Teacups

I've got a fun quilt to share with you today. Tea for Two by Laura Caudle

Laura really cracks me up. This is how she describes the making of this quilt:

I have been a fan of your quilts for a while, and have longed to make a quilt with your liberated letters but have been intimidated.  (I come from a long line of German, Austrian and uptight British ancestors.  I even plant flowers in rows.  Rows!  Very martial.)  Anyway, I decided to shake off the shackles of genetics and just go for it.  I took a paper piecing class (and as part of my anti-uptightness (not a word, I know, but it fits) therapy I even did wonky teacups.  And then I was struck with a crazy bug and designed my own border of stacked saucers - they are wonky, too.  And THEN I let go and just did some liberated letters.  It was exciting!  It was freeing!  It was scary!  And I didn't do too well!  But darnit - it was fun and I'm going to do it again!

Whew.  I need to go organize my pantry by food type, color and size now or I'm going to have an aneurism. 

Thank you for inspiring a little crazy freedom.  Following is a picture of my nuttiness - not yet complete, because I have to go buy batting - hanging in its future spot.

I have to completely disagree with her on the "didn't do too well" front. She did GREAT. It can be really hard to just wing a quilt and improvise and she did it wonderfully. And Laura has since discovered my free-pieced teacup tutorial (still living in Quiltville but one of these days migrating to my site). 

Laura, thanks for the photo and the laughs.

Still on the subject of free-piecing teacups, take a look at Roz's current improv quilt all about coffee and tea. I happen to love the two different blue background colors under her letters.

I learned how to do Liberated quilting from Gwen Marston and Gwen gives credit to antique quilts inspiring her to go that route. It's not a new thing. As a great example, and still on the topic of teacups, take a look at Deb Rowden's blog at this great Crazy Teacup feedsack quilt. [If you like improvisational, string and utility quilting, Deb's is a great blog to read. She shows some of her own work as well as quilts she's given homes.]

And here is one of my favorite quilts ever. It was made by Lureca Outland of Alabama in 1994:

Credit Line: International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2000.004.0091

Gwen's been out on the road teaching and I'm so envious of her students. Take a look at Sarah's report from class here and here. And Bonnie Hull's pics here.

I've been working like crazy this week at the computer. Making my eyes cross so I think I'm going to give it a rest now. My sweetie gets home tomorrow for an all too brief stay before once again departing. You'd think I'd be cleaning now wouldn't you, but you'd be wrong. I need to do some hand quilting, gosh darnit. Assuming my kitties let me...

Ya'all take care!