BEST LAID PLANS

In all our lives as creative people we sometimes have an idea and even a plan, maybe even a pattern for what we want to create. We go out and buy (or pull from our supplies) the items we need to make the project. We even get started. 

In the life of this quilter (me) this is how it happened......

I found fabric I had been watching for over a year. It always called my name when I saw it. I knew I wanted it. But, money was tight and the price just didn't work for me. So I waited. I left it on the shelf at the store.....day after day, week after week, month after month. Maybe even a year. THEN.... it went on SALE!  Oh, how we love that word! 
SO..... I bought some. I have been wanting to make myself a new purse for over a year and decided that this fabric would be perfect. Since it was on sale I bought more than I really needed to make a purse, but figured I'm also make a new phone carrying case, and other accessories. 

 ALL GOOD SO FAR ...

When I finally got the spare time to work in the studio for 'me' I got out the fabrics I had bought. I cut out the pattern (it is Simply Pineapple) that was going to be my center of my purse. I was going to make my own 'pre-quilted' fabric to then use to make my purse. 

WELL....

One look at that center block and it was no longer a purse.  It is now the beginning of a lap quilt!  I decided that it was too pretty for just a purse. Pictured above is the first large block of the quilt. The actual center of which was going to be the block for the purse. 

ODD ....

I had enough fabric to make a lap quilt!  

BUT.....

A quilter can Always use more.... 

SO...

I went back to the store and bought a bit more.  For that, "Just in case" factor we all have. 

I now have the pieces all cut out, the center blocks made and the surrounding blocks made for 5 more large blocks.  Over the next week or so I will, in my spare time, put it all together and the longarm it. 

PLEASE NOTE.....

I have more fabric so even my 'lap quilt' may become a larger quilt before I'm done.

I will post pics later of  the progress of my 'purse'. And will also post it when it is finished.  

ONE LAST NOTE .....

I still need a new purse made. 

Til next time, 
Keep those needles stitching and your creative juices flowing. You never know what will come together for you. 

Phyllis
 

 

 

INTIMIDATED - DON'T BE

So often in life we are intimidated when we see things and wish we could make them. We attend craft shows and wish we could make that craft. Or, as crafters, we say, "I can make that".  Of, course we seldom go make one, then wish we had at least bought the one we saw. 

As quilters we see quilts on line or in person and wish we could do that, or know in our heart and soul we could never make that particular quilt. 

Don't let the workmanship that goes into some quilts intimidate you to the point of not trying or in quiting. Sure you may not ever reach the point of making that one you saw. But, you can become good and even great at what you do make. 

Understand that there are many different types of quilters. There are those that spend all year, or two or more, perfecting that one quilt to enter it into a show. It may be the only quilt they work on during that time. With love and caring and at least one or two seam rippers they have succeeded. And they do win prizes and recognition for all their work. 

Other quilters make several quilts in a short amount of time. They give them as gifts, donate them to charities and to those in need. Some sell them or make them as commissioned quilts made to order. 

If you are new to quilting and feel you could never be as talented as some quilters who make the show quilts or the heirloom quilts, don't let that stop you. All things take practice. Experienced quilters still own at least one, and most likely many more, seam rippers. They have a lot of fabric, but started out as you are with just enough to make your first quilt or even just to play around with. They have spent hours, years, perfecting their crafts. 

How far you go in your quilting is up to you. It takes time and practice. It takes trying new things until you find what type of quilting you enjoy the most. And then it takes more practice. The more you practice the better you will become. The more you learn the better you will become. 
 
As for me.... I may not become an heirloom, prize winning quilter. But, I have come a long way in the time I have been a quilter. I continue to learn as I quilt. I don't have or take the time to go elaborate. I prefer my quilts to be used for everyday use. I have entered a couple of them into a local show and won 3rd and 2nd place in the one category. I also know it would not have won a thing if I had entered it into a major show. And I'm o.k. with that. I'm o.k. with keeping my quilts fairly simple. I'm o.k. with not quilting every hour that I am awake (although it seems I spend a lot of time thinking about quilts and my quilting business). I'm o.k. when some of my attempts even have ended up in the waste basket. (Yes, I've been known to just toss a block or two). 

So, don't be intimidated by comparing the quilts you make and the quilts you see others make. I know it's easy to see them and toss your hands in the air and say, "I quit".  However, I think once fabric is in your blood it will always be in your blood, no matter what you make with it. And once quilting is in your blood - some form of quilting will always be in your blood. Even if it just comes to the point of admiring other peoples work and wrapping yourself in a warm quilt made with love - by you or someone else.

