Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt

This is a hummingbird handmade quilt, do you see the hummingbirds? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt

The first reports are coming in, the scout hummingbirds have made it to mid-Missouri and are now checking out the area gardens. Hummingbirds migrate to Central and South America in fall to winter over in their summer season. Then as those continents move into their fall and winter, the tiny birds made their way back to North America.

Just their migratory patterns are amazing, these little birds require a lot of carbs to keep their tiny wings beating at 103 flaps per second.

I was thinking about this migratory pattern as I spotted this Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt featured at the 2017 bi-annual Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild Show in Rolla, Mo.

It took me a few seconds to recognize what pattern represented the hummingbirds. Do you see them?

The story behind this hummingbirds handmade quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

They are easier to see surrounding the Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt center block, which looks like a modern columbine. As I looked at this center block, the blue hummingbirds made their appearance as they “fly” into the flowers.

Love the center flowers, I assume columbines. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Looking closer at Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt one can see the very detailed machine quilting that adds a lovely dimension to this custom, brand new quilt.

The quilt border is also very pretty with blue morning glories enticing the hummingbirds for a visit.

Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, the largest of the pollinator groups, are among the pollinators that help plants reproduce and produce the variety of foods we currently have in our diet.

Excuse me, I now have to go make up some hummingbird syrup for the new arrivals!

Charlotte

Native Wildflowers Handmade Quilt

Native Wildflowers Handmade Quilt

There are wildflower quilts and then there are simple, charming handmade quilts like this native wildflowers quilt at Mastodon State Park in Imperial, Missouri. I will try not to digress into my Mastodon hunting lesson. Mastodon State Historic Site is a publicly owned, 431-acre archaeological and paleontological site with recreational features in Imperial, Missouri, maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, preserving the Kimmswick Bone Bed. Did you know Missouri had mastodons, a relative to elephants, about 12 million years ago?

Me, neither, so the stop at this site was delightful in many ways. There were bones of the giant beavers that roamed Missouri as well as an award-winning mile high pie nearby but I would just as easily tucked this native wildflowers quilt in my bag to bring home where it even possible.

The staff on duty didn’t know the name of the quilter but we can all read the name of the hand applique flowers.

Delightful handmade native flowers quilt at Mastodon State Park, Imperial, Missouri.

Missouri’s wild columbine is one of my favorite native spring flowers so I was tickled to find it applique on this handmade quilt. Notice how the red embroidery floss on red cotton gives the flower an extra dimension.

Applique and embroidery give these flowers definition. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Same thing with this Jack in the Pulpit flower quilt square only the embroidery floss is easier to see on this flower applique pattern.

Another lady visiting at the same time I was at the park said she thought the flower names were free hand embroidered and I can see why she said that, each seems to have a simplicity to the lettering.

Rose mallow is a lovely native Missouri shrub I hope to add to my garden this year. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Not all of these flowers can easily be found in Missouri’s native woods and prairies. I can’t remember the last time I saw a yellow lady slipper, a form of orchid, in one of my walks.

Missouri’s pawpaw trees are coming back into favor. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Talking to one of the George O. White Nursery staff in Licking, Mo. last year, she said Pawpaw tree seedlings are one of the first of their seedlings to sell out now, although only a decade ago no one seemed to want to plant them.

The paw paw tree can get rather large so I doubt I can add one to my hillside garden but I may opt for a bonsai one one of these days.

Another native flower that gives me much joy to find is yellow tickseed and wild violets, both native flowers that are challenging to cut to bring inside so I leave them.

Did you know wild violets are edible and high in vitamin C? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Just a couple more quilt blocks to share. The top one reminds me of the wild sweet pea vines I have tried to transplant from a friend’s house to no avail, I may have to settle for one in fabric.

The second block is out of focus but morning glories are easy to grown and can quickly become a nuisance for garden planners who want a well-organized garden. I am not one of those so this year I may be adding blue morning glories to some of my trellises.

