THINGS THAT GO QUILT

I added a new quilt to my etsy shop, quiltingcafe.etsy.com. today. I fell in love with these pictures of "Things That Go" from Michael Miller fabric designs; reminds me of my childhood, as well as my own children. I know my son George, would particularly like the trains.

The colors all have a vintage tinge to them and evoke a warm feeling. Children will recognize each of the pictures and have fun identifying them. Think of the games you could play while lying in bed together. I Spy would be a great one. Or make up a story about each picture.

Here are the closeups of each quilted block.

The Fire Engine The WagonThe Delivery Truck
The Coupe Sedan

The Propellered AirPlane

The Passenger Train

The Freight TrainThe Cabin Cruiser The School Bus
The Tricycle

Quilting Cafe, where something is always brewing

TEXAS WILDFLOWER QUILT

Making a quilt for someone else is the most inspiring way to go for me as a quilter. While visiting my cousin in Texas, we took a trip to San Antonio. Along the way, my cousin remarked that she wished I could see the glorious wildflowers that grow along the roads in the Spring. She went on to describe all of them in great detail with wonder and enthusiasm.

I found a great applique pattern with all the Texas wildflowers. I then located on the internet, fabrics with these wildflowers in them. What a fun undertaking. I like to make my quilts in sort of a round robin fashion. ust figuring out what I will do next as it strikes me.

I gave it to her for her 60th birthday and it is called "Texas Wilds". She could name all the flowers in the center of the quilt and was genuinely thrilled. She also knew exactly where she would use it in her house...the very place I had planned for it.

I always like to get a picture of the receiver holding the quilt. Their faces tell it all, don't they.

QuiltingCafe.etsy.com , where something is always brewing

My cousin, Diane, asked me to make her mom a large bib. This is what I came up with. It has vining brown pumpkins on cream cotton on one side. I chose these fabrics because my aunt was always in her vegetable garden, and liked planting her flowers.

The reverse is dark brown with green vines, sweet little yellow daisies and pink baby's breath. The bib is 24 inches long and 15" across. The diameter of the neck is approximately 20".

Since there is a nice layer of cotton batting between the two layers of cotton, I quilted the entire bib using the vining pumpkins as my guide. If you need a larger size, let me know. I can also widen the bottom part that goes on the lap as well as adding ties at the waist. If you want a pocket at the bottom to catch everything, that can be added also.
The bib closes with a single snap which makes it difficult to pull off.

These bibs will be on a made to order basis, with customers picking out the color and other specifications. Contact me at my shop, quiltingcafe.etsy.com

Quilting Cafe, where something is always brewing

HOW TO MAKE A QUILTED FABRIC POSTCARD

What to do with those wonderful scraps of fabric, trim, appliques? Turn them into a postcard! Send the postcard for birthdays, holidays, graduations. I have sent these to all parts of the country and they arrive in perfect condition. I guarantee this card won't be thrown away.

When choosing the size for your card, why not think about frame sizes? These will be cherished and will look great in a frame. Here is the easiest step by step instructions for a 4" X 6" postcard.

1. Supplies: 4" X 6" quilted front fabric. I like to make it a little bigger and trim it later. 4" X 6" postcard back. I madke my postcard backs on microsoft word and print it on card stock for writing ease. 4" X 6" 2-sided iron-on Timtex, a heavy interfacing stabilizer. 24" trim. Invisible thread and overcast foot.~

2. Iron quilt front to one side of Timtex. ~

3. Iron the postcard back to other side of the Timtex . ~

4. Trim all sides using postcard back as guide. It is okay if the postcard is not exactly 4" X 6".

5. Using an overcast foot and invisible thread, sew trim to edge of card. ~

6. This is what the back of the card looks like. ~

7. This is the front of the card. ~

8. Put on a 27 cent stamp and make someone smile!~

Please comment and let me know if you have any questions. Love for you to fill out your reaction to these instructions.

Quilting Cafe, where something is always brewing

THINGS THAT GO PLAYMAT.. designed for the autistic child

This is my newest play quilt that can be used in several different ways. It can be hung in a newborn's crib. Games that can be played with the quilt are I Spy, Matching, Memory, and Tic Tac Toe. This is also great travel game, because it can be folded up into a small packet.

I work with special needs children in an early intervention preschool. From my observations, I have designed this playmat. Using these pictures, the child can learn about different modes of transportation as well as vocabulary. The large, simple pictures that can be matched will give the child a sense of accomplishment. As the child grows, tic tac toe is a great teaching tool for socialization by learning to take turns and sharing.

Here are pictures of the nine 4" mini quilts which can also be used as imaginary vehicles.
Here is the play mat with the above 9 mini quilts.

Here are is the quilt with the X's and O's that can be played by the whole family of all pages.

These are closeups of several of the mini quilted play pieces

The quilt is made of 100% cotton and all pieced can be hand washed and dried flat.

Quilting Cafe, where something is always brewing