Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Independence Day

A closer look at my wall display. I use what's available (the hanging rod plus a nail the flag beady is perched on) and then hang everything else up with 3M Command hooks. They work great and are temporary, so I don't have to worry about leaving holes in the wall.

Happy 4th of July. I made this quilt with scraps left over from yesterday's quilt Celebrate Liberty as well as the one orphan firework block. It's freehand fan quilted in white perle cotton size 8. This is one of my favorites. I was able to loosen up, play and not worry about the edges of the quilt being straight.

Liberty Blooms. I wrote about making it here.

Patriotic Crazy. I wrote about making it and showed details here.

In the upper left is my flag beady. It's completely covered in beads and buttons. I barely finished it up and got it framed before leaving Cairo last fall and this is the first year I've been able to display it. I think it really helps to have it framed--although the color was supposed to be bright red, not maroon--makes it look like a work of art and stand out against the wall.

Crusty is short for encrusted. That's just the term I use. I learned the techniques from Susan Shie's Lucky School of Quilting. I'm not sure if you can read this well. It says "big cup of liberty tea."

I've been doing some hand quilting and have made a lot of progress on the Blue With Stars. Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon.

I just rewatched Shaun of the Dead. That show is such a hoot. A British Romantic Comedy Zombie film - the perfect movie for me. My husband on the other hand won't even try it.

17 comments:

Juliann in WA said...

Great quilts - and I also am a big fan of those 3M hooks. I really like the liberty blooms and the cup of liberty tea. Fun stuff.

jmb_craftypickle said...

Love the quilts....I really like the flowers in the vase....ALSO...I LOVED Shaun of the dead too....so funny and plenty campy. Great.

Diane said...

Fan quilting is my favorite and it's made even better with the perle cotton.

Granny said...

Love your display. You do such neat work. I know . . I should get out of my box and try things! Don't say it.

Love seeing that 3M plug in there too. 3M puts food on my table (and fabric on my shelves).

Mary Johnson said...

I like your Liberty Wall!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!! I just love them all. When I grow up I want to be like you. Life kept me from starting the quilting on the liberated stars, but I think I'll have a long stretch of free time tomorrow to at least get it basted and hopefully start the quilting.

I hope you had a nice day. We just got back from fireworks and I couldn't help thinking about your quilts while I watched all those bursts of color.

Susan said...

Little bit of America far from home! Wonderful decorations. I always enjoy seeing what's hanging at your house. Wherever you are.

søren said...

Tonya, what kind of needle do you use when quilting with #8 perle cotton?

Laura said...

Your patriotic wall looks great! We loved Shaun of the Dead! I think you and I could probably sit and quilt all day watching movies as it seems we have the same tastes!

McIrish Annie said...

love your patriotic quilts and spirit! must be hard to be away from home on the 4th!

Judy said...

Don't you hate it when they refuse to even watch something a tiny bit? Arg!

Love the patriotic display!

atet said...

What fun pieces! My husband loved Shaun of the Dead. Given what I read you would think I did too. Nope, I have a hard time watching things that are "horror" even if they are mostly comedy. How my brain justifies Buffy -- I don't know. Don't ask me. But I know who to blame -- it's that darned wicked witch of the west!

Anonymous said...

Such a fun grouping Tonya. I also love that incredible ceiling molding and wainscoting. Wow, first class!

Anonymous said...

Tanya thank-you for the recommendation of A Perfect Red. I've ordered a new copy from Amazon.ca's used book section at a great price and am anxiously waiting it's arrival.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Liberty Blooms has always been my favorite of yours! But I do like the 4th of July one too. And the beaded crusty in the top left corner that you got framed has also been my favorite crusty thing you've made.

comicbooklady said...

I love the all the red, white and blue! I love your big cup of liberty tea! Happy 4th of July!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your patriotic quilted items. Very nice!
Thanks for sharing them.

Kaye Wood