Generosity Of Bloggers

I am continually amazed at the generosity of bloggers/quilters.  Blogging has been a fantastic arena of sharing, showing, teaching, inspiring and motivating.  I'm sure there are many more words to describe what each of us has gained through blogland.

Here's my recent story.  Lori at Humble Quilts mentioned her blogger friend, Martha, over at Q is for Quilter.  Since Lori linked up to her blog, you know I had to take a peek.  I saw immediately that I had found a home for a whole bunch of little vintage 30's prints that I had cut off from blocks purchased on eBay.  My place to store them was going to be in the garbage bin, but I just knew someone out there would love to have them to use.  Enter Q is for Quilter.

After sending off my stack of scraps, Martha gifted me with this amazing piece of workmanship. I'll let her tell the story of this piece, so check out this blog post HERE

She was so generous she even included a piece for the backing and the binding.  I shall hand quilt this and treasure this piece.  Words cannot describe how I felt when I opened up the package. 

With gratitude,
Sharon

It Only Took 14 Months

Yes, that's right. 14 months to make a 15" sq block.

I have to justify that, though. This started at my last Gwen Marston workshop in June 2013. It was her Medallion workshop and I finished one piece on day 2. Then I spent the rest of the time making all sorts of little blocks, testing them out for value, size, technique, etc. I also knew, from studying Gwen's quilts, that I wanted a round in my piece to be flying geese. My focus fabric is a gorgeous red with cheddar and I was advised to make the triangles on my FG from a variety of cheddar. Although scrappy, it will show off as a round of cheddar.

Since I had to sew my FG one by one, and put squares on the corners of the rectangle, I got busy and made bonus blocks, ala Bonnie Hunter. All these little 1/2 square triangles finish out at 1 1/4" and there are 288 pieces in this block. It also means I have over 100 FG all stacked up and ready to go into this quilt. It won't be the next round, but when I add in the FG, all the same fabrics will be represented in the center of the quilt and I think this will really pull the whole thing together and give the piece some continuity, even though it will be very scrappy.

A lot changes in a year, my life is proof of that. But what hasn't changed is my enthusiasm for this piece, for being grateful to study quilt making under Gwen Marston, and constantly being reminded of the amazing quilters/artists that shared 4 days with me on Lopez Island. I can't wait until March 2015 when I can spend another 2 days with Gwen, gently nudging me, encouraging me, sharing her amazing knowledge of quilt making, and pushing me outside the lines of my own, self imposed boundaries.

Who has done that for you in your quilt making?

Enjoy the day!
Sharon

Making Progress

It might not look like much, but seriously, this is a huge accomplishment for me these days. I've been poking along with the center of a medallion quilt from June 2013. I now have all the strips sewn together and I'm ready to create the center. If you have made a quilt like this, you know that you can't go anywhere without the center. I have no idea what the next round it going to be, how big or how many blocks or what. Once this center is together, I will finally be able to move forward on this. I have a feeling it's going to be one of my favorite pieces once it's done. Interesting that I think that when I don't even know what is coming next. But I am excited and have not lost my mojo for this piece.

What Not's are F-U-N. I'm working on the second in a series of six pieces.  This next one finishes at 12 x 18 and has 42 yo-yo's on it. I've got a good start, but still have a stack of circles left to gather up.

Every piece in these little quilts is a decision and I love that everyone who joins in on the fun will use the same collection of prints/colors and yet all of the quilts will be different. Have you signed up yet? It's not too late, Carol at Fabric Etc has extended her sign up as she was able to order more fabric. If you pick up your package each month, a free tutorial will be held at her shop from 10:30 to noon with tips and tricks.

We've been enjoying an amazing summer here in the Pacific North West.  This has been the typical day here at Birch Bay, WA

And just for some cat cuteness............

Hope you are having a fabulous summer, Skids is enjoying himself, how about you?

Sharon