My first "Rag Trade" Quilt with backing, borders & quilting

 My husband really liked this quilt when he saw it - so I decided to give it to him!

Here it is still pinned to the wall in the Artist Habitat

The backing is pieced with the backs of men's cotton shirts

Tammy Hall did a great job quilting it!

How it all started back in Aug 2011 at the Artist Habitat in Morrisville, Vermont

This first project really helped me as an artist. It showed me that I don't need very much space to create.
Also, being out of my house also helped me focus on the work and gave me time to myself!

All the squares with most of the borders

Six squares done, ten more to go

Two squares

One log cabin square

Each square is made up of a red center, a 1" strip, a 2" strip and a 3" strip

The red square in the center traditionally symbolizes the heart of the home

Inside the Artist Habitat - just enough room for my sewing machine, iron, cutting board and a tall seat

All the fabrics came from repurposed men's cotton shirts - most from the Stowe Dump reuse area

Lots of shirts = lots of strips

The Habitat was painted on the outside (I miss my pear mug! Broke it last year)

   I liked watching folks drop off their mail in the drive up mailbox in front of the habitat. Two ladies stopped by on one of the 3 days I was in the habitat and asked if they could get a smoothie!  From a distance, they thought my sewing machine was a juicer!  

I also liked hearing the town clock ring every hour.

The Morristown Historical Society kindly let the habitat live on its front lawn that summer and I could run my extension cord to their outlet

Opening Soon - The Vermont Rag Trade

Brendan's Quilt

Welcome to The Vermont Rag Trade

Recipe: Take Men's Cotton Dress shirts from the Stowe Dump ReUse Room, cut them up and rearrange them into quilts!