Until next time - keep your eyes on your goals and be willing to change your goals if you are lead to move forward or to take a step back. 
Life is too short not to enjoy it as you move through it. 

Phyllis

 

Quilter's Pantry is Having a Special

Quilter's Pantry is offering a special on longarming services for the month of June. Check out the web site for all the details! http://www.quilterspantry.com/specials/

Summer is a great time to send your quilt tops off to be longarmed. It is a time when you have other things to do, and when fall arrives you suddenly have more quilts you need/want to make for Christmas, but you feel burdened with a UFO or WIP that you should finish first. 

Why not take advantage of this special offer to get the UFO and WIP completed so that when fall comes you are ready to start on those new projects!  

Happy Quilting! 

Phyllis


 

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to one and all. 

As we continue to celebrate the day let us remember the reason for the holiday.We often use it as the beginning of summer. A time to jump in the pool, have a picnic or grill out with our friends. We often enjoy having 3 days off work to just have fun and enjoy. Yet we forget the true meaning of the day.

As we go about our day today may we take time to thank the veterans  for their service. May we appreciate the sacrifices the men and women have taken and continue to take to protect our country and give us the freedoms we have today. 

 Thank you veterans. 


 

Spring Wraps it's Arms Around Us

View out my studio window

As spring wraps it's arms around us and we have other things to take care of and do, many find less and less time to work on quilts. On the other hand other people have time off work and that IS the time to quilt. 

Then we face the trouble of what quilt to make, and for whom. Do we make one for ourselves, for a family member, for sale, or to donate? If we have time we make them all. But that takes a while. 

Easy patterns and smaller quilts take less time to make and often are the ones we make and donate. 
Larger and more complicated ones we make for special people in our lives, or even for ourselves. 

As quilters we always have our to do list, our UFO collections and the WIP quilts and projects. And just when we think we are caught up.....we.... well, we find another pattern we like; we find more fabric we like; we have someone ask us to make them a quilt; we have another reason to make one to donate; or we simply are so hooked that we 'need' to quilt any and all the time. 

As we welcome spring with the warmer temps and extra chores and activities, we are also faced head on with the storms that it has already brought to our country. And as busy as we are, we find time to help out where and when we can. Our sewing machines sew up quilts to donate, we send up prayers, and we find time we didn't know we had to help others that are in need. 

There is something special about a quilt. A warm quilt to wrap up in when life gets hard to deal with. A quilt that is full of memories helps out when a loved one is lost. A personal size quilt for a child helps to encourage them by realizing even strangers care about them. Quilts have and continue to touch lives in many ways. As quilters we are honored to be able to share our talents by creating these works of art that we share with so many.

Let us do what we can to help out others as well as spoiling our families and friends. May we all find time during this season to keep quilting. 

Til next time -- keep those needles stitching. 

Phyllis

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day 

In memory of my mother who taught me to sew at an early age. Although she only made one quilt in her life, I somehow got the bug for quilting once I learned how.I still have the quilt she made. 

 

I can still smell the aroma of the fabric store I would go to with her when I was little. So full of all kinds of fabrics. 

I can still picture the clothes she made for us and others. Still have the Barbie doll clothes she made! 

She was an amazing woman.

So many fond memories of Mom. She was a great influence to me and to my children.

I miss her every day. 

May you all have a wonderful day with your Moms and your children. I will be blessed to spend it with my daughter as she celebrates her first Mother's Day.

Til next time.....

Phyllis 

  

Springtime at Your Table

Table Topper and Placemat set

With Spring finally here, flowers in bloom and leaves on the trees it's time to add a bit of that to the inside of the home as well. This set is the perfect combination. 

As you can see quilting doesn't always have to produce bed size or even baby quilts. There are many things to make under the quilt category and this set is just a sample of one. 

Table toppers are fun and easy to make. For someone who wants to quilt, but prefers to have something completed quickly this is a good way to go. Quilts can sometimes take ...... years. Yes, Years.  It depends on the time you have available to quilt and how enthused you are about a particular quilt. I have one that is taking me over a year as I keep putting it aside to work on other projects and customer quilts.

Smaller items to quilt include small baby quilts, doll quilts, mini quilts, wall hangings, table runners, mug rugs, placemats, and even tote bags, purses. 

Small quilts are fun to have as art work on your walls and table covers in your kitchen/dinning room or coffee table and end tables. They come in all sizes shapes and colors. 

Need one made just for you???? Let me know. Want to learn to make your own?????? Contact me - if you live close I can teach you hands on.

In the mean time......I made these to have for sale and you can find them on my Etsy shop and my web shop.  

Til next time, 
Keep those needles stitching and your imagination expanding. 

Phyllis