May 2018 – Piecing Life Together One Stitch At A Time

Heart Friendship Quilt

May 23, 2018July 7, 2018Sharon4 Comments

Friendship

Back in 2006 I participated in a ‘friendship quilt’ organized by a woman I worked with. This was and still is the only quilting project I have ever done with a group of quilters. Six of us participated. We were given instructions for creating a heart block, we could use the material of our choice but needed to create six identical blocks to swap. A deadline was given and the creating began. At the end of the time period, we exchanged our heart blocks, receiving a block from each person. The next task, to piece together, again with our choice of fabric and pattern and then complete the quilt. This could be done by machine or hand worked, there was no restriction. (mine was hand worked)

I have been following a blogger on a Hand Quilt Along that I am participating in. Her name is Nanette. Take a moment and visit her page @ doitrightquilter.wordpress.com

She has been posting photo’s of the beautiful delicate hearts she has been working on for a quilt. I was suddenly reminded of the heart quilt I had done so many years ago and long since forgotten about. Finding my quilt journal I was delighted to see I had documented and taken a picture of the finished project. (I did give it as a gift, to who I do not remember and I did not write it down; shame on me)

Below is the finished lap size friendship quilt. With only six blocks I created a row of 3 solid batik fabric blocks in the middle; my batik heart block in the left bottom corner. I squared off each block, adding some width on each side.

When I was looking for the ‘one’ picture I took of this quilt I noticed the picture of the quilt below. I had absolutely forgotten that I had made this one using the same heart pattern. This was specifically for my cousin Karen after the devastating loss of her husband in 2007 at the age of 40.

Friendship ~ a true gift to cherish and nurture. Take time to tell a friend how much you appreciate her/him today ©

HAND QUILT ALONG: Please forgive me

May 13, 2018July 7, 2018Sharon6 Comments

My goal was to finish hand quilting ‘Wishing You Good Will’ before summer set in. I am far from that happening. With the warmer weather here, the sun high and glorious I am finding it harder and harder to sit myself down and work on ‘Wishing You Good Will’

First of all, Good Will, you are massive and bulky and heavy and warm, so warm. You and the Sun are in a battle for my attention “Come wrap your self in my love and quilt me” Good Will calls. “Come and play in the garden with me under my spring time rays” Sun taunts me.

I have found so much to distract me from staying on course. You must forgive me if I decide to stop and take in the beauty around me (on my morning walk)

But I am making progress – slow but sure and the lure of your beauty brings me back to you.

You are the colors of this beautiful spring in the northwest ~ but

You must forgive me if I decide to curl up with a good book instead of quilting

Or if I decide to take a walk along the stream bank instead of quilting

Or if I mow the lawn instead of quilting

Or if I water the gardens instead of quilting

Or if I swap veggie starts with a friend

Or if I chat with a grandchild instead of quilting

Or if I visit with a neighbor instead of quilting

Or if I decide to bbq instead of quilting

Or if I put out peanuts for the stellar jays

Or if ……I simply do absolutely nothing but take time to be thankful

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This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan, Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon and Bella.

Tulip Quilt: Her Royal Purple Majesty

May 2, 2018July 7, 2018Sharon6 Comments

Hidden away, folded and stashed underneath a few other quilts draped on the quilt rack in the corner – by chance, by fate, by accident , something whispered – I am here – find me.

I had totally forgotten about this Tulip quilt top, another Goodwill find, entirely hand pieced beauty. I have no idea how long ago I found her. How could I forget you?