When a quilt is made for someone specific, each aspect is carefully considered. The recipient and it's use are the primary thoughts as the fabric and design are chosen - and the maker(s) proceeds to infuse their thoughts and affection, sometimes even blood, sweat and tears!
It's been several months since I was invited to participate in the production of a quilt for someone special. We didn't know who would be the recipient, all we knew was that it needed to be filled with love from all of us. The label on the back included the thought that every time she wrapped up in the quilt, she'd be receiving a warm hug from everyone in the group.
And from the reaction, it truly was received as we had each given. The look on her face tells it all.
I had the privilege of quilting the quilt, filling it with ♥♥♥.
In this case, the quilt was filled with love in many ways. When you make a quilt, how do you finish this sentence? (besides batting and stitches, lol!)
A quilt is filled with _________.
May all your quilts be filled with positive things in the year ahead!
... and hanging out in the vendor mall at a quilt show makes me happy!
Working at the AccuQuilt booth
Meandering through the backroads of the Kentucky countryside with a quilty friend
to see barn quilts makes me happy!!
Is this thing working?? Idunno, we'll see...
Observing quilters' amazing creativity makes me happy.
Taluk, a Tentmaker of Cairo, demonstrates his applique' technique
Taluk's favorite quilt
Sue McCarty, with her 2014 HMQS Best of Show quilt, "After Hadrian"
(Saw several more of her previous "Best of Show" quilts at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah!!)
Learning new quilting techniques from renowned fabulous quilters makes me happy!
Claudia Pfiel with her 2014 HMQS 1st Place Art/Innovative quilt, "Fern Rising"
Teaching quilty stuff, sharing happy little tips that make other quilters happy makes me happy!
Anticipation of teaching this class again (Small Town Quilt Show next week!) makes me happy!!
And as you may have observed in my previous post:
Sharing a quilt makes me happy!
The perfect picnic, scenery, quilt, and company!
Having an excuse to spend time with my girls makes me happy.
(Quilt Shop-Hopping - see our adventures HERE<<)
In essence, yep. Quilting makes me happy.
And finally...
...It made me happy to hang out with the rest of the troupe
of the Home Machine Quilting Show committee last month
even though they made me sing to open the show each morning.
But, you could probably guess that music makes me happy, too.
Last year's theme was "That's Amore!"
This year's theme was "A Quilter's Symphony"
You'll just have to use your imagination...
Starts out with the tune of Beethoven's 5th Symphony and it goes like this...
H.M.Q.S.... H.M.Q. S... (Then cue the music for the >> Happy Song<<)
It might seem crazy, what I'm 'bout to say...
H.M.Q.S. is my favorite place...
Thousands of quilters wait for this day -
Where quilters share, without a care, baby by the way.
It makes us (Happy...)
Clap along, if you're here, amazing quilts to see.
Clap along if you're here to test-drive a new machine.
Clap along if you're here to shop until you wilt;
Clap along if you're here 'cause you just love to quilt!
Come take a class, learn a brand new skill. (Yeah)
Every quilty thing, yeah, you'll get your fill. (Yeah)
And all our teachers are just "sew" fine. (Yeah.)
Much too much to do, now don't you waste your time,
And you'll be (Happy...)
Clap along, if you're here, amazing quilts to see.
Clap along if you're here to check out the latest thing.
Clap along if you're here to shop until you wilt;
Clap along if you're here 'cause you just love to quilt!
(Insert a little Beethoven's 9th for this part of the chorus: "Freude, shoener" etc. keeping with the "Quilter's Symphony" theme...)
Friends from near and far now gather; Marvel at the quilts you see!
Passion, fabric & dreams combine to make this "Quilter's Symphony."
(Happy, happy, happy, etc.)
Can't nothin' bring me down, etc.
Because I'm (Happy)
Clap along, if you're here, amazing quilts to see.
Clap along if you're here to test-drive a new machine.
Clap along if you're here to shop until you wilt;
Clap along if you're here 'cause you just love to quilt!
Clap along, if you're here, amazing quilts to see.
Clap along if you're here to check out the latest thing.
Clap along if you're here to shop until you wilt;
Clap along if you're here 'cause you just love to quilt!
(Repeat chorus while dancing around the sewing room, guild meeting, quilt shop or quilt show).
~~~~~
Whew! Thanks for making it all the way to the bottom of this long post!
What happy quilty things have you been up to lately?
1) Comment here for a chance to win a happy little stack of fat quarters.
2) Let me know how you follow Quiltscapes for a second chance.
3) Sing my version of the Happy Quilters' Song just for the heck of it. Ü (Substitute your favorite quilt show/quilt shop for the HMQS references)
Update: Contest is over and a winner chosen: CONGRATULATIONS, JANET!!
Skills learned at the feet of our mothers and grandmothers seem to have "skipped" a generation. Quilting, for example. We don't have the kind of time, the room, or the relatives that live close by to come on over and "put a quilt on" like in my grandmother's time.
These days we have virtual quilting bees, we quilt at home and sometimes we quilt with our checkbooks... (I can help with that! :) quiltscapesquilting.com) And with access to interwebs, we can learn from creative people from one end of the globe to another, day or night. I'm continually amazed at what people around the world are creating!
Right now, there's a cool giveaway going on at my favorite place to learn; Craftsy.com. Sign up for Craftsy and click to enter to win a free class today! >> FREE CRAFTSY CLASS << By the way, you can enter if you're already a member, too!
Just in case you haven't heard about Craftsy, it's where you can share pictures of projects you've crafted, sell your patterns online, and take classes on any crafty subject you can think of! I spend a lot of time on my longarm, quilting for clients, and have my computer set up so I can watch/listen and learn as I work, any time of the day or night! I've taken quilting classes, sewing classes, learned about precision piecing, knitting, and even baking artisan bread! Next? Maybe a cake decorating class.
Can't remember where this quote came from, but I like it. My problem (if it is a problem) is that I want to learn to do everything. Well, ok, everything quilty. And, I want to learn it right now, today! So go ahead, live it up, enter the giveaway, and get your little golden ticket to learn something new. The giveaway is open now through August 14th.
Are there things in your life that just make your heart sing?
Tomorrow I'll be privileged to raise my voice with 359 other members of a renouned choir~something I have worked toward my entire life. In the final phase of a pretty rigourous training process, tomorrow's broadcast will include us new recruits. A thrilling, joyous blessing!
And since this is a quilting blog... singing is a major fabric woven into the patchwork of my life.
Tell me, what are some things (in addition to quilting *Ü*) that fills your soul with joy?
