Quilting Celebrations

A very common thing that many quilter do when sharing a project is to point out what they perceive as "mistakes." I can't tell you how many times I look at a wonderful quilt and then hear things like:

1) There are a bunch of seams that don't match up right.

2) I've cut off the tips of my star points.

3) That blue (insert whatever color you want) really doesn't match the other colors.

4) I didn't really follow the pattern, and it shows.

5) My quilting/binding, etc. is not very good.

6) This is just an easy project that has been sitting around for a lot of years. I should have finished it years ago. 

We need to STOP saying these things!

Instead, we should be pointing out all the positive and WONDERFUL things about our projects.

Let's try this instead:

1) I learned so much in the process of working on this quilt, and practice makes perfect on seam intersections.

2) I didn't make mistakes and cut off the points. I made a design change and created the "Pointless Star Wonder Quilt!"

3) I have expanded my palette and am learning that a quilt is so interesting when you step outside the box and throw in a color or fabric that is not considered "normal." I'm living on the quilting edge! Why don't you join me?

4) I started with a pattern and then spun off and tried my own thing. It was challenging, but a great experience. 

5)  I've been trying new things and am learning how to free motion quilt/bind my own quilts. That means I am finishing projects and THAT is amazing.

6) I am excited to have completed a project that I set aside because I didn't know how to finish it/got bored with it, etc. I am meeting my goal of clearing out UFOs and I am thrilled about that!

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I think we should all take a lesson from my grandson's teacher. 

Take a look at this picture and read the sign that he got to wear at school for an entire day - AN ENTIRE DAY OF BEING PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT!

We should all be thrilled with our progress - no matter how small we think it is. 

We need to start looking at our talents and triumphs and not our downfalls. 

We need to be proud of reaching our goals or stepping up to challenges; and we need to be excited to share what we've done. 

We also need to be excited for others who are setting goals and reaching them or stepping outside their comfort zone and trying new techniques. We really need to be excited for those people who are just starting out on this amazing quilting journey. It's a great trip and is even more great to have some friends along for the ride.  :-)   

What was your goal or success story today? 

I'd love for you to tell me about it!

Design Wall Monday

It's been a while since I've written a Design Wall Monday post. It's not because I haven't been doing anything, but rather because most of what I've been doing is secret sewing and can't be shared yet.  I'm caught up on those projects (for the moment) and have a couple of personal quilts on which I'm working.

This tiger fabric and the coordinating ones in the second picture, have been sitting around far too long, waiting for me to make Layne a quilt. It's up on the wall where I have to look at it whenever I walk into the room. My goal is to have a plan by the end of this afternoon and to actually start cutting and sewing tonight.  I do have a few thoughts, but I need to do some sketching and playing around.

I have completed sewing the first units of my Perpetual quilt (a Tamarinis quilt pattern) and am very happy with how they look. 

I am making the bed size quilt (73" x 97"), so I have to make 72 of these units. They will be made into 18 blocks, once I complete the next two small sections that get sewn to the sides of this unit. 

Tammy Silvers (Tamarinis) will be teaching this quilt at the Ohio's Amish Quilt Festival; but since I will be working at the Festival, I can't take the class. Instead, I decided to make my own so I can show it at the Festival. (No pressure to get this done in a timely manner, right?  lol) 

When I showed the pattern to Jack, he said that he really liked it. It is quite intriguing, isn't it?

While talking about the pattern, Jack said that he would love to see this done in red and black. I agreed with him that that would be striking. So... I started the search for fabrics. This picture do NOT do these fabrics justice, but this is what I'm using.

The pattern includes instructions for three sizes - bed quilt, lap quilt, and table runner. Of course I decided that if I'm going to do it, I might as well go big - so the bed quilt it is!

I'll update as I work on this, but it's a busy week for me so it might be just like this next week. 

By them, I hope to be able to share some of my secret sewing projects.  

What are you working on this week?

Check out the eye candy at 

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making

County Fairs and a Baby!

It's been a busy week. Monday, I judged all of the quilt categories at the Lorain County Fair. That was tremendous fun and there were some wonderful (and a lot!) of projects.

Wednesday, I traveled an hour and half from home to judge at the Morrow County Fair; and although there were not as many quilts there, they were beautiful. I always have mixed emotions when I'm asked to judge a quilt show or Fair. While it's exciting and wonderful to see all the beautiful quilts, I'm always a bit worried that I'll have a difficult time choosing the winners. Unlike the Lorain County Fair, judging for Morrow County was done before the Fair opened. Because of that, I don't want to show actual pictures of the quilts and their ribbons.  

I am careful to make comments on every single entry. I think every participant deserves to know what my thoughts are about their project, and not just my negative thoughts. I ALWAYS find a positive, even when a quilter has entered his/her project in the wrong category and is disqualified. Because of that, it takes me quite a long time to judge. I don't mind though. I get to look at and touch quilts the entire time I'm there.  😊 

I did get some quilting done recently. I finished binding the Celebrate the Season banners, but I don't have a good picture. I'll be sure to get one and post it soon.

I also completely finished my Sunset Strips quilt.

I had extra blocks and not enough of any single fabric for the backing, so I pieced one. 

Even with all of the wonderful quilts at the Fairs and my completions, the highlight of the week was Tuesday when we all joined Lynn and Ty in welcoming a new baby to the family! Layne John was born at 7:48am.   

The girls stayed with Ty's parents Monday night and arrived at the hospital around 9:00. They could hardly contain their excitement!

We're all thrilled to have another grandchild and they entire family is doing well. The girls just adore their brother! I think he's happy with them too. 

Thursday was the first day of school for Nikki's kids. Quinn is in 4th grade, Sadie is in 2nd, and Ronan is in Kindergarten. I think they were all excited to begin.

This picture was posted on the school's Facebook page. I'm not sure what Ronan's thinking here, but he told me that he had a "great day!"

Ty is taking some time off work to be with Lynn, so I'm subbing for him until after Labor Day. I'm enjoying the opportunity to teach Sociology, Government, and World History. That's my certification area and I don't often get the chance to actually teach because I'm usually only in the classroom for a day or two. 

This weekend is being spent sewing, reading, and catching up on housework. What are you doing this weekend?