Antique quilt collection

Will has a friend here in Paris who collects antique quilts! Imagine seeing antique quilts from the U.S. In Paris of all places!!

Charles is a collector of beautiful quilts in one of the most spectacular apartments in Paris that I've ever seen. When we were leaving, Will was joking (maybe not) that she should have an apartment like that! We all should be so lucky!!

Actually Charles was a charming host and what a treat to meet him! Thanks to Will for bringing me along!!

Remember that Paris apartments are usually very small-- not this one!!

I loved this one!

 

His favorite is a log cabin-- you'll see why

I love this album pattern 

Log cabin of course 

This was in the living room with two large floor to windows overlooking the Seine with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance! More log cabins

A hallway 

This hexagon top was in the entryway! I loved it!

Close up

This was in a bedroom- the blue and red quilt on the wall is one of my favorites 

Close up 

Other wall in bedroom 

Close up

I have more to show you but it'll have to wait until Wednesday. We fly home tomorrow!

Just so you know where I went:

We passed under tonight after dinner and I still have to pinch myself!!

Life is good!

Will's larger quilts

Because she has a true shortage of space, Will prefers to make tops rather than "quilts"... She doesn't quilt many of her tops. So these pictures are of tops--- and let me tell you, she sure does make a lot! I don't know when she gets the time! Many are hand pieced. All are absolutely perfect-- all her points meet up. My favorite thing in looking at Will's quilts is her fabric choices. She has an amazing ability to put such a variety of fabrics together to create beautiful effects!

This is a Quiltmania project that's been  a mystery. I think it's a Di Ford pattern

Here's her newest border with hexies. You can't tell but her vine is a multicolored print that's not even green!

Postage stamp but on point!!

Gorgeous sampler 

Around the world-- done perfectly without a design wall

The setting triangles are a large scale blue floral. I think she said that it was a Dutch chintz

Tiny tiny pineapples 

This medallion is gorgeous! I couldn't get the whole thing in the picture! Too many borders!

What great colors- I wouldn't have thought of using purple as sashing!

A great log cabin setting 

I love the simplicity of this!

I'm not finding a picture of her Nearly Insane quilt. I wonder if I was in such awe that I failed to take a picture! Damn!

Hope you enjoyed these! 

Will took me to a friend's apartment who is a quilt collector! I've got pictures to post from that amazing experience next! 

Personal quilt show

You have seen photos before of quilts that my friend Will in Paris has made. She's just amazing! We met yesterday for lunch and an afternoon of quilting delights! After lunch at a charming little restaurant in her Montmartre neighborhood, we went back to her home where I was treated to a fabulous quilt show of her latest masterpieces. Will has a great eye for color which I find so effective. Will was recently invited to do a trunk show in Holland so I felt very lucky to have the chance to see all her tops on this trip.

Here are some of her quilts. First are her doll quilts, adorable yet fabulous:

I just love the green print behind the hexies!

This was made from the extra hsts made in another quilt! They are very small!!

These are homespuns, I believe 

Don't miss the border fabric! Will always picks the best border and sashing fabrics!

Cute spools and strips 

What a great way to use a larger piece of fabric with very simple quilting!

Beautiful stars. All on the diagonal!! Note the sashing fabric too! Speaking of diagonal, look at this:

I'll Post more tomorrow.

Don't want to overwhelm you!

A little mini

I'm participating in a holiday swap with my Wisconsin friends that is to be a 12" block mounted and framed. I had a tough time deciding on what to make since they are all such great quilters!! The bar is high!

I chose a Kim Deihl pattern from her new book. Now I'm struggling trying to find the perfect frame! 12x12 is not an easy size to find.

Hopefully this will pass muster!

The baskets are each 3"! It was really fun to make. I sewed down the handles while watching a little TV, which I don't often get to do.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We had all our kids, my mom and our three darlings so it was quite a crowd. The darlings stayed with us a couple extra days so that was special!

We are off tomorrow for our annual Paris trip and I'm quite excited. I'm busy packing a little package for my dear friend Will who I am very excited to see again.

Here are a few  more favorites from the quilt show that I didn't post before:

I love this color combination 

This is just too cute:

Painting project

My Wisconsin friends recently told me about a painting class they took using "chalk paint" on furniture so I was tempted to give it a try.

I had a little footstool I got at the Elkhorn Flea Market (Wisconsin, of course) last year that I've been wanting to refinish.

This is how it looked originally:

It was all scuffed up but had pretty texture. The top was icky too so that came off first--

With this type of paint, you don't need to sand or prime. Just make sure the piece is clean.

Two coats of paint is all you need.

Then I had to decide on the foot part. I debated whether to use a couple of orphan blocks or some exotic tapestry and opted for a piece of fabric I had in my stash. I love it! And it matches too! What a concept!

All done:

I'm NOT giving it my son who is getting married soon! I keep my stool at the base of my little couch I relax on. 

Now I was on a roll! I have an older Adirondack chair on my porch that has needed a new paint job. It was a faded yellow-- no more!!

Still had some extra paint so got Ryan to help paint my mailbox!

He had fun!

Here he and Emma are waiting for the trick or treaters at Halloween. I found a great new seat cushion at IKEA which matches perfectly! Another successful project completed!

I'm trying to be a better blogger!!