needs attention now . . .

You know how when you get an idea for a project and it doesn't matter how many *other* projects you're in the middle of, this idea is just begging demanding your attention, so you drop everything else and attend to it?

Like my starburst fabric and the hexie topper.  Why yes, exactly like that. I knew I'd have some down time (five hours, round trip) as we (Todd, myself and a co-worker) traveled to and from Rome, Georgia, yesterday, so I decided Tuesday evening that I'd do some hexi-prepping.

It served me well, because I was able to baste *all* of my hexies on the drive up.  I had to sight-see on the drive back (which may be why I navigated my husband to the scenic route on the way back)!

Yup, pretty pleased with this.  Now to whip them together and sandwich it.  I'm thinking quilted stars in each hexi . . . yes??!

I spent some time this morning using a snowflake die cut to cut out blue and white quilts from the challenge show.  I laminated them, because we'll use these on our Christmas tree (downtown Huntsville has a Tinsel Trail in Big Spring Park) on the trail this year . . .

I think we'll spray a little glitter on the shapes before laminating them.  Aren't they fun? With white and blue lights and a big blue and silver spray as a tree topper -- it'll be stunning!

This was our tree from last year -- the first year we'd entered a tree -- with the guild's 1st VP and President.  The die cut shape I used was an ornament (plus a few stars) and the photos were from all the place winners in our guild's show. It was a lot of fun!

Speaking of guilds, my July -- next to last -- article on A Quilter's Journey featured just that.  Guilds. It was one of my most favorite to write, because it was very personal. Well, you can figure that out for yourself if you read on . . .

To guild or not to guild?

It shouldn’t even be a question! But it is, for a lot of quilters. It was a question for me. Very early in my quilt journey, I was encouraged to join a guild; specifically, the Huntsville guild. That encouragement came from darling Mrs. Martha (who worked at Hooked on Quilting), and who had helped me in so many ways as a new quilter. But I have to admit that I pushed back on her push to visit a guild meeting. Why?

I’m an introvert. Mind you, I’m not shy (being an introvert doesn’t necessarily equate to shyness), but being in a large group of people (especially people I do not know) is incredibly draining; mentally exhausting, even. So heading off to a guild meeting wasn’t high on my list of quilting priorities. Except that Mrs. Martha kept talking about it and asking me if I’d gone.

In December of 2007, I bit the bullet, researched the meeting time and place, and showed up for my guild meeting debut. For all of my initial hesitation in attending, I was looking forward to it. I entered the building, was met and greeted by the hospitality committee, given a ‘ticket’ for the drawings, and sent on in. But December is the holiday dessert meeting – and since there was no planned, formatted program, just holiday fun and festivities, it seemed very overwhelming and a little chaotic. (A lot chaotic. A whole, whole lot.)

I think I may have looked around for about thirty seconds, before I decided that guild was not for me.

On my way out, I handed my ticket back to the hospitality committee member who’d given it to me, mumbled something about making a mistake, and bolted for the front door.

There may or may not have been tears. (Seriously, I was so overwhelmed and out of my element. And I’m a girl.)

As I hit the steps, the hospitality lady (who happened to be Charmaine L.) followed me out and talked me back inside. She introduced herself, found me a seat at her table, and introduced me to the group (which was largely made up of her stitching group). They made me feel welcomed and I ended up having a great time (it didn’t hurt that I won several drawings through the course of the evening). 

I made connections that evening that have stood the test of time. Over the next several years, I made friends. I joined a stitcher’s group. I involved myself in guild business and served on the board in a variety of positions. I encouraged other quilters I knew to come to guild. Through it all, I’ve learned so very much and grown and stretched myself, both as a quilter and just as me.

So, to guild or not to guild? Unequivocally, to guild is the answer. But let’s be on the watch for those who are first-time visitors, wanting to make a connection—let’s help them plug in. Let’s purpose to be more than an audience member (or even just a newsletter recipient). Get involved! Participate in guild events like workshops or community outreaches! Become involved with the board! You’ll find your membership so much more rewarding. I know I do.

