Recently in Custom quilts Category

It's exciting to be working with the charming original artwork of East coast artist Melody Lea Lamb.

An award-winning illustrator, Melody has the uncanny ability to capture the animal's soul in her more than 200 colored pencil drawings and miniature art of domestic and wild animals.

I'm currently working with Melody to identify a series of animals from which Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Gifts customers will be able to select and design your own baby quilts, throws and bedding quilts.

We know from the first two test rabbit quilt blocks, these quilts will wonderfully reflect the charm of Melody's original art and bring the joy of animals into your home decor.

We'll be printing Melody's original artwork onto fabric blocks, like we currently do with original photos and other mementos.

I'm testing possible layouts for the blocks, all designed to frame and highlight the charm of the art.

Right now I'm focused on a rabbit theme; I also have my eye on a series of cat blocks, and another series of wildlife blocks.

With art so cute and charming, it's hard not to want to  use them all.

Melody has also started an interesting collaboration with a custom fabric company, which is now featuring one of these charming rabbits in fabric.


(You bet I have my eye on that bunny fabric, too!)

Melody also offers these charming designs on her own website as original tiny art in a variety of forms, including pillows, stamps and buttons.

Great gift ideas for special occasions, including Christmas!

The site visitor was charming on the phone, calling before 6 am to ask if she paid us a "rush" fee, could we get a custom quilt started and finished for her in a week.

It wasn't that we didn't want to help but making a double wedding ring quilt, one of the hardest patchwork quilt designs, in a week is just not possible. It takes an average of 3 specialists to make one quilt, and at that we get them made in as little as 3 months - less if the quilt is simpler.

"So how come I read some people can make a quilt in a week" she persisted.

If the quilt is a simple enough pattern - large fabric blocks, for example, it's conceivable a quilt can be started and finished in a week but this was not the kind of quilt the caller was interested in.

Bluebird Gardens custom quilts, as most quilts do, go through at least 8 steps in the process of getting made:

1. Finalizing details including quilt size, design, fabric colors, getting photos to be used on photo memory quilts, and final price, including a deposit.

2. Quilt materials get laid out and photographed for a final look prior to starting.

3. Quilt pieces are cut and sewn together to make the quilt top.

4. Pieced quilt top gets embroidered.

5. Quilt top is quilted.

6. Quilt top is "bound" to finish edges.

7. Quilt label and any other embellishments are added.

8. Quilt is photographed and wrapped for shipping.

9. Finished quilt is shipped usually two-day priority mail with quilt care guide.

If you're planning on getting a custom quilt made, regardless of who's making it, plan on at least 3 months; in some cases, there's a year waiting list, sometimes longer, especially if you want the quilt hand quilted.

A good, detailed custom handmade quilt takes a little time to make, and from the comments we get, is well worth the wait.


 

"...I follow you on Facebook and wondered why you show other people's quilts and not just your own? Aren't you helping your competition?....I don't quilt but I love quilts!"

Hi Amy,

Here's the magical thing about quilts. You change one color and the design can look completely different so I enjoy seeing what other quilters are doing.

Maybe it's because I'm a gardener but I always start thinking about colors to help give a quilt it's tone - elegant, country - and my favorite customer adjective - "squishy."

Quilts are a form of art because each quilter brings their point of view, taste in design and color, and in some cases, life experiences; each quilt is reflecting that quilter's talent, perspective and sense of drama, or humor.

Since I specialize in designing custom quilts, I not only appreciate what other quilters do but every little nuance inspires me. You're enjoying seeing the quilts, aren't you?

It's not competition at all, it's professional admiration!

This is another set of kid's artwork that I transferred to fabric blocks to become a custom quilt for a Michigan school fund-raiser:

I have a 50 x 60 cotton throw that looks like it is hand
embroidered with our courthouse picture, statutes and other county symbols
on with lettering for each in red and white.  Do you know what it could be
worth and how to get more made?


Hi Jan,

Sounds like you're talking about custom throws woven on a loom
representing local landmarks.

Here's one example:

http://www.presspublications.com/weekly-features/168-people/3352-landmarks-featured-in-full-color-cotton-throw

There are companies who make these by scanning in photos and producing
these to your specifications.

If the throw is really hand embroidered, then someone locally used a
similar process of printing off landmarks to make a pattern, then adding
embroidery.

Hand-embroidered throws are much more valuable, especially if they are
signed and dated. You can contact Julie at the Quilt Complex for an
appraisal.

Best regards,

Charlotte
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com
Custom Quilts and Gifts

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PS I did a quick online search; looks like Signature Creations makes these quilts.

This is one of my all-time favorite projects, printing original children's artwork onto printable fabric blocks so they can be made into charming quilts.

These custom quilts have been very successful as school fund-raising projects and retirement gifts.

This set of jungle animals will become a quilt for a school fund-raising project:

"My boyfriend and I are going to a very posh wedding in June, and the bride
and groom have absolutely everything already.   They both are quite
wealthy.  (This is also the second time around for both of them).

My boyfriend and I are definitely Not Wealthy, but want to get them a
special gift.  You see, my boyfriend and the groom)have been big buddies
since childhood.

I thought about a wedding ring quilt.  My boyfriend's brother is a Lawyer, and he
will be chipping in for the gift also.

I looked at your prices.  What does 'Unfinished' mean?  I do have friends
who sew, I'm sure they could help me.

Anyway, I look forward to your reply.

The couple's interests inlude boating, fishing, cats, sailing and they have
two cottages.

By the way, I keep trying to get the ladybug off of my screen. Thanks for any help or advice you can give..."

 

Hi Beth,

Double wedding ring quilts are great wedding gift ideas for any couple. We've
been making and selling them for 11 yrs, with several dozen going to very
wealthy weddings.

We have both very high quality, ready-made, imported double wedding ring
quilts, and some we make ourselves.

Usually people like to have the couple's name and wedding date added so
sometimes we have unfinished, pieced quilt tops where embroidery can be
added before the quilt is machine quilted and finished.

If you order a custom quilt by the end of March, we could still get one
done for you by June.

One very nice option is to order a throw size quilt - it's the size you
curl up with on a sofa or throw over a chair. It can still have the
couple's name and wedding date on it without being very expensive - it
really is the thought that counts. We have this one ready to personalize
and ship:

http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=1187

Another option is to get one of our charming sleeping cats quilts. We are
the only company making them and that would be especially touching to them
if they have cats - many people forget to celebrate pets in a wedding and
that can be a very special gift:

http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=179

We can make these in both throw and regular bed size. My favorite is the
pillow that turns into a throw:

http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=1432

If you want something that costs less, there's always our best-seller
country double wedding ring quilt or throw:

http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=390

And then there are double wedding ring pillows:

http://www.bluebirdgardens.com/?realm=Home&page=Store+Item&product_id=636

If you have any other questions, please let me know!


Best regards,

Charlotte
http://www.bluebirdgardens.com
Making life easier. Custom quilts, gifts, gardening...

PS Aren't ladybugs fun???!

 

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