More Quilts to Share

With an invitation from my friend (and former student) Becky for Thanksgiving dinner I decided to find that Christmas table runner that I started last year and finish it.  Becky was thrilled - and quickly sent me a picture of the table runner on her table.

It was great fun to dig into my stash of batiks and make this quilt for my colleague and friend, Claudia Parliament, who retired from the applied economics department at the University of Minnesota. 

These baby quilts are headed to Alberta for Liz to share with her and Don's extended family. I know they will be loved and enjoyed.

Black and Gold Retirement Quilts

We had 3 retirements in Purdue's ag econ department in August this year. Three retirements in 2 weeks put real pressure on me to make the signature quilts. I was able to get the tops pieced in time for the retirement parties. Then we took some time this fall to collect more signatures. Over this past weekend I finally got the last of the binding finished on all three of the quilts. As always, the individuals receiving the quilts were absolutely thrilled to be getting such a wonderful memento of their time at Purdue.

This chevron pattern was made with rectangles (not the usual half-square triangles).  It made the piecing really easy and also made the quilting much easier as we avoided those bumps that occur with all the seams at the points of the half square triangles.

When I started making these strips I got the idea that it would be faster to go ahead and make the strips for 2 quilts. Well, it was faster -but I have to admit that by the time I was finished with the second top I was getting bored with the pattern. I was, however, very pleased with the final quilts - and they are going to different homes so both will be enjoyed.