Trying different background - this shows what it would look like with dark brown stripes.             

 Decided on light blue for the strips.











                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     












Used as different blue print for the border with the small block in each corner.   The backing is a white with light blue large print.  The excess is rolled over the edge for the binding.                           

This quilt is the most recent large one that i have made and is yet to be hand quilted.

Cutting Quilt Blocks and Arranging the Designs

Iron the light and dark pieces of fabric faces together and lay out on a cutting mat(gray mat).  Using the measuring board (clear plastic with measurements at left side)  Draw lines as shown to make squares the size desired and then draw the diagonals.  Sew with the machine straight down the diagonal lines.   Place the sewn fabrics back on the cutting mat and using the rotary cutter and plastic measuring guide cut all the horizontal and vertical lines.   Stay on the lines.  Press each block open along the diagonal seam.                                                                                                                         

Try out various arrangements of the 16 blocks that you have made.                                              

You can also view these same pictures with more story attached in the Archives of this blog  -Mon. Jan 19, 2009 and Sat. Jan 24, 2009.   Look on the side panel.

MOM & DAD'S "FAMILY QUILT"

These are the close-up pictures of the individual blocks prepared by Harry & Mary's family in 1979.  There are blocks representing all the children, in-laws and grandchildren that were then in the family. 

I did the family tree and later added Andrew's name but should have added John's Ruth, Hannah & Joanna.

The top block in the picture to the right has the information that this quilt was given to Mom & Dad on Christmas 1979.  (You won't believe how many photo albums we went through on Sat. night to try to find that information out.  I just took the quilt off the shelf this evening and there the info was staring me in the face. )

John F. was an employee of John Deere for many years and I'm sure that is why he chose a tractor.  Since John was not into embroidery work he did his blocks with silk screening . 

These last two pictures show the quilt spread on our queen size bed.   The printed blocks between the hand worked ones has faded with use and washing.  The back is a pale lilac colosrr which went quite nicely with Mom & Dad's bedroom.  htts://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=671970240

John & Ruth's Wedding Quilt

The quilt made for John & Ruth's wedding in 1985.

The light yellow center blocks were embroidered by family members on each side of the couple's family.  This must have been a real effort on everyone's part because this couple did not have such a long engagement and the quilt was all ready by the wedding date.

the top picture is how I placed the completed blocks to decide what order they should be in.

Second picture is the quilting process after the orange strips were sewn into place, the orange backing and filling were secured on the frame before the top was placed on the frame.  My youngest son, Andrew is supervising the work that I am doing.

 Pictures three & four show the finished product.  I haven't figured out how to turn them the right way.

Grandma's Quilts

Grandma Ferris made this quilt for me when I was a teenager. It is a scrap quilt made in the design of the Jacob's Ladder (I think), it is set together with white blocks, backed with white cotton and bound with a dark green print. She had it machine quilted by someone else. It is a double bed size but I have displayed it here on a single bed.

The close-up shows the design in more detail.













The Double Wedding Ring quilt was pieced by hand by Grandma F. and given to Helmut and Me as a wedding gift in 1968. The rings are made of very small scraps hand sewn together and set in white with light green and pink 4 square blocks at each intersection. It is hand quilted I believe by Grandma. It has a scalloped edge with hand sewn pink binding and a white cotton backing. It is a large double bed size and even fits our queen size fairly well.

I treasure both of these tokens of my Grandma's art form. Both have been used considerably as that is what she made them for.

My Quilting History

My dear Grandma Ferris initiated my interest in quilt making when i was probably in my early teens by giving me some quilt blocks that were already cut out for me to hand sew together.

When my sister was planning to get married I decided to make her a "Family" quilt which I took the idea from a "Friend" quilt that our church ladies group made for a missionary.

This two tone blue quilt is the "Family" quilt made for John & Pat Van Essen in 1971 for the occasion of their wedding. Each light blue block has an embroidery design contributed by Mothers, Sisters and Sister-in-laws, Aunts and perhaps Cousins from both sides of the new family. The backing is a blue print with some beige and white in it. Grandma F. wasn't so thrilled with my idea of a print on the back as she traditionally used white on the back.

Grandma F. was not very well just prior to Pat & John's wedding but she was able to attend and looked very lovely for the occasion.










The Bow Tie Crib quilt I made up of the blocks that Grandma F. originally started me with plus more that I had to contribute to make it up to the right size. I had this quilt finished in time for Mark's first birthday in Apr. 1976. It is backed with a pale green printed flannelet.

Remember click on picture to enlarge it. Sorry the pictures of the Bow Tie are not so sharp and have light specks on them.

Views of the Haifa Harbour with cranes for lifting containers.





Haifa is a modern city and on the side of this mountain is the property of the Bahia Temple with beautiful gardens.





Overlooking Haifa and the sea from the upper road on the mountain.