Quilty Irony

I love adding pictures to this blog, so of course I had to include something interesting to see. This is my daughter's first completed quilt top. Let me clarify: this is a doll-sized quilt top sewn by her with little to no help from me. I am so proud of her! She had some frustrations along the way, but she stuck with it. I did all the rotary cutting for her, but the piecing and sewing was done by her. This is an adorable flannel rail fence quilt in blue (my girl's favorite color) and green. We have the backing fabric chosen and ready to layer. Of course, the completion of this little quilt is on hold until after the craft bazaar for which we are preparing right now...I'll get back to that in a bit. Yesterday was the second installment of the quilt club at my local quilt store where we learn new techniques or review new ways of doing old things. At the end of these meetings, there is a "show and tell" opportunity where you can bring in something you've recently finished or have in process and show to the group to earn a raffle ticket. There is then a drawing of the raffle tickets to win a small prize such as a charm pack or pattern. My daughter wanted to go the meeting with me so she could show her quilt top and possibly win the prize. Of course, the older ladies all loved her sweet little quilt and she felt very validated despite NOT winning the raffle prize. I was a proud momma again. My girl is trying to build her quilter's "stash" so she asked me if she could buy a fat quarter, and since there was a pattern that was shown during the meeting that I had wanted to purchase, I told her okay. When we checked out, the funniest thing happened. The quilt store has a $1000 fat quarter club in which their computer keeps track of your purchases and when you reach $1000, you receive a tote bag and become a member of the fat quarter club enabling you to get a free fat quarter every time you visit the store carrying your bag. Our purchase took us $.07 over $1000! The other $990 was apparently spent ten years ago, but yesterdays $10 purchase threw me over the edge! This was precisely what I've been talking about. In four years of quilting back then, I had spent $990 in THAT store! That's not even to mention what I had spent in OTHER quilt stores and at the big box craft stores. My daughter was thrilled since this now got her a second fat quarter for her stash, but I was stunned! First, here I am with my little online quilt shop selling fabric and I'm earning my way into a freebie club in a large quilt store on purchases I had made ten years ago. That seemed so ironic to me. Secondly, I was speechless at how much I had been buying then. It just brought me back to the difference in my mentality now from that time. While creating quilts is my true passion, it's now the other areas of creativity that drive me. Designing my own patterns and dyeing my own fabric, preparing kits to make quilting more "user friendly" for the busy lifestyle we all maintain these days and teaching new quilters to love this art as much as I do. I got a big dose of this same reality later last night as I was going through brand new quilt books, patterns and tools I had purchased and never used. They will be getting sold off in my shop and at the craft bazaar-they are brand new and unused. There are books and guides to show how to make all sorts of complicated quilt designs and it dawned on me that those designs no longer appeal to me. Maybe it's my old age, maybe it's my hurried lifestyle, but this girl likes things simple now both in life and in quilts. I also realized that I've never once followed a pattern. I had found one pattern for a table runner that I had made, but the pattern had been more of an inspiration than a guide since I deviated completed and had come up with my own thing. I guess I had been coloring outside the lines all along. This self discovery was liberating. A creative girl had always been trying to come out--I had just buried her in classes, patterns and fabric. That girl is buried no longer though. The craft bazaar that my daughter and I are selling in is scheduled for two weeks from yesterday. I am cutting fabric to make table runner and lap quilt kits--both of which are my own design (my new design software is a huge help in this process), ideas and patterns. My daughter even decided she wanted to make some money, so with me as the silent investor, she bought materials to make handmade headbands to sell. They are adorable and I honestly believe they will be a huge hit. She amazes me more everyday. In the next 13 days, I will be cutting and sewing like a mad woman so I don't know how much blogging will happen but I'll try to keep the updates coming as I can in this quilter's journey.

