My best birthday ever (or almost)

What an odd selection of fabrics for a quilt wouldn't you say?  I would.  Do I love them each for very special reasons?  I do.  Did they all go in the same quilt?  They did (except the bundle of homespuns).  So, a reasonable question for any quilter with any taste at all might ask -- what gives?

I turned 60 last year and didn't want a big "to-do" -- didn't want a surprise party -- didn't want more stuff.  So I asked my family (which is very small) for one fat quarter that reminded them of me in some way and a handwritten note that explains their fabric choice.  It was marvelous.  People put a lot of time into selection  -- some went in with a plan of what they wanted to represent and others wandered until they saw the perfect piece (their words -- not mine) that triggered something special.  They have all gone into one quilt top that I need to quilt.  I adore it because every block tells a story about how I have had some influence on people I love. 

I highly recommend this if you're a fabric lover, have too much stuff as it is, and want something that you can pull out and reflect on when you need a pick me up.  I snipped a piece from each fabric, stapled it to the notes, and have put them away.  I'll post a picture of the finished quilt whenever it gets finished (my goal is by my 61st birthday in April -- a year is long enough, don't you think?).

Keep piecing, Jan

Before and after

Look familiar?  How do we let this wonderful fabric that we love so much end up in such a mess?  Or -- better said -- how did "I" let my fabric end up wadded up, hidden, crumpled, and sometimes forgotten?

About 2 years ago, I decided I needed to stop buying fabric and start using what I had.  By the time I threw it all in the floor, ironed some of it because it was such a mess, and folded any yardage around an 8" ruler, I had used less space (seriously) and could see how many blues or reds or greens I had. Conversely, I realized my oranges, pinks, and purples were woefully inadequate.  Some fabrics get to play together and others are isolated (Kaffe, batiks, 30's, solids). 

The particularly good news is that I still get pleasure from folding yardage around that ruler and putting in on the shelf and I certainly get pleasure from just standing and admiring the colors, remembering where/why I purchased something, and being surprised by what I see on my shelves.  I will never have the stash that many of you have -- but I'm pleased to see what I do have and pull it for projects.

Keep piecing (and folding!),  Jan

Be loving!

What better way to be loving than give someone you love a quilt you have made -- either especially for them or because you made it out of a pattern or fabric or technique you love.

Do you give away or keep most of your quilts?  I'm about 50-50 but always like to have what I call "inventory" quilts that I can give as the opportunity moves me.   I remember hearing in the last year or so about a quilter who kept 2-3 quilts in the trunk of her car and then would hand them out to someone that moved her.  Is that the epitome of a quilter who uses our art/craft for the better?  Can you imagine what the recipient thinks for years to come?  I have never given a quilt to someone I didn't know -- I have given them to people I didn't love. Definitely something to consider as we share our joy.

Keep piecing and loving!  jan

Snow, Snow. Go AWAY!

I don't know if you can read this or not -- but it's my sentiments exactly.  I grabbed this from a friend's Facebook post and it's a sign in front of a church that reads "Whoever is praying for snow, please stop".
Couldn't agree more.  What a wild weather week here in the US and for those us in Chicagoland, we now understand what "blizzard" really means -- or at least those of us who have never  been in one before.  One is enough, thank you very much!

I wish you good weather, good lite for stitching, and piece!  Jan

Have you ever fallen deeply in love with a pattern or fabric?

This is Rosewood Cottage and was six different patterns (I'm guessing a BOM) that were sold together at a quilt store about 1.5 hours from where we live.  When I saw it, it took my breath away.  But it was way too much money for the patterns and the fabric and I didn't have the right stash to do it.

So - -we visited the store again and again.  Seriously -- I made special trips to admire it and b/c the quilt shop was on the Fox River and we had a lovely lunch, my husband was game.

I finally decided that this is what I wanted to do for my sister's 50 birthday.  I could justify the expense and the time invested and it was something she would love.  I had never ever undertaken an applique pattern like this, My applique consisted of a wall hanging of 16 very small hearts from a class and a few quilt labels.  I had absolutely no idea how to even begin.  I was lucky to post just the right question about this pattern on a quilters chat board (aren't they great?) and found someone who had made one in 30's fabrics.  She answered my questions, provided advice, and often encouraged me.  She later did one in homespuns that was equally stunning.

So -- here is the quilt and I love it.  It has a wool batt and was hand quilted and I was so proud to give it to someone I love so much.  I learned a lot and have never fallen this kind of "in love" with a pattern until Lollypops (by Kim McLean) and that's history if you've read any of my other posts. 

What about you -- has a pattern or fabric taken your heart, caused you to think about it at inopportune times, been in your dreams and left you knowing you had to have it? 

Keep piecing and dreaming and searching for the perfect fabric or pattern!  Jan

A little progress.....

Oh -- this is so fun!  A little football, a little tennis, a little private time and some stitching.  AND, a lot of learning.  If you can do it wrong, I've done it.  I hope that bodes well for the next one.

This block needs 20 more circles and I can call it done.  When I think about what I've learned and the time to stitch, I'm pretty pleased with the time investment.  If I decide it's not good enough, it can be a pillow or a NICU quilt.  No need to make that decision right now.

I'm sad to say it goes on hold for the balance of the week as I have to start travelling for business.  So, the hexagons are packed and maybe I can get 4 GFG blocks made in airports, hotels, and who knows where.  I hope you're having a productive and rewarding time with your creativity.

Keep piecing!  Jan

Does this little guy look cold?

This is some stuff we put out in the alley for pick up -- without a lot of thought.  And then -- it snowed and we realized he was a different kind of 'snowman' (or mouse or cat or animaniac or something!).        

Windchills coming to Chicago in the "minus" degrees which is never a good thing.  I think of those that have to work out in it -- the homeless -- farmers -- and kids whose parents don't dress them warmly enough.   

The quilt that follows is the warmest quilt in our house -- by far.  It's made with felted wool that was reclaimed in Goodwill Stores, resale shops, and my closet!  The leaves were appliqued with buttonhole stitch using perle cotton or variegated specialty floss.  Many of them are outlines of leaves from our home in KY before we moved to Chicagoland.  The batt is wool (of course) and I hand quilted with big stitch before it was too popular. I didn't have the dexterity to do a finer stitch.  It's my husband's and is actually the only "real quilt I've made him.  I did make him a rag quilt one year (the year I made 11 for Christmas) but this is his quilt and the corner block is a heart.

I hope you're staying warm - wherever you are.  There  is nothing like a cuddly (or wool!) quilt to take the chill -- and wind chill -- off!

Keep piecing, Jan