I had sewn for years. When my daughters were small I made their dresses, and clothes. As they got older I made their prom dresses, and made pillows, home decor and to finish up the cross stitch pieces that I made. I got interested in quilting again, but that was back in 1982, and I was living near The Stitching Post in Sisters, Oregon. I decided again I wanted to quilt. This was back in the day when burgundy and federal blue were popular colors. I bought a pattern and some fabric and again started, and stalled out.
Fast forward about 10 years and one of the ladies at church offered to teach me to quilt. She told me to buy the Log Cabin book by Eleanor Burns, part of the Quilt in a Day series. I bought the fabrics, followed the directions as per the lady from church and soon had a quilt. I was hooked. I bought another quilt in a day book, and made another quilt, and another, and then really branched out and made one from blocks that my then MIL gave me from her mother's estate. Maple leaf blocks out of feed sacks.
17. November 17. I am thankful for quilting. It gave me a creative outlet. Yeah sometimes I have more starts than finishes, but the ability to quilt has given me great comfort over the years. I have sewn my prayers, praises, worries, fears, tears, and an abundance of love into those blocks and quilts.
Also recently quilting has opened some doors for me.
16. November 16- I am thankful for Egg Nog and Calder's Dairy products.
15. November 15- I am thankful for my options to worship
14. November 14- I am thankful for my Kindle and all the books that I have the opportunity to read, and the local library. I can listen to my Kindle while sewing. I have read over 140 books so far this year. Sometimes I will take the time to write a review on Goodreads, or Amazon. Recently I have had authors contact me to read and review their books.
13. November 13. I am thankful for Lucy the cat.
12. November 12--I am thankful for Bobbin
11. November 11 I am thankful for my tenacious character to get things done.
10. November 10--I am thankful for fall.
9. November 9 I am thankful for saved items. Maybe I should call them hoarded items.
8. November 8--I am thankful for music.
7. November 7-- I am thankful for the Boy Scout organization.
6. November 6--I am thankful that I can shop online.
5. November 5--I am thankful that I could get new doors in my home to add more light.
4. November 4. I am thankful for coffee.
3. November 3. I am thankful for the roof over my head. I love falling asleep to the rain on the standing seam steel roof which is over 150 years old.
2. November 2. I am thankful for the fact my feet hit the floor every morning, whether I want to get out of bed or not.
1. November 1. I am thankful for every morning I wake up--too many people don't get to see the light of another day. Thinks about it how would you act if you knew that today was your last day on Earth? Today is a gift. Tomorrow is not promised.
great post my friend. I too started quilting very young. I was 13 and made my first quilt which did get finished and used as a backdrop to our fashion show at school. the second one, I still have the pieces and I really need to finish it up. it is all handstitched with cardboard templates and is a signature quilt with many from loved ones who have passed. quilting is a fun creative outlet.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy hearing about quilters' journeys! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteAnd another lovely post, Rheema--;)))
ReplyDeleteI was older when I began my quilting journey; although I had sewed for years--dresses for myself and then for my daughter and little shorts with bibs for my son in the Summer...then--SHAZAMMO--I went along with a friend to a quilt show and it began for me...I was about 25...I made my first quilt for my Dad (a dbl bed one--never being one to start slowly was I?) --just alternating two fabrics in big squares...I still have it....and it is tied with embroidery cotton threads...I never did take any classes though--just bought books and learned that way.
Hugs, Julierose
I am thankful you quilt and blog - how ever else who we have met? :) Glad it is opening doors and providing you joy to quilt! I remember having lots of hobbies when I was younger but made a rail fence baby quilt from a Fons and Porter magazine pattern for Evan when I was pregnant and that was it, quilting took over :)
ReplyDeleteI'll always have way more starts than finishes. More fun that way, since we can put down a project that isn't interesting us at the time. I started a quilt, back in college, but, I have no clue where all that fabric went. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, and wasn't near anyone to show me, either. No pattern, just decided to cut out squares. Never got around to sewing any of those squares together. Sewing/quilting is a great way to focus on the good, and relax. A great creative outlet.
ReplyDeleteQuilting is how I met you so I'm thankful that you quilt (and blog about it.) My mom always had quilts going with quilt frames set up in the living room. They were tied quilts, but it gave me a love of quilting. I laughed when you said you sometimes have more starts than finishes...me too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful barn quilt
ReplyDeleteGreat post and one many of us can relate to. You have certainly bloomed in your quilting adventures.
ReplyDeleteLovely, interesting post :-) I've always sewn but didn't start quilting till about 10 years ago - how I love it so!
ReplyDelete