"Chicken Scratch".......go ahead & Google that, just like I did. I had never heard of this type of needlework.
A Beautiful quilt is always more lovely when it comes with a special story, don't you agree? This quilt is beautiful AND lovely.
Andrea is no quilter, but what is a girl to do when she spent many hours watching her elderly mother lovingly stitch each block with excitement. Andrea's Mum had decided to make a special quilt for all of Andrea's children's children. This was to be a special quilt handed over as each of Andrea's grandchildren were born. A special family baby quilt, to keep the precious new member of the family wrapped in love. Sadly Andrea's Mum passed away before she got to finish this quilt.
Andrea arrives with a beautiful quilt top & a bag of LOTS of bits of Ginghams all in a lovely pillowslip that had liquid embroidery (Tri Chem.......remember that stuff?) saying "Happiness is being a Grandmother".
I suggested to Andrea that I use the pillowslip as part of the label, then piece some of the Ginghams to make up a backing. Please click on the above photo to see the label.
I also used the Ginghams to make a scrappy binding.
Cotton batting & Madeira poly neon threads for the quilting.
Feathers & pebbles seemed like the right thing to quilt for a quilt called "Chicken Scratch". I didn't quilt much on the stitched blocks as I felt they needed to speak for themselves.
The backing..........................
Thank you Andrea for entrusting me with this very special quilt.
Your quilting is always good, but this is STUNNING!!! I love how you've done the centre quilting and those feathers are beautiful. What a brilliant family heirloom :)
ReplyDeleteI'll bet Andrea is thrilled beyond words! What a treasured piece you ladies have created--fulfilling her mother's intentions. And what a perfect label! Lovely quilting, Leeanne!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic story and a fabulous quilt. Great teamwork all round. Isn't it neat all the different inputs into this quilt - a real family heirloom. Awesome quilting as always Leeanne, and well done all of you!!!!!! Great backing too!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story Leeanne - I actually love that quilt, I love ginghams myself. The quilt has a sort of vintage type charm to it - yes I remember Tri Chems :-) I love the way you have quilted it to give it effect but left the blocks to speak for themself. What a fabulous heirloom to pass down the generations.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely gorgeous quilt! And the quilting..... I swooned!
ReplyDeleteI love stories like this...what a treasure...and of course, your quilt is superb!!
ReplyDeleteLove the story and the quilt!! Beautiful quilting! Great idea with the label! Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
A wonderful story Leeanne. An amazing family heirloom to pass through the family. Your quilting is as always just right for the quilt.
ReplyDeleteWow - I saw some of those embroideries before they were pieced together - Helen has done an amazing job with a real assortment of blocks and then your quilting has finished it off perfectly!
ReplyDeleteWell done to both of you - Andreas grandchildren and even further generations will feel the love when wrapped in this :)
Wow...a beautiful quilt and a lovely story behind it.
ReplyDeleteI have done 'Chicken Scratch' :o)
Oh wow, this quilt is a real treasure. It's beautiful and I love your quilting and the back you made, finishes it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThat's a quilt and a story to treasure. Do you note down some of these stories to collate into a book one day? I guess you kind of have with your blog so is it time to print your blog into a coffee table book yet?! I'm off to look up chicken scratch quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story and gorgeous quilt! An amazing heirloom and of course beautifully quilted :)
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