Best Year Yet - 2016

This year was another busy year for me. I have had my shop on Etsy since 2011 and this year I reached my 100th 5 Star review and 236 official sales. I really appreciate all the wonderful customers I have had over the years. Especially as they love the quilts I make and leave me such positive reviews. Many times they tell me how when they have opened the box they are brought to tears. That is what keeps me sewing as I see my quilts make such an impact in their lives especially when the quilts are made after a loved one has gone.

Softball T-Shirt Quilt

Softball T-Shirt Quilt

For Etsy I made 34 T-Shirt quilts, 12 necktie quilts and 8 other quilts that include vintage hankie and picture quilts. The T-shirt quilts I make are often high school graduation quilts, quilts made using shirts spanning from preschool through college, or sports fan shirts from a favorite team.

College Hockey Player Quilt

College Hockey Player Quilt

The type of quilt I enjoy making the most and I made 11 of this year are necktie quilts. I love to use the silk fabrics and am always amazed at the patterns and colors that I get to work with. As the blocks grow and then as the blocks are laid out to form the quilt the satuation of color and pattern is endless.

Necktie quilt made using about 45 ties

Necktie quilt made using about 45 ties

This fun quilt I made as a retirement gift for a Chick-fil-A executive who retired after 35 years. It was such fun working with all these Chick-fil-A ties. I learnt so much about that company and then they opened one in my town.

Chick-fil-A Necktie Quilt.

Chick-fil-A Necktie Quilt.

I also got to make my first Dresden Quilt. I was sent about 60 quilts from a collection of ties from my customers father. He had many ties from his  school days, Harvard and other old East Coast institutes. I included the tie labels next to the appropriate ties and used his initials and dates in the center. 

Dresden Quilt made using neckties

Dresden Quilt made using neckties

Another popular quilt I make is one using vintage handkerchiefs. The pattern I use is laid out en pointe, which means the blocks are diamonds not squares.  I have to make the blocks a uniform size which works with hankies that are all different sizes. I love the shabby chic look 

Handkerchief Quilt

Handkerchief Quilt

Now 2017 is here one of my goals is to blog more regularly. I will share some of the unique customer request quilts I have made and not shied away from.