Pennsylvania Plenty- Revisited

Several  ladies asked about the quilt in my header so I thought I would revisit that quilt on my blog again.
When I was working on my Dear Jane quilt about 12+ years ago a few of us gals started our own little online group. We are still together after all this time.

One of the gals from my online group saw this wonderful sampler in this book. (still available on Amazon for dirt cheap- worth every penny)

From the book: "Pieced quilt, Sampler, Lancaster County, PA c. 1870. It bears the inscription "Salinda W. Rupp". The maker had every right to be proud of her creation, for each colorful pieced block testifies to her artistry. Each of the blocks is different from the others: some are based on such familiar patterns as Variable Star, Sunburst and Flower Basket, but others are obviously Miss Rupp's original creations."

 

Two ladies of my group love a challenge and took it upon themselves to design each block by looking at the book (sometimes with a magnifying glass) and drawing them up in Electric Quilt. This was back in 2002. If you recognize this as the Nearly Insane quilt it would be the same one, although I have never seen this book in person. I had a wonderful time piecing it and I wasn't even close to being insane when I was done.

But it was plenty....hence the name Pennsylvania Plenty. My quilt top was completed sometime in 2003.

In Honor of Washington

 I am making some headway on getting quilts finished!! I got the rest of the binding sewn and label added yesterday and I am really happy with it. I have never designed a quilt that I've liked until now!! Of course, the wonderful fabrics I used does help quite a bit.  I kept the quilting fairly simple because I wanted President Washington to steal the show and the quilting to play a back up role.

 The back is pieced with many pieces of patriotic toile, the Declaration of Independence and the Martha Washington star. (we always know there is a good woman backing a great man)

Here is a lovely piece my friend Jill gave me. If I remember right she said it was an older one of Mary Koval's.  I wish I had more.

I'm also adding borders to another quilt so that means another top finished soon!! Woo-Hoo!!

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

I'm sure many of you have heard of this non profit started by Ami Simms. It never ceases to amaze me what a small grass roots effort can turn out to be. This year the AAQI funded four research studies with $140,000.
(From Ami's blog)
"The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative isn’t like other charities. We are all volunteers, we account publicly for every penny that we spend, and we hold impromptu ceremonies before we mail checks because we know what it feels like to lose someone we love one memory at time. And we know what it feels like to make a quilt and pray with each stitch that our work will help win the fight."

Ami and her volunteers brought 1000 quilts to Houston and I haven't heard yet how many quilts sold but it was a lot. Including my humble contribution. This may not be my favorite quilt but it has the most of me and my heart in it.  Day by day I see my mom's memory slowly slipping. It is such a confusing disease, for the one who has it and the caretakers.  All of the small quilts made, donated and purchased fund a worthy organization. 

I'm committing to make one more quilt to donate by the end of the year.  Will you also commit with me to make one quilt to donate to AAQI? Maximum size is 9"x12" so it's easy to participate.

You can stay updated by reading Ami's blog!!

Beyond The Cherry Tree BOM

I think I have only posted 1 block of this quilt. Sharon at Grass Roots Quilt Studio has started a blog for those who are making this. Click on the link to the right if you want to take a look.

When I posted my block photos there I mentioned that each block alone isn't particularly beautiful, but all together it will be a lovely, funky quilt.

Sharon also was thinking ahead to the many berries we will need for the border. Not too long ago I picked up a Sizzix cutter for making wool pennies. But I've just found an additional use for it!! Woo-hoo!!

Here's a few berries I have started. You can see the ones with the sloppy seam allowance are my scissor cuts.

Here's the cutter and circle die.

I folded over a small piece of index card to fit the circle I want my berries to be.


Four perfect circles!

Then I folded over a piece of fabric and set it on the size circle I need.


Perfect! All to do now it baste around them and tie them off.

And it cuts wool for penny rugs too!!