My First Year of Quilting

Fall 07 though September 08

Before I could quilt I needed a place to do it. I built a table into this planned balcony-workspace a few years ago. The dining room skylight becomes my balcony window. Only problem is when something goes over the edge and lands on the floor below. The balcony is a tight space, but I also use my bed in the nearby alcove to lay out fabrics and pile other stuff when the table is too too over flowing.

I really think I started my first quilt project, a cover for my mixer, in the summer of 2007. I was still quite ill so things went very slowly. I made some pillows and a throne cover to try and learn some of the steps. My first BIG quilt was a memory quilt for my Mom. Didn't have a clue how to sew it together. I just had an idea and the determination to get it done while she could still enjoy it. I made a LOT of mistakes. I learn a LOT about what not to do again and some real no nos of quilting. I also learn one can't dye after the fact when a small purse I made for my daughter got charred in the micro-wave when I tried to set the dye on the rope handle.

Sometime in late fall of 2007, after a lot of encouragement, I started a blog. The first one didn't work out. I loved the format, but after a month or so they wanted me to pay. With so many free blogs available, paying was not an option. I continually tweak the format.

As the year started, my health was still very fragile. It took me 6 months to complete my next BIG quilt, 'The Retrospective Theater'. It traveled to California for the 'Silver Screen' exhibit which was part of the International Quilt Festival-Long Beach. It is now featured in 'Quilting Arts Magazine' page 53. WOW! What a thrill for me.

I worked on 2 different quilts that finally became UFOs. Other projects were part of quilt group activities, for Mom or for gifts. I also have to quilts that are going into gallery shows. They can't be exhibited until I'm given the OK.

I felt this was a good month to do a review for 2 reasons: my birthday and also it is almost a year since I started a blog. Hope you enjoy the reminiscence.

Balcony work area seen from the dining room


one side of mixer cover


other side of mixer cover


throne cover


green pillow


basket pillow


pink star pillow


water color 'strips that sizzle' pillow


pillows on my built-in day bed


Mom's Memory quilt


Mom's memory quilt pillow with explanations


Mom's memory quilt pillow front


burned purse for my daughter


'Angels don't have wings' for an on-line show


'angels don't have wings' for green postcard challenge


'The Retrospective Theater'


'The Retrospective Theater' close up


'art from the heart' for a thank you


aluminum butterfly for a positive-negative challenge


positive butterfly half in situ


negative butterfly half in situ


frog for "It's the year of the frog"


frog side view to show dimemsion


Angel for Mom standing


hanging angel showing 2 of 3 bells


leaf square for a 'Lovie'