Both these native plants like to grow on trellises. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

So there you have it, a short tour of some of Missouri’s native trees and flowers, all excellent plants for pollinators.

Oh, wait, I was talking about a handmade quilt about Missouri natives, wasn’t I. Aren’t you lucky that I didn’t veer off into Mastodon hunting!

Charlotte

Lollipop Garden Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging

This Lollipop Garden handmade quilt wall hanging was featured at a 2015 quilt show. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Lollipop Garden Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging

My garden has been flowerless for months. A blanket of snow now covers the hillside, adding an elegant dimension to the trees and flower beds but I miss color.

This is an excellent time to review some custom handmade quilts that are also quilt wall hangings. There is no quicker way to bring color and design into a room than to hang a handmade quilt.

This handmade quilt wall hanging has color, whimsy and three dimensions through the machine quilting. The fabric colors certainly catch one’s eye with the purples and chartreuse. It’s not until one gets closer that one sees the details of the machine quilting, which adds another layer of flowers to the overall quilt design.

Quilting adds a lovely dimension to Lollipop Garden Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The lollipop garden flowers are also interesting. They remind me of a modern take on the yo-yo’s that where once popular handmade quilts.

The incorporation of the chartreuse fabrics is also interesting. A modern take on green, chartreuse used to be the exception to the rule. The popularity of chartreuse makes this Lime Green Double Wedding Ring Quilt a modern version of the traditional patchwork wedding quilt design.

This quilt wall hanging was featured at the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild Show in 2015 in Rolla, Mo.

The Hoffman Challenge recognized the best handmade quilts wall hangings and how they incorporated fabrics. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

As many quilt shows do, this custom handmade garden quilt was entered in the Hoffman Challenge category, which recognized the best incorporation of fabrics into the quilt design.

I’m just happy to see a bright spot of color amidst the cold Missouri winter!

Charlotte

Reaping Rewards Handmade Quilt

Reaping Rewards Handmade Quilt

No, its not your imagination, this is the same quilt pattern “Ah, Autumn” featured in the three previous blog entries. Of the three previously featured Ah, Autumn handmade quilts, this one looks the most like Harriet Bain’s Ah Autumn quilt starting with the quilt colors. For some reason the quilter has renamed the quilt but all of the basic pattern elements are still there.

This is why a quilt pattern can have different names from country to country or even region and down within a country.

The one interesting element mentioned in this handmade quilt is the use of Guatemalan fabrics.

The handmade quilt border gives this pattern an interesting contrast. It is reminiscent of the leaf pattern found in the rest of the handmade quilt.

This was another quilt featured at Piece and Plenty’s 2018 bi-annual Quilt Guild show in Rolla, Mo.

The story behind this handmade quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

This handmade quilt story mentions that the Guatemalan cotton has a different texture, something I missed when I was at the quilt guild show. Maybe next year!

Charlotte

Ah, Autumn Handmade Quilt by Harriet

Another interesting combination of fabric colors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Ah, Autumn Handmade Quilt by Harriet Bain

This is the third in a series of handmade quilts that were featured at the 2017 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild in Rolla, Mo., a quilt show held bi-annually.

Each one of these Ah, Autumn handmade quilts featured a special fabric or detail incorporated by the quilter. This particular version of the Ah, Autumn handmade quilt also has very bright colors as opposed to the muted greens, burnt reds and browns one traditionally associates with fall colors.

The signature leaf quilt block details close up. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The signature four leaf block also reflects the quilter’s fabric choices. Harriet, who I know as a friend through master gardeners, made all of her leaves with striped fabrics.

As I was reviewing the fabrics I realized this quilt reminds me of the color combinations in one of my quilts our Lime Green Double Wedding Ring Quilt.

This quilt features another special fabric detail. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Winggins)

As fall ends its reign, I enjoy looking at these various Ah, Autumn handmade quilts and comparing the fabric choices and color combinations. This quilt also features a special fabric, this one from Burma, Harriet’s home country.

