Saturday, November 22, 2014

Quilt Stories - Sisters' Choice 2014

This is one of my strangest quilt stories..... and a cautionary tale.  When the universe tells you to do something... do it!

I have one sister.. and we have been estranged for many years.  The reasons are irrelevant now... but there was no sharing

no talking

no sisterhood

for a very long time.

And early that summer, I felt led to make a quilt for my sister.  And I found a block, Sister's Choice.  I decided this was MY choice.  For my sister.

And her favorite color - from my memory - was orange.  I chose the bright zinnia print from my stash.. and bought 2 shades of orange and a yellow to coordinate.

And I did the math to UPsize the blocks....  4 blocks made a generous lap quilt to cover her knees.

My plan was to make it and give it to her on her December birthday.

I had it together and ready for quilting by early November.... and found out, by accident, that she had lost consciousness and was in a hospital several states away.  Her daughter was with her and had been for a week already.

I quickly finished that quilt doing the final handwork in the car as my husband drove me there.



My sister died just before Thanksgiving - having never regained consciousness.  I can't really express how I feel about all this - but I will be glad forever that I followed that little spark that told me to make her a quilt.

I don't have a final photo... I sent it home with my niece.  My hope is that the quilt is a symbol of love across a divide... somehow.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Quilt Stories - Muppets 2014


This quilt started when my husband's good friend called to tell us his wife was pregnant with their first child.

She was absolutely in love with muppet characters...... and couldn't find any bedding anywhere..... and then I saw this navy muppet fabric in my local JoAnn's.  I had already had great success with crib sheets and burp cloths... and though Elmo isn't technically a muppet... I thought she'd enjoy these items  (the wood grain crib sheet went to my grandson along with his pirate quilt.)



 Making the pirate quilt was so much fun - I rolled with the concept!

  I used some of the same fabrics..... and some other from my stash.... and came up with the quilt below...
 



And I couldn't remember which way the seam was supposed to when piecing the backing  ( somebody told me once - it was either vertical or horizontal)

So I pulled one of my usual funky moves.... and did both :-)  And I like the way it turned out!




I do have to say that it was a pretty cool gift.... and I have had the pleasure of spotting it in my friend's FB posts of their son more than once!  I am good with letting things go when I make them - because I truly get my pleasure from the making - and the good vibes I have for the people I create for.....  but I really do enjoy seeing my creations used and loved :-)