BLOSSOM AND GROW BLOG HOP : Easy Baby Quilt
BLOSSOM AND GROW FABRIC BLOG HOP:
Easy Baby Quilt Project | FREE DOWNLOAD | A Quilter’s Journey
July 3,2022
Hello everyone and welcome to day 14 of the Blossom and Grow Fabric Blog Hop!
Today is a little different from past posts on the blog hop. I hope you like it.
I collaborated with my oldest sister Maria, we have a special bond as she is also my Godmother.
She also happens to be an avid quilter and collector.
I designed this quilt project and the lovely people at StudioE Fabrics made into a project download for all of you.
This project is sooo sweet, it is the perfect gift for a new baby.
You can download this easy quilt project on the Studio E website here.
SISTERS ARE THE BEST
I asked Maria if she could make this project, so we could show you how sweet it is. She lives in Houston and has been quilting for many years.
She was happy to, and here is what she had to say about this project.
TODAY’S PROJECT
Even though I am an experienced quilter with many years under my belt, I loved Maureen's Quilt Pattern.
It is small enough finish quickly. The pinwheels were fun to sew and went together very fast.
WORKING WITH COLLECTIONS
I loved that I did not have to worry about the colors coordinating, as they all went together beautifully. This way I could get the process started quickly.
Many times it takes a while for me to find the right fabrics that work together. Maureen's fabric line makes this process so much easier.
HAND STITCHING
I prefer to hand-stitch my quilts. My thimble is my best friend for this process.
If you look close, you can see that I used machine zig-zag stitching around the applique letters, but the remainder of the project was hand stitched.
ADVANCED BEGINNER PROJECT
I think Maureen's quilt pattern is for an advanced beginner but a beginner who sews can easily do it.
There are lots of books and online help, even for a beginner.
MARIA’S TOOLS
I sew on a basic Kenmore 10, Model 1251 Zig Zag Machine from the early 1980's.
I use a cutting mat with one inch grid. I use a Dritz rotary cutter and various size rulers that have grid lines on them.
I still refer to Quilter's Complete Guide by Marianne Fons and Liz Porter if I have any problems. I do collect quilt books and have lots of quilt magazines for inspiration also. I love my seam ripper and have about 4 of them. A good thimble is important to me for hand quilting.
WHERE I BUY FABRIC
I love to buy fabric from small quilt stores. When I travel, I love to find a quilt store and find an interesting quilt pattern, and unique fabric that you cannot find in the larger stores.
Houston International Quilt Show
I also get inspiration from going to the Houston International Quilt Show each year as I live in Houston. I even worked at the show a few years ago.
I usually buy what I need for the year at the Quilt Show. Quilting patterns, stencils for hand quilting, needles and fabric. They have lots of specials there also. You get to see new materials on the market also. Seeing all the amazing quilts on display gives me inspiration.
I also like to "shop" in my sister's closet full of quilt fabric when I visit her. (Not Maureen, there are 5 of us Murphy sisters)
We are lucky, in Houston, to have a local quilt show on TV each Saturday morning. I enjoy watching it for suggestions, shortcuts in quilting, and what is new on the market.
Thanks Maria for taking the time to share your process with us.
TO WASH OR DON’T WASH YOUR FABRIC?
I always like to see what other quilter’s do, I do not prewash my fabric. Maria says she used to, but rarely does these days.
Are you team prewash or not? Let me know in the comments.
When I asked her to make this project for me, I instructed her to take lots of photos along the way, which she did. She took so many. it filled up her phone so it wouldn’t work any more.
In the end, I loved her quilting journey story so much, and ended up not needing all of her process photos. Sorry Maria😜
Instead I want to share with you her journey to quilting, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
MARIA’S QUILTING JOURNEY
Everyone’s quilting journey is unique, and Maria has a good one.
Whatever stage you are at, I think it is interesting to learn how others have learned.
Here is what Maria had to say about her quilting journey.
Hello, my name is Maria Murphy.
I have been sewing since I was a teenager making prom dresses, jackets and skirts. I have always loved doing any kind of handiwork such as embroidery, cross stitch, rug making, knitting and crocheting, teddy bear making are just a few of the many interests I have had.
