Quilt fit for the City

My youngest sister Diana has been working in NYC on Madison Avenue in fashion for over a year now. A few months ago her and my other sister moved into a three bedroom apt in Astoria, Queens, with my cousin AD. Their apt is very nice but I felt like it needed some homemade warmth and love.

I decided to make Diana this quilt from a Batik pop pack I picked up at PQ about a year before. The pack contained 40 2 1/2 inch precutt strips which I used to create a rail fence. Since I was sick for her actual birthday she did not get the quilt until about a month later but she didn't mind.

I really enjoyed making this quilt because the colors were so different than what I usually work with. This was my first experience using Batik's on such a large scale. It really came out so unique and beautiful. As I worked on the quilt I thought about how exciting it is for Diana to be on her own living and working in NYC. I thought about all the great culture and entertainment there for her to enjoy. I also imaged the seasons in Central Park and the beauty of nature against the city landscape. Thus, Big City Dreamer was born. It came so naturally and I think it is a perfect way to describe my sister. She had a dream, worked hard, and made it happen. I wanted to commentate her accomplishments and dreams through this quilt. My dream is that each time she sees this quilt it will remind her to never stop inspiring others to dream big.

Happy 24th Dirty Diana,

Much Love,

The Mad Quilter

Wake me up when September ends

What's crazy about the summer is that I always think I will be quilting my days away and I end up being so busy that very little gets done. I spend my time catching up with friends and running all over the place. This summer I was so busy working on professional development and school work that I spent only a few days infront of my machine.

The fall is when my creative spark lights and I get tons of projects done. I have been working like crazy on a project for a friend (which will be added in the next few weeks) and completing projects for my living room. It looks great. I am also organizing my projects for Christmas. I would like everyone to have a little something homemade.

This picture is of my mother's dog Akema. She came to us a few months before we lost Daddy. She has been such a big part of helping us deal with Daddy's death. She is always there giving lots of love and support. We just love her. Here she is modeling for a quilt I made Mommy when I first started qulting. Mama loves everytyhing I make her. I think Akema came to us for a reason.

Winter Table Runner

PQ started doing this great table runner class. When you sign up you get a choice of two color ways for the mystery table runner. Colleen then walks you through the runner step by step until it is complete. This is the first class I took like this and I am very happy with the results. I am also super excited about this runner because it matches a beautiful winter wonderland quilt that I have half complete. That is another, of the many, projects I hope to complete this summer.

Can you think outside of the lines???

As quilters we are very attached to the basic tools of the trade...rotary cutter, rulers, cutting mats, more rulers, etc. Well this class, called "Appligue Outside the Lines" challenged us quilters to throw caution to the wind and piece without our tools of the trade. It took some getting used to.

When I saw this sample hanging in the classroom I thought that it was so modern and cool. I knew I wanted to give it a try. It was every bit as fun as it looked. Although difficult for me to get in the beginning the quilt quickly began taking shape. I started by looking at the fabric I had in my stash. I look out a bundle of batik fat quarters I purchased over 1 year ago. After I decided to use this fabric I began thinking of my inspiration. The pattern was called "The Earth From Above", well for someone who hates to fly being above the ground was something I couldn't relate to enough to convey it in a quilt. I began thinking of one of the best 5 days I have on record. Last July my husband surprised me a Cruise to the Bahamas. We had the most amazing time and it was just weeks before my father got sick and my world turned upside down. It was on this trip that I did something very out of character for someone who is afraid of heights, Parasailing. Now for anyone who has not experienced Parasailing I would highly recommend it. I was 450 feet in the air attached to a boat. It was so quiet and peaceful in the sky and as I looked down at the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean I saw a huge sea turtle and two bottle noised dolphins. I often use this image as my "zen place" when stress seams to be overwhelming me.

As I looked over my fabric and the pattern it all came together. Drawing my inspiration from my sail 450 feet above the Caribbean this quilt, titled "Paradise from Above" is my own interpretation of that day. It is one of the best days in my memory. When I think about all of the pain and heartache since that trip I often think that maybe it was my own little glimpse of heaven, a window into my soul, a place to keep our loved ones safe until we meet again. I am thankful for this trip and this experience.

Double Wedding Ring

I was so excited when I saw this as a sample in the quilt shop. It is so beautiful and much simpler to make than it looks. I took this class with a gift certificate from a friend and I intended to give her this when it was finished. I love it so much I decided to keep it.

I used quilt smart for the rings which made it easier to piece. It was a bit challenging to piece the rings properly and it took me a bit longer than I expected. Once it was together I was very happy with the result.

After the top was complete I had to decide how to quilt it. I wanted to complment the piecing making the rings standout against the neutral background. I decided to shadow quilt the rings using my quarter inch foot. This gave me the affect I desired. Once I completed all the lines I needed to find something to put in the center of the three rings. I decided to try some stenciling quilting with my free motion foot. I used a stencil set which had three similar designs each with some form of hearts included within the design.

I am very much looking forward to making this runner again in the future.

