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

Spring Yellow Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Spring yellows inspired this combination of fabrics for this handmade double wedding ring quilt.

Spring Yellow Double Wedding Ring Quilt

The bright, sunny spring yellows inspired the colors of this handmade double wedding ring quilt. Since spring is the mark of new beginnings, that inspiration seemed appropriate for one of the most popular wedding gifts our customers order, the double wedding ring patchwork patterned quilts.

To make sure this quilt will be more than just pretty to look at, we made it larger than the standard 50x60 throws. This made in Missouri quilt is 65x77 inches, making this yellow double wedding ring quilt perfect for two people to curl up under. 

When not in use, yellow double wedding ring quilt throw can easily be folded over the back of a sofa or placed at the foot of a bed.

To add to the nod to new beginnings, we added a rose design inside each one of the rings.

We also added a little tribute to spring in the machine quilting. Each yellow double wedding ring quilt block has a flower design in the center.

Yellow double wedding ring quilt would make a charming spring wedding gift or a nice gift for a golden anniversary. Or just for that special person who likes yellow, like my niece!

Charlotte

Variations of French Wrens Handmade Quilt

Aren't these color combinations wonderful? A touch of spring with a dash of spice!

Variations of French Wrens Handmade Quilt

There are color combinations and then there are color combinations. Some quilts, like our Happy Garden throw, has colors that combine orange fabrics to brighten a room as does this Variations of French Wrens Handmade Quilt, with fabrics that suggest a touch of spring with a dash of spice.

My garden has been inspiration for color combinations so I wondered where I would find these particular colors. The mint green against the pastel peach is definitely a spring combination and then the spicy brick red is a mystery to find but it certainly makes everything pop.

Gana Harris, the quilter, explains in the quilt description what prompted her to make this handmade quilt that was on display during the 2015 Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in Rolla, Missouri:

Love the stories behind handmade quilts, each unique as well.

And how can I pass up commenting on the title. Who doesn't love French Wrens??

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

Flower Quilt Blocks

This bright flower quilt block reminded me of spring in my garden.

Flower Quilt Blocks

Spring is one of my favorite seasons to spend in my garden, it reminds me of all of the wonderful colors I liked to add to some of the custom quilts and throws we have made over the years. I was reminded of my spring garden when I saw this bright daisy quilt block, the colors one of the favorite combinations I have.

This applique daisy was the first flower quilt block that caught my eye at the store.

Picking quilt colors can be a challenge. Whenever I was not sure, all I had to do was look out of my window or take a walk through my flowers, and there nature would suggest a color combination and often offer an obvious solution.

As I was wandering through the stacks of fabric as I would my garden, the orange and yellow applique daisy at the fabric store was the first floral quilt block to catch my eye. A friend and I had stopped on our way home, one of those leisurely days of stopping whenever we felt like it and a fabric and quilt store was definitely on our must do list.

Applique daisy flower on a white cotton background quilt block.

Then I noticed several other floral quilt blocks hanging next to it, all different flowers. I felt quite at home, my garden is a giant cottage garden, each flower bed a collection of native and rescued flowers that are welcome to stay if they are happily settled in where I have placed them.

Except for the strawberries. I keep having to bring the strawberries back up the hill every couple of years but not before I lecture them about leaving the comfort and safety of my property. I mean, there are mean turtles out there who will eat the whole plants, at least in my garden they will just take the fruit.

The strawberry-colored flower on the left reminded me this was the year I need to check on my errant strawberry plants.

Two more floral quilt blocks add bright colors to the possible quilt design.

One of the more traditional floral quilts was an album quilt, featuring a different quilt block with no two blocks the same. I used to love to look at those quilts, marveling at the time it took to make each one of those different individual blocks.

There is some marvel associated with these blocks, too. None of these two blocks are the same, either. Each one of these floral blocks have a unique finish, as well as fabric combination.

Two of my favorite flower shapes, the daisy, on a more traditional, the other more modern.

So here's the fun part, once you were ready to put the blocks together, would you use the pink with a yellow center; a floral border, the floral vine or just the tiny flowers in the corner?

Flower quilt blocks now pulled together almost as a quilt. Almost, but not quite!

I would be tempted to use the flower vine to tie all of the blocks together but then I try not to add anything that competes with the flowers in the blocks themselves.

