Athens time

Friday 18 May 2012

Bloggers' Quilt Festival


Several years ago, there were whispers going around in the quilting community "Park City Girl is doing an online Festival". Soon we flocked around and it was SO much fun, we hardly could wait till another year had passed...

From those very enjoyable but humble beginnings, Amy, now blogging at Amy's Creative Side, has led and grown this event both to bi-annual and enormous proportions.

Click HERE (on the green button did not seem to work... sorry) to go to her linky site


so you can visit all the beautiful quilts displayed. It's better than a quilt show as not only are there more quilts, you can get to know the quilters through their blog and the stories behind the quilts you are seeing!

I have missed a few since that beginning (yep, I was there!) but I am happy to enter a quilt of mine for this Spring edition.





...and here it is. 'Sweet Mum Quilt'. At the time I was hanging around a lot at the Old Red Barn Flickr site. Dana had done a lovely quiltalong and we, the participants, made so many friends there, that we persuaded Dana to keep going. I was making this quilt for my mum's 90th birthday and it took some doing (not having made many quilts before, nor having done applique at all, ever...or handquilting come to think of it) and my Old Red Barners were constantly asking.. 'how is the quilt for your sweet mum coming along?' Hence the title.




This is her face when she first opened the parcel. Although she knew I was quilting, she did not know I was making anything for her! (and she did know I was terribly busy with other things... in fact, I had sewn on the label at 10 mins past midnight the day before her birthday...(so being after midnight, that WAS her birthday) talking about cutting things fine!:-)

What did I learn? Many things.... first and foremost that even when you cut out all the pieces very accurately as per pattern instructions, it does not mean it always fits....



and that it then takes a lot of trial and error (read muttering under breath and emitting big pearl drops of anxiety sweat) before you (as a beginner) have found the solution!



Of course I have since sworn blind that the square corners were in the pattern, lol! You won't tell anyone won't you?

Also, never having done applique before, the centre rose was very troublesome...


Before I stumbled upon the freezer paper method, I marked out the pattern on the back of the fabric (as I was taught in traditional piecing) and then tried to 'sort of' fold it under till the line (which I could not see...). I do feel so stupid now, but hey, all of you beginners who didn't know either might feel a bit happier you are not the only one who had to start from scratch :-)

After I had finished and quilted the entire quilt, I took off the centre piece and redid it in it's entirety. The advice of many saying 'nobody knows if you don't point it out' did not have any results.. "I" would know and forever regret it. Serves me right for being somewhat of a perfectionist (even though nothing I have made is totally perfect, I try!).



A first was also the handquilting. It took a long time, I shadow quilted most of the applique, but it was good as doing so much of it, taught me a lot and my stitches are now more regular and even than at the beginning of the quilt.

Much more than what I learnt making this quilt, is what I received and that was the happy smile of my mum, who not only appreciated the work that had gone into it, but mostly was bowled over with the time I had taken to make something especially for her and the thought that was behind it. You are welcome mum <3

27 comments:

Cathie said...

THEY ARE BOTH SO BEAUTIFUL! (Your Mum, and the quilt!) They deserve each other.

{Leila}Where the Orchids Grow said...

Such lovely photo's of your mum with her quilt!! I should really show you my very first quilt and the mitered corners I made...it will give you a good laugh!

Angie in SoCal said...

Wow for a beginning appliquer - you did a marvelous job. Love it! And what sweet photos of your mum.
Thanks for sharing.

Susan said...

Lovely story of a very special quilt for a very special lady! You did a grand job on a quilt that taught you so much. Thanks for sharing it!

myBearpaw said...

Oh Marg, what a lovely post. Those pictures of your mum are wonderful - she looks so happy! You did an amazing job on that quilt - all that hand quilting! I have a confession to make, I have yet to try freezer paper for applique as I always do it the fiddly, needle-turn way you started with! But I am used to that now.

Molly said...

I remember you working on that quilt!! I was super impressed then, and I'm even more impressed now. That's a fantastic amount of work and the quilt is just beautiful. The most beautiful thing in this post though is your Mother :)

CraftyGardenMom - Tanesha said...

Wow, what a beautiful quilt and your Mum looks so delighted with it. They are both just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Oh what a perfect quilt for you cheeky looking mum - it looks perfect to me xxx

quilthexle said...

Perfect ! Perfect quilt, perfect story - and your mom looks so happy. Glad you shared this quilt ;-))

Liz said...

Gorgeous story, gorgeous quilt, gorgeous Mum....! :o)
Lizzie
xxx

CitricSugar said...

Really beautiful.

So glad your "sweet mum" loves it!

MariQuilts said...

So lovely...the quilt and your Mum.

dolores said...

Yo Margie baby!:) Yep...I remember this quilt...that's basically where we all really began chatting with each other and I remember being one of them that said nobody would notice but I'm glad you did redo it cause I know that made you feel better about it!:)
Sweet Mum is adorable too!!:)
xo

Mom said...

simply beautiful

margaret
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com

Cindy said...

Love the last pic of your Mum with her quilt! So special.
You did a fabulous job...and wow...all that hand quilting!

Happy Quilt Festival!

What Comes Next? said...

beautiful quilt, fabulous story and I love your Mum's smile!

Artfulife said...

So beautiful! Your mum is adorable. I'm sure she will treasure it always :)

Susan J Barker said...

A finished quilt is always better than a perfect quilt! And it is made more wonderful that it was a gift!

Sarcastic Quilter said...

That is a beautiful quilt for such a gorgeous woman. Very fitting! I'll bet she shows it off to everyone who will see it. You should be proud of your perserverance and accomplishment.

Jo said...

Yes, I remember the quilt and problems, but it all turned out well in the end, and I bet you are thrilled your Mum has had the pleasure from it all this time. Lovely.

straythreads said...

really gorgeous and ambitious beginner project Well Done!!!
Ann

The Thompsons said...

It's lovely! That quilting is absolutely fabulous!

Nana said...

Love your Mum's smile and the quilt is beautiful! Priceless!

grapes and hearts said...

Oh, I can really see her joy and delight in her face when she opens the package! Great quilt and impressive that it included so many firsts! Thanks for sharing!
Christine

Eileen said...

such a gorgeous quilt and mum!! how sweet of you to make it for her. love the fabrics and colors and especially your applique. thanks for sharing and have a great day

grendelskin said...

What a fabulous finish, congratulations! You did a grat job with all of it, I'm totally impressed with your immense skills.

Leanne said...

This is such a lovely quilt and clearly your mom loves it!