Sunday, May 6, 2007

Back to our regularly scheduled quilt content...

Ok, I really should be working on my paper right now. It's due on Tuesday and I had planned for it to be finished yesterday. But, well, some things do take precedence ( the frozen stuff was still pretty frozen, the other food was ok, and my new fridge is just humming along, I'd post a picture but I need to change the batteries in the camera -- will try and do that in the next post). As for tonight, my brain is fried, I'm tired, and I didn't want to have the first post you see on my blog be a complaint -- that's not really like me (ok, sarcasm and a sometimes biting wit is like me, but whining is not usually my thing). Plus I realized that I hadn't posted anything that looked like a quilt in a while. AND while I was re-arranging the kitchen to make room for large appliance delivery, I found the pictures of the Christmas present quilt I made for my mom this past year! I KNEW I had them!

The photo quality on these is not the greatest but you can get the general idea. This is the quilt that generated the orphans I've been playing with. There is a long and involved story that goes along with the creation of this quilt (involving fabric I had made some pillowcases for Mom with and which she loved -- then asked me to make more of them. Me: "Um -- Mom, I bought that fabric over four or five months ago" Mom: "Is that a problem?" Me: "Oh -- um, no, no" Reality -- YES, YES! Let's just say it turned out to be a fabric that had been featured in some magazine I hadn't seen -- I found ONE website that had it. And they had it back ordered. I ordered more than enough to make the pillowcases -- then used it as a springboard to design the quilt. And wouldn't you know, AFTER the Internet ordering and searching ordeal one of my favorite LQS's got a bolt. I bought more since my design needed several more yards due to fussy cutting and the borders).

The long story also involves trying to find a design to feature said fabric and not finding a pattern I liked so trying my hand at design. First I thought of Ohio Stars with the floral as a feature, didn't like them, but wanted to play with HSTs (have I mentioned I will get obsessive about a technique or a shape for awhile and NEED to play with it?). So, I monkeyed around with variations of the size square I would need to feature the fabric and one of them was an "X" -- hmmn. As a child, my Mom would write notes to me in my lunches. Little things, always signed with xoxo's -- potential here. I signed notes to her the same way (ok, so we still do -- just because I'm 35 doesn't mean I've outgrown those darn xoxo's from my Mom). So, a quilt to tell my Mom I love her -- works for me. And that's it's name too (I KNOW I'm not the only quilter who names her quilts) "Mom, I love you. XOXO". A bit more tinkering around (sashing so the X's and O's were distinct, some cornerstones made of more HSTs) and some fabric shopping and I was set to go.
The long story also involves the fact that I finished the somewhere around 80"x80" quilt in, oh, October or so. (There's even more here about working on it over my summer vacation with the invaluable assistance from my good friend and fellow quilter Bonnie, travelling with the quilt in pieces to Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico -- but way too involved to get into here). Ummm...can we say a bit late if I wanted it finished for Christmas? Especially since this one I DID send out to be quilted? Um, I was VERY lucky that the wonderful long arm quilter I sent this to was able to squeeze me in. Especially since I not only sent her this one, but another as well (again, funny story here about a friend of Bonnie's who went to pick up her own quilt and saw mine -- she was freaked out because Bonnie also made one in purples for her mother and she KNEW it was an original design, so she couldn't figure out how there was another one there -- either that or I had been lying about designing it. Nope, this was the original, Bonnie just used my drawings and instructions to make hers. But I thought it was hilarious how weirded out she got). Not only did she finish both quilts, but they turned out beautifully. Especially since my only directions on this one were -- "um, I think some feathers". I wasn't being difficult, really, it has more to do with trusting this woman with the quilt. I did the part I do well (piece and play with color) and I KNOW she does the quilting well. I trust her judgment and I have loved everything she's done for me.
A much longer post than I had intended, but this quilt had a lot of story to go with it. Mom got it for Christmas, loved it, and now it rests in her guest bedroom. (whole 'nother story there -- but I knew I was taking a risk when I used a white background -- besides, that is MY bedroom when I go down and visit and will be dd's when she is old enough to visit on her own, three generations of xoxo's -- works for me!).

14 comments:

Fiona said...

Very pretty - and all the better because you designed it yourself.

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

A wonderful quilt. Love pink and green . . . .

His Office, My Studio said...

I just love your mom's quilt. I am such a big tulip fan. If I found the tulip fabric I would of purchased the whole bolt.

Early today my neighbor call to say Sears was coming to her house (3rd time) to deliver forgotten parts for her new washer. 1st deliver was 3 hours late and washer was dented. 2nd time delivered new washer without stand. Today new stand was delivered. What happened to customer service?

Unknown said...

I wish you fun with your new fridge, well as much fun as one can have with a fridge! Your Mum´s quilt is wonderful and even more so as it is UNIQUE. A great love proof. I love the colours, very fresh and pretty. Take care.

YankeeQuilter said...

I love ther story of your friend getting freaked out when she saw a "copy" of your quilt! I did something like that at a Quilt show in Lowell only to realize that the quilt was done by my friend in South Carolina (who know quilts got so many frequent flyer miles!)

Finn said...

Hi Atet, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment over at Pieces. You warm my heart *VBS*
I think I have been here before, but I do tend to lose track. I'll bookmark you, and then I'll have it for sure.
The pink and green quilt is wonderful, and what a story!! Keep up the great work, and congratulations on the new Frig. Hugs, Finn

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Gorgeous quilt... love the story. None of our quilts have short stories or come easily. That's what makes them worthwhile...I'm happy that you and your DD will snuggle under that one. Great job!

Anonymous said...

I love 'quilts' story!!

Lovely quilt, so pretty and fresh!

Clare said...

That tulip fabric looks vaguely familiar. Take a look at this
http://tinyurl.com/2mmkce. I love having new furniture, even a fridge. I always have a mini make over.

Judy said...

Very pretty and bright quilt! I can see why your Mom loves it!

Unknown said...

what a lovely quilt/present you have there!

Anonymous said...

A beautiful quilt and wonderful story to go with it!

The Wooden Spool said...

Gorgeous!!!! Thanks for sharing this with us! We love eye candy made with loving hands....anyone can "buy" an 'ol bedspread.......but you made it with love!!

Unknown said...

Such a pretty and feminine quilt, and terrific quilting.