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Congratulations to you & your husband. I like your idea for a family tree quilt. Here is a site that has various quilts that might help you decide.
http://boltonphoenixtheatre.com/f... One is very similar to your idea & uses fabric from clothes. Have you given any thought to using a pre-printed family tree panel in case you run short of time? Search ebay & etsy for family tree quilt panels. You could do patchwork to surround the panel & when quilted, they are very pretty.
Another idea for you is for a wall hanging to go with your quilt. I have always admired these embroidery designs from Laura's Sewing Studio. They could convey an expression of your deep faith & your husband's love of gardening.
https://www.laurassewingstudio.co...
I know whatever you choose to do will turn out lovely.
4315I know how hard decision making is, that's my biggest hurdle to getting anything done. I love the colorful border you've started in the drawing. I'm sure whatever you choose is going to turn out great.
11468Have you thought about having your children & grandchildren who are old enough write something to him or the both of you on one of the plain white blocks? For the little ones who can't write yet you could do a hand print. That way all the family would be involved. Could you keep it a secret?
by toogie
31 May 2018
We are trying to keep it secret. I have seen the hand print one. A friend of ours, showed us one their children surprised them with for their anniversary. What pen do you use to hold up in washing and also won't bleed when you write. They appliqued by hand the hands. If I remember hands were done in gingham on a white block with gingham sashing.
by rachap
31 May 2018
Pigma Pens are what most of the quilters here use.They are usually available at quilt stores or Michaels, Hobby Lobby,etc.
by killiecrankie
31 May 2018
Remember to iron (heat set) anything you use pigma pens on.They are used by cloth doll makers for drawing faces on the dolls.
8227LOVE THIS!!! I reckon you should use this as the centre-piece of your quilt - and do the 12 squares etc. around it. Whatever you decide it will be wonderful. Love Chris
by toogie
31 May 2018
I sure could free motion quilt a tree wall hanging, better than a tree in center of a big quilt if I quilt it, it will be quilted on my regular machine....I could handle that better....my sister suggested the X and O pattern as it goes together fast. I would still have the problem of my written blocks....I could do an Irish chain and get all the info in on a quilt but it will be almost all white. That would let me do just the tree for a wall hanging....I'm about to just give up!
234253I remember you mentioned it in November last year. It is difficult to make a decision, but time has a habit of running out. Scary, is not it. But I am sure whatever you decide it will be lovely.
When I had just made my parents' quilt I only saw flaws, now I see the love that went into it and the story behind it. So I hope you can enjoy making it and be happy with every square you work on. You always make beautiful colour choiches and have perfect results. This will be no differeent, I am sure!!
by toogie
31 May 2018
Oh mops, if I could just get started!!!
It's not that I am hard to please. It is the total opposite. I like them all!!! Also, I want him to like it!!!
145191Ha, ha. My head is spinning just reading all that is going on in your head. Can;t wait to see what you decide. I am absolutely no help.
by crafter2243
30 May 2018
Ha, ha. I can offer my house, so you can work in peace without your husband finding out.
by toogie
edited 31 May 2018
I'm on my way!!-lol -You think you're spinning , maybe that's why I have vertigo, my thoughts are too jumbled!!!
109762313824Chris, first I need to say I need a box of colors!-
I sketched this out and started coloring to see if I liked this lattice border around the edge of the tree panel. (Just don't count my squares as I should have had 8 inside the panel not 9. )
I don't know if I should put the tree on the quilt, not the wall hanging, and do the rest of the quilt in lattice with all the info there in the white strips? ... I NEED AN ASPIRIN !
109041Hi Toogie, I like the idea of having a small wall hanging with the family history on there. There are so many designs on Google, I just had a look and there are fabulous ones on there.
I personally prefer the design in Number 5 picture as having a lot of white would be great for people's names to show up. You don't want it to be too busy, as you say you'd get dizzy looking at! I can't wait to see what you come up with.
Easiest way would be to do individual blocks and that way you can do them really fast. Love Chris
by toogie
30 May 2018
#5 and #6 are the same-she just was showing how she made a stack of them for the swap. #6 shows all the blocks together forms a lattice.
I don't think I can get all the info dates and all on the wall hanging-lol-we will see...
by toogie
edited 30 May 2018
I think the tree, with blocks framed around ,will be too large for the wall hanging where I need it to go......The one I have now measures 24 inch x 40 inch. My tree panel measure 24 x 36. Maybe I could put a row at the top and bottom only, of multi-color but I really like the lattice colored border all the way around.
234253Toogie, I think I would make a wall hanging with everyone's names and info. THEN, a second quilt for your bed: make the Irish Chain Quilt that would just have yours and hubby's info on it -- whatever you had put on the wall hanging -- and then add the rest of the info into the bed quilt. YouTube has several Irish Chain Quilt Borders that you could pick for your quilt and you could add more info there. Best of luck and an early Happy Anniversary! Topcat5
by toogie
30 May 2018
Thanks topcat5. I drew and colored in a little...may show up at top later. I don't have a photo dl yet...
1931I really like the tree idea, but it sure looks like a lot of work to me and it would be hard to "hide" something this big without him noticing. I also like the 5th block. If you make the center solid, you could make each block special for each family member. Or, put words/photos in the center describing your life together like vacations or special events. It would be easy to hide each block as you worked on it too.
I think the hardest thing is this part...figuring out what to do. You are a very creative person and your mind must be flooded with great ideas! Start stitching girl! I want to see the finished quilt!
by toogie
30 May 2018
I think the hardest to hide will be when I start to quilt. The kids will either have to-do jobs for him to go check out, so I can work on it or do what I can, when he is in the garden, etc....
He would enjoy hand quilting with me but I rather machine quilt it and try to still surprise him. When I can get the top done and get it pinned to batting and backing, I can take it all over to my daughters and work on it there. I can always say I have to go babysit.....
33640I really like the irish chain look IF the chains are white and rest colorful, but then there is no room for family info, is there?
If I did make the irish chain with white chains and colorful blocks it would go faster, cutting quilting, I am thinking. Just how would I make a border with info? Also, what do do with the wall hanging???
I think I would like this and he would have mismatched blocks. I could frame out the tree with the colorful blocks, not necessarily the white chain...but then what about the quilt?/
See... my mind won't stop over thinking....
by toogie
31 May 2018
Oh bless you mops.....I drew a smaller one too, maybe use as the wall hanging....
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