Friday, April 17, 2009

a group effort - quilt festival 2009

Welcome! If you are joining me from the 1st Annual Bloggers Quilt Festival, I'm so glad you stopped by! Make sure you visit Amy at Park City Girl to see all the quilts and be entered in some excellent giveaways! And yes, they involve fabric!!

I'm a relatively new quilter with only a few quilts under my belt. I'm currently working on this, which will be my favorite for sure. Until I start and finish the next one!

So to choose my favorite finished quilt for the festival, I picked this one. Not only is it cute, this little quilt has a great story!
click to get a better view!

When I was about 12, I embroidered these blocks for a church project. I don't remember how long it took me, but I'm sure it was a while. The idea is that they would be made into a baby quilt for when I grew up and had my own kids. Well, you know what happened. They sat in my sewing box for about 20 years (that long? really?).


Well, when I got pregnant with my first, my mom and I decided to resurrect the old project and breathe some new life into it. So we went through her stash of 40s reproduction prints and decided to use a lot of different fabrics so it would be more gender-neutral. So we cut out the sashings, and I managed to sew that main part together.



Then my mom took over again and she put on the borders.


My Aunt Mary quilted it on her long-arm machine, my mom sewed the binding on, and I handstitched it down.


I finally finished it a few months before my SECOND was born. (Remember that procrastinating problem?) Even when we got it all put together it still took me forever to sit down and do the handsewing. I really didn't think I would enjoy that part very much - it's grown on me since.

Thanks so much to my mom who helped not just with the sewing and cutting but with the overall look of the quilt and to Mary for doing such a great job on the quilting. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, and it's so cute I'm not sure I really want anyone spitting up all over it. So for now it's hanging on the wall in the playroom.

What's funny (or sad, you decide) is that it took over 20 years, 3 people and many locales to get this thing done. Here's a list of the places it's been worked on:
embroidery - Annandale, VA
Sashing cut - Draper, UT
Sashings sewn - Oceanside, CA (thanks Allyn for letting me use your machine back then!)
Borders sewn - Draper, UT
Machine Quilting - Tooele, UT
Initial binding sewn - Draper, UT
Final handstiching - Stafford, VA

At least it started and ended in Virginia - but sheesh, what a trek. I am kind of glad we didn't put it together way back then - I think the fabrics we had available to us recently make it really cute - who knows what 80's influence would have been at work had we completed it back then! But I love that I have something that my mom, aunt and I worked on together.

88 crafty mcCrafters commented:

Kritta22 said...

I just blogged about a quilt almost like this last week!

What a great quilt to have around for the memories!

Thanks for sharing!

Karen said...

what a wonderful quilt! and such a sweet story to go with it.

Andi said...

Great story!
Great quilt!
Something for your children to fight over when they have children of their own.
Andi :-)

Bunny said...

Stunning quilt! And such a good story. Having so many members of your family help work on it makes it truly special.

Nadine said...

It is a truly special quilt, because all of you have worked together on it. Don't be afraid to let the kids use it though; it will be even more special when it's loved to threadbareness by the next generation. Trust me on that one! :)

Terri Stegmiller said...

That definitely was a great quilt story. The quilt is lovely and the embroidered block designs bring back some childhood memories.

rachel griffith said...

omg this is too stinkin' cute for words.
LOVE it.

kristie said...

this quilt is beautiful! who cares if it took you that long to finish it? i'm the queen bee of procrastinating but i truly believe that if you rush a project simply to 'finish it', it may not turn out as great as when you mull it over for awhile.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Great story. Lovely quilt. I noticed Oceanside,CA (I used to live in Fallbrook) and Stafford, VA (I lived there in 1983-84.)

heather said...

I love the horse block!

Sarah said...

Very fun quilt, Amy!

Casey said...

a great quilt with a really great story behind it!

Anina said...

What a wonderful story!

Mandy said...

Thanks for sharing the story. What an amazing task putting this all together.
The blocks are delightful.

Unknown said...

I've not seen this one! So adorable - I love that you DID finish it :) The joint effort and numerous locations make it so special - I'm sure you have lots of memories. Thanks for sharing it :)

Doris said...

Seriously adorable! And what a great (long) story! ;->

CherryBlossomMJ said...

