Tuesday, April 16, 2013

A Stitched Typography Quilt & Family Photoshoot : :

A little more that a week ago we took a quick drive out to Cherry Springs State Park for a new quilt photo-shoot and some Sunday fun. It was a sweatshirt warm afternoon, but up in the woods there were still a few lingering piles of snow that we knew the kids would love to play in. If photographing in a field of newly bloomed flowers isn't possible, at least the ashy forest of a late-to-arrive Potter County Spring would match my neutral quilt well!

A Typography Quilt

This quilt is a new favorite of all of ours, which is a surprise for how much we all love color! It's made in the quilt-as-you-go style I shared here, in shades of blacks, greys, creams, and whites, with some stitched typography using the built-in letter stitches my Janome offers, as well as some fun applique using Melody's Typewriters!

Bound in Aqua Pezzy Print

From the beginning I had planned to bind it in a black & white stripe, but in the end this aqua Pezzy print won out! The back is finished with a one yd cut of Silver Crosshatch from Angela's new Textures collection for AGF and a modge podge of a few other large cuts of black, greys, and whites that I had in my stash.

Textures by Angela Walters

Typography Quilt Back

You can find this full quilt tutorial on the Janome site, in their Project Center here.  I really hope you check it out, and if you do give this tutorial a go at anytime, be sure to share on my Facebook page or in my Maureen Cracknell Handmade Flickr group! I'd love to see it!!

A Typography QAYG Quilt

Last night after the kids were in bed, I finally went through all the pictures we took that afternoon, as I watched the news. All I could think about was how lucky I am to have my family and how grateful I am for these times we have together. We had taken turns with my camera until my memory card was full that day. These are just a few of my favorites!

Cherry Springs State Park

Spring in Potter County

Photo By Haila

Photo By Me

Kaiden

Kevin

Naptime

Photo By HailaJakey

It was such a great day! More and more I've been wanting to add in just a little bit more of our family life here . Having this little guy who's about to turn nine on Sunday, a marriage that's about to turn eleven on Saturday, feeling so blessed for our full, good, simple life. I really should take advantage of having this space to share these moments, even if it's just to remind me to treasure them a bit more. Today it feels necessary to share and to savor the beauty and happiness I felt looking at these photos, along with the new quilt ones, and the fun we had taking them together as a family.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Maureen 

57 comments:

  1. fun in the woods! we need to take a day off of working on the house and yard and take a hike!
    Nice quilt!

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  2. Maureen, I love colors, too but this is one gorgeous quilt! It's very elegant and chic but not sad. Love it. And I hope to try the technique, too! Thanks a lot for the inspiration.

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  3. This quilt is gorgeous!! Wonderful job Maureen!

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  4. Gorgeous quilt, gorgeous family. Your kids look so much like you. All smiles! :)

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  5. Great quilt!! Beautiful photos and beautiful family! Congratulations on your anniversary and Happy birthday to your son!!

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  6. I love the color of your quilt! I've been saving aqua, black and white fabric to make a quilt for my sister's birthday next year. After seeing your quilt, I can't wait to get started on it!

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  7. What a lovely quilt and cute pics!

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  8. This is spectacular and I really enjoyed seeing the family photos. Thanks for sharing!!

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  9. I love your finished quilt! It's so soothing in your photo location.

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  10. Fun Photos! Like I said on the FB page, I really love this quilt.

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  11. Beautiful quilt! I love those typewriters and still stashing some myself! Great family shots too :) x

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  12. Love this quilt ~ thanks for the tutorial too!
    Your children are so cute and love that you're including a bit of family life ~ how about a photo of the hubs?

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    1. Thank you Elsa! I updated the post to add a few more pics!! :)

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  13. Beautiful, Maureen! I love your quilt and your photos! x Teje

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    1. Thank you Teje!! It was a much better idea than hanging it on our fence! :)

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  14. What a fun family outing! I love that quilt---and your choice of binding was genius.

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  15. This quilt is so beautifull. I love your work. part of my quilting process is to take the finsihed quilt "on a road trip" for pictures. My own little celebration each and every time:) Thank you for sharing your family pictures too!

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  16. OMG....its GORGEOUS....I want one!
    I bet there will be loads of similar ones out there on blogland very soon.
    xx

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  17. This turned out so great! I love how the small amounts of aqua really pop.

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  18. It is absolutely fabulous!!! Beautiful finish :) Love the binding too, such a cute pop to tie in the type writers :) Your family pictures are so adorable. What cute kiddo's!!

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  19. Oh Maureen your final results are BEEE-U-T-FUL!!! I love the binding you ended up with. I've been loving bits and pieces of the pezzy,and the turquoise is so fun. And might I add you and your family are so adorable. Love the pics taken on under and on the trees.

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  20. Beautiful quilt, beautiful words, beautiful family...

