Laundry Basket Quilts Blog

I have been waiting patiently to see my Amaryllis to bloom.

Once it happened the overwhelming amazement and surprise is hard to describe. I’ve seen these flowers bloom many times before, but for some reason it always takes my breath away.

The same feeling comes over me every time I have a chance to visit a quilt Museum. I know I’m going to see quilts but there’s always something magical about it! Thanks to Carol, my good friend and retired teacher who believes that you never stop learning, a group of us went to spend a morning with Beth Donaldson and see some amazing quilts at the Michigan State University Museum in Lansing MI.

Beth raised not only the quilts to show us, but also lifts the spirit of quilting to high levels. 10 amazing red and green quilts were waiting for us when we arrived.

Stars were glowing.

Album quilt was amazing.

The green turned into blue over time – I love it!

Different is beautiful.

Prefect garden quilt! I wish my garden looked this nice.

No matter if it was one flower…

…or a whole wreath of them on a light background,

or bright background.

4 block quilts seemed to be quite popular.

Up close the detail work around the applique was spectacular.

The touch of pink in the center made this quilt even more yummy.

We completed the session with this beauty, started by Betty and finished by Mary

Many of the quilts in the MSU Museum are from the Mary J. Schafer Collection.

The quilts are stored in special cabinets like the one above, waiting to be visited.

Before we left, we had a chance to peak into some of the drawers and the “Amaryllis” feeling was there again! There are over 600 quilts to choose from in the MSU collection.

Betty so kindly reminded us that this Museum and Quilt Collection relies on donations and even the smallest contributions help. If you would like donate and help preserve quilting history, you can make a check out to: Michigan State University Museum, put the word “quilt” in the memo line and send it to:

Beth Donaldson
Michigan Quilt Project
570 Red Cedar Road, #101C, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824

Beth will make sure it gets in the right account.

If you would like to see the “Stars” in the MSU Museum, contacting Beth Donaldson at donald20@msu.edu for more information. I highly recommend it! As we were walking out of the museum my little group was already thinking about our next visit to see 9 patch quilts.

Below are links to the 10 quilts that we viewed during our last visit with pictures and the details about each quilt.

http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_2007.107.03.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_7585.1.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_1998.053.089.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_1998.053.057.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_1998.053.114.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_1998.053.115.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_2010.124.3.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_2010.124.1.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_1998.053.034.html
http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/collections_1998.053.059.html

Happy New Year!

The last few days have been blessed with simple pleasures bringing JOY to my day. I have finished this “Poinsettia Patch” quilt and am ready for some more holiday fun.

As I wander around trying to get some last minute shopping done, I felt a JOY to be almost done!

In a hectic pursuit to fill the wish lists, I stopped for a moment and picked up something for me. A quilters JOY for my tree.

Henry has brought so much JOY by helping to wrap gifts this season.

My daughter, Anna, hosted a Christmas party for her friends and it was a JOY to help her prepare for her guests.

Those cupcakes have brought a great amount of JOY to the girls (and myself)!

I love the JOYous time before Christmas in the kitchen, when I get to prepare wonderful recipes that my mother and mother-in-law have passed on to me.

Another tradition is to bake a lot of cookies, everyone has they favorite shapes and it brings such JOY to see my husband Mike choose the heart, me as the snowman, dolphin for Delfina, star for Anna and little Michael loves trees.

My JOY, Michael, wanted a lot of his Christmas Tree cookies this year; we baked so many!

There are also lots of JOYful hugs and Eskimo kisses.

Not to mention the chocolate Kisses that = JOY

Waiting for my flower to bloom – JOY

And just in time for Christmas, my new Winter Batik Collection “JOY” has arrived! These fabric will be available in shops this summer, with beautiful reds, greens and lights – perfect for getting you in the Holiday Spirit next year.

 I will have many wonderful projects to inspire you like this JOY quilt.

 Happy Holidays from all of us and we wish you a lot of JOY this season!

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments and sharing your holiday traditions with me! One of the things that I like to do is place this ornament on our tree, it is an ornament that my Mom gave to me.

Three comments from our previous blog post were randomly selected as winners to receive a package of our Blue Silhouette Snowflakes, they are:

Betsy
Teresa
Corinne

Congratulations! The winners have been notified by email.

You are like a box of delicious cookies, every time I reach out I get something sweet!

I would like to thank everyone for the kind comments about my appearance on the Quilt Show with Alex and Ricky. If you have not been able to see the December 2012 episode – now is your chance – click the link below, register, and watch it for free for one week!

