Blue Owl Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging

The Blue Owl Handmade Quilt at the entrance of the Kimmswick, Mo. Restaurant. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Blue Owl Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging

It’s easy to overlook because it is hanging right at the restaurant entrance, where people are usually waiting to get in.

Although protected by glass, the Blue Owl handmade Quilt Wall hanging is a warm, inviting handmade quilt that tells a special story all of its own.

This handmade quilt celebrates a very special event. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The Blue Owl Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging is a contemporary version of a traditional friendship quilt, where every block is made by a different person to commemorate a special event, or just a special relationship among friends. Many friendship quilts I have seen over the years were made by church groups to mark special events such as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.

The designs in the Blue Owl Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging are not complicated. As a matter of fact, many are the same quilt design. What makes them unique is how each one of the people who personalized the handmade quilt blocks with not only their name but something that embellished the quilt block design.

Each block has an embroidered name to personalize it. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

The pink and blue color scheme of this handmade quilt reminds me of similar colors in our Pink Sunbonnet Sue handmade quilt. The pink borders are more of a raspberry than a mauve pink and the blue accents compliment the name of the Kimmswick, Missouri restaurant with its signature apple pie. See the tiny Mile High Apple Pie in the bottom left corner of the quilt bloc on the right?

In addition to celebrating an anniversary, this charming friendship quilt honors when the restaurant first opened.

The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery handmade quilt block. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

And to honor it’s name, the handmade quilt has cute little blue owls among the quilt blocks, nicely matching the restaurant’s own mascot.

The Blue Owl Restaurant sign at Kimmswick, Mo. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

As spring flooding continues throughout the midwest this year, I hope the levies hold and keep Kimmswick and this charming restaurant safe and dry.

I am looking forward to going back and sampling some of the other delicious deserts that this charming restaurant has to offer.

Charlotte

Fun in Garden Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging

These lollipop flowers have flying friends with those bee buttons. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Fun in Garden Handmade Quilt Wall Hanging

Don’t talk to a Midwest beekeeper in January, all you are bound to hear is how they are missing their bees. That’s right, some of us get quite attached to those little flying bugs and when we don’t get to regularly see them….well, let’s just say I’m in snow and ice-covered mid-Missouri and I’m missing my tiny girls.

When bee-deprived keepers then see a bee, any bee, it’s pure joy and this handmade quilt and wall hanging photo brought a big smile to my face. Can you see why?

Those are bee buttons sewn on the quilted design of lollipop flowers. Honest, I peeked. The yellow looks wonderful against the black and white fabric background. The flowers themselves are quite eye-catching in their bright fabrics and mesmerizing centers.

The flower petals are also interesting, they have strips of patterned fabrics against solid fabrics that add dimension.

I was looking closely at one of the quilted flowers when I was startled by another discovery. See the little green frog in the top left corner?

This is a handmade quilt made into a wall hanging and it proves that small can still be mighty.

The story behind this custom quilt wall hanging is based on falling in love with fabrics. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Handmade quilts each have their own story and this one is quite simple, it was all about the fabrics.

Quilters know bad fabric choice can destroy a quilt design and this work of art shows what good fabric choices can do. And bees, don’t forget the bees!

Charlotte

Perfectly Seasoned Thanksgiving Quilt

I know these squirrels, I've seen them in my garden, in particular in my Bartlett pear tree!

Perfectly Seasoned Thanksgiving Handmade Quilt

It was hard not to be drawn to this charming handmade quilt displayed at the 2017 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild Show in Rolla, Missouri in October. The quilt colors are bright and captivating, as are the pilgrim-dressed squirrels at the top of this brand new quilt. The teeny tiny pumpkins the male squirrel is carrying are very impressive, too, imagine how small those fabric pieces were to cut out, the quilter must have been very patient and very careful!

From a distance, the overall quilting in the white space adds a nice dimension to the quilt.

Each of the quilt blocks in the center also have individual characters, from the owl and the pumpkin to more squirrels, acorns and wreaths.

If I were to start a collection of quilted wall hangings, this would be one I would want to make to represent Thanksgiving and have it hanging on a wall somewhere, maybe in an entrance or a den wall, where I could enjoy it every day.

That's one of the advantages of quilted wall hangings, they can quickly change the theme of a room and update home decor to a seasonal mood.

Glad to see the quilter saying this was a "fun" quilt to piece, that's as it should be.

This next quilt block helps to show the detail of the machine quilting, which gives this handmade quilt so much texture.

It still surprises me how much quilting can change the final look of a quilt.

