by Sandra | February 21st, 2009
I truly find it amazing that I do hand applique given the fact that I have the attention span of a gnat. I am easily distracted and get side tracked easily, and often, with all of the ideas that are going on in my head at any one time. I am constantly bouncing from one idea to the next. I can’t explain it.
Right now I need, no must focus hard on getting the book done since the deadline is looming large and breathing down my neck. But like a kid, I also want to play! After looking at my Piggy Quilt the other day it made me nostalgic and left me wanting to do some thirties style quilting. I dug up a stack of blocks I had done long ago and abandoned for some reason I can’t remember now. Of course my brain went into overdrive with ideas for finishing them up into a quilt. I was on a creative roll with this.
I have many files of my drawings and designs and I remembered doing one a long time ago when the boys were small that would be really great to mix with these blocks. I like re-creating the vintage style pillowcases with the embroidery and of course, as usual, I had to design my own embroidery motifs.
Andrew's puppy pillowcase I designed for him when he was a toddler
I never got around to making this particular design of the child on the rocking horse for Jason and I thought it would be perfect for incorporating somehow with these blocks. Wouldn’t this just be too cute for a little boy? Should I still make it even though I don’t have anyone this young to give it to? Heck yes. Who says you have to have someone to give it to in order to make it? I never have any idea ahead of time what I intend to do with any of my quilts anyway. The perfect recipient usually materializes eventually right?
Jason's Rocking Horse
My conscience however is telling me this is all a moot point anyway since I really need to get back to work and focus on my more immediate priorities. I guess I will have to wait and play with this when the work is done.
©2009 Sandra Leichner http://www.sandraleichner.com
Sweet !!!!!!!
You sure can draw well !!! Both blocks are really good and so much detail . I would have never thought of doing a pillow case like that . That’s a great idea for a gift when you don’t have time for a baby quilt .
I have a several blocks of teddy’s playing in line work . They are all done in blue and brown .
I didn’t draw them , but hope someday to get them into a quilt. It is a pattern I bought .
I was thinking there are so few really great , baby quilts out there, you could do an amazing hierloom baby quilt pattern . What do you think? or is your plate too full ?
Thanks for sharing !!!
As soon as my book commitment is fulfilled I definitely thought I would make a lot of these available as patterns. Some for free too via the blog and a PDF. We will see how it goes. You can probably tell I really like the vintage 20′s, 30′s and 40′s look for babies and small children huh? The kids still treasure the pillowcases and the quilts which is why I kept them and stored them away. A nice childhood memory.
the very first applique I did was wayyyyy back in the 60′s
it was a baby blanket . It was wool ( ( pastel plaid ) and it had a mother bear and a baby bear in a cradle . The applique was done in baby flannel . I saved it for my Daugter when she was born. I had made it when I was in high school . I keep looking for a pattern but I guess I’ll never find one . Actually it was a kit . I was 17 when I made it and had her 9 years later. Unfourtunatly I lent it to my sister and she washed it and destroyed the whole thing
Any way someday I’d like to try to draw one but I get stuck because I can’t remeber everything about it , such as the exact positon of the mothers hands . Most of it I can visulize so maybe I’ll have a go at it . Your baby quilts bring back my disire to do it but , I don’t know where to begin .
Where do you begin when you want to start a project ??
Hmm, this is a good question that I shall think over so I can give you an articulate answer to. Well I will try anyway!