Every quilt is lovely on its own merit and nicely celebrates the beauty of the season.

Charlotte

Ah, Autumn Handmade Quilt by Becky

This autumn-themed quilt has livelier colors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Ah, Autumn Handmade Quilt by Becky Bryant

What colors do you associate with fall?

The previous Ah, Autumn handmade quilt I featured in this same Ah, Autumn design had the more traditional green-based cotton fabrics.

This version of Ah, Autumn handmade quilt is a riotous combination of bright purples, reds and complimentary multi-patterned cottons not to mention all of the detailed quilt pieces. If this were tackled in my household, I have a cat who would have his eye on the fabric pieces, especially those fabric leaves.

If there is any part of the quilt that represents the heart of the quilter, it’s the square with the leaves. Each quilt I am featuring shows a definite vision with the fabrics in this particular block.

Quilt block with leaves represents the quilter, (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

There’s another special element to this autumn-themed quilt, and that is the special fabrics that are included.

Every quilt has a story and this is the story of this one, (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Now I want to know how did Becky get Guatemalan cotton??

Charlotte

Ah, Autumn Handmade Quilt by Brenda

This handmade quilt features traditional autumn colors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Ah, Autumn Handmade Quilt by Brenda Morton

Ever wonder what inspires the fabrics in a handmade quilt?

I do every time I see a quilt, especially ones at quilt shows. The 2017 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla, Missouri featured several handmade quilts in the same pattern with different fabric choices. I will feature each of the three here so we can look at how fabric choices changed the overall design.

This Ah, Autumn quilt was made by Brenda Morton in what I would call more traditional fall colors of burnt orange, green and cream fabric colors.

If you look closely, some of the patchwork designs feature multi-patterned fabrics that add texture.

Patchwork leaves add more fall color tones. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Those fall leaves are sure familiar, they look very much like the fall leaves in our Fall Leaves Quilt.

This is a quilt pattern from Linda Johnson and Jane Wells, who taught a class in Rolla, Mo. using a patchwork pattern out of their own book.

And here is what inspired these handmade quilt colors. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Would these be similar to fabrics you would have chosen for a fall-themed handmade quilt?

Stay tuned, coming up are two more handmade quilts in the same pattern but decidedly different fabric choices.

Charlotte

Turtle Time Handmade Quilt Throw

Aren't these turtles having a good time? Love the colors, too!

Turtle Time Handmade Quilt Throw

Several turtles were crossing Bluebird Lane this weekend, reminding me of this charming new Turtle Time Handmade Quilt Throw and Quilted Wall Hanging.

This brand new, imported handmade quilt has nice applique turtles and embroidered details in each one of the quilt blocks, each one telling a unique story.

Happy applique turtle in one of the many blocks in Turtle Time Handmade Quilt Throw.

During the 1980s, turtles were on Missouri Department of Conservation's advisory list, which brought public attention to their plight as they crossed roads and highways. Today it's a more common sight to see people stopping to help a turtle across the road, although these applique turtles seem to be taking care of themselves pretty well.

Snail goes for a ride on the back of the turtle shell in another wonderful detailed quilt block.

These are whimsical turtle scenes bound to bring a smile to anyone who loves turtles. As one of those people, I know I would enjoy getting this turtle quilt as a gift.

"Winning" turtle with a first place ribbon in one of the blocks of this handmade quilt throw.

And one of my favorite details include the small applique turtles in tennis shoes running around the dark grey solid cotton border, so cute!

Tiny turtles in tennies run around the border of this handmade quilt throw, love the shoes!

This sweet turtle quilt will also make a nice quilted wall hanging!

Charlotte

Birds in Flowers Handmade Quilt

Birds in Flowers handmade quilt has two of my all-time favorite garden elements.

Birds in Flowers Handmade Quilt

People fall in love with handmade quilts for a lot of reasons. I have always been particularly fond of applique ones, especially floral ones. When I came across this handmade quilt with both flowers and birds in applique, it was a winning combination.

