Really. An entire humility quilt. In fact, the first one I ever made (at least the one I think of as the first quilt). I've commented to others (and maybe here -- I can't remember) that my first quilt is safely in my mother's protective custody where all first attempts at crafts belong. You know, the loving place where all is forgiven thanks to a mother's loving eyes (despite the fact that the same mother will mercilessly frog any knitting that doesn't pass muster and/or tell/encourage you to do it -- Hi MOM!). There were no pictures of my pathetic little quilt. This is a good thing. Then I had to help Mom buy a digital camera. Hmnn...yeah, well, there goes the no pictures thing.
So here it is, my first quilt. Not too bad in this shot. I mean, from six feet away on a galloping horse nothing wrong with it. It's bright, it's cheerful. The problem is when you get off that darned horse.
'Cause it's then that you notice a few things that MIGHT be "off" with this lovely. Such as, oh, I don't know -- um, those bear paws might want to have, um, POINTS?!?
Yeah, points would be nice -- though frankly, the points are easier to forgive than the mismatched seams. You mean, those seams were supposed to MEET?!? Welcome to the wonderful world of, yes, 1/4" seam allowances are MANDATORY -- not a suggestion. And yes, even if you think of them as a suggestion -- you really need to at least CONSISTENTLY 
Mom was kind of amazed when she took these photos for me to share -- she said she hadn't remembered it as being that bad (there's that Mom eyesight thing -- thank goodness for it) but that I have improved quite a bit. Um, yep. And that's the lovely thing -- after 6 years and who knows how many projects. I have gotten better. Much better. Good enough that I have a quilt hanging in a quilt shop as a sample. And my corners even match and everything. But the thing that hasn't changed is that I'm still having fun with it -- that this whole quilting thing has been a blast and a half, mismatched seams, pointless points and all.And just so I don't get too cocky about my little shop sample -- um, while I may no longer make entire humility quilts -- I did just make a humility binding. (grumble, grumble) Instead of that lovely bias binding I mentioned -- I ended up making a continuous straight grain binding (or is it cross grain -- at this point, not sure it matters). In my own defense -- I probably shouldn't have been working on it at 1am after a particularly difficult night with my suddenly not wanting to go to bed 2 year old. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it -- had NOTHING to do with me just making a mistake)
So, another trip to the quilt shop (darn) and another yard of fabric. And maybe THIS week -- I'll get the binding made that I want! That is IF I can get my life back on track -- after two trips to the dentist (and the sore jaw both visits -- first from the hygienist, then from the cavity filling), new carpet installed in the computer room (and cleaning out the closet in that room because, hey, it all has to be put away anyway -- might as well do a deep clean), and a house that is screaming at me to CLEAN it and declutter it so I can find my sewing space again! (and this little rant paragraph is my way of saying -- sorry I haven' t been posting or commenting much, life has been keeping me from the computer) So -- back to the closet clean out and trying to get my life back together!
35 comments:
There is a whole lot of decluttering going on in Blogland. New school year, getting rid of the kids after 2 months of boredom and life, at long last, returns to normal.
I love the colours in your first quilt and, yes, a Mum's eyes wouldn't see the faults. Wonky is great though!
Hey, maybe the bear just had a pedicure and the nails were clipped. Maybe you were liberated before being liberated was cool. The quilt is lovely and seems like well loved also.
Well, at least that quilt is finished and loved. And at least you have improved -- I'd be more worried if you were still making things that looked like that. I don't think we ever stop making mistakes -- we're only human, after all.
Your time away from the computer probably explains why you haven't replied to my e-mail -- maybe this will cheer you up? You were the winner of the 250th post blog party that I had on my blog! I'll resend the e-mail so we can figure out what you want for your prize!
LOL Your mom is so sweet to find the good in all you do. Sounds like you've learned a lot along the way too.
Ha! I think that if you get a quilt with enough humility that you can just call it "wonky!" :)
I think your mom is just so wonderful-seeing what you do as so perfect no matter what! The quilt is great, colors are nice and just think, if you stopped at your first one, you would not be doing what you do now! I also think Wonky is great!
I kind of like it - and I'm not even your mother!
I think the quilt has his charm...even with no points on his bear paws!
Hey Angela! You know we all have quilts like that! Just lets you see how far you've come! Keep up the good work!
see ya soon!
Love that humility quilt- if only all humility could be that bright and joyful!
