Family Tree Quilt Fabric Panel

At the recent FGS conference in Philadelphia, I saw something I had not seen before. Admittedly, I don't look at quilting supplies very often; I leave that to my sister, a quilting expert. Maybe this is "old hat" to experienced quilters, although I suspect not.

FunStuffForGenealogists.com (love that name!) sells all sorts of items for genealogists: t-shirts, jewelry, magnifiers, clip art, and now quilting supplies. The item that caught my eye was the Family Tree Quilt Panel. It is a great way to honor your ancestors by adding them to a wall hanging and proudly displaying it in your home.

You need to see the pictures that I took; words alone will not adequately describe this. You can see the family tree on the wall hanging. If you look a bit harder, you will see ovals that contain the names of all the ancestors of the person shown at the "tree trunk."

The Family Tree Quilt Panel is not a kit although "some assembly is required." There are two blank banners and one banner that says "Our Family Tree" and it contains 21 ovals for personalizing. You can use an embroidery type sewing machine or Micron Pigma pens (or equivalent) to add the names of your ancestors.

To personalize, you can print out your names on a word processing program (to the size they fit the ovals) and put the printed type image behind the oval and then trace using a light box or a window (for backlighting). Instructions come on the panel to guide you through this.

These quilted wall hangings are 24" wide x 24" tall. Each of the 21 ovals for names is 3-1/2" wide x 1-1/2" tall.

While these are great gifts for genealogists, including as a gift to yourself, I would think these would be especially appropriate for the new baby in the family.

These do-it-yourself quilted wall hangings sell for a modest price of $9.99 each plus taxes and shipping. Take a look at the pictures I snapped, click on any picture to see a larger image. Then look at http://www.funstuffforgenealogists.com.

This is so cool!

Comments

[Debbie]

Yes, they have been out awhile. Does make a neat gift or made into a beautiful quilt. Make sure that any ink used to print on it is good for fabric.

[Susan]

Dick,

Thanks so much for showing this and providing the link. I now have some great ideas for Christmas gifts.

[theKiwi]

Depending on just how crafty you are....

Here's one that a "team" made a few years ago for my wife's Aunt Jean's birthday.

http://lisaandroger.com/MiscImages/JeanQuilt.jpg

A cousin surreptitiously scanned some of the photos from Jean's photo books when she wasn't looking, we already had scanned others from negatives and prints that Grandma had saved since the early 1930s.

Then I took care of the photos part on the computer - cleaning them all up, sizing them correctly etc and printing them out onto Inkjet printable fabric at exactly the right sizes.

My wife sewed the 13 prints into the front of the quilt, and then passed it off to another Aunt who did the "batting" (I think that's the right word - the white padding stuff) and put the back on it.

Aunt Jean was about dumbfounded when she was presented it.

Cheers

Roger

[Gordon Banks]

My wife made me a family tree quilt. You can see it here:

http://www.charleebanks.com/charlee/Roots.html

[Dorothy]

I saw it at the midwest roots conference and bought one there. When (if) I get it finished I will give it to my son and his wife as a Christmas present (some year).

[Tammy]

This is a nice panel for a wall-hanging with names. My mom did one with pictures too. The descendents of my grandparents have pictures and the ancestors have their names on leaves. Unfortunately, the pictures ran when she had to wash it and we haven't had the time to take off the bad ones and put new ones on. It's the 6th quilt shown at http://www.quilt-pictures.com/memory-quilt-pictures.html

[Betty]

"Funstuffforgenealogists" is ordering kits for the family tree quilt that D. Eastman saw. Kits are expected in a few weeks. You might check with them if interested. I've ordered one.

[Theresa Dewhurst]

You can also order the Family Tree Quilt kits directly from
http://www.jjappleseed.com/