Bits and Pieces...

For years I've been rescuing bits and pieces from sales and remnant bins. Because someday, I wanted to make a quilt. I didn't know when (or how, for that matter), but SOME DAY I wanted to make - at least one - quilt.

I've always loved them. I treasure the few I've inherited from my family and I wanted a little piece of my own to pass on. But, still, I dragged my feet...I would look through my stash and feel faint at the prospect of cutting into it.  Because there was this fear - one of my biggest stumbling blocks to sewing anything:  Cutting it. There's something so final about cut cloth. Once you cut into it, what you see is what you get. If I made a mistake, it's not like my other tinkerings...not like words I could edit, pencil markings I could erase. I couldn't crop it, gesso over it or just throw some more paint on it...Cut is cut.

With that attitude, this could have dragged on for even more years. Collecting and stashing, never sewing. But then, like a wink and a nod from the universe, on the same day, two different, wonderful women - both real quilters - in completely separate conversations, said things to wake me up. Simple wisdom which made a big difference. At a lunch gathering, I told an avid quilter about my stash, how I was afraid to cut into it. "It's only cloth - not gold," she said. Well, um...Yeah....Then, after lunch, K and I drove to another town to see a movie, where there happened to be a small craft fair, nearby. When I stopped to admire some lovely quilts, the quilter said to me,"Quilts don't always have to be made of little pieces in intricate designs. If it's a fabric you love, then show it off - big enough to let the fabric shine on its own." Just big pieces? Really? I could do that? I could totally do that! Apparently I didn't have to fear the quilt police, after all...

So, with those encouraging words - and a deep breath - I decided to take some baby steps. Cut into the stash. Big pieces. Not nearly as intimidating as all those little pieces, I'd been imagining.

Made my first quilt just in (the nick of) time, for my grandbaby's first birthday.

Hand sewn with love (overcoming my machine phobia - uh, next step...). It may not be perfect, but there's a great quilt quote that has consoled me greatly: 'Finished is better than perfect.' I heartily agree.(especially when you finish tying it off at o'dark thirty in the morning, the day you want to give it as a present).

At the birthday girl's flower fairy tea party, I put Bonbon's beloved hedgehog and childhood tea set on it, along with the grandbaby's tea set. 

Then the little fairies at the tea party fluttered around, ate cake and everyone lived happily every after...

_{When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies -- 'Peter Pan,' J.M. Barrie}

If there's anything cuter than toddler girls in wings and tutus, I don't know what it is...this cake came close, though.

Bonbon's friend Sheri made it. So-o-o cute! She shared her design's secret ingredient: the tea cup is made from a (semi-melted) crispy rice treat. Clever!

  Anywho, that is the tale of my first quilt. And believe it or not, the food coloring from the cake frosting even washed out of the quilt.

Now there's a happy ending!

_{(and now I'm hooked. Patching things together is addicting. Will show you the next WIP, soon)}

 

Comments

[somepinkflowers]

oh oh oh
a wink & a nod
from
the universe
will do it every time!
YIPEE!

:-)

{{ U did so GOOD!
Loverly colors, BTW!
i have not Yet made a quilt;
we shall see
we shall see }}

[somepinkflowers]

PS--if the quilt police
DO
pop in,
i think you have
No Worries.

seriously...

[Janet]

Yea for you! Sometimes all it takes is that little voice giving you permission and you heard it loud and clear. That quilt will be loved and cuddled under for years to come and whoever is under it will know it was made with love....the most important and most beautiful piece of fabric to use.

[rochambeau]

Hey Tink!!!!
Your quilt is SPECTACULAR!! Your fabrics so soft and pretty. THIS is the perfect hand made gift for your grand girls first birthday!

I agree with all that you were advised. Would like to add one more thing. Some of the most spectacular pieces of art and craft are born out of mistakes, adapted and made good!!!!!!!!!!!!

About the dried peppers. You cut the whole pepper including seeds. i.e.: red pepper flakes for pizza.

Hugs and congrats on your great new piece of art and for celebrating in style with little tutued and winged angels!!

xox
Constance

[Stephanie]

Good advice you received...happy that you jumped in and made it just in time.
AND!
what a great fit for those adorable tiny girls in their tutu's!
PLUS, I was thinking..you COULD actually use gesso and paint on the quilt...just saying.
x..x

[Caroline]

Well done Terri the Quilter!! Such a great thing to have made a quilt - with pieces in it!

(The only quilt I ever finished has a single piece and I just painted on it...)

And yes toddlers with fairy wings are cute as cute can be..