Monday, November 9, 2009

Old Quilts and New Blocks!

Keep on reading.... I'll tell you about this block in a minute. First of all, though...

I love seeing what other people have done with my patterns - I marvel at their creativity and often wonder, "why didn't I think of that?!" Several years ago, I designed a "monster" quilt -- it has nine not-too-scary monsters on the face of it, and a poem is hand-stitched in the border. The poem says that monsters love to eat fabric... and unless you want to be their dinner... keep buying more fabric! It's a fun, whimsical quilt; here it is:

The Monster Quilt
(c)2009 Susan H. Garman

Close-up of block from The Monster Quilt


And now back to the first picture of today's blog. I was invited to design an original block for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers -- a collector's edition magazine hitting store shelves now. While I am the least among the 100, I am still tickled to have been asked to create a block. Ta-dum! Here is "Star Checks."

You can check out Quiltmaker and follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily, November 9-13 at http://www.quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures for inspiration, ideas, and giveaways galore! Look for 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers in your local quilt shop, or purchase it at www.quiltmaker.com/100blocks. Each day, a different set of quiltmakers in 100 Blocks will be featured. Check out Quiltmaker's website and blog -- you can find some awesome things there!

Now here is a SPECIAL BONUS. I welcome feedback; it helps me understand what you do and don't like. So... feel free to comment on my blog by November 11 -- share what you'd like to see more of, anything you'd like me to address, etcetera. ONE person will be chosen, via lottery, from those who comment -- and that person will receive a free copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. Please don't post your address -- I will email the winner and ask for it later this week.


Until then...
Happy sewing!
Sue
(c)2009 Susan H. Garman
UPDATE: Billie K. won the copy of "Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks." Congratulations, Billie! And thanks, everyone, for your thoughtful inputs. I appreciate your time!
Sue


I recently received an email from Carolanne B, who shared her experience in making The Monster Quilt. Each month, as a volunteer story-teller in the local elementary school, she took a block with her and showed it to the students. After the first couple of months, she began taking only partially appliqued blocks with her to story-telling time, and she asked the students to choose the fabric for various elements. In the following month, the students got to see the results of their choices. For Carolanne, it was a lot of fun -- who else would have chosen orange lips with a lime green mouth on a purple monster? The additional note of amazement for me was that Carolanne did all of this while fighting breast cancer. Women are amazing: we can be incredibly strong, resilient, generous... you name it! Below is her quilt -- it won a ribbon in the Larimer County Fair in July of this year -- and there is also a close-up of two of the blocks that the students of Putnam Elementary School helped her choose fabric for.

75 comments:

  1. What a nice story about the Monster quilt. Thanks for sharing. Variety, I always like variety on blogs!

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  2. I love the colors in the Monster quilt. So vibrant. My son has recently become scared of the dark. Maybe I'll let him pick fabric for his own monster quilt. As for the blog, I love seeing the progress on a quilt.

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  3. Love the monster quilt but I only have grand daughters so will have to find a little boy who would love this. The 100 Block book looks so good I can hardly wait to see it.

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  4. I love seeing what your working on, I love watching the progress of a quilt. By seeing the blocks close up I get to see fabric choices, I am always learning and inspired by others projects.
    One of my favorite posts was the quilt you bought off ebay and hand quilted and gave to your guild to raffle off, I still hope you will make it a pattern one day
    it was a beautiful quilt. Something I have always wanted to do, hand quilt an antique quilt.
    Also love watching YOUR Baltimore album blocks!
    I love your block and can see a whole quilt made with the block.. can't you see red block /green block alternating???
    Kathie

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  5. The monster quilt is adorable. PLease include me in the giveaway.

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  6. wow!! I love these monsters. It makes me wish my kids would hurry up and have grandchildren!
    and yes , we women are amazing!!

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  7. I love seeing what you working on I just would like to see it more often....

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  8. Love the red and white block - my favorite combination. The monster quilt it way too cute. My personal favorite is your bom on Alex & Ricky's site.

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  9. I like the checkerboard within the star. Red and white are a favorite color combination.

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  10. Your story about the monster quilt was great! Children are not afraid to make things bright. Neither am I so your monster quilt is right up my alley.
    Your red in white block is lovely.

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  11. I made your monster blocks too!! I did 4 of them for a wall hanging for my son. He picked out the 4 he liked best and that's what I used. He loves it.

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  12. Congrats on your block. I really enjoyed looking through your previous posts. I'm a new applique enthusiast so I found inspiration and some hints here. I enjoyed your post about filling in quilts with different styles of quilting. I'll be back:)

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  13. The monster quilt is great! Keep showing the beautiful quilts and close-ups of the the wonderful quilting!

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  14. Your work is very impressive! I'd like to see more quilts that you have designed and/or made.

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  15. Love your Monster quilt! I love whimsical projects - out of the ordinary!

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  16. That is a fun quilt and great for a library project.
    I like to see new things to get me motivated and tutorials on quilting.