This is a great story and a great quilt. I wish I had more crafty people to share projects with. Treasure it!

Heather said...

its adorable.

maria said...

I love it.

Maria

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful!

Janet Brady said...

You are so lucky to be surrounded by such talented and supportive people. I decided just this week to stop feeling guilty about leaving projects undone for a period of time. I have come to realize that it is a part of the creative process that allows me to come back at something with renewed passion and motivation. The improtant thing is that you keep doing what you love with passion! Thanks for sharing your work, it's lovely.

Shannon said...

Neat story.....way not to give up on a project! You should be so proud!!

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful quilt and story too.

Dionne said...

What a wonderful quilt, and a BRILLIANT story! It really makes me feel nostalgic and hopeful for my own girls (oldest is 12 now) all at the same time!
Thank you, thank you for posting about this quilt.
Cheers,
Dionne

Bethany said...

wonderful quilt with a really neat story

Zonnah said...

What a cool story. Now I wish I had made something when I was twelve :)

Jocelyn said...

Awww what a sweet story. And all the family history involved in the construction. It will be an heirloom for sure.

Coloradolady said...

This is adorable! What a story to have to match the quilt. It is a wonderful family treasure I am sure. Congrats to you for finishing such an adorable project.

em's scrapbag said...

I think it makes it all the more special that you, your mom and aunt worked on it together. The blocks are precious.

Patricia said...

How sweet!!!!! Think of the family history. You DID make a label?---right!

Hugs!

Michelle said...

That's a neat story -- nothing sad about it!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing. This is what your kids will fight over later in life. ;-)

Anya said...

Lovely quilt and lovely story. Thanks for sharing.

Robin said...

That is a very cute quilt. And the story behind it just makes me smile. Thanks so much for sharing! :)

Maggie said...

I love all things 1930s and 40s, but I've never been able to do hand embroidery. I just have a hard time picking up a needle. I don't think they fit in my hand.

Kim said...

You're right, this is a GREAT story! And a beautiful quilt. I think the wall is a perfect place for it!

Kerri said...

what a cute quilt!! i'm sure it was so exciting to get it done after 20 years!!

Amy said...

Amy, it's lovely. Sometimes the long journeys are the best.

Anonymous said...

This proves that persistence pays off. Beautiful quilt.

Tacha said...

Very cute embroidery.

dutchcomfort said...

Lovely story and repro fabrics!

dream quilt create said...

What a great story! I think you triumphed and finally got it done. It doesn't really matter how long it took, you got it done, before you had grandchildren! It is really beautiful and a real treasure.

KC Quilter said...

Oh, I just love that quilt!!!! And especially love the story behind it. Thanks for sharing!

Scrappy quilter said...

What a wonderful quilt.

Jennwith4 said...

I think it's neat that it traveled all over the place getting finished. Beautiful!

Pamela said...

What a terrific family project - I'm sure it will be treasured by generations to come also!

Unknown said...

The story is wonderful...the quilt is just too lovely for words. It was worth the 20 yr wait wasn't it?

Susan said...

Wonderful ending to a fantastic story .

Quilt Rat said...

Aren't you glad you hung onto those blocks

Trudi said...

Some quilts have to take that long to be just right! I have my own that have taken 10 or so years and are eaually well travelled. You are not alone in this! :o) Well worth the waiting for. Its lovely :o)

Cindy's Stitching said...

what a great story and a lovely quilt. personal quilts are the best

PersimonDreams said...

I {heart} this quilt! What a fabulous story and I love that it took so long to come to fruition...that is a true work of love. Bravo!

Anonymous said...

It's neither funny nor sad that your quilt took a long while to come into being. With its travels and with family helping, it has a wonderful story to go with it now as well as a great history. It's become a real treasure.

Maria

Toni said...

What a great family story to pass on!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a fantasic story to go with your great quilt. I can't believe that you still had the blocks after all that time :-)

Micki said...

I loved your story and the quilt. I am on the list and I am thrilled to have found your blog!
Micki

Aunt Spicy said...

I think the number of people involved and their relationships and locations make it even more special!

sewtakeahike said...

I love it Amy! It's so fun to have such a history behind the things we make. It's fun when you can tell a story about something you have made. I love the embroidery you did way back when!

Abby said...

