Thanks Mom

Mom is a word that is not yet apart of my personal description.  I do have a wonderful mother that has been a great mentor for me.  Plus many friends that have shown me how to be a great mom with the next generation.

A few months ago I was asked to make three special Mother’s Day quilts for a friend.  Her mom passed almost six years ago and she wanted to do something to celebrate her mother.  Her sisters had created a quilt block a few years ago that is on a traveling quilt currently.  This was my inspiration.

Into my fabric stash I went.  Amazingly, I had enough fabric to create three quilt tops except for the backs and sashing.  I have wonderful sewists in the Indianapolis Modern Quilt Guild that offered to help me with the embroidery that I had envisioned for the quilt. Here is what I started with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The design/layout of the quilt was changed a couple of times.  I had one block in mind and started cutting squares per the instructions and it was becoming difficult to match up three fabrics for each block that would be different.  So instead I changed to a block that showcases just two fabrics.

Upon delivery of the first quilt I learned the story of how the quilts came to be from my friend.  She mentioned her sisters have had a really hard time since their mother has passed.  She has a hard time but has tried to make Mother’s Day something positive, by volunteering, donations, and/or something else that didn’t let her dwell that she was missing her mom.  I am blessed to still have my 97 year old grandma and my ** year old mom, I don’t know what I would do without them.  She wanted the quilts so her sisters could have the blocks to remember their mom.  I was very pleased to help her bring this to life.

Her sister’s quilt were made the exact same way with the green sashing.  For hers I wanted it to be different especially after why she told me she wanted the quilts.  I added in the cream sashing and and extra worry spot to the back.  I think I may start adding these tags onto the back of quilts that I’m working on.  Something fun and different.

quilt #3 on the design wall

 

pinned and ready for the machine.

The quilts were a big hit.  So glad I could help someone have positive memories for Mother’s Day.

 

Memories…giveaway

Good Monday morning.  Were you a productive sew-er this weekend?  I admit I was not.  Once again, life got in the way.  Actually, I was busy working on my wedding invitations so I can get them out this week.  Stuffing over 150 takes more time than I aniticipated. 

I received an email this morning from Joann’s about a contest they are holding.  It’s about Decades & Memories.  They are showcasing a project from a different decade.  Right now it is the 60’s.  That is not what got me thinking…the memories tugged at me a bit. 

My grandmother is the person that taught me to sew.  One of my favorite memories with her is from when I was around 5.  She had the sewing machine out and these circles in a variety of colors.  I started sewing them together.  She was behind me cooking dinner and there I was playing around on her sewing machine, no real clue what I was doing.  I love my grandma for letting me learn my way through new things.  I can tell you those circles looked like crap, but for a 5 year old I was really proud of my accomplishment.  I can see this memory like it was yesterday.  I’m currently sewing on her old dining room table at my parent’s house. 

My grandma gets the majority of my first time projects because no matter what she will love them.  She is showing off her quilt currently to all the ladies at her nursing home.  Now, she’s 96 and doesn’t have much else to do.  She has always been my biggest cheerleader.  She was my assistant on my first quilt. 

The first complete quilt that I made went to my parents for Christmas about 10 years ago.  I had bought the fabric and while I was home on break from school I would go over to grandmas to sew.  On Christmas Eve I wasn’t quite done with the top so I had to sneak it into my parents house.  It felt like my parents would NEVER go to bed that night.  There I was in our family room sewing up a storm trying to get this done before Christmas morning.  At 3am, I ran out of binding and called it a “night.”  My parents were very surprised by their gift.  They still have it in a closet, but it did not hold up so well to washing.  I had a lot to learn. 

So readers, what are your memories?  What is your favorite sewing memory?  I will let my quilting friend in North Carolina decide based on your responses.  My giveaway item will be 5 fat quarters, pick 5 of the 7 below.  Sorry, more of my collection is still in Florida. 

You have until Tuesday 2/2 at 5pm to post.  I will annouce the winner on Thursday!!