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)

be the quilter you want to be . . .

This is August, which means this month is the last month of our guild year. In fact, we'll meet tonight and celebrate the journey of the past twelve months with a party and a potluck, lots of "fanfare" and--more than likely--not a little hilarity.

I still have three months worth of articles to share, but I'll do it over the next couple of weeks, so they're posted before the month closes. That way this series and the guild year can both go gracefully out into that good night. Heh. :)

My June article spoke to being the quilter you want to be -- and being straightforward with yourself about that. Without further ado . . .

I have been quilting since January 2006, when I started my first Patches & Stitches block of the month. For those of you who attended the May meeting, you are now well aware of my dubious quilting start. Over the past 12 years, I sometimes wonder if I’ve gotten much further from where I started. I came to the point, which I think all quilters must, where I had to decide what kind of quilter I was going to be. I’m not talking about traditional quilting versus artistic quilting versus modern quilting, or even being a hand quilter versus a machine quilter. 

No. I’m talking about quilting "my way" versus quilting the "right way." 

Y’all know what I’m talking about! I know we have an amazing number of quilters in the guild who are definitely ‘the right way’ quilters. Even so, I’m sure we have one or two who say “Close enough!” on the quarter inch seams, who sometimes forget which way to press—to the light or to the dark, and who say 'live and let live!' instead of ever fooling with the seam ripper. Right? That’s about where I am. But it took a quilting crisis of faith for me to decide who I was going to be as a quilter. On the one hand, I bemoaned my inability to make a quilt that was show-worthy (and when I say that, I mean AQS show WINNER worthy), and on the other hand, I struggled with the time, patience, and effort it took to make that sort of quilt. 

Then I read a something Judy Laquidara (author, quilter, blogger at Patchwork Times) said to a person who commented that they envied her ability to knit; they couldn’t do it. She responded that it wasn’t that the commenter *couldn't* knit, it was that the commenter wasn’t willing to do what was necessary to become a successful knitter. And that struck a chord with me. It wasn’t that I *couldn’t* be a show winning quilter, it was that I wasn’t doing what was necessary to become that quilter. And therein was my quilting crisis of faith...was I willing to do what was necessary....or was I happy to do my own thing my own way, gift in love, and put my quilts in non-juried shows for the joy of it, not for the ribbon?  

We each get to determine who we are going to be as a quilter and what our quilts are going to represent. Each of us holds the power to guide and direct our respective journeys as quilters as well as the journeys of the quilts we make. In a wonderful way, our quilting journeys become our legacies as well. Whichever quilting path you choose to take, enjoy the journey; it will make your legacy all the sweeter to recount. 

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)

one, two, now three . . .

So, family is coming in from all over the USA over the next several days . . . Virginia, Texas, California, Georgia . . . even Alaska! So you can imagine where my focus will be over the next week, right?!

The next installment of A Quilter's Journey was published in the May issue of our guild's "Fanfare".  It's the prelude to our challenge show, so it's kind of funny that it follows my last post revealing my challenge piece!  Enjoy -- and I'll see you in a week or so!

Challenges. Quilt challenges, that is. Regardless of how long you’ve been quilting, this can be an alarming word! I remember my very first HQH challenge very clearly; I was still a relatively new quilter, I had never been to a quilt show (local, national or otherwise), and I had absolutely NO CLUE as to what was expected of me in a challenge (beyond what the rules listed – I got that). But as a newbie quilter, thinking outside the box, in both a vague (create what you want) and specific (but follow the rules) kind of way, was quite alarming. 

The theme that year (2008) was Quilt the Vote. Essentially the rules were that we had to make our entry voting or patriotic themed – it was an election year – and we had to use a specially purchased piece of them fabric. 

I was stumped. Seriously, I had no idea how to proceed from there. What I *should* have done was to go back to the guild’s scrapbooks, kept in the library (which is located in back room of Patches & Stitches), and thumbed through pictures of past challenges and entries, so I could have had a better idea as to how to proceed. 

But I didn’t. 

