This is one of the most interesting hops ever. Thank you Joan for having us think about the whats, whys and how comes of our quilting.
I have a couple of quilting items that came to mind once I slowed down and thought about it.
My first topic is a quilt I made in 2008/2009. In November 2008 I had my right hip replacement surgery. At the time our home was 2 story and my quilting space was on the 2nd floor, not a place where I could readily get to during my recovery period. I was home by myself during the day so stairs and sewing were out of the question..
One of my very dear friends came up with a surprise and a plan. One evening MJ came home from work to a plastic kitchen garbage bag full of scrap fabric at our front door. My friend figured that I could sort the scraps, iron the scraps and cut scraps in stages at my kitchen table while recovering. It made for a wonderful quilty workout with no specific goals. It did get me out of bed and made me use my brain for planning.
By the time I did all of the prep and came up with a goal I decided I wanted to give running my sewing machine with my left foot a try. MJ set my machine up in the kitchen and I packed up all of the odds and ends I thought I would need ( it was like going on a mini retreat ). Slowly but surely I made blocks, (all with those cute little bees in the center) put together rows and then ta da there was a quilt top. I sent it out to be quilted .I am very sorry that I don't remember to whom I sent it but she did a wonderful job.
By the time I got it back from the quilter I was back at work. The quilt came back and was hung over the banister between my living and dinning room ( without being bound ) to be admired by all for ages.
Today, still unbound, this quilt takes it turn being hung over the back of a living room chair with other quilts I have made for me and can't bare to give away because of their background stories.
The other quilty topic I want to hit on is making Kennel Quilts for Small Shelter Pets. I started to do these several years ago. I believe I got the information about this project from someone in our qroup during one of these hops.
These quilts are pretty much like 12 x 18 placemats. They are generally requested by shelters around the country who take in pets after various natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and wild fires. I have included the link for lots of information about the group which includes a link to join. The Quilt Pattern Magazine is the group that sends out the information for where and when quilts are needed. There is no pressure from the group just the occasional notice of need.
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Many of the mats pictured on their sight look like they are preplanned patterns. I generally make my Shelter quilts from my scrap box. I usually keep batting and backing size scraps cut to size and on hand so that if I'm between projects I can knock out a mat or two and set it aside for when the request comes in. I'm pretty much of the mind set that I can make 2 scrappy in the time it would take me to do 1 measured out preplanned. I'll take 2 scrappy. I don't think the dogs and cats who are sleeping on them care.
The pictures here are mats I made last week while at a mini guild retreat. (I made 8 but apparently didn't take a pic of the last 3). It's my favorite type sewing for these occasions. You know when you are doing so much talking, laughing and eating that mistakes happen. When sewing together scraps you can't find / notice the mistakes. That and sharing/swapping scraps is alway fun.
Well I hope this met the base idea of this hop. I love how open our hops are to personal interpretation.
Below is a full list of the weeks contributors. Please, if you get the chance, stop in to each for a visit and to leave a comment.
Monday April 17
Tuesday April 18
Wednesday April 19
Thursday April 20
Love your projects and the stories behind them!
ReplyDeleteI love the stories our quilts tell. What a great friend to get you back to stitching after your hip replacement. I can only imagine having to use my left foot to do it. LOL!! Kennel quilts is one of our favorites too. My quilt girls and I work on them from time to time. One of friends took on the challenge of piecing batting scraps together for them. That grew into piecing a 19" wide roll of batting, we keep adding to when we have scraps. It's so fast to put them together with batting off that roll. Thanks for sharing with us today.
ReplyDeleteGreat stories! I have been on a few retreats, and they are a blast. The last one I went to I took a scrapy quilt for the same reason. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice friend to help you when you were recovering and keep you motivated and give you something to work on too. Scrappy quilts are the best! I bet you had lots of fun sorting through and sewing those scraps too. It made a lovely quilt, Selina.
ReplyDeleteIngenious...thanks to you and to a wonderful friend. Glorious!
ReplyDeleteGreat projects, and what a great friend!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a good friend to give you something to occupy your recovery time. Sewing with my left foot would be quite a challenge. I'm not sure I would even try it, so good for you! Having just rescued a dog, I should make some of those mats. It's a great way to use up scraps of fabric and batting, plus give those sweet pups a comfy place to lay. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice way to use up your recuperation time! And a fun quilt in the end. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful quilt! And those little mats are a great idea for left over batting.
ReplyDeleteLove your story of the scrappy quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful stories and projects. I love that you have the quilt to look at and relive the love of a friend who helped you stay busy during a challenging time. The dog/cat mats are so wonderful. I'ld be happy to make a few and will check out the link. Thanks so much for the share and great charitable opportunity. We sewers love to inspire one another and this is the best kind!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful stories and projects! Thanks for sharing. I'm checking out the pet mats link; they look like easy & fun projects.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your stories so much. What a great friend you have to have helped you help yourself. Sometimes we don’t need sympathy as much as a nudge. Your quilt is beautiful and really tells a story. Your kennel quilts are great. Animal shelters are my favorite charity.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good friend! To see a need and do something about it, something which saved your recovery time from being a quilting loss and so boring ... and created a wonderful quilt, too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely memory of a good friend helping you recuperate after your hip replacement. I’m sure you get a warm fuzzy feeling every time you look at it Selina. You made me chuckle when I was remembering trying to sew two and four patches with my arm in a sling after reconstructive surgery on my shoulder. My surgeon told me quilters are his favourite patients because we follow directions and recuperate faster so we can get back to our fabric and machines. Love your kennel quilts and the Quilt Pattern Magazine. I’m doing a pattern test for them right now! 😉 Carol Quilt Schmilt@gmail.com
ReplyDeletehttps://quiltschmilt.ca/2023/04/17/my-weekly-recap-to-do-tuesday-137/
Great stories, and yes your friend was so nice to help you. The small pet mats are so cute.
ReplyDeleteGreat story about your quilt. Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful back story for your quilt and wonderful people in your life to help you! Thanks for sharing. I love the little pet mats. I save all my extra batting for a lady in our guild who makes bedding for the humane society.
ReplyDeleteThese stories are SEW sweet, Selina! Thanks for sharing them with us on your day for Say What?!
ReplyDeleteants and watermelon are adorable! so much fun
ReplyDelete