Cute orange pumpkin block sits in the middle of the detailed quilting in the white space.

Here's wishing your home has a "perfectly seasoned" Thanksgiving, from ours, which is definitely more squirrelly!

Charlotte

Ballerinas Lap Quilts Throws

Love to stop by and look at these toe shoes at Leach Theatre on S&T Campus, Rolla, Missouri.

Ballerinas Lap Quilts Throws

I don't have my pink toe shoes any more. I don't have some of my knees any more, either, a direct result of too many years trying to make my body do what it is not naturally designed to do as a ballet dancer.

Our teacher was a tall, lean Russian. She carried a walking stick and used it to make sure we understood where our legs were supposed to be for a plie, or a jete. Because I was the tallest in the class, I was always in back and periodically was given a jumping part.

The training served me well. I took to skiing without a fall and can still compensate for a lack of depth perception with the sense of balance ballet has given me. On the other hand, I have worn out my knee joints and will need to replace them at some point so I now happily settle for watching others wear out theirs.

I was looking for a fishing quilt for a summer camp one year when I came across these ballerina lap quilt throws. I didn't hesitate. They are so simple yet elegant, I could see them either on a bed or as a quilted wall hanging in a guest bedroom where someone else would be practicing their dance steps for ours on end.

Have to confess, I loved the fluffy tutus although pink was not my favorite color. I was partial to yellow although because of my brown hair, they usually gave me the pink one.

My years of ballet inspired me to carry these elegant Ballerinas Lap Quilts Throws.

These days I don't meet too many ballet dancers where I live, most young girls are tap dancers, hip hop artists or Irish dancers.

I did meet a young woman at the theatre last week. She was standing in front of the glass case with the toe shoes so I stopped next to her. We smiled at each other. I asked her if she was a ballet dancer and she said yes. I nodded and we looked at the old, worn out toe shoes again and smiled.

We don't tell anyone but yes, those toe shoes do hurt!

Charlotte

Nautical Baby Crib Quilt and Wall Hanging

This elegant 36x48-inch nautical-themed baby crib quilt will make a nice wall hanging.

Nautical Baby Crib Quilt and Quilt Wall Hanging

One of the biggest requests we get from potential customers is do we have nautical baby crib quilts for boys that aren't too cute. I think this brand new, all cotton 36x48 inch Nautical Baby Crib Quilt fits the bill.

The beautifully rendered quilt blocks feature applique and embroidered sailing ships against light blue and grey cotton backgrounds with white clouds. 

Nautical-themed boats and life boats surround the center blocks on the border. 

Nautical Baby Crib Quilt is the perfect size for a wall hanging in a nursery, den or study. It is also the right size for a baby crib quilt at 36x48 inches, the standard baby crib quilt size.

This brand new baby crib quilt is finished with hand quilting and can easily be washing in cold, dried on cool in your home dryer.

The details of Nautical Baby Crib Quilt and Wall Hanging are lovely close up.

Another reason I like to carry these baby crib quilts, they are very versatile and can easily give a room a special theme, like a nursery, or a den. No wall painting required and when you want to change it out, just take this quilt down and replace it with another one.

Is there an easier way to decorate a room?

Charlotte

Molly's Tree

Can you guess that this is a Halloween tree? What gave it away, the purple?!

Molly's Tree

Sometimes when I go through a quilt show, I miss some of the subtleties of some of the work and this tree is one of those quilts I have grown to appreciate since I first saw it.

I love trees so the subject matter is a favorite. I vaguely remember pondering about the fabric color choices but didn't give it much thought until I was revisiting some of the work that was displayed at Piece and Plenty's 2015 bi-annual quilt guild show in Rolla, Missouri.

Now trees do change color in the fall but when I think of purple, I think of Halloween and cats and pumpkins. And apparently so did Kathy Turner, Molly's Mom, who made this quilt!

And here's the reason why this quilt was made with purple.

The other quilt element this quilted tree demonstrates well is the power, and effect, of quilting on the finished product.

Quilting reminds me of looking at a dress on a hangar. One doesn't know the full impact of the dress until one puts it on. Same thing with a quilt, one doesn't get the full effect of the work until it is quilted.

Without quilting, this would be a yellow tree on purple. With the quilting, there is a suggestion of wind and ghosts and ghouls and who knows what else is lurking in the purple, don't you think?

Boo!

Charlotte

Midnight in the Garden Quilt Wall Hanging

Midnight in Garden Quilt Wall Hanging

When I think of Halloween, black cats play a prominent place in those thoughts. My first cat was a gorgeous black cat with yellow eyes, and this quilt wall hanging reminded me of her.