Instead, I went over to Quilter’s Cache and looked for blocks that I could possibly use for a voting theme. I came up with two. A paper-pieced star and the Alabama block. I put them together, using the specified fabric, and fashioned it in a sort of flag shape with quilted stars in silver thread and with a silver metallic binding. I have no idea what I called it and to be honest, I didn’t really like it (I’ve always wished I’d been able to “think outside the blocks”). But . . . I. Was. Determined. To. Have. An. Entry. 

I sat out the next challenge. In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t – the theme was really a really cute one: In the Cards. But I was still recovering from both the first challenge and entering a quilt in my first guild show. The next time I attempted a challenge it was the guild’s Still Crazy After All These Years challenge. That was 2012 and I was a little more seasoned as a quilter and had an easier time thinking “outside the box.” I was having fun trying different techniques, and at the time I was playing around with faux applique, using colored pencils and a special color setting liquid. My entry that year was Crazy in Color and won a ribbon! (I rarely share that it was the only entry in its category.) 

Challenges stretch us as quilters. They call for us to dig deep and to be fearless! They want us to have fun, and be innovative and creative! They demand we keep secrets—which for me now, may be the hardest part—and they give us a show like no other! 

I’m already stitching up this year’s challenge entry for Stitchin’ the Blues! and I’m so excited for our show! I’m looking forward to seeing all the lovely quilts, to seeing how members interpreted the theme, and all of the wild, wonderful ideas that are presented. And I truly hope everyone will consider joining in on the fun. After all – the more the merrier! 

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)

chronicling the journey . . .

Nothing much going on here . . . still in a sling, still pecking away one-handed, still slugging through daily physical therapy. More notably . . . still no stitching. But there's light! I'm past the halfway mark of the five weeks in the sling . . . just a little over two weeks, in fact, until it comes off. Hurray! (And HURRY!)

The February installment of A Quilter's Journey, discussed chronicling one's quilting journey. I really do use my blog to look back and see when I did things and what things I've done. I found over the past year, when I wasn't quite so faithful, that I really missed being able to look back and see finishes (or more likely, starts), fabrics I'd purchased, a particular pattern I'd used. That was one of the reasons I've come back! Anyway, without further ado . . .

As I went through my quilts preparing for last month’s guild program, I realized that most of my *favorite* quilts that I’d completed were quilts I’d gifted away. And I’d imagine there are a lot of us quilters that feel that way. And if you’re like me, a lot of heart and soul goes into those favorite quilts (if not blood, sweat and tears), and while there’s definitely joy in the giving, there can also be that hollow feeling that comes from giving a bit of yourself away. 

Quilt Journaling. I’m convinced that may be the answer. 

Quilting journaling has become very popular over the last several years, with merchants coming up with eye-catching journals and layouts to tempt us into chronicling our journey of creation. Journaling can take a lot of different forms. Today’s quilting journal books provide prompts, blank spaces for photos or design doodles, areas for fabric swatches (and detailed information about said fabric), and some even have space for planning sewing time (or shopping time??!). A quick search on Pinterest revealed LOADS of resources you can print yourself. Project worksheets, quilt planner sheets, quilt design planners, quilting goals, even instructions for how to make your own quilt journal! (Want to take a look at a free quilt journal/planner set of printables? Patchwork Posse has a fun *free* set you can download and use as you see fit – a great, inexpensive way to play around with the concept of journaling, especially if it’s new to you: https://www.patchworkposse.com/16-days-of-free-quilt-planner-printables/.) 

Going through all these resources it dawned on me that I’d been journaling a lot of my creations from the first quilt I’d gifted. In fact, for my very first quilt, I kept a notebook of each month’s block construction instructions, along with small patches of the fabrics I used for each block, some scribbled notes/comments on the process, and after I’d completed a block, I took a digital picture of it and printed it along with the name of the block and which month it belonged to. At the end of the notebook is the date I finished the quilt along with a full-size photo of the finished project. I did that for all the block-of-the-month quilts I’ve done, which it makes it really easy to keep up with those. 

