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Monday, August 15, 2016

From My Mother's Scraps--Part One

As I put the last stitches in the binding of this basket quilt I began to wonder just how many projects I have made using the scraps from my Mother's quilts. This creation was a product of the scraps from...



...this quilt my Mom made. (Sorry about the quality of the photos of my Mom's quilts. Most of them are photos of photos.)

She always gives me random pieces of leftover fabrics, but sometimes there are orphan parts leftover from making the quilt, too. There were lots of "bonus" triangles with the scraps she gave me from this, so I sewed them together and created the basket quilt above.

I've had a few inquiries about this basket-within-a-basket block. The basket pattern can be found free on the APQ website here. I reduced my block size to accommodate the size of scraps I had.

I had one basket block leftover and I made this little quilt with it. This was hand quilted and then it was gifted.
My memory isn't serving me well on this and I'm not sure who received this quilt. I should keep records. I know to whom I have given things, but I can't always recall what went where (pathetic, I know). If this is in your possession would you let me know?

Mom made this Kim Diehl pattern to hang above their sofa. Can you see the close hand quilted lines in the border?


I made this table topper with the leftover 9-patches and scraps. It sits on the dining table that is near the sofa where Mom's quilt hangs.
Can you see the machine quilted feathers in the border? To each his (or her) own!
The colors in these two quilts really do match, it is just the lighting differences from picture to picture that make them appear not to be the same.





Another 9-patch quilt by Mom. I love how the 9-patch blocks are appliqued in the border as flowers on a vine.
 


Mom gave me a stack of little leftover 9-patch blocks from this one and I made this little quilt. I just finished this earlier this year.








Mom's last quilt (made last year--2015). You may remember seeing it, since I posted this picture when she completed it.
She had 2 flower blocks completed in her scraps, and lots of trimmings from her piano key border, but only 8 or 10 HST units from the sashing.  From those leftovers I made these two little quiltlets for my two daughters--pieces of their grandma's last quilt. In homage to Mom's feeling that it isn't a quilt unless it is hand quilted, I hand quilted both of them using the same motifs Mom had used on her quilt. I have enough pieces to make one for me, as well, when I get around to it. 
Just in case you are wondering, Mom does still love me, even though I machine quilt most of my creations now.     

If you have followed me for a while, you may have seen this batch of Pineapple ornaments I made for my Mom's birthday in 2013. This shows them displayed on her piano music holder.
When she would give me scraps from a quilt, I would keep them together so that each quilt's scraps are separate from each other. So I made a pineapple ornament from each of the scrap bags I have of her leftovers. In looking at each ornament, she can tell which quilt it represents.   
 
I took them to her on a tiny Christmas tree covered with a drape. She had to close her eyes while I uncovered it and then I let her open them. I loved her reaction.








When a niece of mine, that was especially close to my Mom, got married a couple of years ago, I made her these ornaments from some of Mom's leftovers, for a shower gift.
That is all of the finished projects I have from Mom's scraps. There are 3 or 4 other WIP that I will save for another post.

Until next time,
Janet O.

P.S.--I get to spend today in a wool class taught by Stacy West (Buttermilk Basin), and then a trunk show tonight. I am looking forward to the fun!

                      

39 comments:

  1. Absolutely amazing and beautiful! I just love how you honored your mom with the pineapple ornaments from her scraps. I love this post!!

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  2. What a beautiful post. I just love the idea of the ornaments and little quilts being related to your mom's beautiful quilts. She has a wonderful sense of color.
    Yay for hand quilting, but your mq is absolutely gorgeous too!
    what a beautiful legacy you have made with your mom. Just lovely!

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  3. Beautiful work made extra special by their connection with your mom!

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  4. How wonderful to have so many treasured scraps from your mom! Enjoy the class.

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  5. Your post is full of love; thanks for sharing such a beautiful story.Have a nice day .

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  6. Don't you just love scraps, and when they are your mom's, they are just extra special! Wonderful quilts!!

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  7. I like your mom's Kim Diehl designed quilt very much. It is one that over the years I have had the book, I intended to make. Never did. Using your mom's scraps will give you memories for the rest of your life.

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  8. "From my Mother's Scraps" a fitting title for a little book that you should write, if only for your children and grandchildren with lots of photos of each and every quilt and ornament. What a wonderful heritage! Thanks for sharing a beautiful post and enjoy your quilting day!

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  9. what a beautiful legacy in fabric....what memories they will be forever...did you see lisa bonjean's new sew along? are you in?

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  10. And now we know how you became such a fantastic quilter; it all came from your mother's genes! What a legacy in beautiful quilting by both of you, intertwined in love all the way. Thanks so much for sharing your sweet story and pictures. ---"Love"

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  11. You are so lucky to share this wonderful thing we do with your Mom. WHat a lucky girl you are! All the quilts are beautiful and priceless for sure. Thanks for sharing. I am a little envious to tell you the truth!

