My younger daughter has been a life-long devotee of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her books (Little House on the Prairie et al – the TV series, not so much). She has always wanted to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Mansfield, MO, and had a chance to make the trip with her sister last month. Her excellent report on this trip is here.
One of the souvenirs she brought home was a gift for me – a pattern for a wall hanging called Laura in Redwork by Johanna Wilson (Plum Creek Patchwork*).
I like to do simple embroidery and had red-checked gingham on hand, so I made up the original pattern for my daughter.
I made a label that incorporated a picture of my daughter standing in front of Laura’s house in Mansfield.
I gave her the quilt on Mother’s Day and she was very happy with it. It measures 38×38 inches – a big wall hanging or a small lap quilt. Her dog, Daisy, looks anxious to have it on the couch where she can get cuddly with it.
I wanted to make a wall hanging for myself but not that big and I didn’t want to work with the same materials again, so I reduced the pattern by 50% and came up with a wall hanging in blue that is 22×22 inches.
I like both versions very much. It would be a good pattern for a quilter with a bit of experience rather than a beginner since the instructions aren’t too detailed.
*Plum Creek Patchwork – 1410 County Highway #5 – Walnut Grove, MN 56180
LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD 
Both quilts are wonderful! Is your edge stitching on the gingham also the quilting? What a great pattern that is. I especially like the bonnet. That didn’t take you very long!
The edge stitching is also a part of the quilting along with some straight, in-the-ditch stitching. The bonnet was my favorite, too. I’ll probably be using that one on some other projects.
Beautiful daughter AND quilts, Lillian! You do lovely work!
The quilts are wonderful, and the stitching is nice too.
Now those are fun quilts! My daughters loved the Little House books too. We read them out loud, a chapter at a time. Both could read, though the younger one not such long books. Still there is something about the togetherness of reading aloud.
Lovely quilts!
They are so beautiful and with a lovely story behind them. It’s wonderful that your daughter still has such an affinity with her childhood memories. Love seeing the dog enjoying your work too!
It’s beautiful, Lillian! I love redwork – I’ve always wanted to try it, but the one time I did, it didn’t turn out too well. I think now I’ll try it again. I love red & white check also! Your quilt is so pretty and it was so nice of your daughter to bring you that pattern from her trip. I read her post and it made me smile – many years ago I visited the Ingall’s land in Minnesota. I was also a fan of her books and so is my daughter. We took lots of pictures at the homestead and the small museum there.
Don’t know how I missed this. Great quilts and always enjoy the way you combine quilting and embroidery …love the label and photo!
Beautiful work! I am searching for contact information for Johanna Wilson, Plum Creek Patchwork. The Walnut Grove, MN address is not current. If anyone can help me find her Block of the Month patterns called “Millennium Blue” I would appreciate it! I have a photo of the quilt if that helps.