Birthday Blocks

We had a great vacation! It the past few years it has been my youngest son and my daughter who have went with me. This year it was my oldest son and my daughter as T had his college spring break a few weeks earlier. So we changed it up a bit this year and had a great time.
When my gang of friends got together in January of this year somehow the topic of birthdays came up. In the past we have celebrated each others birthdays by going out to dinner together (those who are in the area) and buying a small gift. We have been together as a group for many years and not once have we ever done a block exchange that I can remember so it was decided that this year we would do a birthday block exchange. Those who wanted to participate threw out suggestions of what they would like such as theme or colors and a list was made.
Jan’s birthday came up first. She asked for a 9” block in purple and white. This was tough for me as I didn’t want to pull my machine out. So I came up with a flower block using a purple fabric that had a leafy print to it for the leaf.
Next up was Dawn. She asked for a block that represented the maker. Since I love working in wool appliqué and I like having words on my quilts I chose to use both techniques on her block. It was fun working on two totally different blocks. I think Dawn’s will be really tough to put together in one quilt as we are all so different as quilters. I can see her getting some blocks done in really bright fabrics and some reproduction prints. It will be fun to see the different blocks. Jan and Dawn both have blogs so you can follow along with them also.
Our next birthday comes up in April and it will be a tough one for me as she has asked for a paper pieced block. I really struggle when it comes to paper piecing but I will give it my best shot.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

- The Dalai Lama

The Finale

This will be the last of the doll quilts as I am heading out on vacation this afternoon for a week of spring break with 2 of my kids. I know it will be lots of fun.

I call this quilt Prototype – Henry. This was my original idea for the baby quilt that I completed in January. Once I got it all put down in fabric I knew I needed a bit more so I added the baby chick and the sun to the crib quilt. This one has been hand quilted.

A few years back I participated in a doll quilt exchange online. I was given my swap partner’s favorite colors and things she liked. This is the quilt I designed and made for her using those ideas. It has been handquilted also.

In that same swap this is the quilt I received. I love, love, love it! It is so out of my comfort zone of something I would try but I am really attracted to the look. She has used multiple threads, different stitches and fun fabrics. A fabulous art quilt!


Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. – Douglas Adams

Almost there

I didn’t even realize I had this many doll quilts. I promise it will end soon!

I made this one for my daughter for Valentines Day a few years back. I did the fans free form.


My good friend Sossity made the next two for me. I had forgotten that I been the lucky recipient of quite a bit of her work. This is a little strippy she put together and hand quilted.


Lucky me that Sossity the candy lover made me a little Christmas quilt of Christmas candies. It has been hand quilted also. Oh I have such good friends!


It takes more strength of character to withstand good fortune than bad.

And even more doll quilts

A primitive grouping of doll quilts today.

I love, love this quilt as it was made for me by my good friend Dawn. She did it by hand and it is wonderful!!!

This one was just a bunch of blocks I had sitting around that I decided to put into a small quilt.

Sometimes when I get an idea for a quilt I make a smaller version so I have the idea down in fabric. This is one of those samples.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will
annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
--Herm Albright 1876 – 1944

Doll Quilts for Friends and Family

More doll quilts today, these were all made for someone special.


My dear, dear friend Roseanna. I miss her so much. We shared a birthday and last year I made her this little quilt for our big day. Little did I know that I had so little time left to spend with her.

Many years ago when my now 17 year old daughter was a little girl I made her three of these little quilts for her dolls. They have all been well used.

This was gifted to my friend Sossity. It is a Lori Smith pattern. The border appliqué has been done in wool.

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in
others belong to us as well"
-Voltaire

Doll Quilts with Applique

Today’s little quilts all have some appliqué on them.

I have to admit that this is one of my favorites. You all know my love of red and green quilts so this one fits the bill. It is a Lori Smith pattern. If you ever wanted to give small quilt making a try, do check out her site as she offers patterns for small quilts. Each pattern group has 9 quilts so you do get a lot for your money when you buy her patterns.

This little postage basket quilt was one of the first little quilts I made. I call it a postage basket as years ago the US Post office commemorated quilting with a 13 cent basket quilt stamp. These little baskets reminded me of the baskets on the stamp.

Once again another Lori Smith pattern and again in red and green; as with the other two quilts this one is hand quilted also.

“Reach High, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” - Pamela Vaull Starr

More Doll Quilts

I have 3 different styles of doll quilts today.

The first is a strippy doll quilt. It was fun to make just grabbing fabrics that looked like they would work together. I handquilted it in a cross hatch pattern.

Next up is a little doll quilt I made out of squares that were sent to me in a doll quilt swap. Once again I practiced doing a scalloped border. This one was handquilted also.

I made a quilt in solids using a Gwen Marston liberated technique. These were my leftovers so I decided to make a little liberated quilt; the quilting is done by hand and they are free form fans.

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly"
- Lauren Bacall

To The Nines

The simplicity of a small 9 patch, nothing beats it. I have made multiple 9 patch’s, here are 3 of them.

This little 9 patch in red is a Lori Smith pattern.

Jo Morton invented the little 9 patch quilt, not really, but she sure has made a bunch of them. I read an article about her 9 patches once and she showed a cute way to display them. That got me going on this little pink and brown one.

My take on a William Morris style quilt. The fabrics run together so much you can barely make out the actual 9-patch.

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt-

More Doll Quilts

All of today’s little quilts have been done in both wool and cotton. Using wool to appliqué sure makes the process go quickly. I believe all three quilts are patterns of Cheri Saffiote Payne so I must give her credit.

This little wool kitty was so easy to do using the wool.

This is a mix of both needleturn appliqué using fabrics and the wool. The lettering is so easy to do using wool as you have no edges to turn under. I was drawn to this one because of the lettering.

Bittersweet is one of my favorite things to collect in the fall. Once again the letters are done using the wool making this project quick and simple.

“One kind word can warm three winter months.” - Japanese proverb

Doll Quilts with a Halloween Theme

My three doll quilts today have a Halloween theme to them. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. More for the fun decorating you can do than anything.

Happy Jack is a Pat Sloan pattern that my daughter loved. We changed the sizing a bit and I then made it for her Halloween collection.

The pumpkinhead in the center was embroidered by my good friend Sossity who then gifted it to me. I loved the orange fabric that I had already purchased for no particular reason and thought it was fitting for a border and out of the two came this little doll quilt.

I was in a doll quilt exchange a few years back with a couple of my local friends. I had seen online a little doll quilt that was done in this pattern with the computer writing. I knew that I would like to give it a try on my own and this was the perfect opportunity. My friend Sossity loves Halloween also, so I knew that I wanted to make hers using the Halloween theme and this is the result.

Every man is the painter and the sculptor of his own life.
-St. John Chrysostom