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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Blue Willow Teapot Quilts

I love all things blue and white. Raised by a mother obsessed with Blue Willow China, I naturally picked up the eye for seeking out chards of blue and white china poking out of sale boxes under tables at garage sales and antique shops. To celebrate my mother's collection I made a few Blue Willow teapot quilts featuring Kay Mackenzie's wonderful Appliqued Teapots. The result was this little wall hanging. I gave this quilt to my friend Gail to thank her for helping me finish up a series of these in time to attend the International Willow Collector's Society annual convention, where I sold these. My mother has been gone for many years now, but my sister inherited her collection and still attends the IWCS meetings. I go along now and then just to sate my blue and white fix.

It was fun to find fabrics that would go with the blue willow fabric I purchased (Lakehouse produced a willow print in several color ways a few years back and I bought a bolt of it!) It also gave me a chance to use some of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine to quilt these little quilts.

I enjoyed combining elements from other patterns or inventing my own elements to embellish these quilts. I especially like using gold thread for some of the decorative stitching.

The quilts with the "welcome" headings were the most popular and I sold quite a few of them. I did a number of custom quilts in special sizes or colorways (including pink willow and blue with yellow) for specific collectors.

If you are a willow collector and would like a Willow Teapot Quilt, I still have a few left -- or could make up one just for you!
They were such fun, and gave me a chance to enjoy the memories I shared with my mother, all those years ago.

This is a quilt I made in honor of my mother's love of blue willow. That is a picture of her in the center, printed on fabric, holding her favorite teapot. Don't you love the little tea bags in the corners? This quilt was a round robin and several friends put rounds of teapot inspired motifs around the center block.

I just finished this quilt this winter, and it hangs in my sewing room to remind me of where my love of blue and white came from. How about a cup of tea?
I hope you have beautiful things in your life that reminds you of your family and friends.

20 comments:

  1. These Blue Willow pieces are beautiful. You always do such nice work. I'll miss seeing your projects at retreat this year!
    I collect teapots too but mine are not the same pattern/colorway...I have a Wicked Witch of the East one, a Pillsbury Dough Boy, some Mary E's...all different ones....
    Have a nice Sunday.
    Peggy

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  2. Love these blue willow teapots, I have a few (cheap) real ones. I might have to make a few fabric ones to go with them.

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  3. These make me think of my grandma who always serves me coffee in her blue willow set. I love the quilts.

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  4. Ah, I already thought the little individual quilts were neat, but that quilt with the photo of your mom just really made your post. I can just imagine how wonderfully it graces your home and blesses your days !
    Thank you for sharing the photos and story.

    ...dotty...

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  5. Delightful Quilt & great story. Thanks so much for sharing and for participating in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  6. beautiful quilts. I too love blue and white, but have gone more the Delft ware.

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  7. Now I am inspired...such lovely details. I am being random about where to visit...so many entries, but the lovely name of your blog grabbed my attention and I was not at all disappointed...glories do reside here.

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  8. My grandma's plates are like that!

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  9. Delightful quilts. The one with your mother's picture is lovely.

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  10. I have the remainder of my great grannies wedding set. And I have been collecting blue china 26 years. Would love for you to contact me about a wall hanging

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  11. I love it! So pretty and different. :)

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  12. This is so sweet. I love the blue willow look of this.

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  13. These are beautiful. I love the last one.

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  14. I am a third generation blue willow collector, and a quilter as well. These precious creations evoke memories of comfort and love. Your choices and combinations of fabrics is wonderful!!

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  15. iam from india,i love blue pottery.wish i had a quilt like this one day.your works are so beautiful.basically iam a cross stitcher.i have stitched chinese designs in blue and white.

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  16. Great collection of teapots. It looks awesome.. I have also blue pottery, really beautiful. Much Appreciated.....

    Blue Willow China

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  17. Aussie Lyn is interested in purchasing one of your Willow Quilts. Yesterday celebrated my 60th birthday with a total Willow theme party for 60 guests. Can you give me some idea what one of your beautiful quilts would cost for various sizes please?

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  18. Dear Aussie Lyn, if you will send me your email at reezehanson at hotmail dot com I will be happy to send you a size and price list. thanks so much for your interest in these fun quilts

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  19. I would love to find out how much you would charge for a small blue willow wall hanging for my kitchen. I have an asian house and a set of blue willow dishes.

    PC

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  20. Dear Anonymous, I charge $150-$200 to do a custom made quilt to your specifications. You can choose among the styles I have already made or we can create a design to fit your tastes, style, and space. Email me if you would like to discuss it further. reezehanson AT hotmail.com

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I'd love to know what you think! Thanks for sharing your ideas.