102 (addendum): My Granny Loves Amish

 We found this mural in the Tower District of Fresno by accident. I think it warrants a photo all by itself. 

Quilt Name: My Granny is Amish

Completed in 2012

248. Friendly Faces 3.0

 Here we are again with a third iteration of Friendly Faces. When I made the Bound quilt, I trimmed off large triangles from the roof of each house. They were large enough that I knew I had to find a use for them. I still had some of a favorite background fabric (by Victoria Findlay Wolfe, sadly no longer available--but I used it in three quilts so I figure I got very good use from it). 

After using it with the triangles, I used the remaining scraps to surround more Friendly Faces. When I finally ran out of the background print, I made the rest of the squares using solid white in the center, surrounded by colorful solids.

It was definitely a "use it up" kind of project, which made me super happy. It needed a fun border and I found these colorful dots in my stash (I'm having the best time using what I already have rather than purchasing anything new).

I used this quilting design on Friendly Faces 2, and really liked it, so here it is again.

Another fun find for the backing. 

I'm so happy with this quilt. 

Quilt Name: Friendly Faces 3.0

Quilt Pattern: Original

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Darby Myers

Completed 2023

Size: 46" x 52"

Gifted to Brittany Daddino, NP

247. Bound

 Our very dear friend, Jessie, got married in January 2023 to a really wonderful guy, Timothy. They are both Disney fans. In fact, their ceremony took place at the Disney Grand Californian Hotel. It was a very small ceremony (Mark and I would love to have crashed it, but we did not.) They even had their wedding photos taken inside the park. 

For their wedding quilt, I used a pattern (Quilt Fort) by Laura Loewen, and used a stack of beautiful fabrics I had hoarded for a long time (Modern Solids by Alissa Haight Carlton--I wish they were still available).

I made the entire quilt top at our annual quilting retreat at my friend's cabin near Yosemite. We always drape completed quilt tops over the railing, and I can tell you that it has been years since I have had a finished quilt top to hang on the railing!

Darby used a Mickey/Minnie design. So perfect. And cute!

How cute is this fabric (waiting in my stash for the perfect project)!

I'm particularly pleased with the name of the quilt, Bound, and the symbolism it represents. Jessie and Timothy are now bound together in love. 

Also, as they frequently go to Disneyland, they do something called Disney Bounding. So the quilt name serves a dual purpose. It is also why I used a Disney font. What is Disney Bounding, you ask? You are not allowed to wear a costume into the park if you are over 14 years of age. So fans emulate a character with regular clothing. See how cute they are as Rex and Hamm from Toy Story. 

We took the quilt downtown and photographed it in front of these cool metal sculptures called Acero Picado by Gordon Huether. They have long been on my list.

Jessie and Timothy were scheduled to have lunch with us on their way to the mountains for the weekend, but Timothy had to stay home due to illness. But it was so much fun giving Jessie the quilt in person. (I think she likes it...)

We are so happy for the two of them. 

Quilt Name: Bound

Quilt Pattern: Quilt Fort by Laura Loewen

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Darby Myers

Size: 60" x 65"

246. Italia

Most years, we met our friends, Ingrid and Russel, at the coast in fall. One year, Ingrid showed me this photo she had taken of some tile in Italy. She thought I could maybe use it as quilt inspiration. She was right about that! Robert Kaufman had just come out with a lot of new solid colors and I had a fat quarter bundle. I chose the brightest and began making blocks.

This was a project I took to many, many quilting retreats. When I was bored with whatever other project I had brought along, I would make one or two of these blocks. There were times that I did not think I would ever complete this quilt.

I love the way the blocks form a secondary design--a fun surprise. I decided it needed a black border to tone down the bright colors, and I extended one of the circles into the corner. 

I had been waiting to use this Tula Pink dripping roses print, and the bright colors are just perfect for this quilt.

I found the most perfect stripe in my stash for the binding.

We drove around downtown trying to find a suitable mural. I had seen pictures of this hummingbird, but the fence got in the way. And besides, it was too small. 

We drove around some more, and serendipitously found this one. Absolutely perfect!

Quilt Name: Italia

Quilt Design: Original (based on old Italian tile)

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Darby Myers

Mural Artist: Jorge Guillen

Completed: 2023

Size: 60" x 72"

245. Pineapple Perfection

 Pineapple Perfection is the first quilt I have ever made using scraps. To clarify, I have made a lot of scrappy quilts. But this is the first quilt made from a bag of scraps. There is a difference. :) It was a complete joy to make! Knowing that I was going to use whatever scrap I grabbed from the bag, I chose to have a consistent center (red with white polka dots) and background (another favorite, Hello Bear by Bonnie Christine). I ordered the foundation papers from Amber Johnson of Gigi's Thimble. 

These blocks were slow going, as there were so many rounds (57 pieces in each block). I took my bag of scraps to at least four, maybe five, different quilting retreats.

See that little scrap to the right of the center? It is something I received years ago from Amanda Jean Nyberg. I have kept it pinned to my design wall this whole time, just waiting for the perfect project. 

It didn't matter what fabrics I used--each block "worked."  I tried not to repeat any fabrics, although I think there are maybe two or three repeats. But I dare you to find them. :)

For something fun, I made one block using solid scraps.

I had this great fabric in my stash and it was just enough for the backing. I did order the black and white check for the binding.

Amber sent enough foundation papers for 36 blocks, but I knew I didn't want a square quilt, so I only made 30 blocks. But I sure had enough scraps to make all 36!

I really wanted to photograph this quilt with the iconic Fresno postage stamp mural in the background, but to get the whole mural in, the quilt is dwarfed.

We drove around downtown Fresno and found this perfect mural at the African American Museum.

Quilt Name: Pineapple Perfection

Design by: Traditional design, foundation paper pieces from Gigi's Thimble

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Darby Myers

Size: 60" x 72"

Completed: 2023