My Quip – Hoveround – Lesson Learned

Good Day,

Getting The Pack prepped and ready for their morning scramble is at times quite a chore. Getting them to pay attention, get their business over and done, and keep them all walking in the same direction is certainly a mind-boggle when I haven’t fully awoken.

Well it is Monday morning and the street activity is enough to send one back to bed for at least another couple of days. First The Pack was interested; north, south, east, and west in a couple of cats meandering home from the nightly sojourns. Then the squirrels’ acrobatics in the oak trees heighten The Packs’ concentration. Next the neighbors seem to have all exited their homes at exactly the same time… a suburbia line up at the starting lines.

Three pickups of earlier riser appointments. Next the two riding lawnmowers chopping the week’s growth of green lawns. Now a school bus, empty but for its dry run of the start of the scholastic season.

The Pack is attentive and yapping at every and any distraction, while tangling my legs in the weaving of their leashes. Promise of a great breakfast does not hurry up Taylor, Bella, Tinker, and Radar. And then the topper… The Pack is astounded. The old Dude from a couple of streets over has traded in his three-wheeler and comes put-putting down the middle of the street, strapped into his new motorized Hoveround. He waves… The Pack howls. And I just shake my head. Good morning, and breakfast.

And what did my early morning comic adventure have to do with quilting? Lesson learned – Don’t wear 6-inch heels on one’s Hoveround… But it is just the start of another day into Andy’s and my throes in our learning and quilting experience. Enjoy,

Andy and Jim

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My Quip – Yes, There are More Muffins – And Quilts and Wall Hangings

Good Day,

The latest batch of muffins were supposed to be cranberry muffins… Instead they are cranraisin muffins. I ran out of regular white flour and so I substituted 1/3 of the required with whole wheat. Made a streusel topping with brown sugar, butter, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. And now I’ve learned that I like to make the big muffins. Difference, 3 cups versus 2 cups of flour products. Final dozen, not bad… Figured I’m saving about $20.00 each time I make a batch, as compared to picking one up at a neighborhood Wifi coffee shoppe. And we can have seconds.

Our quilt and wall hanging work is progressing.

I have to keep reigning myself in regards to the number of a drafts and new designs I have on tap. Looks like we have received five new commissions, and a possibility of two more.

Here is our current Quilts SB quilts and wall hangings in progress.

• The Amulet – In quilting stage
• Astro-Physics – Pieced and in design
• Blumish – Pieced and in design
• Mauk II – In construction
• Kumquat’s Lorax – In design
• Blue Chambray – Top completed
• I Really Love Lucy – In design
• Who Did Desi Adore? – Pieced and in construction
• Gunta Stölz – In design
• Rán – In design
• Joseph’s Coat – Top completed
• Joseph’s Ladder Pants – Pieced and in design
• Batique OM I - In construction
• Batique OM II – In construction
• Civil War Re-enactment II – In design
• Just Trees – In design and in construction
• Orange Peel Indian Summer – Top competed
• Hexi-Abuelita – In design
• Pocket Full of Miracles – In design
• Gran’s Reminiscences – In design
• Eagle – In design

Both Blue Memories and Savanna's Memories have been delivered to their new homes. Feedback has been tremendous and thrilling.

Andy and I attended the second organizational get-together of the West Florida/Tampa Bay Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) at the Westin Hotel on the Courtney Campbell Causeway last week. SAQA is a non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development and documentation. Our next meeting will be in October 2012. If you are interested please get in touch with me for details. Check out SAQA, Studio Art Quilt Associates.

Enjoy,

Andy and Jim

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My Quip – Two New Quilt and Wall-Hanging Designs Completed

Good Day and A Merry Christmas Eve,

Last night’s supper was a wee bit of a surprise to me; a Spicy Shrimp and Black Bean Corn Chowder. Pleasantly surprised. Onion and bird’s eye chilis; chicken broth and tomato purée. Corn, black beans, culantro, sugar, and salt. Filling and really, realy good.

We are all wrapped in fabric today. Dogwood Steps Quilt is off the Longarm and the binding has been attached. This is one enormous quilt. All-things-being-equal it is heavier than NC the Coast. And it looks fabulous.