What do you think, or should the sashing be a simple white with the floral vine on the outside?

Charlotte

Green Cats Quilt

Charming applique cats quilt blocks with a definite St. Patrick's Day green theme.

Green Cats Quilt

It's St. Patrick's week in Rolla, Missouri, home of Missouri University of Science and Technology and the traditional St. Patrick's Day-related celebrations tied to the Patron Saint of Engineers.

The week-long revelry is much milder than when I first moved here, a good thing from my perspective but much-missed by some alumni who forget the rougher days of youth partying through the lens of nostalgia. The community gets ready for the festivities months ahead, and I was thinking about some of those crazy, fun details when I spotted these green cats quilt blocks - the town gets it's green on - and there's definitely a green theme to this cat quilt.

This applique cat block caught my eye first, maybe only I saw it but it appears to be a tribute to one of my favorite vegetables, broccoli:

This little cat reminds me so much of a head of broccoli, which I also love!

The front paws and tail look like the broccoli florets I cut to steam!

This next applique cat is a wonderful nod to texture. Besides the thick black eyelashes, the embroidery gives a three-dimensional feel to the tail and the muzzle:

Love the detail in this applique cats, especially the white muzzle and fluffy tail.

Making every quilt block different does take more time but it's fun to have every block unique. And last but not least, the little green cat wearing his little green tux:

This little green cat makes me smile, wearing a little green tux so happy and welcoming.

So maybe he's not wearing a tux but he has the attitude of one that is wearing one and his face is so happy and welcoming, like a little cat doorman.

From our green town to yours, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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

Box of Chocolates Handmade Quilt

Love the name of this handmade quilt, perfect for Valentine's Day eye candy!

Box of Chocolates Handmade Quilt

One of my favorite things to do at quilt shows is to take pictures so I can be reminded later of the beauty of these textile works of art.

This is another handmade quilt from the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild's 2015 show in Rolla, Missouri. The handmade quilts are beautiful and, what I enjoy even more, are the stories that accompany each of the show entries. 

Each quilt is unique not only because of how it is made but also because of those stories.

Story behind handmade quilt called Box of Chocolates from Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild Show.

I am not sure I would have recognized this as a box of chocolates at first. It does remind me of one of my favorite floral sampler quilts, each block different  but made out of complimentary fabrics. Clever to name the handmade quilt inspired by the Moda fabric line.

Now that I see the name, the quilt blocks do remind me of a sampler box of chocolates, as if each quilt block represents a favorite chocolate sample.

This quilt block reminds me of a chocolate-covered nut, a personal favorite.

Close up of a quilt block from the handmade quilt named "Box of Chocolates."

What do you think, what kind of chocolate is this quilt block to you?

Charlotte

Australia Continent Art Quilt

Part of our quilting work at the Grimm Museum in 2014 in Amsterdam, Sweden.

Australia Art Quilt

I haven't been to Amsterdam but the artist who collaborated on the wall mural told me when the installation was up and where. The final collaborative work was installed at the Grimm Museum June 5, 2014 to August 9, 2014. It took me longer to make the piece were were commissioned to make that it was on display.

The quilted mural covered one wall, a depiction of the world made out of white quilted t-shirts against a quilted, navy blue fabric background. That was the part of the installation we were involved making. We were also asked to piece and quilt the continent of Australia out of 35 white stained t-shirts bordered by one-inch red satin. To most accurately reflect the land contours, I rouched by hand on both sides of the one inch red satin border. In the photo, our work was the piece to the far right.

As with most art quilt projects, it started simply enough. After quilting the navy blue background fabric by machine, the white t-shirts were also sewn together to form the Australian continent. It was then my job to finish it by sewing the red satin - yes, red satin - along the land contour by hand.

I started sewing the red satin on a straight stretch of the land contour on both sides.

If you have ever worked with satin, you know how hard it is to keep it in one place. It's almost impossible to sew straight with most sewing machines, and even tougher to keep straight and even sewing by hand because it moves so much.

To make sure the red silk fabric was tacked down evenly and correctly, both sides had to be stitched at relatively the same time by hand. If one edge was out of line, then it could be easily corrected before moving on. I had to redo a number of the sections to keep the width the same. It was a slow, tedious process.