When looking at possible handmade quilts, I can often find handmade quilts with applique flowers or applique birds but infrequently the two of them together.

This brand new, imported Birds in Flowers Handmade Quilt has a sweet combination of applique and embroidery that suggests a summer day in my garden.

This Birds in Flowers Handmade Quilt block reminds me of chickadees on morning glories.

In between blocks with applique birds, there are blocks with applique flowers with the same detailed handiwork.

I also like the pop of color with the multi-colored cotton fabrics in applique flower designs.

A pop of yellow brightens Birds in Flowers Handmade Quilt in between blocks with birds.

The green ribbons that separate the handmade quilt blocks also help frame each of the quilt blocks without making it too rigid.

Red trumpet vines welcome a bluebird in this Birds in Flowers Handmade Quilt block.

Birds in Flowers Handmade quilt has polyfill so this has a nice summer weight to it. Such a pretty way to bring a garden into any bedroom!

Charlotte

Embroidered Baskets Quilt

Love the different embroidered baskets in this custom handmade quilt at a local quilt show.

Embroidered Baskets Handmade Quilt

One of the wonderful reasons to go to a quilt show is to get inspired. Even the quilt shows that feature a variety of handmade quilts in one theme, it is hard to find two quilts exactly the same.

This embroidered baskets handmade quilt at Piece and Plenty's Quilt Guild Show a couple of years ago is one of those custom quilts. This brand new quilt combines the vibe of the old-fashioned quilt with the embroidered baskets framed by patchwork blocks that stand out through Terri Merrot's lovely detailed machine quilting.

Most of the basket quilts I have seen are made out of patchwork, so it was fun to see the patchwork blocks featuring the embroidery work in the center of the quilt blocks.

Take a look at the delicate embroidery in the baskets, each one different and unique:

Sweet embroidered basket with embroidered roses, pansies and greenery.

We grew up learning how to embroidery and to this day, even though I am very slow at it now, I still have an embroidery project sitting next to my sofa for those evenings when I want to watch TV and have something to do with my hands.

So I could relate to the story behind this embroidered baskets custom quilt:

Each handmade quilt has it's own story, this is Embroidered Baskets Handmade quilt story.

Here is another  pretty embroidered basket close up, so pretty each by themselves.

I can imagine these patterns on kitchen towels and pillow cases.

Another embroidered basket quilt block featuring green fabrics in the quilt block.

Look closely also at each of the quilt blocks, the fabrics are all in the same color but they are different patterns. That diversity of fabrics also adds a lovely depth to this quilt, as does the detailed quilting.

So charming!

Charlotte

Red and White Spring Handmade Quilt

Cynthia Felts made this design for what she called a red and white spring handmade quilt.

Red and White Spring Handmade Quilt

When I think of spring garden   sampler colors, pastels usually come to mind - soft pink, baby blue, spring yellow, iris purples. In other words, red and white is not one of the usual spring color combinations. As I was going through the quilted wall hanging section of this quilt show, this Red and White Spring Handmade Quilt caught my attention for that reason, at first.

I also liked the different applique baskets around the border, each one of them a different fabric. Some baskets even have a handle gone askew, which is more like some of my typical flower baskets.

This is one of a number of handmade quilts that were featured at the 2015 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla, Missouri. 

Here is the story about how this handmade quilt turned quilted wall hanging was designed from the quilt designer herself, Cynthia Felts:

This handmade quilt was also quilted on a home machine.

In addition to the unique design and color combination, this charming quilt was also quilted on a home machine. Look at the lovely swirls in the background that give this quilt its rich design.

It may not be a traditional spring color but now red and white is one of my favorite spring colors!

Charlotte

Chickens Handmade Quilt

Chickens Handmade Quilt

Our local farmer's market is back, a wonderful Saturday tradition for far too many years to remember when I started to go. 