The first strip of nine blocks, for our Blue Diamonds Quilt, has been completed. Thanks M for your comments and thoughts. We are both really pleased with the overall design.

I have completed a new design for the construction of a new Bargello quilt. The new quilt is called Rán… and no, not for Ran the movie. It is in thought of a Norwegian Sea Goddess. As we work on this quilt I will reveal bit-by-bit my reasons and warped thought process. Our target date for Rán is March.

I have also completed a new design for a completely new quilt which will, all-things-being-equal, be a new challenge for us. The thought for this wall-hanging is a mosaic-type quilt. It is of the American Eagle. All-things-being-equal we will try for completion in late spring.

The fabric for The Amulet is on the table. Next task is to scan all fabrics and rearrange those which will create The Amulet. Stay tuned for the updates.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Astro-Physics Quilt Construction Update - Christmas Quilt Sale

Good Day,

As I can write, I wonder if I am falling into the realm of “What did I forget now?” Radar just looks at me with a puzzled look when I pace the floor trying to remember that which I should not forget.

Yesterday when I posted My Quip and the Update I jotted down 10 points… I forgot a very critical one, the 11th – Our current Update to our Astro-Physics Quilt. (And yes it is listed on our To-Do List.)

I mentioned in previous Astro-Physics Postings on Quilts SB that we are going for 13 or 15 blocks or planets and stars, a number over the 11 on Jacqueline de Jonge’s original design. I think it is apropos to add the additions as in keeping with the astronomical discovery of the new and possible Earth-like clones and prospects.

Here are the two new blocks that will be added into our inspired design Astro-Physics.

There are 13 Christmas and Holiday Quilts remaining. Christmas Cosine is now at its new home in Seffner, Florida. For the short run, and if you interested, we’re offering a 20% Discount off the listed Sale Prices as posted on our Quilts SB Etsy shop. Please contact me either via email or via Quilts SB EtsyQuilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Blue Diamonds – Updates – Preparing for MQX 2012

Good Day,

Blue Diamonds is progressing very slowly. There are 1890 unique pieces. Each one of the 63 blocks is not, and I repeat not, a duplicate of each other. Hence there is one heck of a lot more time involved determining the color and shade combinations and mirror imaging for, and cutting and sewing each block.

Blue Diamonds is our original design inspired by the works of Paul Klee, especially his 1923 work "Twin Tents". At the moment, we haven't come up with a quilting design that would complement the embedding of the Blue Diamonds in each setting.

The above image is of scraps left over and cut from the fabric prepared for Blue Diamonds and settings. It looks like a deflated Piñata, or at least one that had had been its beatings.

Two new projects, currently underway, Dogwood Steps and Dino in the Window are in the quilting – waiting mode. The backings have been chosen and quilts – sandwiches are in progress.

The quilting design has been tossed around for our Mondrian I. Our hopes are to develop and affect that which will give the individual squares and rectangles in the design a quasi – beveled effect.

Our Civil War Reenactment I also is in line to be quilted. We will be developing and using the Baptist Fan method of quilting.

And of course we are creating our portfolio of quilts and wall hangings which we will be preparing for the Special Exhibit of our work at the MQX 2012 shows in Providence, Rhode Island and Portland, Oregon.

Christmas and Holiday Quilts are still available. If you are interested contact me by Facebook message or via email.

See My Quip or visit our Quilts SB Etsy site.

And do you need a new Quilt? Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy. Stay-tuned for an extra discount on Christmas Quilts available, after Thanksgiving. We are planning to start our 2012 Holiday line shortly.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Blue Diamonds Quilt - Original Design

Good Day,

Well 65 diamonds have been finished for our new and original quilt design; Blue Diamonds. Each blue diamond is unique and each has its own disposition. Oh, and we made two extra diamonds… Our quilt design is comprised of 63 blue diamonds; two extra for good luck.