Wow, what a neat story! I love your quilt!

Oddbjørg said...

A lovely quilt - and story! I'm sure this will be a special quilt for you.

Linda said...

What a great quilt and a good story to go with it, too. I love the retro fabrics.

Carol said...

Love all the different fabrics. The blocks are so pretty. Just goes to show it's never to late to finish up a quilt.

Sara said...

I like that you used all those different fabrics in the sashing.

Great story - and you should be proud that you finished it because it truly is pretty!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes the slowest projects turn out the best.

rebecs said...

very cute.

love your other quilts!

Alexis said...

I love the quilt! You are so talented! Tell everyone in the preschool group "hi"

whoopdedoo_5 said...

so dang cute! love it!

Vivian said...

Making a quilt is a journey so this quilt is doubly blessed because it has been on an actual journey while it got made!

Please, please, please print out this post and put it in a safe place (maybe in a pocket on the back of the quilt?) so that when your kids get grown they will have this wonderful story to go with this cherished piece of (what is now) family history.

Kudos to you, your mom and aunt!

Bunny said...

Great story and what an heiloom and sew many memories sewed together. Great job.

Ilena said...

What a beautiful quilt and lovely story. That is one quilt that took a very long time to complete!

mylittlegems said...

I love it- I had a similiar quilt as a child that I remember. Great story too- and I love your profile/description-sounds like my life :)

Martha Wolfe said...

You're quilt is wonderful----the images you embroidered are so reminiscent of illustrations from picture books years ago. Your story is a beautiful affirmation of the fact that "it's about the journey". So many people participated in this wonderful creation. Lucky you!

Unknown said...

I love your quilt. I did blocks like that as a teenager, thinking I would make a quilt for my chldren, I never had kids so my niece ended up with it.

me said...

The only thing better than a finished quilt is a finished quilt with a great story attached! Lovely work.

Debbie said...

I don't have a quilt that has been sitting around for 20 years but I do have one that has been sitting for 16. It is a wall-hanging I made for my son when he was a baby. The top is done but it needs to be quilted. I figure it will be for a grandchild someday. I'll have more time then right? Great job on a sweet quilt.

Anonymous said...

Thats adorable.
janie

meggie said...

That sure is one adorable quilt! I am sure it will be treasured for years to come.
I loved the story of how it all came to be!

Jennifer Ofenstein said...

Great story and good for you for seeing it through to the end!

Susie Q said...

That is a wonderful story, and you have written it all down and put the important stuff on a label on the back - right! You were wondering what the the 80 influence would have been if you had finished it then - try - polyester - so no spit up would have soaked in - just rolled off on YOU. Thanks for sharing.

Rhonda said...

Outstanding job and great story.

Nat Palaskas said...

Cute quilt for the festival. Love the baby animals - notjustnat

Jill Iroz said...

I love that you finally made a home for your handiwork. A couple of years ago I made pillows out of cross-stitched pieces that were sitting in a box under my bed. It was a great feeling to display and share beautiful handwork. Good Job!

AnnieO said...

I liked your "map" of where the quilt had been --thanks for the cute story to go along with the adorable finished work. You, your mom and aunt have a wonderful collaboration that the family should treasure forever.

SunbonnetSue said...

You can still get the pattern for the Baby Animal Embroidery if you want to start this tradition in your family:

http://sunbonnetsue.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=148

secret cake said...

Such a great story! Beautiful work.

yarnahoy said...

VERY cute! love the baby animals.
:)

Elisabeth said...

My friend just sent me a link to your blog, I'm glad I discovered it! This quilt is so cute, what a great heirloom. I think you're right, it might not have turned out so cute 20 years ago, so good job on the procrastinating! I love your furniture redos too. I have a habit of dragging home old ugly furniture (and lotsof other junk) from the trash/yard sale, whatever that my husband just LOVES! Ha Ha. So anyway, I have been spending a lot of time painting a bunch of it lately and lo and behold it is turning out pretty cute! It's amazing what a can of paint can do! your table with 4 chairs is a great find- I would totally not have passed those up either. Anyway, I love how your green dresser turned out!

Elisabeth

A Creative Life said...

Maybe it was good that you were not able to finish it back then, now you have a lovely story to tell behind this quilt. It can surely be a family keepsake.

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