Not long after making my first quilt, my sister gifted me with a darling little 4” X 6” scrapbook she’d made especially for my quilting. The next quilt I made I used that sweet little book to document the making of a baby quilt I gifted back to that same sister and my newest niece. Pictures of the process and the completed quilt, along with notes of where I got the quilt pattern, snippets of fabric, and the website where I found the template I used for the bunny applique. 

And don’t forget about blogging! What a great way to journal the process *and* share it with a like-minded community (and make quilty friends around the world, to boot!). I’ve kept a blog since 2003 but it wasn’t until 2008 that I found the quilting community online and began sharing pieces of my quilting journey on my blog. But in 2010 – 2012 I blogged nearly every day, and my quilting life is laid out for all to see. This has been particularly helpful to *me* when I want to go back and check a pattern I used or particular fabric I had or check my timeline. Social media – Facebook and Instagram in particular – can also be a great way to digitally journal your quilt projects, and get feedback at the same time. 

Somewhere along the line I purchased a plain, lined journal. For a while I doodle-journaled quilt concepts and sketched out ideas, as well as some true-to-form journaling (deep quilty thoughts). Then I had the GREAT idea (famous last words) for a personalized hexie-crazy quilt, where each hexie was themed by a memory or hobby or other aspect of my life. So I drew out the appropriate sized hexie across the center of the journal . . . on about 40 pages . . . and then as I thought about it, I sketched out the block map with embellishments and embroidery stitches I planned to use for each block. This is a work in progress, so I’m still playing around with it—let’s just say it’s a LIFE project. 

Do you journal your quilts? What steps do you take (especially when the quilt won’t be spread on your own bed or hung on your own wall) to preserve the memory of the time, effort and energy spent in creating? Do you create photo albums or keep fabric snips, or write notes? How do you preserve the creative process? Things to ponder . . . 

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)

a quilter's journey . . .

Surgery went well; physical therapy starts today.  I admit that I'm a little more anxious about the PT than I was about the surgery!  

The pain is manageable, as long as I stay on top of the meds and keep the ice pack in play.

It's time for the next installment of A Quilter's Journey.  I didn't do an article for the December newsletter; so this is January's contribution.  Our guild year ends in August, so I've only got one more to go! Now to decide where the focus should be . . . any thoughts?!? 

At Christmastime, Santa was the one making a list (and checking it twice).  But as the New Year makes its entrance, ‘most every quilter I know begins their own list . . . of resolutions (or good intentions), that is!  If you’ve been on the quilting journey for any length of time (over two months), no doubt there are some “quilty” resolutions filling up your own list of resolutions—or goals, as I like to refer to them.  Here are a few things you might find on a quilter’s New Year’s Resolutions list—or perhaps on your own list:

-I will buy no more fabric; instead I’ll use only fabric from my stash*

     *exceptions:  there’s a great sale-of-a-lifetime at any of the LQSs

                         there’s a great sale-of-a-lifetime online

                         I find a new favorite fabric line

                         I fall in love with a quilt kit (that I promise to work on in 2018-fingers crossed)

                         I visit a quilt show or exhibit and need to support the vendors

-I will take a quilting class and learn something new

-I will get rid of anything (fabric, gadgets, patterns, etc.) that I don’t love

-I will document my progress through my quilting projects (either by journaling or photojournaling)

-I will finish up all the UFOs (UnFinished Objects) I’m currently storing*

     *exceptions:  I forget where I am/what I was doing with a particular UFO

                             I quit working on it because I hate it

                             a new and/or better project comes along

                             I ‘lost’ it

-I will spend a little bit of time each day in my quilting room

-I will only make quilts that are fun

-I won’t purchase any more quilting gadgets unless I’m really going to use them*

      *exceptions:  there’s a great sale-of-a-lifetime at any of the LQSs

                              there’s a great sale-of-a-lifetime online

                              I visit a quilt show or exhibit and *need* to support the vendors

-I will organize my sewing area which includes organizing my fabric stash

-I will actually do any BOMs that I sign up for or participate in

-I will not point out any mistakes in my finished projects

One or two (or all) of these may be on my own list of goals for 2018.  What about you?  What quilty resolutions are you making for the coming months?!  Happy New Year!