And yes, there are shades of green in the diamonds… Here are three blue diamonds in the prep-stage…

How will we set each diamond? Well, you’ll just have to wait. Just a small clue… every blue diamond is going to have its own setting. Andy is painstakingly matching every point and horizontal line in each of each blue diamond’s setting.

My inspiration for Blue Diamonds is based on Paul Klee’s 1923 painting “Twin Tents”. It is currently in the Angela Rosengart Collection in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Including the setting, each Blue Diamond composition will result in about three times the approximate size of the individual diamond. You will have to wait. Another clue, "Fire".

We are really excited of this new design of ours… We have been discussing the quilting and the effects that we want to achieve.

It is 79°F, 26.1°C here in Tampa and there are black clouds in the sky. Storm’s a coming… Maybe? And do you need a new Quilt? Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy. Stay-tuned for an extra discount on Christmas Quilts available, after Thanksgiving. We are planning to start our 2012 Holiday line shortly.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – 14 Christmas and Holiday Quilts Remaining

Good Day,

There are 14 Christmas and Holiday Quilts remaining. All are looking for that place these Holidays under the Tree. Just think, the cold, cold of winter is quickly approaching… and you could be wrapped up in front of the fire place in your own Quilts SB Quilt.

Here are the images of the 14 Christmas and Holiday Quilts available.

Not Til D 25

Noël Diptych - closed

Noël Diptych - open

OP Noël II

OP Noël I

OP Ornament

Christmas Cosine

Christmas Day

Christmas Harlequin Plus

Noël Green Coins

Noël Red Coins

Christmas Packages I

Christmas Packages II

Moon Racer

PJ and Packages

Even though it is 79°F, 26.1°C here in Tampa, just think of the Holiday cheer that accompanies a new Quilt. Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy. Stay-tuned for an extra discount on Christmas Quilts available, after Thanksgiving. We are planning to start our 2012 Holiday line shortly.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Caedogán Rugs – Astro-Physics Quilt's 6th Star Cluster

'Hand' A Ceadogán Rug from A&E on Vimeo.

Good Day,

I’m always looking and surfing the Internet, books, magazines, shows, and wherever looking for ideas for Andy’s and my quilt inspirations. And I stumbled upon the work of Caedogán Rugs; an Irish company run by husband and wife, Denis Kenny and Fiona Gilboy. This company specializes in producing contemporary gun-tufted rugs and wall hangings. Very slick…

And we can only dream; big…

The next circular block for our Astro-Physics Quilt has been completed and is ready. To date six have are in the state of readiness. See previous Astro-Physics postings in Quilts SB.

It is 81°F, 27.2°C here in Tampa. We have quilts. The Holidays are just around the corner. Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy. Stay-tuned for an extra discount on Christmas Quilts available, after Thanksgiving. We are planning to start our 2012 Holiday line shortly.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - MQX East 2012 - Evolution

Good Day,

The MQX East 2012 Catalog Viewer is now available.

Check out Page 10/6 of the MQX East 2012 Catalog. Evolution is coming.

It is 27°F, -3°C in Kamloops, British Columbia... but not here in Tampa, and we're the ones with the quilts. The Holidays are just around the corner. Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - 1st Civil War Reproduction Quilt Design Update

Good Day,

And then there is our 1st Civil War Reproduction (CWR) quilt design, sort of... The top has been finished. The design is our original creation using two of the images as labeled Civil War Era blocks as taken from the Civil War Period Quilt Blocks Collection located at American Greetings Webshots. The constructed blocks, as located in Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns, Breckling Press, 2009, are identified as the Flagstones; composed of two Nine-Patch blocks and two Snowball blocks; and as the Yankee Puzzle block.

Here is a sneak preview of our 1st CWR.

Now comes the issue. Per Jinny Beyer’s book the Flagstones’ design is identified from the Ladies Art Company of 1928. The other block pattern, the Yankee Puzzle, is identified from the Ladies Art Company of 1897. I learned that the Civil War occurred during the years 1861 through 1865. The issue is not a critical one, but as Jinny Beyer writes:

“I found very few patterns in printed form prior to about 1850, though history has left behind quilts that show blocks were sewn before their designs were ever published.”

And the circular rulers have arrived. I will discuss round rulers in my next update.