Dyeing to Tell You

I am so excited, I couldn't wait until I write my weekly blog to start gushing about what I'm doing now! I just made my first purchase of fabric and supplies to begin dyeing my own fabric! I have no idea what I'm doing, but I bought a book last week and I know how to read, so let the good times roll! I have to admit, however, that I am a clean freak, and the idea of making a mess of my basement with dye and other sundry ingredients makes me a bit nervous, but, I have to try it. Batik fabrics are my favorite fabric designs. I love the abstract design and mix of colors that they display. I love how they make great blender fabrics due to their simplicity but can stand alone on the subtle movements within the color. I love how the colors seem shallow yet possess such depth. They are art on fabric. Now, this novice will not be creating beautiful Batik fabrics next week, but I am excited to get a feel for yet another aspect of the art and craft I love. I'm planning to start with simple dyeing, and see if this is something I can actually do. If all goes well, I will have some beautiful hand-dyed fabrics to use in my own creations and sell in my online shop. If you haven't visited my shop, I invite you over to the Quilt Store Next Door. Talk to you soon.

Small Hands Can Do Big Things

Of course, it is nearly midnight, and I am up blogging when I should be preparing to go to bed. My daughter and I did some sewing together today. As you can see in the picture, her small hands are really getting the feel for what she is doing. She is making the third quit in the series for her American Girl dolls, this time for "Chrissa." This little quilt is a rail fence quilt in pastel blues and greens in a super soft flannel fabric. This is the first quilt that I have left almost completely to her hands to make and I am so proud at how easily she has picked up the techniques and process as I have shown her. The great thing about kids her age is their propensity for learning. They seem to embrace new information with ease. They are old enough to understand somewhat complex instructions without being easily bored. So, the little quilt top is about half-way pieced at this point and she is so proud of herself and what she has been able to learn and accomplish in a short time. She amazes me everyday. I am so blessed. My online shop is definitely picking up steam. I am 30 days in, and I am averaging one sale per week, as a matter of fact, I had a sale just a few minutes before I began writing this evening. I am not driving a Porche yet, but it goes to show that with a whole-hearted effort and a lot of Blessing, you can see your dreams become reality. I recently learned through a co-worker, of a craft bazaar at a local church. I have made some calls and just need to get my registration submitted and I will be an official vendor at my first craft show. The only thing that has my nerves a bit racked is that the show is in three weeks! Before you ask, yes, I am quilting my fingers to the bone for the next three weeks!! I have no idea what to expect, but I have a a lot of fabric and quilt kits in stock right now, so I'll make more handmade items, cut more quilts and give it my best shot. I just ordered my "square" card reader so I can accept credit cards. I feel so cool! Earlier this week, I found myself at the library picking up books for my daughter, when I came across a book on hand-dyeing quilt fabric. I was captivated. I may be entering yet another foray in quilting in which I never imagined I would be interested. I am finding myriad ways to express my own creativity and show my daughter that each of us is more than the professional hat that we wear. Back when I first started quilting, I thought I was only a dental hygienist, a college graduate, the sum of the things that earned my paycheck. I am more, I was created to be more and He who began a good work in me will see it to completion, I only need to enjoy the ride. Til next time, be sure to check out my how-to blog, "Piece Talks with a Block Head." I will be discussing proper lighting and it's importance in accuracy and color. I would love ideas and feedback. Next Saturday, I will be attending my second session at the local quilt store in the "Quilt Divas" club, so I'll be sure to share what I learn there as well. Of course, you can always find me on Facebook and on Twitter @QuiltStoreNxtDr

Down Memory Lane...

Hello again! As much as things have been moving forward in my journey, still I sometimes find myself looking back. I have had three influential women in my life; my daughter who is the fire that re-lit my quilter's heart. My paternal grandmother, who I mentioned in my first post in this blog, had tried numerous times to teach me sewing, knitting and crochet with no success and my dear mother, who I mentioned as well, passed away about three months after my daughter's birth in 2004. Earlier this week, my friend who is recently taking an interest in quilting, had been asking me what sorts of things I have made. I sent her pictures of various items I still have in my home from my quilting past and I ran across the picture you see above. After I started quilting in 2000, my mother had been bugging me to make a quilt for her. So, for Mother's Day in 2002, I made for her the quilt and matching pillow shams you see her posing with in the picture. This is a basic log cabin block on both the quilt and shams done in green and light purple florals to match the decor of her bedroom. It really was lovely. My mother died in April 2004 of pancreatic cancer, in that bed, with that quilt. Before being diagnosed with cancer about six months before her death, my mom was a firecracker of a woman. She never met a stranger and she had a zest for life. That was how I had wanted to remember her, not as the terminally ill cancer patient she had become in those last few months. After her death, I cleaned out her room and I threw away anything that reminded me of her illness...including that quilt and shams. When I tell people that I threw that quilt away, they can't believe I did it. I had to...it held such bittersweet memories that only broke my heart over and over again. A few days after showing this picture to my friend, I was going through fabric stashes trying to figure out what I could still use. Not to mention, I'm still in the process of getting all of my quilting tools, gadgets and fabric moved to my new studio. As I sorted through piles of fabric leftovers from projects past, I found a single log cabin block that had been left over from my mom's quilt. God gave me a little gift. You see, I am a registered dental hygienist by profession and since coming back to my passion for quilting, my head swirls with ideas of where the love of this art could take me in my future. My mom is watching and I know she is proud of the woman I have become and I know my Lord is in this with me and will show me where he wants me to go next. I don't know yet what I am going to do with my single quilt block, but I do know now my heart no longer breaks at the sight of that quilt, but now propels me still forward in this journey.