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter.  :)

quiltiness . . .

So far it's been a quiet week quilt-wise ... still haven't gotten into the Nook to 'fix' my challenge piece.  Hopefully on Friday I will be able to get to that!  We have Meg Cox, quilt journalist and author of The Quilter's Catalog, coming to speak at our guild meeting on Thursday evening (I'm really excited ... I've blogged a bit about Meg here).  Her book was one of the first quilting books I purchased, and I read it cover to cover, it was SO good! If you haven't ever read it, it's definitely worth checking out.  On Saturday I'm taking her Photo Rituals workshop which deals with vision boards and photo quilts.  Yay!  I can't wait to share a bit more about that.

This installment of A Quilter's Journey was featured originally in our November Fanfare. That makes the "thankful" theme make sense!

I have so much for which to be thankful.  One thing I give thanks for is that my grandmother was a quilter.  She started the craft in her later years and I have no childhood recollection of her quilting (actually, I have *no* recollection of her quilting, ever).  As far as I know she belonged to no guilds or quilting/stitching groups.  There was no internet at the time, so access to other quilters and designs (which is where I get so much of my inspiration) was limited.  And unfortunately, my interest in her quilting interest didn’t bloom until I’d started quilting, long after she’d passed away.  Fortunately, for me, my mom kept *everything* of her mom’s, and as my passion for quilting developed, mom handed off my grandmother’s quilting ‘things’ to me. What an education! It gave me a whole handful of *quilty* reasons to be thankful . . .

I’m thankful that rotary cutters were first introduced in 1979 and were quickly adopted by quilters. In my grandmother’s things were a huge pair of heavy, silver shears.  She cut all of her fabric pieces by hand with them.  I’m not sure my traditional grandmother ever even knew that rotary cutters were available, but I sure do love my assortment!

I’m thankful for acrylic rulers and templates.  Another find in my grandmother’s things was a handful of cardboard templates in assorted shapes. Hexagons, pieces for a Sunbonnet Sue, Dresden fan blades . . . among others. I take for granted the ease in which I cut triangles and squares and EPP shapes! Today I can cut multiple layers at a time, with rulers and the rotary cutter, whereas she could only mark and cut one piece at a time. Yikes!

I’m thankful for high-quality, 100% cotton fabrics, in a HUGE array of colors and prints.  My grandmother used scraps from old clothes and bedding — not because she couldn’t afford fabric, but because she had to in order to have the colors and variety she wanted!  Today if you can’t find just the right print, you can go to spoonflower.com and create what you want.  How cool is that?

You know what else I’m thankful for?  Technology.  I adore my EQ software and being able to layout a new quilt and change colors/fabrics around with the click of the mouse. Or to resize a block without having to do any math calculations, just by changing numbers. I found this precious drawing of a block butterfly that my grandma had drawn out, along with her thoughts on coloring.  Not sure if the quilt ever got made (or who has it now if it did), but I know a lot of work and thought went into her creative process!

There are many more ‘things’ I’m quilt-thankful for, but in the end, I’m most thankful that this incredible craft has survived through the ages, is an outlet for my creativity, and has a huge community that is friendly, inspiring, encouraging and continues to grow.

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter.  :)

ain't life grand . . .

Liv just celebrated her fourth birthday . . . hard to believe! She had a marvelous time celebrating at the Bippity-Boppity-Boutique at Disneyland. Isn't she a darling Tinkerbell??

She'd just turned one (almost 1-1/2) when they moved to California. She's practically grown!

Gosh I've missed being regular part of this crew's growing up (that's my son tucked in there with them)! They'll be visiting at the end of July, so you know I'm looking forward to that!

And since Edith was the only grand I shared in my last post, let me add her sisters to the mix, too!

Love these precious girls! And I so cannot wait to have them ALL together this summer!

This week's "A Quilter's Journey" was featured in our October edition -- the month of our bi-annual quilt show, The Fanfare, so the theme is . . . well . . . quilt shows!