Remember the cold of winter is fast approaching, but not here in Tampa. The Holidays are just around the corner. Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Tampa Lightning Update - MQX 2012

Good Day,

I have been in a daze this past week, and haven't written anything to either of my Blogs, Quilts SB or A Genealogy Hunt.

And yes, I can see you nodding your heads agreeing that my being in a daze is just the norm, but this past week after finding out that Andy and I will be exhibiting at both Machine Quilt Exhibition (MQX) Shows in 2012, you can just imagine... April in Providence, Rhode Island, and October in Portland, Oregon. And the Special Exhibit, to be titled "Evolution" will be a display of a collection of 20-plus of our quilts. And you can just picture my minuscule pea-brain working overtime.

Well, the design and construction for Tampa Lightning top is continuing. We are both very pleased with the effect that the 21 fabrics are going to produce. It is appears that it is going to be a large quilt.

 

Tampa Lightning is an adaptation and inspired from a Kaffe Fassett quilt creation called Lightning Quilt. The Fassett Lightning is composed of 11 fabrics; his designs. Our Tampa Lightning will be a construction of 21 batik fabrics in an attempt to capture the dramatic shows of electric forks across the Tampa Bay sky. As previously mentioned, another comparative difference is that Kaffe Fassett's design is based on the use of templates. Ours isn’t.

Remember the cold of winter is fast approaching. The Holidays are just around the corner. Give a Quilt for the Holidays. Check out our posted On Sale and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – A New Quilt – Tampa Lightning

Good Day Again,

We’ve started another new quilt. This time, in the first round, the name of this quilt is proposed to be Tampa Lightning. And no it has nothing to do with hockey or the Forum in downtown Tampa. Once you see it, which of course it is in its draft design right now, you may think of the weather and atmospheric disturbances in the Tampa Bay area during the summer time.

Tampa Lightning is an adaptation and inspired from a Kaffe Fassett quilt creation called Lightning Quilt. The Fasset Lightning is composed of 11 fabrics; his designs. Our Tampa Lightning will be a construction of 21 batik fabrics in an attempt to capture the dramatic shows of electric forks across the Tampa Bay sky. Another variance is that his pattern design is based on the use of templates. Ours isn’t.

Here are images of some of the fabrics strips that will be incorporated into Tampa Lightning.

Remember the cold of winter is fast approaching. The Holidays are just around the corner. A Quilt has to be on your list of “need-to-haves”. (Or even a neck-tie, J?) Check out our posted and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Dogwood Steps Update - Progress

Good Day,

The top of Dogwood Steps quilt is just about 99% completed. This is a stunning quilt. We are both extremely pleased at the symbiotic relationship of the fabrics.

Dogwood Steps currently is measuring 100” by 100”, 254 cms square. All top pieces, minus the binding have been sewn.

You can see a preview of the bolts of the two fabrics at My Quip.

Stay tuned to see our final design and construction. This will be a beautiful quilt. You may be astounded.

We are always looking for new designs and quilt challenges. If you are interested in commissioning your quilt please contact us.

Check out our newly posted Twisted Basket and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Dogwood Steps Quilt - Progress Update

Good Day,

We are working on a new commissioned quilt, Dogwood Steps.

Dogwood Steps will be a California King-sized quilt and a large under-taking. The design of this new quilt will be based on our quilt, Coral Steps. Coral Steps is our adaptation and inspired by the works of quilt artist Yoshiko Jinzenji.

Preliminarily the quilt top will be about 100” (254 cms) square. The Dogwood Steps quilt top will be constructed of 1,188 pieces from two fabrics. The 1,188 pieces will make 46 rows of pieced squares in a “step-progression”, either vertically or horizontally.

You can see a preview of the bolts of the two fabrics at My Quip.

Stay tuned to see our final design and construction. This will be a beautiful quilt. You may be astounded.

We are always looking for new designs and quilt challenges. If you are interested in commissioning your quilt please contact us.

Check out our newly posted Twisted Basket and our currently available quilts at Quilts SB Etsy.

Also check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested, and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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