I wandered into a local antique shop looking for a few last minute things to decorate with.
It was a Winter Wonderland!

I know, those dresses, I couldn’t just pass by, I had to at least get a picture of them.

I even found shoes, now I just have to figure out a place to go with them!

My day was getting better and better, once I returned home Michael let me peek at one of my Christmas Gifts. So simple yet beautiful, I don’t know what it is about these old quilts, but every time I see one, it feels magical.

Max has been helping a lot around the house lately, when I walked into the living room I noticed that he was doing laundry. He must be trying to get on the “good” list.

It is the first week of December and we are experiencing fall like weather here in Michigan.

The morning frost is the only sign that winter is here.

Here and there you can still see the remains from a beautiful summer blossom that is lingering in the wind, dried and now frozen in time.

Fall images were my inspiration for this Pretty in Leaves table runner that I did for “The Quilt Show”.  The pattern can be downloaded for free here.
Just click the “Pretty in Leaves” link.

If you like, we also have limited edition kits available in our online store.  The kits are wonderful, squares and triangles have been cut to the exact size so they are ready for you to just start sewing.  and lets don’t forget the maple leaves, which are also included in the kit, they are laser cut with fusible webbing – ready to “fall” on top of your table runner!

It is the time of the year to decorate.  I’m excited to put some of my newest quilts like this “Family Tree” on display in my living room.

I also enjoy some of my old favorite antique quilts like this Tumbling Block.  Every time I pull this quilt out, I’m amazed by the size of those pieces – can you believe they are 1/2 inch finished diamonds?  Incredible!

I’m sure I should save all of my smallest scraps!

I love how the shading reflects the scraps that were available to make this quilt.

The quilting really adds a nice touch to this quilt, the Baptist Fan design is 1/4 inch apart.

Because we’ve yet to see any sign of snow, I needed a bit of motivation for the approaching winter season.  I went ahead and stuck some of our laser cut, batik snowflakes to the window glass in my home.  The fusible webbing is slightly sticky and works great for home decorating!

Now, we have the snowflakes in blue!  For a chance to win a set of snowflakes for your home or quilting project, please leave a comment and share with us one of your most cherished holiday traditions. We’ll have a random drawing after Sunday, December 9th for a couple of winners.  I’m so excited to hear what makes the holidays special for you!

Late in August, Michael and I flew to Montana.  Along with my husband, I brought many of my favorite quilts.  I was meeting Alex and Ricky Tim from the quilt show in one of the local quilt store.

Downtown Bozeman, Montana is beautiful.  People walking, shopping, enjoying lunch and taking in the quaint downtown.

Like a magnet, I was drawn to the quilting “hotspot” of Bozeman – Main Street Quilt Store!

Once inside, it was hard to concentrate.  There were so many fun things to enjoy.  Fabrics, books, patterns – truly a quilters’ heaven!

Shelly, the producer of the quilt show, only has to jump on one foot to turn the quilt shop into a studio!

John (Alex’s husband) and Michael (my husband) exchanged a few tips on how to manage living with a quilter!

And the fun begins!

As we visit and catch up on what happened since the last show we share many laughs!

Maybe for the first time, you get to see me… quiet!  It was so nice to be with Ricky and Alex.

First, I got to share some of my 8-point star technique with Ricky.

Alex totally impressed me.  She didn’t waste any time, she was stitching as she was waiting for her turn to film.

Then, I got a turn with Alex to do fusible applique.

There were many wonderful people working behind the scenes.  Without them the show would not have been possible.  I was able to capture just a few smiling faces.

I made some new friends.

And even had a chance to buy some fabric for myself!

Just before the wrap-up of a exciting day we paused for a “Quilt Show Family Photo”.

We finished with a wonderful lunch and Lilo pulled out delicious birthday cake in celebration for one of the crew members.

Montana left me breathless with it’s simple beauty and wonderful memory of the great people I spent time with in my short visit.

Below is a little preview for the show on Dec 3rd, be sure to see the whole show on Monday.

Thanksgiving is over and it never seems long enough!  I could have turkey everyday of the week!  But, like all good things, it must come to an end.  Speaking of good things, Fall Market this year was one of my personal favorites, I loved everything about it.

I especially love being around the creative and inspirational family of MODA designers.

I love all the smiles (ModaLissa) and look forward to seeing everyone at the market.

It’s great to catch up with old friends (Debbie and Debbie) and make new ones – not to mention collecting enough hugs for 6 months till next market!