I am sure that growing up in Brazil, where we went to the local markets every week for fresh produce, influenced my support of this market. So do the wonderful fresh eggs, which have not only a much brighter yellow color but better flavor than anything I can buy in a grocery store.

Earlier this winter, I was thinking about those wonderful eggs when I saw this chickens handmade quilt hanging on a wall in a quilt and fabric store at Lake of the Ozarks. It's not a common theme for a quilt so the design was eye-catching, regardless, starting with the chicken wire background fabric.

The applique chickens are also unique, from the very tall skinny ones to the different scenes in each of the quilt blocks. Here are some of my favorites:

These applique chicks stand out against the cotton fabric that looks like - well, chicken wire.

The prancing rooster also had an elegance to his stance, I loved his elegant tail.

Prancing applique rooster against the chicken wire fabric background.

And my favorite quilt block in the chickens handmade quilt was this hen sitting on her egg, the egg taking 

The applique green hen is sitting on a bright white egg on a bed of applique hay.

This chickens handmade quilt would make a charming quilt wallhanging in a farm kitchen, don't you think?

Charlotte

Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt

Beautiful hummingbird against a fuchsia on a detailed quilted white background.

Hummingbirds Handmade Quilt

It's almost hummer time in Missouri, time when hummingbirds return from their winter grounds in south and central America to spend summer in north America.

They will be back 3 weeks early this year, along with the other signs in nature that are much earlier than historic trends. Rapidly changing climate is turning all of our historic patterns around, from when our springs start to how long our falls will last. The return of the hummingbirds was on my mind when I saw this lovely hummingbirds handmade quilt hanging from a wall in a quilt and fabric shop at Lake of the Ozarks.

Each of the hummingbird panels are beautifully detailed, from the birds to the flowers and quilted backing. The elements are pretty by themselves but there is something almost magical when they are all together in the final blocks.

Purple hummingbird on a pink flower against a detailed quilted white background.

The detailed quilting helps to give the handmade quilt an extra overall dimension, apparent both in each of the bird panels and in the quilt overall.

The quilter also used a floral panel to bind the hummingbirds panels together:

Some of the hummingbird panels together with a strip of floral fabrics in between.

I would probably have used a strip of white so that it didn't compete with the delicate hummingbirds but that's what makes each handmade quilt unique. Fabric choices reflect the personality of the maker almost as much as the quilting patterns do.

One more close up of a hummingbird quilt panel, this one of a grey hummingbird against an orange flower.

One more hummingbird on an orange flower against a quilted white cotton background.

In a few more weeks, we will have the real birds flying around our gardens and taking a drink out of our hummingbird feeders. Another sure sign of spring!

Charlotte

Dresden Plate Flowers Quilt

It's summer and my garden has something blooming at all times. The imminent arrival of more flowers reminded me of this charming quilt at the 2015 Ozark Festival of Quilts featuring a very traditional patchwork quilt pattern, dresden plates. This patchwork pattern turns the traditioanl plates into whimsical flowers:

This handmade quilt was titled "Fun with Dresden Plates" by Cynthia Felts.

The quilter, Cynthia Felts, offered more details about this handmade quilt and I particularly like the use of "fun" in the title:

Cynthia Felts machine pieced, hand appliqued and quilted this charming quilt. Nice job!

I would be happy to have these flowers in my garden, wouldn't you?

Charlotte

"I Spy" in Garden Quilt

Easter is a time of renewal, especially in a garden. 

Every day there is something new growing, or returning, to my limestone hillside garden. The spirit of renewal has been nicely captured in this "I Spy" Garden Quilt made by 7 members of Rolla, Missouri's Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild.

The guild, by the way, is planning a fall 2015 show where they feature the work of their very talented members.

Whether its animals, or flowers, this teamwork applique and patchwork quilt is fun to see.

What all do you "spy"?

Pretty applique blue larkspur. What else?

No garden is complete without a hummingbird or two!

Or one, or two, rabbits.

Happy Easter!

Charlotte