Alzheimers Art Quilt Initiative Round-up

The Blanketeers managed to create six AAQI quilts in 2012 to help generate money for Alzheimer's research.  From the left, I'm pictured holding Rachel's light Guadalupe quilt and my own Clothesline Capers.  Sheila is holding Mary's Butterfly quilt and her mother's (Bea's) applique quilt.  Dorthy is holding Rachel's dark Guadalupe quilt and Jonquele's tiny little Baltimore Beauty.

I found it lots of fun to work on something this size.  I really want to make some more!  Life interfered with the plans of so many Blanketeers this year that we have decided to continue making AAQI quilts as a group throughout 2013.

I'm hoping by this time next year we'll have well over a dozen little "Priority Quilts" ready to send off.  Hope on, hope ever!

Alzheimer's Priority Quilt Complete

It is finally finished.  I've decided to call it "Clothesline Capers".  I really enjoyed the clothesline theme.  It would be fun to do more of these.  I'm thinking of making a pattern available if I can work out all the kinks in the process.  Those apples were a bear to sew on through the thick interfacing.



The design process is fun, but you never know when you're finished.  I keep thinking the dog needs a collar, or maybe I should add a few windfall apples under the tree.  I'm going to leave it be for a few days and work on something else, perhaps I'll get a little more perspective.

January Free Motion Quilting Challenge - Leaves

I took the free motion quilting challenge, which for January was "leaves".  I used variagated thread and put them in the place I thought they would be most appropriate on my AAQI quilt - the treetop.  8)

Frances Moore's leaf tutorial was excellent.  I played a bit with a practise quilt sandwich, then let loose on the real thing.  This is going to be an apple tree; I've already bought the red beads.  I enjoyed taking one of the dots on the tree trunk and turning it into a knot.  My free-motion quilting is never perfect, but I'm pleased with these results.  Now I just have to finish the rest of the quilt.

Alzheimer's Priority Quilt

The Blanketeer's have committed to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative for 2012.  These quilts are only 9"x12". My goal is to make one per month.  Here's my first attempt:

The quilt isn't finished yet, this is just the unembellished background.  It's going to be a clothesline quilt.

Chris knit three tiny afghans for me that will swing from the clothesline.  If it turns out cute I may use the clothesline theme again.