This post had me laughing out loud! Your "humility" quilt is quite charming and you are right...from 6 feet on a galloping horse, no one would even notice!! Too funny. I think we all have one of those quilts if we didn't throw it away. I know I still have mine! It is a UFO!
You know... before I was a quilter I had a quilt for years made my great grandmother. It was perfect. When I learned about seams and matching, etc. I realized that Grandma's quilt was more 'liberated' than I had actually thought! And you know, it made me sad to have learned those things because then those "areas" became glaring to me. After 24 years I don't feel that way anymore, perfect and precise is nice and all that.. but finished is better! Your quilt is joyful and happy and free. (AND FINISHED!!)
I have joined the decluttering band wagon too, I am cleaning my studio.
Your humility QUILT may not be perfect but it is finished. I think you did a great job for a first quilt. My first quilt is a mess but I love it.
It looks like a happy quilt to me - full of charm. I'm glad your mom took a picture :)
If the quilt is keeping mom warm then I count it as a success...! It does look really great in the distance picture :-)
I'm giving you a figurative smack upside the head. that is a wonderful sweet quilt. stop picking on it. I prefer it when seams don't match and the points are lopped off. makes quilts much more interesting and personal than something a machine could have pieced perfectly. It's a bright, happy quilt.
Oh, fabulous pics!!!
And you still put it together and finished it and were probably quite proud, it still serves its purpose!
I don't need to insert humility blocks, to me that's a little regimented anyway,-none of my quilts are ever perfect! Tracey
Gosh did this post make me laugh! I love the description of mom's loving everything about us!! My mom was wonderful but didn't always love what I created. My dad on the other hand is the one that wore the "perfection in hankdicrafts" glasses. Aren't you glad that you didn't get rid of it. You can see how far you've come!
Thanks for your bravery -- we've all got those 'first quilts' -- we loved making them! And how gratifying to see how we've progressed! BTW, your colors were splendid!
Wow! What a colorful piece of gorgeousness!
PS.....perfection? awwww, who cares anyhow?!
Personally, i never have to put in an intentional humility block as there's always at least one mistake somewhere in the quilt anyway... Who's perfect?
The colors are great, but it sorta looks like something only a mother could love. Bless her heart.
Your shop sample quilt shows just how far you have come - and to be teaching a class? You go girl!!!
I think I can find in your first quilt your love of colours. In that you are still the same. And the first quilt is meant to be wonky otherwise we have nothing we can do better in the second and the third, fourth,... quilts! I still haven´t made the perfect quilt and that´s why I am always trying at a new one! Take care.
I love your quilt, wonky and all!:o)
I do love the colors you used in your quilt Angela. My first quilt was a humility quilt too. It wasn't that the piecing was bad, it was the terrible, ugly, gross color scheme I chose. It was a sampler quilt and I made it in gold, rust, brown and white. I showed Lisa a picture of it and she was speechless.
I love your humility quilt, and honestly what is the big thing with points? I mean, when they are all perfect it just seems a bit braggy.
Bless your mom for having mom eyes, not all of them do!
Personally I think perfect points are overrated...I smiled when I saw the first picture.
Welcome to the declutter club...I'm finding it goes faster since I've started alternating a clup of coffee with a glass of red wine...
HE HE HE!!! What a great post!! I just LOVE your humility quilt, it is darling!
Great post!
Isn't it funny how 'perfect' things can appear in a long distance photo - I looked at it and thought 'What is she talking about?' until you highlighted your little bits of 'humility' - then I looked again and they jumped right out and hit me. Nevertheless it' a nice quilt and if nothing else serves to act as a reminder of how far you have come on your quilting journey :o)
And not forgetting 'finished is better than perfect' any day!
thanks for sharing your first "wonky" quilt - we all had to start somewhere and your colors are fabulous for a first quilt! yes-the deep cleaning/decluttering bug is alive at my house too.
Everybody has a first quilt. They are well-loved even if they are far from perfect. I sent mine to my grandson in Australia. He's only three so he doesn't care and it's so far away that I only have to look at it every two or three years.
I love your humility quilt, and WE ALL have one (or two, or three, or...). It's like the first day of second grade when you have to write a few sentences in cursive, and at the end of the year you do it again - and you get to see how far you've come! Your quilt is beautiful from the start!
I'd LOVE to see a closer shot of your yummy shop quilt!
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