Mention “quilt show” and people are checking their cash flow, dumping all the pictures off their phones to make sure there’s room for more quilt pictures, and lacing up their walking shoes! Mention “enter your quilt in a quilt show” and reactions are wide and varied. From fright to excitement to hysterical laughter. Why is this? Why does the thought of entering a quilt in a show thrill some and fill others with dread? I chatted with a few of our members to see if I could figure it out . . .

Barbara Black, longtime Heritage Quilter (she’s in her 29th year of membership!), has entered quilts in every show the guild has held since it’s first in 1989. Including this year’s show, that’s FIFTEEN shows. She entered two quilts that first year (that year there were ninety-two quilts in seven categories – three of which were hand quilting) and has entered three to five quilts in every show thereafter. That’s somewhere between fifty and sixty-five quilts! Barbara is an avid supporter of the show and listed five reasons why she believes that members should strive to enter their quilts in the guild’s show:

1) You support the guild effort—if no one entered, we wouldn’t have a show.

2) You show your family that the work of your hands is valuable and worth displaying to the public. It is so good to see a child tell everyone who will listen “That’s MY quilt—my mom made it for me!”

Barbara's quilt, Red & White - By the Numbers, 

won first place in its category *and* 

Best of Show in the 2013 Fanfare Show

3) You learn something from the judge’s comments, even if you disagree with them. Comments are meant to provide praise for the high points and constructive thoughts for areas that need improvement—it’s not personal. (Indeed, the judging is done “blind”, meaning the judge has no idea who the quilter is when she/he examines the quilt.)

4) You share your work with the public, educating them about our art form and/or bringing back good memories for them of those who came before us.

5) Most of us will put just a bit more effort into our work if we know we are entering it in the show. This is the best way to improve; do your best at whatever stage you are in.

Barbara knows about doing her best. She’s won at least one award in each of the guild’s shows that have taken place so far, and has won “Best of Show” three times. She went on to say, “Sometimes I want to do the best I can on a quilt. Sometimes I put the most work into a quilt that it deserves. Not every quilt has to be top-notch—baby quilts, utility quilts, those going off to college—put as much work into those as you want and just be glad if the recipient likes it. As you enjoy the quilts that our members have made and been brave enough to enter, I encourage you to tell at least one person that you really liked their quilt—it will mean so much to them, especially newer members. We want the quilting tradition to thrive and grow, in many directions—there is room for all.”

One of HQH’s newer members is Gail Seemann. She joined the guild in the 2012-13 guild year, after taking a beginning quilter’s class early in 2012. Gail jumped right in, joining the board the very next year and being very involved . . . but one thing she hasn’t done yet is enter a quilt in the show. When I asked her why, here’s what she said:

"I am the turtle of sewing; I couldn't finish what I was trying to get done in time. I've only in the last seven months gotten good enough with my quarter inch seams that I could really rely on things fitting together. Then I ended up needing physical therapy for carpel tunnel, which slowed me down even more, and I want to quilt a king size quilt on my domestic. The only other thing I could have entered was my Challenge entry, and I didn't think it was 'show worthy'. I've only completed three quilts. I had never really sewn (except for one costume for my daughter) when I took that first class, so I really was drinking from a fire hose. I do have three quilts in partial completion stage."

Gail tells me she does plan to enter a quilt in the 2019 show. And evidently, not only is she the self-proclaimed “turtle of sewing,” but it’s a well-known fact in her stitching circles. Check out the sweet little quilted turtle gift from a fellow quilter!

Finally, let me share my own experience with the show. I joined the guild in 2008 after beginning my quilting journey in 2006. In the 2009 Fanfare I entered a quilt of my own design – not because it was all that great (and seriously, it wasn’t great at all – looking back at it, I have to laugh) – but because it was my accomplishment and it had value to *me* and I wanted to share it.

