I'm Here. Might As Well Win.: Quilts

BECOMING A QUILTER

**NOTE - I have started a new blog that is mostly about quilting and nothing about cancer. It's the blog I hope to be updating most often. So, if you want to see what my sewing machine and I are up to, head over to my blog: Peace.Love.Quilt.

I've been dreaming about making quilt for about 30 years. During that time, I have admired quilts, read about them, studied them, studied techniques, amassed books and magazines. Between work and kids and the busy life that comes with those, I was never able to devote any time to actually MAKING quilts. Until now. I had planned to wait until I retire to start quilting but have since decided that life is too short to put off something I feel so passionate about.

My Mom, who is a skilled seamstress and a perfectionist, helped me with Josh and Noelene's Wedding Quilt (see below). I chose the pattern and fabrics, did all the cutting, a lot of marking and pressing and all the hand applique. Mom did all the machine sewing. I was terrified of machine sewing and, besides, I had a totally crap machine. I would challenge anyone to try making a quilt on that thing. I know. I tried.

After that quilt, I knew it was time to let go my training wheels and go solo. Look Ma, NO HANDS! A friend sold me her old Pfaff Tipmatic, which has made all the difference, and I've finally started making quilts ... all by myself! I'll post my quilting finishes and works-in-progress here.

QUILT FINISHES (2011/2012)

Josh and Noelene's Wedding Quilt