When it comes to creativity, remember that it is okay to……

Maybe I can learn some things from my 10 year old self!!!
When it comes to creativity, remember that it is okay to……
Maybe I can learn some things from my 10 year old self!!!
My first memory of quilting was sitting at my Granny’s side as she pieced block after block after block. I remember the first block that I made under her tutelage…..sure wish that I still had it!!!
She was always smiling…..
…especially when surrounded by her bevy of grandchildren…..
Every summer she would invite us by twos to spend a week with her and it was one of the things that I looked forward to the most!
She ALWAYS had a quilt going, including this bear’s paw that she pieced and then my Mom added a border and hand quilted…..
Like my Mom, she loved to use red in a quilt and it sure made these blocks pop!!
Everything that she made was from scraps and I love the mixture of fabrics that are found in the quilt….
As “Bear’s Paw” blocks go, this one is pretty complicated, especially adding the on-point squares in each of the blocks.
It is a favorite quilt and I am so thankful that I get to enjoy her work!! I just wish she could see what I am doing now…..I think that she would be pleased!!
For my personal FMQ Bootcamp, I picked a design from a “long ago” workshop and decided to play with it a bit.
This was my inspiration…..
…and I liked it because it wasn’t really an overall design but instead used the same motif in different ways!!
I tried it on paper first…..
…but decided that I just needed to jump in and quilt!!
The “swirlies” morphed a bit as I went along but I did a pretty good job of filling the area.
Angela Walters is always saying that you will see an empty space a lot faster than you will a mistake so, based on that assessment, this is pretty good.
At least…..
I can quilt a wood grain…..who knew!!!
I have joined the “Flora and Foliage” Free-Motion-Quilting Challenge presented by Angela Walters. Be sure to check it out if you are interested!!
You can use ANY fabric for the challenge but she is selling a fun piece that is designed specially for the challenge……
Doesn’t this look like fun!!!!
I basted it using Hobbs Fusible batting, but didn’t feel that it stuck very well so added a few pins along the edge and in the middle to hold it a bit better.
I watched her video about how to quilt the design, tried it on a practice piece….
…and with MUCH trepidation…..
…took those first few stitches!!
Since this design was running the entire length of the quilt, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep it straight so I added a few “wash-out” marks to guide me on the first column….
I found it to be fairly easy to quilt…..
….but I did have to concentrate on the design or I would veer off someplace that I DID NOT want to be!!
I had a great time, until I ran out of thread…..
I am looking forward to finishing this section when a new spool is acquired!!!
It was a lot of quilting and wasn’t particularly FAST to do, but I feel like I have a good handle on this design and wouldn’t be afraid to try it on another quilt. After all….that is what the challenge is all about!!!
I am also starting to write and video my own “MOVE IT”….free-motion-quilting challenge. Keep watching this space for more information before the month is over!!!
During the middle of the pandemic last year, I made my way to the Guild’s Charity storage and grabbed a few things to work on. One of those had languished in my studio until my weekend quilting spree a couple of weeks ago.
I was presented with a stack of strips and other fabrics…..
….an 18 inch block started in a Courthouse Steps arrangement……
….and these instructions…..
It proved to be a great project for when I was tired and just wanted to sew!!
I enjoyed using the given fabrics and adding some more from my stash.
When it got to the width that I wanted, I started adding strips to the top and bottom and, very soon it was done….
The finished size was 36 x 44.
I think that it would be fun to do this in kid’s fabric or bright colors and would be a great use of all of those 2.5 inch strips that I have cut and organized!!!