Image: Kara Mastin

When a quilting friend heard about Kara’s project, she went through her stash and came up with reproduction fabrics and patterns used at that time.  The resulting quilt was large, but worth the effort Kara put into it.

She uses it for her bed and plans to take it to college with her.  Yes, she got an A+ on the project!

(At Meandering Threads, see more information about Kara’s Civil War quilt and one she made as a gift for her music teacher , who retired.)

Photo by Kara Mastin

Post from: Blisstree

Civil War Era Quilt by My Granddaughter

As she dug through one of her bags of scraps, she found other snips and pieces of fabric to create the rest.  The blue portion is postcard size, with a border around to enlarge it.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting from Scraps

Since my daughter, Beth Mastin, became very ill with pancreatitis in April,  little has appeared on her Meandering Threads blog.  Now she’s home, after being in and out of the hospital (mainly in) since then.  Her interest in quilting has come back full force, and Beth has been working on various projects.  She and I also have been attending some quilting events.

Here are some posts with photos of Beth’s work in progress and finished you may find interesting.  Of course, Mom is so pleased that quilting has helped revive Beth’s energy and promote her healing, emotionally and physically.

The No Title Post

Unfinished Quilt Top

Another Small Quilt Finished

Fabric Beads

A Little of This and That

Post from: Blisstree

Meandering Threads is Active Again

 Quilters find many sources of inspiration, and pictures of unusual buildings often play a role.  In this year’s round robin for my daughter’s quilt group, each quilter submits a photo and the others design small quilt hangings inspired by it.

A photo of an outhouse has yielded interesting results.

Check out Beth’s Meandering Threads blog, particularly the post, Quilt Group Pictures, and see two fiber artists’ variations on the outhouse theme.  The group meets again this week, so perhaps they’ll have more outhouse designs to display…along with those inspired by other photos. 

What unusual pictures or objects have you used as quilting or fabric art inspiration?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting the Outhouse!

 The  b5media Lifestyles Channel, of which Quilting and Patchwork is a part, recalls the 1980s for their Theme Day this month.  I’ll reminisce about the 80’s as it relates to my quilting.

At that time I was operating my in-home quiltmaking business, writing a quilt business column for a Quilt World Omnibook magazine (which no longer is published), interviewing quilters for the local newspaper, and learning all I could about this fascinating topic.

Beginnings of my Quiltmaking

Although I first made a quilt with my grandmother, in the 1940s, my quiltmaking business began during the United States’ Bicentennial Years of 1975-76, when my mom needed quilts to sell in her country grocery store.  The lady who made them couldn’t keep up with the orders.  There was a resurgence of quiltmaking during that time with anything quilted and patchwork having great appeal.

The quilts evolved into pillows, table cloths, potholders, placemats, skirts and aprons…in fact, anything in this line.  A write-up about MEA’s Quilts in Yankee Magazine almost overwhelmed me with orders, but was exciting, too. 

Projects that stand out in my mind:

• Missouri Star quilt for one of Mother’s customers
• Patchwork aprons for costumes
• Sunbonnet Sue quilt and pillow shams for a little girl’s bed
• Quilt in Southwestern colors I was asked to design
• Hand quilting two older family quilts
• Quilt order from a prisoner
• Taking a quilt design class taught by Michael James

Quiltmaking…a Family Affair

It’s enjoyable now to see my daughter, Beth Mastin, participating in quiltmaking.  She’s become involved in areas I never tried…such as dyeing and painting fabrics and making fabric for mixed media art.  (Her blog is Meandering Threads, where you can view some of her projects.)

My granddaughter currently is making a Civil War era quilt for a school project with reproduction fabrics of that era.  It shall be interesting to see her finished work.

Did you participate in the Bicentennial quilting and the resurgence of the 1980s?  I’d love to have you share your story here.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

My Quilting in the 80’s

Actually these are some plastic bags of dyed fabrics that are drying.  For more dyeing details from Beth, visit Dyeing Day, at her Meandering Threads blog.

Here are some of the results of Beth’s dyeing activities.

Check out more photos of her colorful fabrics at Dyeing Results.

Additional Posts on Dyeing:

Dyeing Fabrics for Quiltmaking

Results of a Fabric Dyeing Venture

Painting & Dyeing Fabric for Quilting Projects

(Photos (c)2008 Beth A. Mastin)

(Article (c)2008 Mary Emma Allen)

Post from: Blisstree

The Fascination of Dyeing Fabrics