    Mary

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  12. I love the navy blue shirting squares you used in the basket quilt. The little nine-patch table topper is ADORABLE!!! Great job with scraps. What lovely memories you are making as well for the years to come.

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  13. Oh my, I have goosebumps! How special to have so many scraps of your mother's. I love the ornament idea. I think we should all do that with our leftovers from each quilt. Of course in your case, you would have to get a bigger tree! Thanks for a great post.

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  14. Your Mom's quilting is wonderful and it has been a heritage for your work to grow on even beyond her choices. Seeing this post was an adventure in mother-daughter influences. Your baskets are especially fine!

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  15. Oh, it does sound like you have a fun evening planned. It must make your Mom proud to have you use up what she gives you, I know my Mom would be pleased. Thanks for sharing the stories behind the quilts.

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  16. Oh what a beautiful and touching post ! Your Mom's quilts are simply awesome !
    With all these scraps she gave to you with kindness, she always will be at your side !

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  17. So special to share quilting with your mom. We each have to do it our own way. Would be boring otherwise! How was the class?

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  18. Janet, I can see where you got your love of quilting from. And what an amazing gift that your mom gave you her scraps. I don't suppose any of your kids are interested in your scraps?? Amy, maybe?? Beautiful quilts!

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  19. What a great collection of projects that honor your mothers creative work. I love that tiny KD nine patches. So do your daughters quilt? My mother quilts, but she only started after I did, while I get her scraps on occasion we have very different tastes. Your class sounds exciting looking forward to hearing about it.

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  20. How great that you and your mom share the love of quilting! Those ornaments are such a good idea--very meaningful. I'm totally envious that you are taking a class from Stacy--can't wait to see what you make!

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  21. So much quilty goodness! Love the ornaments which line the piano music holder.

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  22. Where will you go for the Class and Trunk Show? How Fun to learn from Stacey! Your mom and your quilts are all sew Beautiful!

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  23. What a wonderful story of you and your mom and your quilts. Her scraps are like small gifts that just keep giving.

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  24. fabulous story! You are so lucky to have these fabric treasures from your Mum. I'm pleased she still loves you even though you do machine quilt! Bless her!

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  25. I think you are amazing to have made all these sweet quilts and minis from those scraps! If it were me, I'm afraid they would all still be bagged up waiting for some attention. You have such a wonderful heritage of quilting from your mom, and it makes me so happy to see you honor that and enjoy it as much as you can.

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  26. These are excellent projects from your mother's scraps. I love the idea you had with the pineapple ornaments. That is ingenious. She has one smart cookie for a daughter!!! Loved all of her original quilts too. You inherited her talent there.

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  27. Oh, Janet, you just never cease to amaze me with your wonderful quilts and your sense of color and creativity!! Thank you so much for sharing all these special quilts that are part of your Mom!! What a legacy from both of you!! :-))

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  28. You are so thrifty, creative, and talented, Janet. And you must have amazing fine motor skills, not to mention manual dexterity. Your creations are beautiful. Yes, your mom's reaction to the ornaments on the Christmas tree gift is precious.
    --Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

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  29. Some very nice pieces made from (almost) nothing! I'm always amazed at what some throw away, others create from.

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  30. Thank you so much for sharing your mom's quilts and your quilts from her leftovers. I love to hear stories of families and the quilts that connect them.

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  31. Isn't it funny how much you can make from scraps/leftovers? But it's really special that these came from your mom. I love the 2 little pieces you made for the girls - what a treasure for them. Hope you had fun in class - looking forward to seeing what you worked on.

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  32. Lovely use of scraps and great mother daughter tradition. The talent extends generations.

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  33. Beautiful post Janet; I love what you have done with the scraps, such wonderful memories and quilts all so interconnected.

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    1. Oops meant to say - hope you had a wonderful time with Stacey!

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  34. What a sweet way to commemorate the treasury of quilts that your mom has created. I love that you two are able to share your love of quilting in such a special way. Your beautiful pineapple ornaments are absolutely the most thoughtful gift and I adore the photo of your mom's reaction to the unveiling.

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  35. This is such a great post Mom! Love the sentiment and nostalgia :) Love the two people in it too!

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  36. Super memory you have from your mom's scraps. I am sure she is proud of you and all those pineapple minis. She may have wanted all the quilting you do hand quilted, however I am sure she is starstruck seeing all your feathers, you do such awesome work. Enjoy your get together and I will be looking forward to more of your beautiful work with wool.

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  37. That is so cool! I love seeing your mom and her quilts and of course, all the lovely pieces you've made with her "leftovers'!

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