I have decided to participate in the Bloggers Quilt Festival - Spring 2011. I am a new quilter (well, a new quilter in the respect that I have just started finishing what i start!) What a cool thing to include my work with hundreds of other quilters. Sometimes it seems like I'm the only one in the world that quilts because I never get to spend face time with people who quilt. (There is a quilting group here but they meet during the day when i work) I'm thankful for the blog quilting community so that i can learn and grow as a quilter, and not feel so alone!
I am sharing the quilts that took me 5 years to finish. I started them because i was applying to be a foster parent and they were going to be the quilts in my "girls" room. That plan never happened because the state of Texas never got around to approving me (although i passed all of my classes and home study.) Eventually, the quilts sat in a box and kinda felt like broken dreams. I cant have kids, and i really felt that foster parenting was God's plan for me. Well... 4 years later, I have found out that he had a different plan. I now am about to marry someone with 9 grandchildren and 2 more on the way! I get to be Mimi to a whole mess of children, and although they wont be a part of me, they will be "mine" to cherish!
I am making quilts for all of them. The two quilts i started years ago I have now finished and they are going to the twin granddaughters. The fronts are almost identical, the backs are different and I quilted them differently. I used fabric I had on hand, scraps of shirts, fabric I bought at a yard sale or were given to me... they are truly scrap quilts in that respect. A few of the blocks are from one of their great grand mothers shirts, that they never got to meet.
They are the 2nd and 3rd quilts that have finished. I machine quilted them and I think that is what I learned most from making them, the process of sandwiching and pin basting, then machine quilting. By the end of the 2nd quilt, I think I can do a half way respectable job! They were also part of a "finishing" trend. I used to get to a point that i wasn't that confident at and stop, meaning I have several starts to quilts that I may someday revisit. On these I was able to push through the lack of confidence and finish them, I am sure I will continue to do that!
I am sharing the quilts that took me 5 years to finish. I started them because i was applying to be a foster parent and they were going to be the quilts in my "girls" room. That plan never happened because the state of Texas never got around to approving me (although i passed all of my classes and home study.) Eventually, the quilts sat in a box and kinda felt like broken dreams. I cant have kids, and i really felt that foster parenting was God's plan for me. Well... 4 years later, I have found out that he had a different plan. I now am about to marry someone with 9 grandchildren and 2 more on the way! I get to be Mimi to a whole mess of children, and although they wont be a part of me, they will be "mine" to cherish!
They are the 2nd and 3rd quilts that have finished. I machine quilted them and I think that is what I learned most from making them, the process of sandwiching and pin basting, then machine quilting. By the end of the 2nd quilt, I think I can do a half way respectable job! They were also part of a "finishing" trend. I used to get to a point that i wasn't that confident at and stop, meaning I have several starts to quilts that I may someday revisit. On these I was able to push through the lack of confidence and finish them, I am sure I will continue to do that!
Be sure to visit all of the other quilts in the Bloggers Quilt Festival!
16 comments:
They look great and snuggly! Found you thru the linky for the Quilt Festival :)
What a fantastic quilt and I love the story of your quilting journey. Sometimes we just don't know the path that will be our destiny. I'm glad you are going to have so many little ones in your life and I'm sure your house will be full ... maybe too full at times!! Hee Hee.
Love the quilts and the extra sentiment of having them made out of clothing from loved ones. I'm working my fingers off trying to finish off my latest quilt for the festival. Hopefully tomorrow.
Oh, Tamara, what an inspiring post, and gorgeous quilts to match!
I have lived the bitter wait that you described. And quilting was my companion then. Tomorrow we celebrate our first's 5th birthday, and now quilting {and finishing!} is what keeps me sane, while I rejoice as they drive me insane running circles around mama! Wishing you happiness!
Many blessings from faraway Cyprus,
valentina
:)
What a lovely story and happy end! I will follow your blog to see the next quilts you will finish and wish you god luck.
So pretty!
Congrats Mimi...I know they will grow to love them.
Really pretty and comfy looking! I LOVE squares.
Your quilts are so soft and wonderful looking and I love the story of becoming a Grandma! Those grandchildren must just adore you and your quilts.
What beautiful quilts! What a wonderful blessing to have such an adoring Mimi for all the little one. : )
Fantastic.
Cute quilt! I love your definition of 'new' quilter! ha. ;-)
What a wonderful story! You will be a wonderful "Mimi!"
So glad you found the inspiration to finish your quilts, they are lovely and I'm sure your "granddaughter" will love them.
Your quilt is wonderful! Love the colors.
How wonderful that you will now become an instant Mimi! And with 9 already and two more on the way, your arms will be full to overflowing! Happiness is yours :)
I do love a happy ending. It is delightful to see that you will have plenty of grand children to make quilts for. Lovely!
What a sweet, sweet story to go with a lovely quilt and how fun you get to be a gramma...it's one of my major joys in life. They are going to be blessed to have you in their life with or without beautiful quilts. Thanks for sharing and have a great day
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