Happy Quilting

-The Mad Quilter

My Godson has made me a better person

A little less than 1 month before my father passed away my cousin Connie (his niece and goddaughter) and her husband Steve welcomed little Timothy Stephen into the world. Named after Connie's father Timothy and the first boy on the Fanelli side since my father he has enriched our lives beyond measure. Daddy was so excited to have Timothy in our lives and had a chance to meet him one week before he went into the hospital. After he passed I was so honored to be asked to be Timothy's Godmother (we call me Fairy Godmother) because this little guy is so special to so many people. Since he came into our lives he has made myself and my husband Benjamin better people. My hubby will be an amazing father one day.

So as his Godmother I think that it is important that I help my cousin keep my father's memory alive. I decided that one of the best ways to do this is through my quilting. The Babylock Benjamin got me for Christmas is my favorite gift ever! I have been using it to embroider oneses and Tees for lil Timothy. I try to find images that remind me of Daddy like the deer on the right. Daddy loved hunting and fishing. He always said his favorite animal was a deer which I never understood because he hunted them but what do I know. Embroidering the oneses is a little challenging but I think I got the hang of it toward the end. I was so happy when Connie said Timothy was in need of short sleeve oneses.

Daddy was also very into his Harley Davidson Fatboy. It was his pride and joy in life even though he worked so much that he did not get to enjoy it so much and it gave us all heart failure when he rode it. He used to love to ride on Sound Avenue out east passed Lewin's Farms (which he loved) and Briermere Farms (which he also loved, there Blueberry Cream pie was Daddy's favorite). We actually find a cute little Catholic Cemetery very close to Sound Avenue for Daddy. We know he just loves it.

So when I found this design I knew I had to use it on something for Timothy. Although I don't think he will be allowed to ride a Harley like his Uncle Peter anytime soon.


My cousin Connie is a diehard Yankee fan and so was my father. One of Daddy and Connie's best memories is when Connie took him to Yankee Stadium to sit right behind the Yankee dugout. Daddy had every single snack he could; popcorn, nuts, hotdogs, etc. He was never one for words and he was always a bit of a grump but I think that this is one of Daddy's favorite memories with Connie. I can remember Daddy watching (and cursing at) the Yankees from as long as I can remember. Little Timothy is also a Yankee fan like his Mama. I wanted to incorporate this into his gift as well. In addition to personalizing this cute little Tee I got at TJ Max I made him this bib. The quote was inspired by a picture Connie put up of Timothy earlier. The bib was a big hit.

Becoming a Fairy Godmother has been a major milestone in my life. I am so honored to have been chosen for this from among all the people who hold Timothy in their heart. I take my job very seriously and I want Timothy to always know that Benjamin and I will always be here loving and supporting him. I believe that one of the most important jobs I have is to teach Timothy about his uncle Peter and how much he loves him. In his entire hospital stay Timothy's picture was close by. Daddy was so proud.

Although we cannot bring Daddy back it is our job to keep his memory and love alive in our lives. I know he visits often and keeps us safe.

Happy Quilting

-The Mad Quilter

April Showers

Wow, it seams like everyone at school is having a baby. My friend Shannon is due next month and she has decided to be surprised on the sex of the baby (Who does that now-a-days???). I knew I wanted to make her something special using my embroidery machine that she would love. All I knew was that her nursery was yellow and green with pictures of bunnies using pea pods as hammocks. I spent some time looking for something similar and I came up with nothing. Then we enjoyed a record amount of rain on Long Island and it got me thinking about spring and all the beautiful things that happen this time of year because of the rain. Her nursery colors also made me think of spring time. I found these designs on the embroiderylibrary.com and just totally fell in love. I knew they would be perfect. I also never made a quilt with only two colors before.

After I got 2 blocks done my Babylock decided that it no longer wanted to work. I tried everything I could with no success. I was so upset that I would have to be without my machine and would not get to finish my quilt. When I took my machine up to Pieceful Quilting, where I get all my machines, they not only took it in for service but let me take home the floor model so that I could finish my quilt. I was so grateful. It was so nice and it allowed me the time I needed to finish my embroidery. I will never buy a machine from another place. They are wonderful

I very much underestimated how long the embroidery would take me. Originally I thought I would only do 9 blocks. After the blocks were done I decided that it wasn't enough so I went on to make 16 blocks. So I spent the entire weekend changing threads in front of the BabyLock.

It was totally worth the time. For the designs that I repeated I tried to make the image a bit different using different colors. This was good practice for future quilts. I think that these images would make really great bath towels, especially in a kids bathroom or for spring kitchen towels. I think I will use these images many times in the future. I have another baby quilt to work on for another friend at work and I am planning to start the embroidery soon.

As I was constructing the quilt I came up with the theme of April Showers. I liked this not only because of the colors and images but for the symbolism behind it. Shannon is due in mid-May and her shower was in April. For many pregnancies there are many "showers" along the way but in the end you end up with something very beautiful.

Shannon loved her quilt so much that she put it up on the wall in the baby's room. I hope that it is something that she will enjoy with her family for years to come....

Happy Quilting

-The Mad Quilter