    Debbie

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  17. I love that you chose red and white for your block; and the design is lovely. I just purchased a red and white kit to do this winter. Doesn't go with my colors in the house; but just had to have it! LOL

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  18. Thanks for sharing Carolanne's story. Love her use of embellishments. And your block is terrific...nothing can be better than red & white AND scrappy!

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  19. The pictures of the monster quilt brings back memories. Several years ago, a lady asked me to make these blocks for her for a quilt for a grandchild. I gave her a dollar figure for making the blocks and way
    under estimated the time involved so ended up making about $1.00 an hour on the project. I did a great deal with 3-D embellishments and had a wonderful time playing with the monsters even though I didn't make money. I am looking forward to the 100 blocks book.

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  20. I'm a fan of yours from The Quilt Show. Your BOMs are just lovely. This block is a lovely one, perfect with the white background.
    Kathie L. from Allentown, PA

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  21. love the monsters! SO CUTE!!! and I love that lady, I don't know how she did it. I find it hard to give my time with two kids, a job, and no illnesses! She is an inspiration for sure! I think that monster quilt woudl be great to add to my stash of "in case anyone else gets pregnant soon" ideas =) All my friends are at that right age.

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  22. I love to see what you are working on. Color choices are difficult for me so I always look closely at what colors you are working with. My first love is applique (hand or machine). Thanks for everything that you do!

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  23. I love to see what you are working on. Color choices are difficult for me so I always look closely at what colors you are working with. My first love is applique (hand or machine). Thanks for everything that you do!

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  24. I love all of the photos that you post on your Blog. I, too, am an avid needleturn appliquer so I love seeing pictures of applique quilts. Your designs for The Quilt Show BOM's are wonderful.

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  25. Hi Sue: I love your traditional style and color choices. Your 'Lily' quilt in chocolate, pink and green is one of my favorites. I'm still trying to find just the right fabrics to make this one. There are too many browns to choose from! Bought the pattern months ago. Keep on doing what you obviously love to do.

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  26. Your love of quilt-making is obvious. You create beautiful quilts (and whimsical ones as well!). Thank you for sharing your quilts and keeping us inspired.

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  27. Love your tips/technique segments...I'm always curious how other quilters handle "problems" - wonky blocks, etc.

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  28. i'm loving that monster quilt! and the star block is pretty doggone cool!

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  29. I love that block! It would be amazing on point. It really adds something to one of my favorite blocks.
    Those monsters are awesome, and what a touching story!

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  30. I loved your block, and really liked it in the red and white. The monster quilt is really sweet as was the story. Thanks for sharing

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  31. I love your great photos! You share really great shots to illustrate your post... that really helps. As a retired elementary teacher, the monster quilt story was really wonderful to read. Thanks for sharing!

    Kat

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  32. I like to hear the story behind the quilt, like the Monster quilt. Great story, great quilt.

    Congrats on being featured in Quiltmakers 100 Blocks.

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  33. Love your block of the month on The Quilt Show. Your work is wonderful.
    Put me in the drawing for the Quilt Block book.

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  34. I love to see quilts with feathers in them. Love the monster quilt and see your progress with other quilts. I like to see lots of different iedas on blogs.
    Laura T

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  35. Would love to learn more about the antique quilts - what to look for, how to determine what to pay, best places to buy, etc.

    And love being able to get close-ups - gives me an opportunity to see the utilization of various fabrics

    thanks for sharing

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  36. I love your block. The red and white combination is very pretty.

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  37. I love the giveaway.
    javasa4@hotmail.com

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  38. I love the simplicity of this two color block. Putting many of them together would make a "knock your sock off" quilt!

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  39. I love your work. I discovered you on The Quilt Show and am saving your BOM. I've already bought the kit but haven't started it yet.

    Love your red block also. Hope I win your lottery....grin.

    Billie

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  40. I TRY so hard not to lose points when I quilt, but after 5yrs of quilting, it's still *by chance* when I do points correctly.

    I know it's all about measuring, sewing, and pressing....but don't you have a magic wand you could wave?

    Love that red block (with points).

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  41. Fabulous....barely describes your work! I love seeing what you are working on - it encourages me to stretch in my quilting adventures. Love your patterns too! Thanks for sharing your endless talents!

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  42. If mine were toddlers I'd have to make them a Monster Quilt!! Those days are long gone and no grand kids.

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  43. I enjoyed the story of the monster quilt. I also love your block! I'm new to your blog, so not sure what you've blogged about in the past ... however, I'm learning to hand applique, so I would love to see any tips you might have on the applique process and techniques and what works best for you. Thanks!

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  44. The monsters are too cute!! I love tutorials with PDF's.

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  45. I love seeing what you're working on even if its a sneak peak of a work in progress.
    Susan in NC

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  46. First, I want to say that you are not the least of the 100. I love the red/white block they are always fun and inspiring. Just seeing the colors makes you want to get all the colors together on the floor and play. I love the monster quilt, and the story along with it. I think it should be marketed as a tool for promoting colors and self esteem in lower grades. I'm going to look around your blog because I would like to have some fun doing that pattern.

