Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Family Tree Anniverary Quilt

***If you're looking for The One Ring Giveaway courtesy of Boutique Academia, click here.

I thought I'd share my Family Tree Quilt with you today.  I've been trying to balance getting things ready for Halloween, scoring SATs, and getting stuff done around the house.  The getting stuff done around the house is the one that really seems to be losing out.  Anyway, that doesn't leave much time for blogging, so I thought I'd share a blast from the past.

Some of my most favorite quilts I made years ago before we had kids and I had more time to spend on more intricate quilts.  And since they were also made before I blogged, I haven't shared them.  I'm hoping to gradually work through sharing some of them, although many of them I no longer own.  Like this one...
Family Tree Anniversary Quilt

I made this quilt in honor of my Nana and Granddad's 50th wedding anniversary.  Granddad passed away earlier this year, and Nana has gone to live with my parents.  During a visit a couple months ago, I asked her if I could photograph her quilt.
Family Tree Anniversary Quilt

I'd been thinking of making a hand print quilt for a long time, and finally had a good excuse for it.  I contacted my cousins and siblings and had them send tracings of their hands.  This was before I'd discovered how easy zigzag/satin stitch applique is, so those hands were all appliqued on by hand.  It took forever.
Family Tree Anniversary Quilt



I put my great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, etc in the roots, and all of my grandparents descendents (at the time) and spouses are included on leaves.  I used different colored leaves for boys and girls, to add some variety.
Family Tree Anniversary Quilt

I also embroidered all the names on with metallic gold embroidery thread...which I remember being quite a pain (the metallic thread...not the embroidery.
Family Tree Anniversary Quilt

It's fun to look back and see some favorite, familiar fabrics...some of which I still have pieces of in my stash.
Family Tree Anniversary Quilt


This quilt also goes down in history as the quilt that my husband and I used the Law of Cosines on when trying to figure out the angles for those different colored background wedges.  Now I'd probably use giant paper piecing or something.  This was also long before I learned to machine quilt, so this was hand quilted in black thread.

Please show my sponsors some love...
Julia Rotham Ride Bikes from Quilt Sandwich
Julia Rotham Ride Bikes
Spring House/Queen Anne fabric from You Keep Me in Stitches
Spring House Queen Anne Fabric

Dr. Seuss Fat Quarter Bundle from Sisters and Quilters
Dr. Seuss Fabric Bundle
Modern Black and Gold Hexies Baby Quilt - Pieces by Polly
Modern Black and Gold Hexies Baby Quilt


I'll be linking to:
SixSistersStuff.com A Mommy Adventures Tip Junkie handmade projects make it wear it   Photobucket Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap up party! abc buttonShibley Smiles Fresh Poppy DesignThe Girl CreativeOr so she saysSo I Married A Craft BloggerWIP Wednesday at Freshly Piecedseven thirty threeSomewhat Simple A Mommy AdventuresShibley Smiles abc button I Quilt @ Pretty Bobbins



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9 comments:

  1. What a great quilt! It looks like it was hand quilted too as well as all that needle turn and hand embroidery! What an awesome effort! Great photo of your Nan with the quilt too :) thanks for linking up :)

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  2. Your quilt is a true heirloom! You must be very patient to do all of that handstitching,
    Amazing!!!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com
    ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

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  3. What a gorgeous idea! I love it. I bet your Nana loves it. I am in awe of anyone who does anything by hand. Well done!

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  4. How wonderful that you made this quilt for your Grandparents. I am sure you couldn't have given them a better present and it must be an amazing source of comfort for your Grandma now. Love how you included you Great Grandparents. We truly are the some of the people who have gone before us. Thank you so much for sharing. Marie (mlismore@optusnet.com.au)

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  5. Love this ideas!!! Your grandparents will cherish this quilt!

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  6. Wow, that quilt was definitely a labor of love.

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  7. Love the idea of using hands for the leaves. If I did one, I would write the names of the people in their hand. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  8. I LOVE this idea for grandparents or great-grandparents. I've never done a quilt in my life, but I might have to attempt this one in a few years. We'll be featuring this over at Someday Crafts, so come on over if you get a minute :)

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  9. thanks for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Crafts - you were featured today!
    --Mandy, SugarBeeCrafts.com

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