"Midnight in the Garden" quilt wall hanging was shared at Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild's 2015 bi-annual show in Rolla, Missouri. Unfortunately the description attached the quilt was a complaint about not being able to use Pay Pal to pay for the entry so I don't have a lot of details about the quilt.

It was made by Dorreene Reynolds and is 23-inches by 19-inches, a nice wall hanging size, by the way. Installed at the right place on a wall this charming quilt wall hanging could easily "fill in" for a missing window.

Besides the black cat's green eyes, I love the circular flowers among the applique greenery. 

And why is the cat in the garden at midnight?

Check out the other garden visitor in the bottom left hand corner.

Charlotte

October Quilt Wall Hanging

October Quilt Wall Hanging

I have to confess, October is one of my all-time favorite months out of the four seasons.

October is the leading fall month in Missouri, a time when temperatures start to dip into sweater weather and trees bedeck themselves in gorgeous colors before leaves fall and grey days slip in.

Not to mention the sunflowers and pumpkins, lots and lots of pumpkins. So many that I have learned to buy extra if I still want pumpkins for Thanksgiving because most get ordered, and sold, for fall decorating and Halloween.

These landmarks of the month and charmingly detailed in this applique October quilt wall hanging that was featured at the 2015 bi-annual Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla. Although less obvious, I loved the "flying geese" triangles over the patchwork leaves in the top right corner, another wonderful sighting that marks the change in season.

I missed getting the card with the information on who made this charming quilt but it appears to have won a second place ribbon. Nicely done!

Anything you would have added to mark October in Missouri?

Charlotte

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging at Piece and Plenty's 2005 Quilt Festival in Rolla, Mo.

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging

I get a lot of inspiration from my garden. I also enjoy visiting quilt shows to see what other artists are making. The bi-annual Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in my hometown is a delight and one that lets me see what friends do with their fabric stashes.

This was one of my favorite small wall hangings, Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging. Quilts make wonderful wall art and this little gem would be a focal point in any room.

The color, red, is a personal favorite. Some quilters tell me they are afraid of that bold color but I love it, it not only easily adds an accent to a quilt but becomes a beautiful stage for detailed applique work.

Love the descriptions with each of the quilts at the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild 2015 show.

Picking the right fabric tones is an art form all on its own. I have seen too many beautifully-made quilts with poor fabric choices but this is not one of them. The red fabrics are just the right combination of reds, complimentary to each other without competing.

The marbled border fabric has some yellow, which is nicely reflected in the other red fabrics used in the center block.

In addition to the color, the applique birds and branches remind me of the trees surrounding my house. Also busy with feathered visitors, this handmade quilted wall hanging nicely captures the summer joy I hear in my garden.

The other major factor in this quilt is the quilting, beautiful details, you can see it in the cream white background close to the birds and branches.

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging received special recognition for the beautiful work.

Others apparently thought this was a special work, too, it won 3rd Place in the Special Exhibit category.

Aren't those ribbons special? They were made out of felt and what a charming idea to make the top into a dahlia-looking flower. 

Nice job, Alyce and Lee!

Charlotte

Short History of Quilting

We are waiting for another winter storm to hit Missouri's Ozarks. On days like this, I wonder what it must have been decades ago when homes didn't have heat and depended on handmade quilts for warmth.

In those days, quilting was an important skill for women who joined the western expansion. Quilting skills were used to make curtains and clothing as well as bedding, many cottons recycled from one form to the most needed household item.

When looking at vintage quilts such as double wedding ring quilts, you can see the recycled items because fabrics used are not uniform or necessarily matching. I have a special place in my heart for these quilts, giving new life to fabrics that today sometimes are discarded without a second thought.

I found this short history of quilting in the Old Phelps County Courthouse, which is slowly becoming an interesting peek into mid-Missouri's past:

Have you stopped by the old Phelps County Courthouse Museum in Rolla, Missouri to see their displays?

Charlotte

Button Bandit Quilt Wall Hanging

I love the way Vicki Boaz, St. Robert, Missouri Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild, incorporated buttons into this charming quilt wall hanging.

This was a 2012 Quilt Challenge. It involved using a certain fabric as well as the letter "B" in her quilt wall hanging design. Vicki hand pieced, hand quilted and machine quilted - can you see the different kinds of quilting she used?

 

One of my favorite elements of this quilt wall hanging is the way Vicki incorporated buttons. Aren't these cute?

And then there's the cat. A black cat, of course, keeping with the "B" theme.

Dare I say it - "bravo!"

Charlotte