Happy Saturday morning! I hope you are all good. It is a great day here to just burrow into your sewing room and create wonderful things. It is grey and rainy and I love it! I finished up the binding on this old quilt this morning. I found this top in town at an antique store. I only made it as far as the first couple booths, and had to dash out (after paying of course) with my treasure in my arms. I guess I was afraid some other feral quilter would snatch it out of my hands. This patten is called Ocean waves. Obviously it is a scrap quilt. I have another one with the same pattern downstairs but it is only blue and white, it is quite wonderful how just the fabrics make such a different effect. I feel like this quilt is almost laughing with the joyful bits of fabric that were used.
I tossed this top up on my frame almost as soon as I got home. I was between tops and was dying to try out some of my wonderful Statler designs. When I bought my new Gammill Long arm from Beth it had a multitude of wonderful designs loaded on it's computer and this was the chance for me to try a bunch of them out. Normally my clients like me to hand guide my custom quilts, and I love it, but I wanted to play with the perfection of the Statler Stitcher.
My kiddos came down and had fun picking out designs as well. The Dove was from Ethan.
The Peacock was Emma's choice. Anyway, this quilt will be given as a wedding present today to one of the men who works with my husband. I hope they like it...I am always torn when I give quilts. I LOVE quilts, pretty much any quilt I like. But what if the people I give it too think I am an idiot giving just a blanket? Will they see the love and blessings that were stitched into this piece? Will they see the fun and happiness I wish them to have in their marriage?
I got tired of quilting the diagonal lines, and just did swirls at the bottom part....I wish I would have done swirls all the way through it...or figured out how to do diagonal boarder quilting...I will learn that Monday, so I will do it on my other Ocean Waves quilt.
Oh well, if they don't like it I will be happy to take it back and use it in my household.
Here is the Label that came with the top. Viola hand pieced this quilt back in 1954. I wonder what her life was like? I hope it was a good one!
Do you feel odd about giving quilts as gifts? Sometimes I feel they may be perceived as over the top...or old fashioned, but my house is swelling at the seams with quilts. I really don't NEED any more, but boy to I love to make them!
Have a happy weekend!
Tia
I love love love this quilt. I sure hope they love it! You did Viola proud. Good on you.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I loved quilting this quilt so much! I loved trying all the little designs and looking through the (13,000) that are on my machine to find the next one to add!
Deletegreat quilt. I've learned to expect the under reaction when I give a quilt. I think it's a gift that grows on the new owner as they use it and learn to love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Brenda! I do think they will like it, they are great folks for sure!
DeleteI'm the same - I worry about giving a quilt as a gift in case it's seen as just some homemade blanket, and what the heck are we supposed to do with that? If I got Viola's quilt as a gift I think I'd cry, it's so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhen my youngest started school I decided I'd gift a quilt to his homeroom teacher each year as he left her class. So far I've had 2 incredibly grateful teachers, and the one this year has already mentioned to his previous teacher that she can't wait for her quilt, so that's a great feeling. Remember the stars quilt you quilted for me (with the aqua background?), I gave that to some friends who had just got engaged, and they gave it to their dog to sleep on. That hurt.
Oh Katy! I am sure the dog is thrilled to have such a great quilt to rest on. I know my dog commandeers my bed while I am out in town going about my day...he rests his black hairy laurels upon my very favorite quilts everyday! But he loves us like it is his full time job. I don't mind a bit.
DeleteI also have mixed feelings about giving quilts away. I did a wall hanging for some friends a long time ago before the quality of the fabrics changed. They hung it on the wall near their front door. When I saw the quilt a month later, it had faded badly and I was so embarrassed. I stopped quilting for a long time after that. What's the use if you have to keep the shades down to keep the quilt on the bed from fading. I started up again and gave a quilt to my son and one to my granddaughter. They both sit on a shelf in a closet. Once again, I am thinking "Why am I doing this?" I really am quilting for myself any more.
ReplyDeleteKaren L.
Oh Karen, maybe they leave the quilts in the closet because they are too special to use. I hear that all the time! My grandma (mother, aunt) made this for us with her hands! We can't possibly use it! Crazy huh? I NEED my quilts to be used!
Delete1954 was a great year...
ReplyDeleteI was born.
Karen
That does indeed make it a fine year!
DeleteI would be honored if someone gave me a quilt. I would use it for its intended purpose. When needed, I'd launder it carefully on gentle cycle/cool water, and hang it on the clothes line to dry in the gentle breeze and early morning sunshine. So if you are feeling like being appreciated, I'd adopt it and be smiling as I cuddled up in it on the sofa watching a movie with my daughter. Seriously....I'm not kidding.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt! I too struggle with "who would love this quilt". Fortunately, my kids, adults, love quilts and know they are to be used. I was at their home once and found a quilt on the floor, the only reason I picked it up was because I didn't remember making it, until I saw it. My son said "Well it shows we use them"! I had no problem with that!
ReplyDelete