following me on Facebook and my weekly Garden Notes, you know I found two kittens May 24, 2020 abandoned on a county road. James A Mess and his sister, Etta Girl Fierce Mess have been entertaining, and growing, over the months. Based on emails and private messages, they have become a favorite break and bright spot in an otherwise challenging time.

So in honor of the “nuggets” as I called them when they were so tiny, this year we introduced “Standing Cats Mostly Handmade Quilt” with a bright yellow border to represent the joy these little kittens have brought into our lives.

The cat blocks in this extra large throw are multi-patterned small floral cottons so they help fit into most room colors.

The machine quilting gives these fun lap quilts an additional texture and make them perfect for easy washing.

We used sustainable and reusable bamboo for the quilt fill, making these Standing Cats Mostly Handmade Quilts warm and lightweight.

And well, the mostly part? Not all cats are standing. In the spirit of James and Etta, who crash mid afternoon for a nap, the cat in the corner is taking a nap.

Great handmade quilt to add to your home office either draped over your chair for those cold days or hanging from a wall to brighten up a corner.

Charlotte

Froggy Went Courting Handmade Quilt

Doesn’t this applique frog look like one happy frog? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Froggy Went Courting Handmade Quilt

When I found this charming handmade frog quilt, I had to add it to our store. All year we’ve had a Missouri tree frog living in an old birdhouse on my deck table. Friends named him Norbert. Then we discovered Norbert had a girlfriend.

In honor of Norbert and his courting. Froggy Went Courting Handmade Quilt captures some of the well - froggy-like activities.

Busy frogs jumping all over the front of this charming handmade quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This is a brand new, all cotton quilt imported from India. The detailed applique designs of frogs have nice details.

The handmade quilt is finished with hand quilting to give the overall design an extra dimension.

Top segment is a good place to add custom embroidery. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

In the center quilt block, two frogs hang out over a small wall. There’s a space over the center frogs where custom embroidery could also easily be added.

This handmade frog quilt has a complimentary printed cotton on the back. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Two little green tree fogs hang off of one of the cactus flowers towards the bottom.

The handmade frog quilt is in complimentary cottons with beige, greens and pops of color like the cactus flower.

The bottom of the handmade frog quilt also has a place for custom embroidery. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Wash in cold water; dry on cool.

When you don’t want to use this as a lap quilt throw, you can easily hang it from rods to turn it into a quilted wall hanging.

Fabric loops on the back easily turn frog quilt into a quilted wall hanging. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

When not in use, the fabric loops on the back lie flat against the backing.

Froggy Went Courting Handmade Quilt would make a charming whimsical engagement gift!

Charlotte

Standing Cats Handmade Quilt

Most of these patchwork cats are standing in this custom handmade cat quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Standing Cats Handmade Quilt

Over the years we have made dozens of custom sleeping cat quilts. Now it’s the turn of standing cats to keep our beds company!

Our Custom Standing Cat Handmade Quilts feature different printed cotton fabrics forming the patchwork standing cats. Detailed quilting in the white quilt block add a lovely sophisticated dimension to each standing cat.

Just to honor the spirit of cats, there’s a corner block where one of the fabric cats gets tired.

One of these custom quilt blocks is asleep on the job. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

These are brand new, made in Missouri handmade cat quilts so no two are exactly the same.

We can make them in custom color choices. If you don’t know what colors you want, choose a neutral and let us select a range of fabric colors for the patchwork cats.

Plan on custom standing cats quilts to take 3 months from when the details are finalized. We can also make these in smaller lap quilt throw sizes.

The best way to see the detailed quilting is to look on the back of the quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

One of the unique aspects of our custom standing cats handmade quilts is the lovely quilting. You can get a better idea of how the quilting adds to the quilt by looking at the back side. Each patchwork cat is quilt outlined then surrounded by detailed hand-guided machine quilting.

Perfect for the cat lover on your gift list!

Charlotte