Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Fisherman's Quilt

I'm working on a quilt for my older brother.
His birthday is later this month
and he is the family fisherman.
I do a lot of basting on my quilts.
It takes more time but I like the way
it holds everything in place better than pins.  
 This is a square that I had to remake.
Note: measure twice - sew once :)
I purchased new fabric and also used 
fabric from my stash for this quilt.  
I was cutting my strips 3 inches wide,
but in this one I used some from the stash
 that were 2 1/2 inches wide. 
To my surprise, when I started to join them together,
this one was too small, LOL
This is the redo :)
 Following are more quilt photos.




The Front
 The Back

This is the label.

 While I was sewing yesterday . . .
My other brother that I made the baseball quilt for called.
He had gotten his in the mail.
He said that he was so surprised and happy,
it made him cry.

Hopefully I'll get this one in the mail
later this week
and see if I can make my other brother cry, too.

Have a lovely week.
&
Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

61 comments:

  1. Oh Connie, these are both beautiful! My Dad and Brother are both fisherman and were baseball players. I think they'd probably cry too if I made them a quilt like these...but they wouldn't cry as much as me, trying to make it! I found out years ago I am not a quilter!!! Great job.

    Cindy Bee

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    1. I was talking with my brother on the phone and he was all choked up . . . I couldn't believe it. His man spent over 25 years in the Air Force and retired a Lieutenant Colonel. I don't remember ever seeing him cry.

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  2. You are such a thoughtful sister! I would have cried too and I bet your other brother will as well! His quilt is just gorgeous! Funy little tidbit I'll share with you....this morning at school I was working with a small group and they were sounding out words. One of the words was sun and the pictue was of an emrbroidered sun. The little girl asked me who made it and I explained to her what it was. Anywho, it hit me right then that I should try to make a quilt for my first future grandchild. I have always loved the song You Are My Sunshine and thought that it would be cool to make a quilt with that theme and the song lyrics embroidered on. I thought as a quilter, you might appreciate that little story. I need to make it happen...and not just think about it for years...lol! Anywho, have a blessed evening!

    Hugs, Vicky

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    1. Vicky, I think that is a wonderful idea . . . get started now before you have any dead lines and due dates. The nice thing about a quilt is that it will keep very nicely folded in the linden closet. You better post about it, unless you want it to be a surprise.
      Have a sweet day . . . oh, I have sure been enjoying your Prague posts.

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  3. Love these blocks. Can't wait to see the whole thing put together. I bet you do make this brother cry too.

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    1. Hi Ann, that was it all put together. Tonight I had a Christmas gift come in the mail that was back stocked . . . the box was the perfect size for the quilt, so I'll have it ready to mail sometime tomorrow :) I'm happy that you like it :)

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  4. Connie, You are an awesome quilter. I loved the ones you made for your brothers. Love them !! It touched my heart that your brother cried. You are a special sister. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Hi Susie, I think that it has become so important to me that the people I love, know that I love them and what better way than to be hugged by a warm quilt :)

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  5. That is a piece of art! So nice!

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    1. Thank you . . . I think he will be very surprised :)

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  6. You made me laugh with that last quip about making your other brother cry, too!

    Your fisherman's quilt is just wonderful. What a labor of both love and artistry.

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    1. Thank you so much . . . When you see a man cry, you know that you touch his heart :)

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  7. That quilt is awesome, Connie and it's a birthday present that I'm sure your brother will always treasure. You know when I visit your blog, I automatically know that I'm going to be amazed because you are just that talented... :)

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    1. Young lady, you certainly know how to make me blush. Thank you for your very kind words.

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  8. What a beautiful special quilt for your other brother. Your quilts all seem to be special! I think it is wonderful that you are doing this for your brothers. Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, You know I have always assumed that my brothers know that I love them, but I thought that by putting the time and love into something that they could wrap around them and feel my hug, would be that special way of knowing that they know it :)

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  9. What a treasure! your brothers must know how special it is to have you as a sister...even if you make them cry!
    I love the theme for both these quilts. The baseball is my favorite. Can't wait 'til April... baseball season!!!
    have a great week... keep sewing!

