LABOR DAY = END OF SUMMER

As the days and months go by we spend our year wishing for the next season to get here. Winter leaves us wishing for spring, Spring leaves us wishing for summer, Summer arrives and before we know it that too is on the way out and we are faced with fall and then another winter. We spend our lives wishing it away. 

As we spend this weekend celebrating the end of summer (even though our temps are high enough to be the middle of summer) we also realize we are approaching that time to start getting ready for Christmas. (see, we've totally missed thinking fall!)

Many people complain about the stores putting up Christmas decorations early (although they are NOT out yet). But, as quilters and other crafters or those of us who make all or most or even some of the gifts we give, it is time for us to get started on them. A few have already started! Including me. 

Before we look forward to planning the gifts we will make for others, let's look back over the summer. 

Many took the time off from quilting due to summer activities. Sports events, summer vacations, gardening, family time, and 'it's too hot to quilt' overtake our desire and love of quilting. We set priorities for other things we love to do and can only due during the summer. We know the quilting will be there when we get to it. ......

We also go through withdrawal. We still see quilt patterns in the strangest things, we love to stop at the quilt/fabric shops as we travel, we still look at quilts, attend quilt shows and dream! For a quilter we live and breath quilts. Getting a quitler talking about quilts is like asking a grandparent to talk about their grandchildren. And if a quilter also has grandchildren, look out. They can talk and show pictures for hours! Just ask me..... I've become one of 'them' :)

So, what have you done with your summer season? Have you worked in the garden enjoying the fruits, vegetables, and flowers you planted? 
Have you been able to go on a vacation and get some much overdue rest and relaxation? Have you been able to spend more time with your family and friends, getting out and doing more? Have you had time to quilt? 

My family has done a little bit of all of that this year except the garden. We didn't even plant tomatoes like before. we did however have a few plants that just grew from the seeds in the garden from last year. We spent time with family, we took a few days off (this weekend) to rest, relax and be with more family and friends. I also quilted all summer long. It's been a good summer. 

Life is good and we have been blessed. 

May you all have a great end of summer. Stay safe, stay cool and take time with family and friends. You'll have plenty of time to sit and quilt - next week! 

We will be working on more fabrics for sale, refreshing the quilts we have for sale, and starting our classes up again for those who want to learn how to quilt. 

Til next time - keep those needles stitching. 

Phyllis


 

QUILTS OF LIFE

I remember wondering when summer would come, and now it is nearly over. What did you accomplish this summer?


Here at Quilter's Pantry we quilted. Both for myself and for my customers. We also took a business trip and have a class reunion for my DH coming up soon. And a very special birthday party coming up in just a few days for our grandson - 1 year old already! 

I also learned - 

We can learn a lot from quilts and quilting. We learn new techniques, new tools, new fabrics.  We learn what they mean or could mean to others. 

We learn that quilts do not have to be perfect, especially when you are just a beginner. The seams don't have to match perfectly. The seams in the back don't have to be pressed all the same direction. 

A quilt is made up of many fragments of a wide variety of colors and fabrics. We pull pieces from this and that and stitch them into something wonderful. We can quilt alone, or we can quilt with other people. We can join groups that are close to where we live, as well as groups made up of people from around the world. 

Quilts are a lesson about life.

Our lives don't have to be perfect. Our connections don't always have to match. Our backgrounds don't have to all line up in one directions. In fact, that would make life less interesting. 

Our lives are a mixture of fragments we experience along the way. We blend many different life events to form what we become. We are also always changing, growing and trying new things. 

We make our lives full with those we surround ourselves with. We may be alone, or belong with small groups close to where we live or be connected to many around the world.

We wrap our lives in the warmth of love. A love of our family. A love of our friends. A love of things past that bring fond memories. A love and warmth of even the unknowing future of what each day holds for us. 

Today look upon the quilts in your life. Look upon the people in your life. Look upon the joy, the warmth and the never ending, always changing way a quilt and quilting and our life brings happiness to so many. 

And until next time.... wrap your arms around them all. 

Phyllis

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