I wish I could say I faithfully entered a quilt in every show thereafter, but I’m wishy-washy at best. I entered one quilt in 2011, but never made it to the show myself (I’d just had surgery on my foot), then two small pieces in 2013, but nothing in 2015. I’ve entered one quilt in the 2017 show, and I’m going to share my dirty little secret. The thing that keeps me from entering more quilts (in addition to the fact that I have Quilter’s ADD and a serious pile of UFOs) is that I’m lazy and hate stitching on a sleeve to the back of my quilts. There, I’ve ‘fessed up and … unless you’re entering multiple quilts into the show, you can’t judge!

Seriously, though, this show is such a wonderful way to encourage and educate the general public about what quilting is and who quilters are. We’re young and old and every age in-between. We’re women and men. Our demographics are all over the place. We’re artsy, we’re traditional, we’re modern – and sometimes we’re a mixture. We’re at all stages of the craft; from novice to master quilter. Our first time quilts are how our visitors know they could quilt. And our “Best of Show” winner gives them something to aspire towards. It’s all about journey.

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)

been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time . . .

For my blog, that is. And while I'll make no excuses for the absence, I do miss blogging. So I thought perhaps a little 'refreshing' and clean-up might be in order (though I haven't posted in seven months, I *do* use my blog for the links and to reminisce). And then it looked so clean and pretty I thought it maybe needed a new post. Ha.

This past guild year (our guild year runs from September to August) has marked our guild's 30th anniversary. The theme our president selected for the year was "A Quilter's Journey" and we've had a lot of fun tying the theme into all of our activities. My position this year has been to document (in our newsletter, The Fanfare) different aspects of a quilter's journey. It's been fun and I've enjoyed writing the articles . . . and thought it might be fun to share them here. So that's what I'm going to do, starting today, and then (perhaps) once a week until they're all shared.

But first, I feel I need to share the one-year journey of the littlest of my grandchildren littles:

Edith Rose turned ONE on April 20th. Isn't she a dear little dolly??! 

My new blog header is actually the header I developed for my newsletter article (except I've changed the words, of course). What can I say? I liked it! Anyway, without further ado . . .

From the quilter who’s stitched hundreds of quilts over the years, to the quilter who’s just purchased her first fat quarter, there is commonality . . . a bond that stretches unseen, but is definitely felt. Quilters all have a story to tell: Why did you start quilting and what made you continue?

For some it was the desire to create. For some it was a gift from a quilting mother or grandmother, who passed along their love and knowledge from an early age. For some it was the desire to be a part of a group. And for some, what started out as a desire to make a simple baby gift turned into a passion to make ‘quilts for everyone’! 

Some of us get hooked on the gadgetry, some of us have a secret (or not-so-secret) passion for fabric collecting, and some of us have stacks of patterns that would rival the stock of Fons & Porter! (Lord help my husband the families of those quilters who do all three!) We collect quilting magazines, subscribe to quilter’s blogs, we watch Bonnie Hunter on her webcam, join our local quilting guild, spend hours shop hopping the online quilt shops, take classes (and fondle fabrics – one of my favorite pastimes) at our local quilt shops (LQS), and spend hours (and lots of $$$) at quilt shows, near and far. 

We find niches of quilting that appeal to us more than another. Do you applique? Machine or hand? Needle-turned or rough edge? Machine quilting versus hand quilting? If you machine quilt, is it on your sewing machine or a quilting machine? Straight line or free motion? Do you wash your fabric before using it? Do you use precuts? There are miniature quilts—which differ from small quilts—and crazy quilts; embroidered quilts, redwork quilts, and two-color quilts. Do you go strictly by a pattern, or do you embellish upon it? Do you create your own patterns? For some stitching on the binding is their favorite part; for others, it’s a nightmare! 

From beginner to seasoned quilter, one thing is certain: everyone has a quilter’s journey story. And everyone’s story is unique. As we celebrate Heritage Quilters of Huntsville’s 30th anniversary over the next year, we’ll highlight some of these stories, sharing the passion and joys, the highs and the lows, the triumphant finishes and the UFOs. We’ll look back on the changes in quilt-making over the past thirty years, and look forward to expectations for the coming years. We’ll smile and nod in agreement and enjoy the camaraderie that we love to share. We’ll celebrate our craft and get to know one another even better.

My name is Denise and I’m a quilter. :)