When I impulsively volunteered to write a diary for the DK Quilter's Guild I must have been feeling brave because since then I have been alternating between sheer panic and deep uneasiness. But for better of worse, here it goes.
I have been lurking in these diaries now for over a year and have learned a lot from you ladies about all the things I could and should do in order to become a real quilter. Be better prepared, think out what I want to do and then plan in advance for it. Sadly that just never seems to work out for me. I am an impulsive person and tend to act on whims.
My first tied quilt is a result of one of those whims. I saw a picture of a beautiful tied quilt in one of the diaries last year in which the maker said that she had used scraps and a favorite old blanket as batting. I was very impressed and since I had plenty of scraps and a very old fuzzy blanket I no longer used I decided right there on the spot to make one for myself. (pictured above) I know this sounds like I am patting myself on the back, OK, I am patting myself on the back, but I am quite pleased with the way it turned out.
I think the prettiest quilt I have ever helped make was one called Women's Voices.
The quilt was a collaboration with my friend Stacey who is a member of my Dunnett reading group and lives in Littleton, CO. She pieced the top, put the batting in and pined it to the top and then sent it to me to quilt.
Although I am a slow quilter as I both quilt and piece by hand this particular quilt took me seven years. I had just got started good when one of my son's was diagnosed with lung cancer. Because he was only in his 40's and very fit before he got sick he and his Oncologist decided to go for broke. The chemo that was used was very powerful and for quite a while we were all sure we were going to lose him.
Because I quilt with a hoop I bundled up the quilt and took it with me to work on when I sat with him in the hospital. A miracle occurred and my son recovered to the point that his PET scans have been clear for the last six years and he has his life back. But somehow the quilt became soaked with unhappy associations and long after my son was better I couldn't bring myself to work on it.
Finally the quilt started nagging me and reminding me that a) I had made a commitment and b) I was 76 years old and if I didn't get busy it would have to go back to Stacey unfinished. Even if I was dead it would still be embarrassing.
The next thing I decided to try was the English paper piecing method. I love
this method because it's so easy and very portable. I can put everything I need to make one flower (cut out of course) put it in a baggie and stuff it in my handbag. It's a nice fiddly piece of handwork that I can pass time with in the doctor's office or any other time I have to wait. The Quilt is called Grandmother's Flower Garden and I've been told by one of my Grandsons that it's a trippy quilt. I didn't know kids used that word anymore but he's right, it is a little trippy. I like colors. :)
And for a complete change of pace I am currently working on a queen size embroidered quilt for my oldest Granddaughter. I'm about half finished embroidering but it's going to take me a very long time to finish it.
I am also thinking about learning to applique but I think I am going to start on pot holders as they are short term projects and if I mess up really bad it won't break my heart if I have to throw one away.
But I do want to thank all you talented people who are so generous about sharing your projects. I love being a lurker here.
DIARISTS NEEDED!!
After doing quite well with scheduling for awhile, there are now lots of open dates. Would you like to write a future DK Quilt Guild diary? Please join in! Please volunteer within the comments. Thanks
The schedule:
3/17 -- OPEN
3/24 -- leu2500
3/31 -- OPEN for auction info
4/07 -- AUCTION!!