Doing What They Said Couldn't Be Done

I started this particular quilt many moons ago...maybe 2004? I got as far as quilting most of the center checkered part then gave up. Something was off but I didn't know quite how to fix it. I came to Colorado in 2007 or so and there it sat still waiting to be finished. I took the opportunity to take it to Quilt Guild in 2010 for a special program where a committee would look at your problem UFOs and give you some advice. Well guess what? They had no advice for me other than cut off the border fabric and make pillows out of the rest. Not what I wanted to hear. I left the quilt in Colorado when I left in Oct 2011 but it made it's way back to me in April 2012. I didn't have the space to work on quilts until I moved into this apartment. I drug out several quilt tops and UFOs and this one begged me to finish it somehow, some way.

I started by finishing up the quilting in the center then did the ecru inner border. I made some tuck pleats in the hateful outer border then sewed on the binding and hand sewed it down in the back.

FINISHED AT LAST!!!

Is it perfect? No. Does it represent me perfectly? YES! It's made from unconventional materials, it was told it wasn't good enough,  it's been drug halfway across the country and back and it had to wait patiently for its time to come. Just like me.

The Second Memorial Quilt for Lori P Plus a Bonus Gift from Leftovers

Amanda P commissioned two memorial quilts from her mother's clothes, one for her sister and one for herself. I did the first one back in early December so it could be mailed off in time for Christmas. I just finished the second one. It went a lot smoother as I knew what I was doing this time (lol). Amazing how that happens.

Finished size about 34"x34".

I made this rug as a bonus from leftover t-shirt scraps and jeans strips.  I have another one started from the leftovers from the Tennessee memorial quilt also.

Making Memorial Quilts

I have been asked to make some Memorial Quilts this winter.

The first request came from my sister on behalf of one of her friends then not even a week later someone tagged me on Facebook in response to a call for someone to make a quilt from her deceased mother's clothes. I got the job and I  have another one in the wings, again from Facebook. I did four quilts back around 2000 for a family from their mother's clothes.

For some people giving up a loved one's clothes after they pass away is heart wrenching and nearly impossible. I hope I can help these people out with one of a kind quilts that reflect their loved one's personalities (based on their clothes -so far I haven't done one for someone I actually knew in life).

The hard part is deciding on a design. The cutting of the clothes comes easily for me since I deconstruct lots of garments for my crazy quilt fabrics.

I've been really good about keeping track of my designs this time. It's good to do that when you want to charge a fair price yet not cut yourself short.

This lady was an EMT. I got two of those pink t-shirts with Fountain County EMS logos. The lady who requested this quilt actually wants two. She gave this one to her sister for Christmas. I will give her a choice of replicating this one or a whole new design for her personal quilt.

Finished size 35" x 35". Reversible. Crazy quilted on front and back made from t-shirts.

The next lady, my sister's friend, didn't want anything so fancy. She told me her dad was a simple man who liked nothing better than working hard and sleeping in a warm bed. She sent quite a big selection of his clothes and I decided to do a traditional 9 patch design. She also sent a quilt top his mother had pieced and two of her hankies to write their respective names and dates of birth and death. Below is how it progressed.

Finished size 68" X 68"

If you would like a Memorial Quilt for your loved one please text or leave a voicemail at 719 200 2193 or email me at  rebecca@crazyrebeccas.com. Prices start at $100.00.

Crossing the Wool Quilt Off My List 219/365

Wooooot! I got the big-fat-heavy wool quilt totally finished this morning.

Now I can cross it off my virtual list.

Getting Jack Involved 211/365

I broke down and asked Jack to help on the wool utility quilt I am making him for camping. The sucker is HEAVY! It's wool 9 patch on top, vintage army blankets for batting and denim on the back. I dare ya to get cold sleeping under this monster.

We got about 1/2 of it tied.

All materials for this were in my stash. YAY!

Rose Quilts for Sale 189/365

I have these two quilts for sale on Meylah.com. The bigger one is $100 and the smaller one is $75 but make me an offer I can be swayed.

Reversible full/queen summer weight quilt/coverlet 100% cotton. 100$

Table topper sized quilt with vintage fabric on the back. 75$

More info at:

http://meylah.com/CrazyRebecca

Finishing Up A Stashed Quilt 146/365

Yes I missed another day. I promise to keep going with this 365 challenge until both numbers at in my blog Title say 365/365.

Finally motivating to start the de-stash again. This quilt project was stuck up in the coat closet for a few years. Dakota sewed part of it but I'm still too angry at him to ask him to help finish it. As of today I have two sides of the binding sewed down.

Playing The Klingon Guitar 112/365

In honor of Winterfest Weekend I am posting a picture of me from 2002 playing a BC Rich or as I liked to call it "The Klingon Guitar". It belonged to my cousin Michael....I'm playing the song Kryptonite by Three Doors Down, the same song that has earned me 38,000+ hits on youtube.

I took Jack to Ruth's stitchery today to see the PPQG challenge quilts. Took? HA! I had to DRAGGGGGGGGGGGG him there. Then he surprised me by closely examining several quilts in the shop and telling me what he liked and didn't like. He checked out fabrics and all around acted like he would fit right in at quilt guild LOL! He even picked out a cross stitch picture he wants me to ask my SISTER JUDY (Hellooooooooo are you listening?) to do for him. I feel a new quilt project coming on! A nice masculine wildlife quilt designed by my ever surprising husband, Jack.

Day 2 (so far so good)

Well I spent the day thinking about my picture. Pretty artsy-fartsy, eh?

I also spent a huge hunk of time working on my challenge quilt for quilt guild. It started out as a pictorial thingy but I couldn't pull it off so it morphed into something more my style. We were up in the mountains yesterday so we had to shop today and I found almost everything I needed at the 8th St Wal-Mart. (hint...MONKEY!!!) I'm still looking for the dreaded pinks-corals paint chip fabric. Gonna try a few places tomorrow. It's for the border so I can procrastinate a few more days on it.

Tomorrow I clean house (yuk) and maybe re-arrange the living room. Knit knit knit, sew sew sew....hopefully a little time for guitar too.

Details of Matt and Sarah's Wedding Quilt

Here are some close up shots of Matt and Sarah's quilt. You will be pleased to know I did indeed get it in the mail to Tennessee yesterday. Yay me!