What amazing discussion evolved from my posts of the past couple of days. You quilting friends are marvelously thoughtful and intelligent individuals. I got so much out of all your responses. Many of you pointed out that it is possible to find a balance between taking your time to make a quilt, (including doing hand work or machine quilting), and on the other hand, doing the occasional "get it done" speedy project. I spent the summer cranking out quilt tops which I now find I cannot afford to get professionally quilted. It was truly too much, too fast. I hardly remember my joy in constructing them or my pride in completing them. It opened my eyes to the zen quality of quilting, which we sometimes loose sight of. It is a Process; and good work sometimes deserves serious contemplation and a commitment of time. And sometimes you need to get a gift made or want a seasonal quilt FAST, and you cut corners. It works both ways and both are wonderful and Right.
Speaking of quilting friends—-remember a couple of weeks ago I had stolen ran out of some fabric I needed to complete a Block of the Month project I am working on? Jeanine kindly offered to send me the 3 1/2 inch square of fabric I needed. I was thrilled at her generosity and looked forward to the postman's visit with a little envelope from her containing the scrap of fabric. Imagine my shock when this is what arrived:
She sent me the fabric, pictured in the center, plus "some of her favorite quilting supplies"!!!! A cool collector's edition Olfa rotary cutter, some pins and the neatest pair of Fiskars Short Cut Snip scissors! Jeanine, you are incredible. Thank you so much!
I never would have dreamed, thirty years ago when I developed an interest in quilting what a fantastic society of people my hobby would introduce me too. You are all so wonderful.
30 responses to “For the Love of Quilting”
Aren’t quilters some of the most kind and generous people that you know? Now I know that you don’t have to a quilter to be kind and generous, but it is a fact that most quilters are. :~)
Have you ever thought about getting a mid-arm machine and doing your own quilting? I just bought a HQ16 and I love it! As talented as you are, you could do some fantastic quilting. Just a thought.
I love the Halloween fabric under your little pile of goodies!
Aren’t quilters some of the most kind and generous people that you know? Now I know that you don’t have to a quilter to be kind and generous, but it is a fact that most quilters are. :~)
Have you ever thought about getting a mid-arm machine and doing your own quilting? I just bought a HQ16 and I love it! As talented as you are, you could do some fantastic quilting. Just a thought.
I love the Halloween fabric under your little pile of goodies!
Quilters are the most generous amazing people; they give so freely in so many ways. Enjoy your wonderful gifts. I enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Quilters are the most generous amazing people; they give so freely in so many ways. Enjoy your wonderful gifts. I enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for sharing.
The timing of your post is just perfect. I have been having one of those days. Just not going well. Now that I have had my lunch with all of you in blogland, I feel so much better. I have been enjoying reading your blog for quite some time now, but I am always just a lurker. So out of my safe hiding roll and into the commenting I go. I would like to say thank you for being there in one way or another! Quilters really are a great group of people.
The timing of your post is just perfect. I have been having one of those days. Just not going well. Now that I have had my lunch with all of you in blogland, I feel so much better. I have been enjoying reading your blog for quite some time now, but I am always just a lurker. So out of my safe hiding roll and into the commenting I go. I would like to say thank you for being there in one way or another! Quilters really are a great group of people.
Quilters are an amazing group! And it’s wonderful that through blogging we get to see so many examples of such wonderful generosity!
Quilters are an amazing group! And it’s wonderful that through blogging we get to see so many examples of such wonderful generosity!
Quilters reap what they sew! You are very blessed and that was a GREAT surprise!
Marlene
Quilters reap what they sew! You are very blessed and that was a GREAT surprise!
Marlene
Oh, boy are you ever right! Quilters are the best! What a nice gift And your quilt tops this summer, I am sure they served a purpose at the time. We, your readers, certainly enjoyed seeing them.
Oh, boy are you ever right! Quilters are the best! What a nice gift And your quilt tops this summer, I am sure they served a purpose at the time. We, your readers, certainly enjoyed seeing them.
Quilters are great .But Nicole you yourself have a big heart and the love you give always comes back enjoy your gifts,
Hugs Mary.
Quilters are great .But Nicole you yourself have a big heart and the love you give always comes back enjoy your gifts,
Hugs Mary.
What a wonderful post. I agree…sometimes we forget the journey of makeing a quilt. I also agree quilters are an amazing group of people.
What a wonderful post. I agree…sometimes we forget the journey of makeing a quilt. I also agree quilters are an amazing group of people.
I enjoy your blog very much. It is such a pretty blog to begin with and the posts are always enjoyable. Thank you for sharing!
I enjoy your blog very much. It is such a pretty blog to begin with and the posts are always enjoyable. Thank you for sharing!
Take heart ~ your quilt tops will be professionally quilted, but probably not as quickly as you churned them out this past summer. No one can work at that pace for months on end…
You are SO right about the need for balance between fast and slow ~ and yes, quilters are some of the nicest folks with the kindest hearts…
Take heart ~ your quilt tops will be professionally quilted, but probably not as quickly as you churned them out this past summer. No one can work at that pace for months on end…
You are SO right about the need for balance between fast and slow ~ and yes, quilters are some of the nicest folks with the kindest hearts…
Yes, it costs quite a bit to have your quilts professionally done. The “heirloom” quality ones should, indeed, be done that way. However, not all quilts are heirloom quality, or gifts, for that matter. What do I plan on doing? We have a local quilt shop that rents the big longarm quilting machines. You take a class that is three hours long and the price is $100. You are taught the mechanics of loading your quilt on the machine, doing the actual quilting and then taking it off. The owner wants to make sure you know the machine well so you won’t mess it up. You can start out slow and just do stippling and loop – d- loops. That is fine for your run of the mill home quilt, don’t you think? A friend of mine has been doing it and now is getting more comfortable to do more complicated designs. The price? Once you take the class you can use the machine for $15 per hour. I’ve done it before and believe me, you can get a lot done in a few hours. Perhaps you can find a store near you that offers this service. I can’t wait to do it.