When I reached curves, I would rouche the red satin on both sides, working one inch at a time, then sew the rouched area by hand, and move to adjust the other side before sewing that side down. Although the work was slow, it made all of the difference in terms of accurately defining the edge of the land contour.

Rouching curves was done an inch at a time, sometimes half an inch, to reflect the curves.

When the curve was especially tight, my decades of embroidery and hand-quilting, as well as the rouching technique, paid off nicely. This would not be possible sewing this satin on by machine.

Tight curves required work at half inch increments to make sure the fabric stayed in place.

To give you an idea of the scope of this section of the installation, here is the Australian continent section spread out on a double bed.

The finished Australian continent art quilt on a double bed to give you the scale of the quilt.

I can't do this kind of tiny, detailed stitching any more. I broke my wrist in 3 places September 2015. Although surgery implanted metal rods to mend the breaks, my years of embroidery dexterity are gone. 

I look at these pictures and frankly marvel at what I once was able to do. There were other quilts I worked on in the past that also ended up in museums but it never occurred to me to get photos. I assumed I would have the embroidery skill for most of my life, not counting on breaking my wrist.

Yet another reason why I tell people who ask me what their handmade quilts are worth. No two are exactly alike and no one knows when one won't be able to make another one. In my world, their work is priceless.

Charlotte

Heirloom Handmade Quilt Care

A friend's family heirloom crazy quilt, winner of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Heirloom Handmade Quilt Care

A friend recently shared this picture of a crazy quilt made by a relative which won first prize at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, a four year international exhibition showcasing the achievement of nations. Besides being a stunning piece of art, her post was a good reminder that fabric art like this lovely crazy quilt requires not only careful care but documentation as well.

1. Any quilt should be stored in cotton, never in plastic. It is tempting to think that quilts are better off in plastic but that's not true, storing quilts confined in plastic speeds up the deterioration of cotton fibers. All quilts should be stored in cotton such as pillow cases or wrapped in cotton sheets. Heirloom, antique and special quilts like this one should be stored in museum-quality cotton fabric draped over wooden rods to minimize folds.

2. Heirloom quilts should also be appraised by certified quilt appraisers who charge a fee, not a percentage, of the final appraisal.

3.  There is a difference between insurance value and appraised value, make sure you have the appraisal you need for the insurance coverage you need. If in doubt, ask the appraiser to make sure they can provide the appraisal service you need. If not, check with a local quilt guild for a referral.

4. If you have newspaper clippings, family letters, photographs showing the item in the photograph and other items that can show the quilt's provenance, collect the items and keep them with the quilt. The documentation showing this crazy quilt won the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair will add value to the quilt.

5. Is the quilt maker's name anywhere on it? Whether in embroidery anywhere on the quilt, having the quilt maker's name on the quilt also adds value. Remember that the next time you make a quilt or win a ribbon in a quilt contest. Even after the fact, add your name and date you made the quilt so your relatives getting the quilt will know who made the lovely family heirloom.

6. In addition to the detailed piecing, the lovely hand embroidery is part of what makes this crazy quilt unique. If there is any wear to the embroidery in a quilt, have it stabilized by professionals so that the embroidery does not further unravel. You don't want to do it yourself, any work you do to a quilt changes the age of a quilt so all you want done is to ensure that no further deterioration occurs.

7. Keep your heirloom quilts away from sun, smoke and pets. If you want to enjoy your special quilt, consult a museum on how it can be safely displayed so that it can be enjoyed in your home.

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

Favorite Baby Quilt Revisited

Favorite Baby Quilt Revisited

The caller sounded very excited. Her daughter had an all-time favorite baby quilt like the one she found on our website. Her daughter loved it so much that the baby quilt was used as a tablecloth at her wedding reception.

I was intrigued. Must have been a pastel double wedding ring baby quilt, or maybe one of our lovely pastel alphabet quilts. 

Now 11 years after the wedding, the daughter was expecting and Mom was so happy to have found another Daisy Duck baby quilt to give to her granddaughter, almost exactly like the one her daughter loved when she grew up!

Vintage Daisy Duck baby quilt is almost a duplicate of a customer's daughter's favorite baby quilt.

Daisy Duck, you said??

You bet!