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    1. Hi Patricia, I am delighted that you like these quilts . . . it my way of giving them both a hug even if we have many miles between us :)

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  10. It is stunning, what a wonderful, thoughtful gift made with love.

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  11. Awww.. it made your brother cry! I love it! You make the prettiest quilts Connie. Would you please send me your address again so I can get this quilt batting off to you. I know I have it somewhere but can't find it for the life of me. I really want you to have it, I'll never use it.

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    1. Sherry, you are so giving . . . thank you so much. I'll send you an email. I'm delighted that you like these quilts. I was surprised that my brother cried, but nothing could have touched my heart more. His man spent over 25 years in the Air Force and retired a Lieutenant Colonel. It takes a lot to make him cry :)

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  12. Beautiful!

    You'll be proud of me. I started a little patchwork quilt to use of stacks of remnants. All 144 3" squares are spread out on the guest room bed. - Lulu isn't happy!

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    1. I am proud of you! Now tell me, are they all primary colors? I can not wait to see your quilt . . . it makes me happy just thinking about it :)

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  13. Wow what a gorgeous quilt.

    Hugs Diane

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    1. Thank you! It has been fun making these and knowing that I will be able to give my brothers each a big hug, when they wrap themselves up in these to keep warm :)

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  14. Love seeing the quilts that you make. I have a quilt topper that my mother-in-law gave me and it has some plain squares that I want to put some embroidery on. Then I'm thinking about taking it to the quilt shop and have them quilt it for me.
    hugs,
    Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, have you thought about quilting it yourself. It is time consuming, but very rewarding. You can buy small hoops at Joannes that are made just for hand quilting. I have one that is 14 inches and I love it! I like having a project while watching the TV; it keeps me from falling asleep :)

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  15. You are an amazing sister who has made amazing quilts!! I just know your brothers will cherish their quilts forever.

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    1. Oh, I hope so. I just wanted to do a little something special for them this year. We never exchange gifts, so it is certainly a surprise :)

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  16. Hi Connie, So good to see that you are better and quilting again. That is a gorgeous quilt. You know that every time I stop by I am amazed, delighted and inspired by what you have made and the love that goes into everything you make. Your brothers are very blessed to have you for a sister.

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    1. Oh my goodness, but you are puffing me up to sound so good . . . I'm just a simple old gal doing what I enjoy. Quilts are a lovely way of sending warm hugs to those you love that aren't close enough to hug personally :) It was a surprise to hear my brother all choked up about his quilt, I feel blessed that I am able to do this for them. We all live so far apart.

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  17. What a treasure for your brother.
    It's beautiful. I'm sure you're a treasure to him also. My mom always made quilts. She's 91 now and doesn't do that anymore. But I have dozens to use that she made through the years.

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    1. Hello Lyn, I think it is wonderful to have handmade quilts to pass along and to enjoy. They are certainly things to treasure, because you know that each and everyone was made with love :)

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  18. Connie - your quilts are just lovely. A quilt made with love for your brothers is very special indeed.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan . . . I just thought that this would be a gift that would express by love better than any other that I could give them :)

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  19. Another wonderful quilt, I love the quilting around the images, your brother is going to just love this as much as your other brother loved his baseball quilt, how wonderful to bless them both with such great hand made loved items!!

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    1. Hi Connie, it's a great way for me to wrap my arms around them, for many miles away :)

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  20. I LOVE this, and so will he. I bet you can't wait to give it to him!
    The colors are wonderful.

    =)

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    1. I have been trying to get him on the phone before mailing it. He called last night, so now that I know he is home with no travel plans for the next two months, I'll be able to get it in the mail on Monday :) I'm sure he will be delighted.

