Catching Up...again

My hubby surprised me and got me a new digital camera for our 3 year wedding anniversary...and I love it!  Two weeks ago, I finished this quilt for my teacher's aide who was a HUGE help this school year.  She was wonderful and I will definitely miss her next school year!  But anyway, here is the quilt I made to show her my appreciation for all her help...

Also, since I am from Chicago, I have been busy watching the BLACKHAWKS who are in the Stanley Cup Finals!!!!   Here is a pic of me and the hubby downtown with the famous Art Institute Lions dressed up in a Hawks helmet and a pic of the Chicago skyline, supporting the Hawks...beautiful, isn't it!!!!

School's Out!!!

Today was the last day of school!  Although it was a bittersweet day, I am excited to get some sewing done in the next few weeks...

I just have to decide what to start on first...

Catching up on the blog....

Last Friday, my mother-in-law came to my clasroom to give my students the quilt she made with them this year.  Last year when she thought of the project and came to my class, I was interested in quilting and after she was finished with my classroom quilt, I asked my mother-in-law if she would help me make quilt.  Yeah, that was 1 year and 20 quilts ago.... You think I'm addicted???

Anyway, the kids LOVED their kite quilt!  They set up museum "exhibits" about quilting - student made websites, book reviews about books about quilts, presentations about secret codes in underground railroad quilts, the tools you need to make a quilt, and more.  Students, faculty, and parents came to visit our "museum" and were just blown away by the kite quilt.  Here are some pictures of the quilt:

Each student wrote a "diamond" poem on a kite quilt block.  Some blocks were embellished like the one with all the students names...

A special touch was added by using fabric you can print on to add a picture of our class...

The kids loved it!  It is such a wonderful experience for them to be part of something that is hand-made.  I feel so lucky to have such a crafty, talented, and loving mother-in-law!!!  Here are pictures of my class looking at their quilt and my mother-in-law with my class...

See, I told you I have to catch up!  Tonight I made a rag quilt with some scraps I had.  My mother-in-law bought the Accu-Cut at the quilt show a few weeks back so I bought the template for the rag quilt.  Let me tell you - what a timesaver!!!  After it was cut out, it only took me about an hour and a half to make this whold quilt.  It was even, easy to sew, and "ragged" beautifully!  What a great investment -  I can't wait to use it again!

3 Cups of Tea School Quilt

I blogged a few months ago about making a quilt with my entire school. I have pictures of the finished product! The quilt is based on the books "Listen to the Wind" and "Three Cups of Tea" which every child in our school read. The art club made three dimensional dolls that look just like the ones in the illustrations of "Listen to the Wind".  The quilt is quilted with a teacup pattern.  I think the kids are going to love the quilt - a few kids in my class are working on a presentation about it that I will post laster.

Also, our classroom quilt is finished! My mother-in-law did a beautiful job and I can't wait for our "classroom quilt show" on Friday where it will be shown to the kids for the first time. I will post pics of the classroom kite quilt after Friday!!!

Dolls made by the art club

Student signatures...

 

Middle panel

The finished quilt...

Check out this link to read more information about the book...

Mom's Birthday Quilt

I can finally post a picture of quilt #14 (there have been 5 more finished since then) because I gave it to my mom for her birthday today!  I made my mom a quilt for Christmas but it was a Christmas-y quilt and I wanted her to have something that she could keep out all year long.  So here it is...quilt #14 - Full Bloom!

Quilt Show!

Tomorrow is the HUGE quilt show in Rosemont, Illinois.  I took a personal day and me and the mother-in-law will be shopping till we drop! Can't wait!!!

Yummm....Coffee!!!!

I had so much fun making this quilt top and drinking coffee while I made it!  I finished the main part of the quilt top and laid it out on the floor so I could figure out how thick to make the border.  The fabric I had for the border is teal with coffee cups that match the ones on the blocks.  As I had it laid out, my husband told me he didn't like the border and he thought it looked better with the blocks bordered just in black.  Now I can't decide!  I can always use the teal fabric for the back...

I love these coffee cups!!!!

Without the teal border

With the teal border