As a fan of Donald, anyone who loves Daisy is a special friend of mine, and to know this is a Mom who is getting the quilt for a granddaughter because Mom grew up with a similar baby quilt and is expecting any day - well, it just doesn't get better.

I remember when I bought this vintage baby quilt. I picked it up from an estate sale because - well, I love ducks, and I love daisies. There is something quite charming about this design, as well as contemporary about the fabric color choices of pink and lime green. When I added this vintage baby quilt to our inventory, I was imagining this as a quilt wall hanging in a nursery, keeping a baby company in a nursery with walls painted yellow. The walls could also have been purple, or green but in my mind, they were yellow.

I should have asked about the nursery wall colors, I thought to myself with a chuckle as I was carefully folding the quilt. 

I packed the Daisy Duck baby quilt in a plastic bag temporarily for safe shipping. No quilts should be kept in plastic for any length of time, they are best stored in cotton, such as pillow cases. I also tucked a yellow duck toy inside to carry the gift tag and quilt care guide to Daisy Duck baby quilt's new home.

The toy also keeps the quilt company on their trip. I mean, honestly, who likes to travel alone?!

Vintage Daisy Duck baby quilt packed and ready to ship with a toy friend.

What luck that we had the same vintage Daisy Duck baby quilt that matched the first one and is being given to the next generation - love it when that happens!

Charlotte

Forest Double Wedding Ring Lap Quilt Throw

Forest Double Wedding Ring throw is a combination of warmth and cozy.

Forest Double Wedding Ring Lap Quilt Throw

Doesn't this handmade quilt look like it belongs in a cabin?

I can imagine  Forest Double Wedding Ring Lap Quilt Throw tossed across the back of a comfy sofa in front of a fireplace somewhere on a hillside. Or maybe it's a log cabin by a river, the water flowing gently over nearby rocks one can hear from a porch swing.

Oh, it's a New York loft?

You bet, this brand new imported handmade lap quilt can bring the coziness of a cabin anywhere you place it. The plaid fabrics in the traditional double wedding ring patchwork pattern keep it informal while the solid forest green fabric balances the overall design.

This lap quilt throw is all cotton, making this Forest Double Wedding Ring throw quite warm.

There is a decidedly masculine feel to this handmade quilt. The traditional quilted flower in the center of the double wedding ring quilt blocks are instead four squares. I can also see this handmade quilt in a den or man cave, waiting for that favorite sports event to keep someone warm as they nap through it.

All of my quilts have a story to them and a reason why I carry them. This one is for the men who want a quilt that isn't girly but is still cozy. You supply the fireplace.

Charlotte

City Living Baby Crib Quilt

City Living Applique Baby Crib Quilt would work well as a nursery wall hanging.

City Living Baby Crib Quilt and Wall Hanging

Over the years, customers looking for charming baby quilts have suggested themes and transportation is a favorite one. Whether it's trains, planes, cars, hot air balloons, little boys and some girls will love the theme.

And for the baby moving from the country to the city, City Living Baby Crib Quilt 36x48" inch size is perfect for both a crib and quilted wall hanging. Can't you just see this charming all cotton quilt hanging on a wall and quickly changing the vibe in a nursery?

City Living Baby Crib Quilt is a medium weight, all cotton baby crib quilt finished with hand quilting. It has a 3-inch space at the bottom where it can be personalized with custom embroidery for a custom baby gift.

Although people think of baby quilts in pastel colors, I recommend the primary colors because regular washing will cause the fabrics to fade over time. Start with strong primary colors and the colors will last longer through the lifetime of washing.

Wash in cold; dry on cool.

Beep beep!

Charlotte

Wildflowers Lap Quilt Throw Wall Hanging

Detailed applique and embroidery are so pretty in this Wildflowers Lap Quilt Wall Hanging.

Wildflowers Lap Quilt Throw Wall Hanging

Handmade flower quilts will always have a special place in my heart. In 1997, a friend of my mother was looking for two floral quilts for wedding gifts and that treasure hunt led to starting Bluebird Gardens in 1998.

This Wildflowers Lap Quilt Throw Wall Hanging is imported from India. It is a special order all cotton handmade quilt featuring very detailed applique and embroidery work. One of the things I love about this handmade floral quilt is that the wildflowers are realistic, one can go through each of the quilt blocks and try to guess what flower that design is representing.