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  21. Family is everything! And happy anniversary! As always, the quilt is beautiful. I love how the binding brings out the teal of the Melody Miller typewriters - just perfect :)

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  22. It's great to see your family enjoying time together! Its a good reminder :)

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  23. Congrats on the anniversary coming on Saturday: ours is on Friday! A great time of the year to get married!! I love the family photos that you shared: you have a lovely family (and you are lovely too!). and such a dang cute quilt!! Hmmm, maybe a good anniversary gift for DH since that date is so close? Have a great week!! Hugs, Helen in Healdsburg

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  24. Love the quilt Maureen. All the pictures are awesome. I love the location you chose to take them all.

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  25. lovely pics and beautiful family

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  26. Such fun family photos. you guys make a wonderful family. I used to love and enjoy very much taking family hikes before my illness. I really enjoy your blog. You make lovely quilts. God Bless!

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  27. Thanks for sharing the pics of your fab quilt along with the pics of your precious family. Love getting to see the personal side too.

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  28. Maureen, thanks for the heads-up that you were sharing your quilt today. The text block still ranks as one of my all-time favorites, and the quilt does it proud. I have some of that typewriter print, because my dad had a mint green one on which he used to hunt and peck notes (with great speed of which he was quite proud). Seeing your quilt has given me ideas about making a quilt in his honor. Thank you for the inspiration, and the photos of your lovely day.

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  29. Another beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. Great family pics too. :)

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  30. Lovely photos of your stunning quilt and beautiful family.

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  31. Pretty family and pictures and a wonderful work!

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  32. I love the pops of aqua on this, they work perfectly! Beautiful photo shoot too :o)

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  33. The quilt looks great. The aqua binding was an excellent choice, it ties in the colour of the typewriters nicely, otherwise they might have stood out as clashing a bit with the black and white theme of the rest of the quilt.

    The other photos are lovely too. You have a good looking family, it's nice to see you enjoying time together. I also love the shot of looking at the sky through the branches

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  34. The quilt is beautiful, and it looks like your day was, as well...thank you so much for sharing!!!

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  35. Fill me in on this park. Do they have camping spots in the summer? We're trying to decide where to take/park the camper this summer with the girls. Ive never heard of this one.
    Love the family shots. Happy Anniversary, by the way! Just a few days later is my birthday. :) Lots of fun!

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  36. Love the quilt (typewriter collector, here!), love the woods, love the fam! Great work all around!

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  37. What a sweet post (and wonderful quilt of course)! Love the "life" stuff and family photos, they're always nice to read.

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  38. Beautiful quilt and stunning family! Thank you for sharing the family pictures!

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  39. You have a beautiful family Maureen!
    I love the quilt with a touch of aqua!

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  40. Edna V. in Victoria BCApril 17, 2013 at 2:07 AM

    You are blessed but you get what you give and your family is one filled with life and love supplied by both you and your husband. You obviously love each other and have a good marriage which is an accomplishment considering you run a business together and have three young children (who all look very happy and content). You are a fine example for other families.

    Also I am so pleased you made the quilt - looks fabulous.

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  41. What a sweet quilt! I love the photo shoot location, too--it's perfect for that quilt. It reminds me of how amazing the photo shoot for your Rock N Romance skull quilt was for that quilt. I loved seeing your family photos--sooo precious. Your kids are adorable, your husband is a hottie (I can say that, since I think mine is, too. LOL), and you are, as Dr. Phil would say, cuter than a speckled pup. ;) Seriously--the love shines through your photos, and it's nice to see something good amongst all the heart break on the news.

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  42. I don't know what is more beautiful, the smiles of your family, the locations you chose for photography or the quilt? I think putting all three together makes for a day to remember. Thank you for sharing.
    Every day is really a blessing. Enjoy those years when the children are young, they pass too quickly.
    Mary / stitchinggrandma.wordpress.com

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  43. Maureen,
    What a good-looking family! The kids are naturals in front of the camera; that's a blessing in itself:-)
    Love the quilt!! After looking at the photos, I want to wrap myself and my kids in it and snuggle under one of those trees.

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  44. Very unique quilt. Love the family pics too. So ironic snow on the ground where you are at and its mid 80's here! LOL. I am wearing shorts and flip flops!

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  45. Beautiful and beautiful family! B-)

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  46. Hi Neighbor - I've been following your blog for quite some time, but never realized how close we were until you wrote this post about Cherry Springs State Park. I live in Wellsboro - only an hour (or less) east of you! I'm always looking for scenic places to photograph my quilts, and never thought about state parks, but Colton Point State Park is just minutes from me - home of the PA Grand Canyon. After seeing your pictures, I just might have to go there for my next photo session! Thanks for the inspiration!
    Kathy @ Cotton Cellar.
    http://cottoncellar.blogspot.com/

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  47. Don't think I can add any more superlatives. It's a great quilt and you had a wonderful photo shoot day. I also linked to the directions on the Janome website. I think I could do that technique. I don't have the equipment to do the text part, but I bet I could find a substitute. Love the idea though. Thanks for sharing.

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  48. I love your quilt. I'd love to see a closeup of the handwriting block.

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  49. Love this in the woods! What a perfect setting for these bold graphic prints and shapes. Looked like it was fun, too!

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