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  47. I'm sorry, I got so caught up I forgot to tell you what I'd like to see. I'm new to your blog, but I like the idea of continuing to inspire with whimsy and fun.

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  48. Your quilts are beautiful! I would love tutorials to learn some of your techniques.

    Sheila

    shecarita(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  49. Love the story of the monster and what a great way of sharing a craft. Wonder how many of those students want to go away and learn. I love all your old quilts and your sharing of your applique techniques. That is what makes blogging so wonderful. The sharing community out there. I love your little bits of everything and just adore the old quilt you finished for your guild. What a journey that wonderful quilt has had. Now if you could hear all those quilts speak and translate for us :-) Wouldn't that be just wonderful.
    Thankyou for your wonderful blog
    Cheers
    Lynne

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  50. oh, you are not the least...every designer chosen is so talented...I love your quilts and...I love, love, love your block!!!

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  51. I LOVE YOUR BLOCK!!! It looks so simple and elegant... such a great design! I love the story of the monster quilt and I love the pictures!

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  52. I love the look of the red and white in your block. Easy to adapt to anyone's favorite color with white or cream (even black!). I always enjoy seeing new and old applique work.

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  53. Sue, your block is the one I;m going to use for the red and white block I'm making starting in January, it's beautiful. I can't think of anything you should do but I want to tell you how much I like your up close photos, it's nice to see those.

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  54. love the monsters. i find using bright colors helps make monsters not scray. thanks for the great inspiration.

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  55. I love all of the detailed pictures. It really helps to inspire me.

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  56. Love the fun monster quilt. My 3 year old loves to "help" layout designs and choose fabric.

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  57. Thanks for the introduction to your blog--I really like the information on the old quilts. I'm hoping to make a red/green one soon. Congrats on being selected in the 100 designers too!

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  58. I love to see your work, I love variety on blogs, and since we're quilters, I'd like to see more about quilting, you're doing a great job in that field, btw

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  59. Your monsters are so much fun! What a wonderful inspiring story from Carolanne! I love your quilt patterns, but I especially like seeing what others have done with them -- that helps me think of ways I can personalilze your patterns. I also like hearing about your thought processes as you're developing your quilts, and I certainly love seeing photos of your quilts -- in progress and completed! Thank you!!
    Robin

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  60. I've been following the blog hop of 100 blocks the last couple days and YOURS is one that spoke right to my heart!!! This is the first one that I've said, OH I HAVE TO MAKE THIS ONE! and I will... just you wait and see ;)

    I'm assuming it finishes at 12" ?? and thanks for the giveaway - I'd love to win a copy so that Santa doesn't' have to roam every store in Texas to find his copy to put in my stocking this year ;)

    Love from Texas! ~bonnie

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  61. I love the red quilt blog...and I love stars...perfect. What a cute monster quilt...my 5 year old would love it.

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  62. Great block. I love 2 color quilts.

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  63. 1 of 100, and did I see you made the cover! Congrats, first time to the blog, will keep reading

    Di

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  64. hi
    just love those monster blocks- what a great idea!
    gill

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  65. I love baltimores and your quilting is stunning also love that green monster.cheers

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  66. This block you designed, Sue, is stunning. And, red is the perfect color for it. I like the quilt blogs that stick mostly to quilt and needlework related things. I also prefer sites where the text is dark on light (as opposed to light on dark, light on light, etc.) For me, if the green of your text was a little bit darker, it would be easier to read. You asked for "anything" and that's all I could think of because your content is great!

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  67. Love the monster quilt!

    I love seeing lots of photos on quilting blogs. I'm pretty new to quilting, so any tips and techniques are helpful too.

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  68. I love seeing all the wonderful photographs on your blog. And I really like your block for the magazine

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  69. Love the monster quilt and the story about it! What a great kid's quilt!!

    Also really like your red star block especially since I like to use a lot of different fabrics that coordinate in my blocks and quilts. Never too much fabric. Gives me an excuse to go out and buy more!!

    Congrats on being chosen for this special issue.

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  70. "The least among them". I think not. Love your designs, especially applique and am currently making Lily Rosenberry. After that, maybe the applique from The Quilt Show. Keep designing.

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  71. You are so creative. I love the monster quilt and have seen your designs for quites some time. Working on the classic santas along with a variety of projects.
    Edith

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  72. Great Block. Love your patterns.

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  73. Oh! I started the Monster quilt for my son 4.5 years ago. Yes 4.5 YEARS ago. I so need to get it done. I am now motivated to get busy! I love seeing what other people do with the same pattern too!

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  74. Hi Sue. I have a question about your monster quilt blocks. I have the embroidery patterns and I'm using them to make the appliqued blocks. Should I enlarge the patterns? SOme of the pieces are too small to handle, like the teeth.

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  75. Sue,

    I STILL have that Family Circle magazine. I wanted to do that quilt too. Never did it. Likely never will. Blast from the past. You made me smile. Thanks

    Caryl

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