Applique embroidered wildflowers on this lap quilt throw wall hanging are very detailed.

In addition, the background beige cotton i s a lovely neutral, making it easy to incorporate Wildflowers Lap Quilt Throw easily into a room decor. My favorite way to enjoy this floral quilt is as a wall hanging, which makes the beauty of the overall design quite clear.

Wildflowers Lap Quilt Throw works very nicely as a quilted wall hanging.

Wildflowers Lap Quilt Throw is a standard size 50x60 inches, which is a wonderful size for a quilted wall hanging. As you look at this last photo, you can also see the nice hand-quilting that completes the design.

There is also a rectangle box in the bottom center where you can personalize this quilt with custom embroidery - a name and birth date, a couple's name and wedding date, or an anniversary date for an anniversary gift - are all examples of how Bluebird Gardens customers have personalized this quilt.

Another way to give someone a garden, no weeding required.

Do you have a favorite flower in this quilt?

Charlotte

Embroidered Eastern Bluebirds Quilt

Embroidered Eastern Bluebirds Quilt was hand-embroidered in Missouri in 2008.

Embroidered Eastern Bluebirds Quilt

I suppose it's no surprise that a business called Bluebird Gardens will be tickled to have found a handmade quilt with embroidered bluebirds. They are not that easy to find and, even more difficult to find one with good fabrci colors.

Cathern Murphy, who made this quilt, had it for sale at our quilter's shop a couple of years ago. I liked it so much that I purchased it and removed the very distracting, multi-patterned cotton quilt binding and replaced it with the solid, cream beige fabric that is currently on this made in USA quilt.

The change was significant. The embroidered Eastern Bluebirds Quilt went from being very informal to a more elegant handmade quilt, all because of the quilt binding.

Embroidered Eastern Bluebirds Quilt maker embroidered her name and date in a corner.

It was relatively easy to choose the binding color. I took a look at one of the handmade quilt blocks and tried to match one of the colors in the quilt bluebirds design.

There were several choices, including light blue, green, a burgundy and the cream beige I selected.

Embroidered Eastern Bluebirds quilt block features counted cross stitch pattern.

I tried to match the solid bluebird fabric but couldn't get a match, that would have been my preferred color.

Second to that was to compliment the beige cream yellow in the flowers, which is the solid fabric I chose.

What do you think, would you have chosen a different fabric color for the handmade quilt binding?

Charlotte

Burgundy Double Wedding Ring Quilt

Burgundy Double Wedding Ring Quilt is a good choice to add color to a blue bedroom.

Burgundy Double Wedding Ring Quilt

According to interior designers I know, blue is still the favorite wall color for bedrooms so how does one add a pop of color?

Burgundy Double Wedding Ring Quilt is one of the options. This brand new, lightweight traditional patchwork quilt has multi-patterned fabrics with blue and grey tones to tie the quilt into the bedroom decor.

The dark burgundy fabrics will add an elegant pop of color without disturbing the calmness of the blue colors.

Background to burgundy double wedding ring quilt is a patterned off white fabric.

The background of this imported quilt includes a patterned cream colored fabric, which adds texture to this bedding.

The hand quilting also helps to give the traditional wedding gift quilt dimension.

To easily turn this into a personalized gift, add custom embroidery with a couple's name and special date in a corner.

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

Baby Chick Baby Quilt Chicks

Isn't this baby chick charming? Love the tiny feet!

Baby Chick Baby Quilt Chicks

Oh, try to say "Baby Chick Baby Quilt Chicks" three times fast and see what happens. That tongue-twister suggests the fun in this brand new, made in Missouri baby quilt with applique baby chickens.

The little chicks are made out of a variety of multi-patterned cottons, so cute in their variety of colors from pink to blue, green and purple. The background is a vanilla white cotton separated by patchwork pinwheels.

Sweet on a baby bed or hanging from a nursery wall as a quilted wall hanging.

Baby chicks were made in a variety of cotton fabrics against a white cotton background.

This sweet baby quilt is finished with detailed machine quilting so it's easy care; machine wash, dry on cool.

Although each chick looks the same, each has their own character.

These chicks are almost as cute as the real ones, and these don't outgrow their cuteness!

Charlotte