Monkey business in the sewing room

I have been monkeying around. A few months ago I had to take my sewing machine in for repairs and I saw the Anita Goodesign Monkey embroidery CD. I just knew my little grand babies would love to have monkey quilts. When I started I had 4 grandbabies, 4,3,2,1. I embroidered each of the monkeys I chose, 4 times. I have finished one quilt, ready to bind one, one ready to quilt and the last one needs another row to the top. I am so close to finishing and in the mean time another grand baby was announced. Looks like I better get back to the embroidery machine. I intend to make the first four for Christmas and since the new little one will makes his/her arrival in February or March I might have time.

A Decisive Victory....The quilt

I finally finished the Civil War quilt for my brother in law Dennis. Every fella in my family who has seen it, wants it...bad. I chose the name for the quilt because even though it was a reference to General Grant's comment about the battle for Vicksburg, this is my second attempt to make a confederate flag quilt. Obviously it won't be my last. The first one was made for my son and it was indeed my first quilt. It did not turn out so well but it is hand quilted and began a learning process that I have been enjoying for 11 years. I have been happily immersed in all things quilty.

The photos were taken in my back yard. The deer have come through the last few days and have eaten all flowers and decorative vegetation. My flower garden is bare but at it's entrance stand two columns that were salvaged by my husband's grandfather around 1915 from the Jefferson Davis' home, that stood on Davis Island in the Mississippi River. The columns were then used on a house he built for his family in 1944.

I finished the quilt on July4, do not think of this as a surrender but as a decisive victory.

I was not born in the south but as all southern women will say..."That's okay honey, you got here as quick as you could."

Mississippi Museum of Art

Pieces and Strings at the Mississippi Museum of Art
Yesterday my husband, son and I went to the museum to see my quilt hanging. I was very proud to see Kimono Garden hanging in a museum. I have posted a link to the museums exhibit site. The quilt is part of the Mississippi Cultural Crossroads Pieces and Strings exhibit. I made this quilt for a fabric challenge. I received the fabric in the mail and I felt a Victorian quilt was in order but as I thought about the era, I decided an Asian influence would be appropriate. I designed the kimono and used an innovated technique, Inklingo, to make the diamond collar and the cuffs. I then quilted by machine free style.

My Friendship Siggy Quilt

Here It Is!

I did finish it quickly after my last post but couldn't seem to take the picture. I love it and I have napped wrapped in Friendship. It makes for a restful slumber.

Attention!!!!

Since I do not yet know how to reverse the order of these posts, please bear with me...Start reading at the post entitled "What is a Siggy" and work your way back up. Maybe i will figure this out.

Friendship

In a few days I hope to post the completed quilt, quilted and bound. Just as the block says friendship held together, warm, and comforting, humbling and treasured.

Thank you ladies.

My excitement was growing with the quilt. Each neighborhood added to a beautiful mosaic of friends from around the globe. I felt the strength of two joining with two more and then four and eight and on and on until 120 friends were gathered together to celebrate my birthday. When I gazed upon the finished top I felt like someone had just opened the door to my surprise party. I was thrilled and humbled.

Trimming the blocks

As I sewed these little jewels into groups of four I trimmed them to the same size. I felt all of my worry and apprehension fall way just like the little slivers of fabric. They were coming together, my little blocks were becoming neighborhoods.

While I was busy...

sewing, my embroidery machine was too. He is such a talented little brother;)

I began choosing the siggys totally at random and sewing them two by two. I had the opportunity to think about the hands that made each of these blocks for me. A very warm feeling.

What is a Siggy?

A few years ago, I joined some online quilt groups. The first one I joined was Dear Jane in honor of the Jane Stickle quilt. I then joined numerous others I was introduced to through the original. Quickly I began reading the chatter about siggies...I though what the heck, I gave up sigs 20 years ago. Why would would I want to sign up to exchange them?

Live and Learn...siggies are signature blocks swappped all around the globe. Little squares of friendship. I decided to join the fun. Well, just like the old cigs these were addictive but unlike the others, these are very health enriching. I joined a birthday swap along with 120 other quilters and we swapped these little treasures. We received a list from our "swap mommy" then near each of the recipient's birthday we sent them a block. In your birthday month you were scheduled to receive 120 blocks from your invisible friends. Great fun!

I decided to put my blocks together with embroidered blocks that signified each month, ending with a beautiful block entitled "Friendship". Here follows the gathering of these friends into a very warm, cheerful, birthday hug.