Yes, it costs quite a bit to have your quilts professionally done. The “heirloom” quality ones should, indeed, be done that way. However, not all quilts are heirloom quality, or gifts, for that matter. What do I plan on doing? We have a local quilt shop that rents the big longarm quilting machines. You take a class that is three hours long and the price is $100. You are taught the mechanics of loading your quilt on the machine, doing the actual quilting and then taking it off. The owner wants to make sure you know the machine well so you won’t mess it up. You can start out slow and just do stippling and loop – d- loops. That is fine for your run of the mill home quilt, don’t you think? A friend of mine has been doing it and now is getting more comfortable to do more complicated designs. The price? Once you take the class you can use the machine for $15 per hour. I’ve done it before and believe me, you can get a lot done in a few hours. Perhaps you can find a store near you that offers this service. I can’t wait to do it.
What is the name of the beautiful picture showing the quilting bee? I, too, would like to track down a print. I love looking at pictures of days of yore and pondering what they’re thinking, saying, doing, what’s going on around them…
Thank you.
What is the name of the beautiful picture showing the quilting bee? I, too, would like to track down a print. I love looking at pictures of days of yore and pondering what they’re thinking, saying, doing, what’s going on around them…
Thank you.
I hadn’t read this post when I commented on the previous one, but that’s exactly what I was trying to say. You hit the nail on it’s quilted head, Nicole! Well said.
What lovely gifts you received from Jeanine, too. You are very deserving, so says I!
I hadn’t read this post when I commented on the previous one, but that’s exactly what I was trying to say. You hit the nail on it’s quilted head, Nicole! Well said.
What lovely gifts you received from Jeanine, too. You are very deserving, so says I!
I’m just now getting around to reading this post and your last one. What wonderful observations and comments! I just finished Return to Sender and for a while I was not enjoying making it because it seemed to be taking too long. But in the past few weeks as I finally finished it I enjoyed the process again. I didn’t care how long it took as I started to enjoy seeing the colors come together and the pattern on my design wall. I spent a lot of time playing with it on my design wall in fact. At another time I would have admonished myself for wasting so much time playing with the squares instead of finishing them but I don’t anymore and I am enjoying the whole process much more. So thanks for reminding me why I really like quilting.
I’m just now getting around to reading this post and your last one. What wonderful observations and comments! I just finished Return to Sender and for a while I was not enjoying making it because it seemed to be taking too long. But in the past few weeks as I finally finished it I enjoyed the process again. I didn’t care how long it took as I started to enjoy seeing the colors come together and the pattern on my design wall. I spent a lot of time playing with it on my design wall in fact. At another time I would have admonished myself for wasting so much time playing with the squares instead of finishing them but I don’t anymore and I am enjoying the whole process much more. So thanks for reminding me why I really like quilting.
**Heavy Contented Sigh**…
Nicole,
I have been staring at the both the piture of the Quilting Bee and the picture of the precious and thoughtful surprises that came along with the fabric you received from Jeanine and suddenly realized that in the short time I have been immersed in the wonder of quilting and the delightful surprise of wandering into your blog, I have enjoyed more stress relief than I have found in over a year of posting to Scleroderma/Lupus support groups. The sense of total relaxation I feel when I am working on a quilt, or thumbing through patterns and quilting magazines is phenominal, but no more so than reading through past and current posts on your blog and the beauty of the photos you post. Stress is a major player in any illness or disease and when we find something that completely lifts away the burdens of everyday life, not to mention the pain relief associated with stress relief, we grab it and hold on for dear life. So thank you for a place to lurk and relax, or post as I please. You will never know what a great gift you and all the people that post have given me. Also, as everyone has pointed out already and Jeanine has once again proven that the kindness of quilters is truly amazing.
Nancy
**Heavy Contented Sigh**…
Nicole,
I have been staring at the both the piture of the Quilting Bee and the picture of the precious and thoughtful surprises that came along with the fabric you received from Jeanine and suddenly realized that in the short time I have been immersed in the wonder of quilting and the delightful surprise of wandering into your blog, I have enjoyed more stress relief than I have found in over a year of posting to Scleroderma/Lupus support groups. The sense of total relaxation I feel when I am working on a quilt, or thumbing through patterns and quilting magazines is phenominal, but no more so than reading through past and current posts on your blog and the beauty of the photos you post. Stress is a major player in any illness or disease and when we find something that completely lifts away the burdens of everyday life, not to mention the pain relief associated with stress relief, we grab it and hold on for dear life. So thank you for a place to lurk and relax, or post as I please. You will never know what a great gift you and all the people that post have given me. Also, as everyone has pointed out already and Jeanine has once again proven that the kindness of quilters is truly amazing.
Nancy