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  21. It's beautiful, Connie. I love your embroidery work, and how you incorporate it into your quilts. How sweet to hear from your brother and know that the quilt you made for him meant so much. That's so rewarding, isn't it? Hugs, Nancy

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    1. It thrilled me . . . that was what I wanted from making these two quilts . . . it's a way of hugging them when we live miles apart :)

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  22. What a precious gift! I absolutely love the embroidery - what a wonderful job on all of it.

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  23. It amazes me how you get these made so beautifully and sent out, like it's easy! I would love to be able to make quilts...or even one quilt.

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    1. It's not hard work . . . but it is very time consuming . . . but I love every minute of it :) If we lived closer I wold invite you over and we could work together to get your first quilt made. Then I think you would be hooked. That is what happen to me . . . the quilting bug bit me and I was never the same again, LOL.

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  24. What a beautiful quilt and thoughtful gift. I'd love to be able to quilt, but I have to stick to the hobbies I already have. Did you embroider the fishing scenes on the white pieces? gorgeous.

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    1. Yes I did, before putting the blocks together :)

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  25. These masterpieces are truly a labor of love...each designed for a brother's special love. I can truly understand the grateful tears your brother cried. Love the fabrics you've chosen for each of these, to combine with the wonderful embroidered motifs. Easy to see how you spend your time. Handbasting is time consuming, but your efforts are not wasted, in the precision look of the pieced strips. You should be justly proud of your work (and your fabric taste & colors too).. because the fabric designs set off the embroidery motifs just splendidly. Stay warm & cozy, and watch the snow while you sew! (also love your blog background design...yummy fabrics). TFS & Hugs

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    1. Thank you Mary, what a kind comment. I do enjoy quilting and I have been doing a lot of it this winter. I find that if I stay busy, it keeps me from getting those cabin fever blues :)

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  27. WOW!! What a great sister you are!! Your embroidery work on the fish quilt is awesome. I bet the other brother cuts a tear or two loose!! :)

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    1. We never exchange gifts, so this is a surprise for both of them and a nice way to give them a birthday hug from miles away :)

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  28. Wow! Gorgeous! You inspire me to get back to my fabrics. I seem to be dragging my feet!
    Very, Very pretty - and a loving gift for sure!

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    1. Hi Patty, thank you for stopping by to say hi. I am delighted that I can inspire you to dig into your fabric stash :)

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  29. That's a fantastic quilt! Thanks for your comment - glad you enjoyed my wintry walk!

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    1. I did enjoy tagging along on your walk and thank you for the lovely compliment.

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  30. Hi Connie,

    Both your quilts are beautiful. I imagine the fisherman will be overjoyed with his too. I love the label that you put on your quilts. Generations to come will know who they were made for and who made them. That's special. I had a quilt that noone in the family knew it's history. I was so disappointed in that I couldn't track it's history. It was all handmade.

    It's hard to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. I haven't made cards in a while and I really enjoy making my photos into cards so that's one reason I made the decision. I'm looking into weaving - that kind of falls under fiber arts. I also bought a hand felting kit as I've been interested in that. I guess I'm trying to streamline what I do for the day I retire and can devote time into my etsy shop and supplement my income with what I love to do. That's the plan anyway!

    Thank you for visiting me. I've been thinking about you and hoping you're doing great. How is the sailboat coming along?

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Hi Kay, it is so good to hear from you. I've been organizing my barn, but not by tossing things out . . . but by building stairs to my storage loft, LOL. I don't consider myself a hoarder, but I hate tossing something that I might want to use someday. I'm sure we have all looked though a magazine and saw something cute, that we could have made from something we threw away a few months before.
      As for the sailboat. We haven't had it in the water since we bought this place. We've been spending all of our time working on getting this place fixed up before Steve retires. He wants to work another 2+1/2 years. We are thinking about selling the boat and putting the money into a 5th wheel fund. When he retires we want to sell the motor-home buy a pick-up and 5th wheel and do some traveling and camping :)
      Here's wishing you a wonderful day!

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