Quilt Organization

I have added 12 labels to my quilts in the last few days! I thought you might like a little behind the scenes peek. I have a very simple way of keeping track of my quilts.

I have two notebooks...a small purple one, which is actually one of those old Plan Bee systems. I've taken most of the parts out and just use it for my Works In Progress List and my Finished Quilts list.

The Works In Progress system is very basic. I write down the name of the quilt and have columns on the right side labeled Start/Finish, Piecing, Borders, Backing, Quilt, Binding and Label. As I finish each step I check it off and add a date. When I finish a quilt I use the yellow highlighter to mark all the steps. I got this idea from an old friend a very long time ago. I am so glad I kept up with it all these years. A few times in the past I thought I would transfer it to a document on the computer but I really like my plain old graph paper and pencil!

The second part of the purple binder is the Finished Quilts List. Here, I note the number and name of the quilt as it is finished. I started this list a long time ago too. I remember trying so hard to remember the quilts I'd done and in what order. Back then, I'd only done about 20 quilts and I still had to think real hard! Now, my list is up to 120! I also note whether I have taken a picture of the quilt and if I have already made a label.

I  have a large three ring binder with pictures and a write up about each quilt. This is still a work in progress. I include all kinds of things...size, materials, pattern, inspiration, who the quilt was made for and remembrances of the time I was working on the quilt.

I always tell new quilters about this system in hopes that they will keep up with their work too. Of course, I have instructed my daughter and son where to find all this information if something should happen to me! I've spent over 20 years of my life making all these quilts and I want to at least look like I had some sense of organization!

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I keep track of my quilts. I also hope it will inspire you to start keeping some kind of quilt journal. You don't have to start at the beginning...just open up a notebook and start writing!

More labels!

Five new labels! I decided it was about time to get some labels on my quilts! 

A Projek

Mommy found a cool project for us to do!

Some crayons, a canvas, glue and a hair dryer!

The Tootie Girls sorted the crayons into color groups.

 And handed the crayons to Mommy so she could glue them on the canvas.

All done with that part...

Blowing the crayons witht the hair dryer...look what's happening!

Wow! That was fun! 

Rick Rack In The Binding

I put the binding on this quilt last week. Big squares of brushed cottons, nice and warm!

I added some rick rack in the binding.

It wasn't hard to do and it turned out so cute!

Kansas City Star 2010 Block Of The Month

The Kansas City Star has started a new Block Of The Month. On the third Tuesday of each month a new block will be offered on the website. It looks like fun!

What is this, you might wonder? It's a 3/4" hole punch used for scrapbooking. I don't do scrapbooking but...

I do have to cut out lots of little berries for my applique. 179 to be exact! This little tool sure made quick work of that.

And, this is what a snowy evening in Texas looks like. Can you believe it snowed all day? We got nine inches! That is a record snowfall for our area.

An Experiment

There were some excellent ideas in the comments for the Labels, Labels, Labels post! Sew Create It Jane mentioned she has a hard time coming up with names for her quilts. I have a trick I'd like to share with you!

First, pick up a magazine (not quilt related), get a pencil and some paper. Next, flip through the pages of the magazine jotting down any ideas for names you see. That could be titles of articles, words from advertisements, names of places or even recipe titles. Don't stop to think about this step...just write!

I'm using a Better Homes and Gardens magazine. This is my list:

Trail Blazer (this is from an ad for a car!)
Celebration (the name of a town in Florida)
Choosing Sides (the title of an article about side dishes)
Making Memories (an article about making holiday cards)
Lullaby Baby (name of a flower)
Black Eyed Stella (also a flower)
Starstruck (a flower too!)
Cookies and Cocoa (what else?)

Now, think about quilts that could go with the names.

Trailblazer could be a quilt with Drunkard's Path or Snail's Trail blocks.

Celebration might fit with a Christmas quilt or for a birthday gift. Also use this name for patriotic red, white and blue quilts.

Choosing Sides would be a good name for a Night and Noon or a Log Cabin quilt. Or maybe a black and white quilt.

Making Memories sounds like it goes with a photo quilt or an album block with signitures.

Of course, Lullaby Baby is for a baby quilt.

Black Eyed Stella would be great with bright fabrics and a black background or maybe a quilt with Sunflower blocks.

How about Starstruck for a Sawtooth Star quilt? Or, a quilt with star themed fabrics.

Cookies and Cocoa would be a good name for a predominently brown and beige quilt made with homespun plaids.

I'm sure you can see where I am going with this little experiment. It's really not hard to name your quilts. Book titles, chapters, names of plants or flowers, songs, recipes or favorite sayings can give you great ideas!

Now I keep a little notebook to write down inspiring names whenever I see them. I also collect special quotes that might relate to quilting. Try it and have fun!