Great Expectations
I became interested in quilting when a friend asked me to go with her to learn how to quilt at a quilt store in Houston called Great Expectations.
The shop was owned by Karey Patterson Bresenhan, and her mother, Mrs.Jewel Pearce Patterson, taught quilting. She chose the Ohio Star Pattern for our first small 12 x 12 inch quilt.
Each Saturday we did a piece of the quilt until it was finished. She was an enthusiastic teacher and I learned from the best.
New Favorite Hobby
I loved the entire process and found my new favorite hobby. Mrs. Patterson's family founded the South/Southwest Quilt
Association in 1979, which later changed the name to the American International Quilt Association.
Great Expectations grew into one of the nation’s largest quilt stores, but closed in 2003, following the death of Mrs. Jewel Pearce Patterson, who had been the senior quilting teacher for two decades. I am honored to have learned from her.
Quilting Bees
Years went by and I did not have much time for quilting. But then, my husband's job took us overseas to Jakarta. I had time on my hands, so I joined a Quilting Bee which met two times a week. The quilters were from all over the world, and were fantastic quilters and teachers, so I learned a lot from them.
My husband’s job has taken us all over the world, and I have joined quilting Bees in Houston, Jakarta Indonesia, Perth Australia and Taupo New Zealand.
Quilters all over the world were happy to share their craft with me.
Her husband even is in on her quilting addiction.
Maria’s husband negotiated these beauties at a market in Jakarta, Indonesia over tea. The men in Jakarta make these double hand appliqued quilts, and it takes them about a month to complete each one.
Quilters are Resourceful
To return the favor, she made him this quilt, from his boxers. In her defence, she was overseas and waiting on her fabric stash to be delivered🤣
Collecting Orphans
Maria has a sort of obsession with collection “orphan” quilt tops and blocks. She finds them all over the world and takes them home to one day complete.
The ones you see here have already been completed by Maria.
Unfinished Orphan Blocks
Maria has drawers filled with her collection of “orphaned” blocks from the 1930’s and 40’s, just waiting to be sewn into quilts. She said if she lived another 100 years, she would not be able to complete all of the quilt projects that she has collected.
Treasures
Maria found this 1940’s appliqued quilt top all ready to be made into a quilt. She has not gotten around to finishing it yet.
Traditional Quilts
This more “traditional” quilt she made for her daughter is called Summer Stars. She has no problem pulling fabric from her stash when it is time to make a quilt. Can you relate?
Maria says, “ don’t forget to sign and label your quilt”
Maria’s Favorite Quilt
Out of all of the quilts in her collection, the one below is her favorite.
Her husband purchased the hand embroidered squares in an old part of Hanoi, Vietnam and Maria made them into a quilt.
Here is a closeup of all of the embroidered squares.
Quilt Chest From Jakarta
She not only collects quilts, she found this quilt chest when she lived in Jakarta, and now uses it to display and protect some of her quilts and UFOs (That is quilter’s term for unfinished objects).
I hope you enjoyed my sister’s quilting journey.
Interesting, right?
I doubt your journey is similar, but I am sure it is just as interesting.
And I bet you have met, or will meet, many wonderful people along your journey.
Such a lovely quilting community, all over the world. Always willing to share what they know.
Don’t you just love that?
CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR PLEASE?
Please pin the above image to pinterest so that others may easily find it. 🤗
Don’t be a stranger.
Follow me on Instagram @maureenmaker. I would love to connect with you there and am happy to answer any questions you have.
Or reply here and let me know what you would make with Blossom and Grow fabric.
Maria is not on instagram but she is on Facebook if you want to reach out to her directly with any questions.
Make sure you visit and bookmark Blossom and Grow Blog Hop Page where you will find the list of all participants and schedule for the tour. It is going to be filled with so many fun projects, and you don’t want to miss any of it!
Please check back in tomorrow.
I will have another project to inspire your next project.
Thanks for reading til the end!
Happy making,
Maureen
PS. Here is the link to all of the Blossom and Grow Blog Hop projects in one place. Be sure to check them out.