Laundry Basket Quilts was all about the baskets this season!

We had some little ones…

And big ones!

And others that are scrappy.

Now you know where all the scraps came from!  It was my Paint Box Collection that supplied the wonderful look.

I was lucky to have the Fat Quarter Shop girls by and make a wonderful videos where you can see more of the what’s new from Laundry Basket Quilts.

Speaking of scraps, I was able to use up all of my 1/2 square triangles from exchanges in one of my quilts.  Some of the triangles came with signatures.  For those that did not come signed, I wrote their names on front of the triangle.  I really appreciate each of the girls that exchanged with me and want to remember each of their names!

All fit perfectly together into a Triangle Star. Once I piece my quilt together, I added the embellishment with Laceys (one piece, laser cut appliques).  Laceys are our newest appliqued pieces for quilts.  Yes, they are super convenient and easy to use!  Branches and leaves come together – you don’t need a layout.  The fusible webbing is already on it.  All you need is a background square – then simply stitch around!  Voila!

Once my quilt was completed, I was thrilled.  I used all the fabulous triangles that were gifted to me.  I am so thankful for the TQS triangle exchange.  It sure made my project fun and exciting!

Let me introduce to you to… Henry!  He’s the newest member of my family and we love him so much!  I can’t wait to see all the fun and sweet things he will do.  He’s already brought such joy to us in the short time we’ve had him.  My dog, Max, unfortunately does not understand why he isn’t allowed to sit on the windowsill!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We are so thankful for our familys and friends, not to mention the wonderful weather that we have today here in Michigan – sun in November is a true gift.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving is one of my favorite chores, especially when it comes to baking goodies.

Anna and I made these fun Sunflower Cupcakes and we are really looking forward to a great Turkey Day tomorrow!

Thank you to everyone for the participating in the pillowcase challenge and donating your pillowcases! We have used the random number generator to pick three lucky winners and they are:

Lori Kay
Mary Starkey
Robin B

Each winner has been notified by Email and we will send your prize as soon as we have your mailing address.

As for me I have to get back to finishing my binding – only 7 days left until we leave for Fall Market 2012 in Houston! This “Flower Box” quilt is finished and ready to go.

I have just finished the applique “Laseys” on this “Family Tree” and this top is ready to be quilted. Check back soon to see my packing for Market and close ups of all our new projects (there are 9 of them)!

Welcome to the Laundry Basket Quilts Studio!
As you walk in through the door.

All may seem calm collected and organized.

Quilts are resting.

Fabrics are stashed.

But once you make your way upstairs where I spend most of my time.

It’s busy as usual!

Only 4 weeks to Fall Market and we have many new ideas and fabrics in the works!
But it is also nice to take a break for an opportunity to brighten someone’s day.

Thank you to American Patchwork and Quilting for this wonderful blog hop with a challenge of donating one million pillowcases to local charities. Many charities can benefit from the donation of a pillowcase and the challenge gives the opportunity to make a difference in your community - I love it!

It was so easy to download a pattern from their website for a pillow case (here is the link).

I then choose, cut, and sewed my fabrics to 4 soft pillowcases, it really didn’t take much time at all.  For some reason, I can’t explain, I smiled as I worked.

I couldn’t help but imagine someone snuggling with this gift and smiling.

Maybe this challenge should have been called:
“One Million Pillow Cases – Two Million Smiles”

Please make a pillowcase that will put a smile on someone’s face. If you do, click here to register your donations at American Patchwork and Quilting, then leave me a comment by October 15 and you will be entered into a drawing for some of my newest quilting goodies!

Happy stitching this fall and visit us again soon.

Thank you to everyone for your kind comments and sharing your favorite treats! As I read through all of them, I realized that I will need to broaden my horizon in the bakery scene!

This is one of Michael’s newest discoveries in Clare, MI - donuts wrapped in bacon, he said that bacon makes everything better…?!?

We have divided the basket into 20 wonderful prizes and used a random number generator to select the 20 winners that will receive them – here they are!

Jeanne
Wendy
Jean B
Jeanne
Pat C
Joyce Cushing
Caroline
Felicia Hamlin
STACEY LARSON
Toni Anne
Janice
Cathy K.
Ellen M.
Erin
Twyla
Paula Klein
Sarah Russett
Connie F
Lou
Beth Beal

All winners will receive notification though email requesting their shipping address so check you email. Once again thank you to everyone for participating and please visit again!

Another view of the world though Anna’s Camera.

 Anna’s duck shot was taken at Lake Maggiore, Italy 2012.