Dancing with Cinderella

It's Sunday night and all is quiet as I sit here and write another installment in this boring, weird, interesting, who-cares-about-the-adventures-of-a-quilter blog. (Wanted to cover all the bases depending on who is actually reading this) The photo above is the most currently finished quilt for one of my daughter's dolls, Kit Kittredge. My daughter got her first American Girl doll from Santa on Christmas 2008. Kit Kittredge is a historical character who is from the time of the Great Depression. My husband built a set of bunk beds for Kit (we assumed there would be more dolls to follow) and I made "mattresses" and "pillows" for the beds. I got this great idea that I would make a 1930's style quilt for the doll. I researched fabric colors and prints and quilt patterns and set to making the quilt. This is an 18 inch quilt. I got it pieced and quilted and then construction came to a halt. Life was busy as it always is, and the doll quilt got put away with the menagerie of other unfinished items I had. Since my daughter and I have begun quilting together, I felt inspired to finish poor little Kit Kittredge's quilt. There it is in all it's 18 inch glory. I don't know if it even remotely resembles anything 1930's looking, but it is cute and now Kit is warm. Life is good and we've already begun sewing strip sets and cutting blocks to make my daughter's "Chrissa" doll a new quilt. This weekend, we made a trip about two hours north of where we live to Amish country. In about a month, my daughter and I will be taking a Mom and Me quilt class at our local quilt store to make a 9 Patch quilt. I could teach her to make a 9 Patch quilt at home, but I think taking a class and seeing other kids her age who are also interested in quilting and sewing will be a neat experience for her. We went up there to one of the Amish quilt shops where they sell quilts and fabric. We saw some beautiful quilts and lots of fabric. My daughter chose all the fabrics herself (with minimal guidance to keep her on track) and I was really pleased to see the choices she finally decided on. My Etsy shop, Quilt Store Next Door, is humming along. We've still only had a couple sales but I am getting a lot of daily traffic in the way of shop and listing views, so I'm encouraged. I am now also on Twitter and you can follow me at www.twitter.com/QuiltStoreNxtDr and I am also on Pinterest at www.pinterest/QuiltStoreNxtDr. Before I finish up for the night in my studio, I have one more item of business to get finished. I mentioned last time that I was looking into quilting instruction. I contacted my city parks and recreation, and since they don't currently have anyone who teaches quilting, I told them I would like to do it. I have to complete a Class Proposal that needs to be submitted by Friday to get my class in the Summer parks and rec class catalog. I am super excited about this, it's sort of a way to give back the way someone first gave to me, and maybe I'll inspire someone like my first instructor inspired me. Lastly, I have decided I don't want to pigeon-hole my shop sales to online only--there are just too many online shops to compete with, so in April, I'm heading off to peddle my wares at a craft and antique show. I figure the more I get my shop name out there, the better. But most importantly, tonight as I sat at my sewing machine sewing strip sets for the next doll quilt, my little girl sat sewing on her machine getting her fabric prepared for our upcoming quilt class and making mini "quilts" and "huggy quilts" for some of her other little toys. She was so proud of these miniature creations she had made, and she excitedly ran upstairs to show each one to my husband. As we sewed, Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Cinderella" came on the radio and I just stopped and watched her...this little girl who will only be little for a blink of an eye is such a blessing to me. I thank God that I get to dance this dance with her and I will relish every minute I am given.