Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Catching Up #3 Fabric Book 2

Last fall (yes! Oct '24) I made another fabric book. You can read about the first one here

I'll take you through the pages . . . 

Bits and pieces from Natalie's little baggie of her favorite fabrics. Each page is slow-stitched. 

The back of the cover on the left and my favorite blues on the right. I added buttons from my large collection. 

The back of the prior page on the left and Snow Ball block with label written by Dawn H. "Snow Ball was filthy quilt with paisley backing with whole cloth quilt inside. Bought 2004 Woodbridge NJ. Dawn Hayes Montclair NJ". 

On the left--a combo of Dawn's Snow Ball blocks and Natalie's black and shirting fabrics. On the right--a focus on yellows with a bird cut and fused. More buttons and a selvage strip stitched to twill tape for the binding edge. 


More yellow on the left and Natalie's scraps on the right. Note the fun floral vase button in the middle. 

Oak leaf stripe on the left and more unfinished Snow Balls on the right. I left them just they way they were. 

Neutral Snow Balls on the left and an assortment of greens on the right.  I added that large flower which I've had since the 60s. 


On the left--the back of the previous page. On the right--an assortment of turkey reds. 
 

Ta-da! The back and a finish! There's a total of 8 pages held together with little binding clips :)
 
 
At about this same time I started making 2" blocks with triangle scraps. More coming soon  . . . 
 
Hope you're staying C-O-O-L! 
 
 
 
Copyright Barbara Schaffer 2025 
 

Friday, July 25, 2025

Catching Up #2 / International Y2K Quilt Finished in April

I had purchased a box of 61 envelopes each containing 25 3-inch squares on Dana Auctions in 2023. You can read about it here and here.

I made this quilt for my daughter and her husband. I sewed a total of 61 blocks and used 56 for the top set 8 down x 7 across.    

It was machine quilted by Dawn D. and this is what it looked like spread out on the dining room table. It's pretty big--89" x 102". I chose Quilters Dream Supreme for the batting. It's heavy--and warm!  


 
Had to put it on my bed for a photo shoot :)

There were 2-1/2" squares in some of the envelopes so I sewed them into blocks and made a strip to go across the back. I also made a block comprised of repro conversation prints along with my name, NJ location and 2000 date. My contribution 25 years later :)


This is what the strip looks like on the back. The neutral fabric is Henry Glass Paisley Paradise. Oops! I forgot to take a photo of the label. Must do that! 

My daughter and I are going to make two pillow shams using the same paisley fabric and I'm really looking forward to doing that with her! 

And talking about Dana Auctions, there is one scheduled for tomorrow 7/26 so take a look to see what goodies will be on the auction block: Textile Inspirations: Antique & Vintage Quilts & Textiles! 

I've had lots of fun participating online and will do a post of some of the unusual things I've purchased :)

Until next time . . . 

 

 

Copyright 2025 Barbara Schaffer 

 

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

It's Been More Than A Year!

     Update

Hello Friends, since my last post more than a year ago, I became my husband's primary caregiver along with a team of wonderful people who helped along the way--first and foremost my family. The Essex County NY Office for the Aging provided nursing care, physical therapy, and meals; SUNY Plattsburgh provided respite care so I could have some time to myself, an aide provided personal care, made breakfast and did laundry, and our local EMTs assisted more times than I can count. It was a long and arduous journey that ended on Christmas Eve. We almost made it to our 63rd anniversary.   

During the year I made a few small pieces and was obsessed with buying quilt tops and Yo-Yo quilts on Ebay and Etsy. I also enjoyed participating in Dana's Auctions  I realized how much I missed blogging as it helped me keep track of what I had accomplished so this is more or less a partial "catching up post." Besides, I feel the need to reconnect with the quilting world and my blogging friends :-)

Call Me Crazy

I finally finished Call Me Crazy. It was longarm quilted by Dawn D. of Cabin Creek Stitchery in Upper Jay, NY. 

                                      Oh, That Green!  

 

Leftover star blocks alternating with my remaining poison green fabrics. Inspiration came from an antique.

Windmills and Such 

Just a whole lotta scraps and hsts. 

Pink & Green Baby Quilt

Made for my daughter's co-worker's baby. Bright 60s fabrics with white and pink paw print border. 

On A Whim

A quick mini. 

That's it for now. I plan on being back again in 2-3 weeks with another update and projects to share.  


 
Have a wonderful 4th!

 

 Copyright 2025 Barbara Schaffer