Last fall, I signed up for The Quilt Show’s International Miniature Quilt Exchange and was paired up with a most talented quilter from Germany. Over the course of the next few months we emailed each other regularly and discussed ideas for our quilts, basically colors, size, etc. TQS had the stipulation that the quilts should be not less than 18 inches, and not larger than 24 inches. We both love batiks, so we knew they would have to be included and we chose some favorite colors to work with.
It took a little while to get a definite idea, but we did, and both met our deadline of March 31, 2018. There were 330 teams from all over the world and (if memory serves correctly) 20 teams were chosen to have their quilts hang in Houston. Unfortunately, our little quilts were not chosen to hang in Houston this fall, but we both enjoyed the process of making and sharing our quilts with each other – and making a new friend!
We exchanged CDs of pictures from our guild shows and shared photos of our family as well. This has been such a wonderful experience. And now, without further adieu, here are the quilts we exchanged!
Brenda’s Quilt 
Doris’s Quilt
I incorporated some of my digitized embroidery designs in the center panel. You can’t really tell from the pictures, but there is a little extra batting behind the hummers and flowers to give sort of a trapunto look. The little friendship blocks are 3 inches finished! There are two folded flower blocks in opposite corners of the borders as well. To frame the center panel, I made tiny little prairie points – my first time trying those! They were fun, but next time will not be miniature! LOL I named my quilt “Friendship Fantasy Garden.”
I was totally blown away when Doris’s quilt arrived in the mail! She is a true quilt artist. Just look at all the different fabric manipulations she accomplished in this tiny little quilt! I can do ONE of those – the folded fabric pinwheel. This quilt is so rich in color and techniques! It hangs in my sewing studio on the wall opposite my machine so I can admire it every day! It’s just beautiful!! Thank you, again, Doris!!
Last week I had the privilege of quilting this beauty for my customer, Brenda! I fell in love with it and it was such a pleasure to quilt! She said the kit was a gift from her sister and it came from a shop in Branson, MO.
Now, for the next bit of news! There is a new blog hop that started today. It is Seams to be Sew’s 2018 Row Along entitled My Happy Place! There are over 50 bloggers participating this year! So, hop on over and follow the links to each bloggers row. You can download the rows from each blog and create your own quilt! Everyone has their happy place and I hope that some of these rows will make you smile and remind you of yours! There are four to five blogs each day, and there are some AWESOME prizes!! I do mean AWESOME!! You can enter on each blog. Everyone will be giving away a prize! And, the grand prize will be your very own copy of Electric Quilt 8, valued at $239.95!! Be sure and come back here on September 25th to collect my row and register for the prize I will be giving away. Marian has worked so hard and is so organized for this blog hop! Thank you, Marian!
Visit these blogs today to get free patterns, and enter the giveaways!!
That’s all for now! Thursday is the next day for the Row Along! See you on the hop!!
Sharing with my favorite Linkies as they become available this week:
This is beautiful, good job.
Love the quilts you made and received. I appreciate quilts with something a little bit different about them, such as fabric manipulation or trapunto. I guess it was hard to narrow down the field, but it’s a pity your pair didn’t get selected! xx
Pretty little quilt – they missed out in showing it!
Your quilt is beautiful Brenda and so is the one by Doris, I always enjoy seeing your work!
What a sweet set of mini quilts! How exciting to get something from so far away and to make a new friend. I’ve done these quilt swaps before and they are always fun. Thanks for linking to Wednesday Wait Loss.
Your work is always amazing! I bet I know exactly which shop that Christmas quilt kit is from in Branson – Quilts and Quilts! I’ve gone by there every time we went to Branson. Sadly, we aren’t going this year – at least not yet. Husband has had some health issues.