My Father in law just turned 80, a few days before Christmas. Back during the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop, I saw a
handprint pillow, and got the idea to make a whole quilt, not a pillow. Also, where she did machine applique, I chose to do hand applique instead.
I started by sending a letter, with a picture of Paige's handprint pillow (yes, I'd already asked Paige if I could use her idea), along with printer paper and self addressed, stamped envelopes, to return the handprint in.
When all the handprints were returned, I then traced them onto non-fusible interfacing. I stitched the interfacing to the fabric, and VERY CAREFULLY turned each finger/hand. That was the hard part, since there are so many curves.
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| finished handprint quilt |
Here are each of the blocks.
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| oldest son |
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| me, his wife |
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| 2nd son |
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| 2nd son's wife |
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| Buddy's wife (my mother in law) |
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| label block |
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| my father in law's brother |
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| brother's wife |
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| oldest grandson |
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| granddaughter |
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| grandson |
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| youngest granddaughter |
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| wife of youngest grandson (Connor) |
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| youngest grandson |
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| oldest granddaughter |
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| husband of Sarah |
Everyone with a handprint on the quilt was at the 80th Birthday party. What a great time, being able to get everyone together. It's been years and years since we could do this. I did get a picture of my father in law with the quilt, with his son's on either side of him.
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| John, Buddy, Kevin |
Talk about a special time. The first great-grandchild is due in February. As a special present to Buddy, he was the first one to know the baby's name. Buddy was presented with a snowman couple frame, with snowflakes around them. Each snowman and snowflake were labeled with the names of the family members. The center snowflake, between the snow couple, has the baby's name on it. Gwendolyn Avery.
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| all the family's names |
It has been suggested that I trace the baby's name, when she is born, and make a matching pillow. We'll see.....
And of course, what wasn't hand stitched, was pieced on a hand crank sewing machine. I had it professionally quilted.
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| 1927 Singer 15 hand crank |
