Moment In The Sun

According to wiktionary ~ "moment in the sun" (n) is an idiom: A brief instance in which an otherwise obscure, unremarkable, or humble person* draws attention. 

In this case replace "person" with "quilt" and you'll have a spot-on, accurate definition! This otherwise obscure and unremarkable quilt top was found by my mother years ago at a yard sale and rescued on the spot. She's done it before, remember this salvaged quilt from a few months ago?
She has a good eye; an expert quilt rescuer, she immediately recognized the value in this one. From that day, years ago, until this past winter when it was rediscovered in a storage box; it has lain, untouched and all but forgotten. Mom brought it out this past spring for a consultation: "what do you think?", she asked me, "can this quilt be saved?". The photos below tell the rest of the story. Finally, at long last, this yard sale star has become the quilt it was always meant to be. This one's earned its moment in the sun. 

The above two photos of the completed quilting are a little more "yellowed" than in reality.

 

The tones in the two outdoor shots are more representative of the actual colors, the background and backing are white-white.

There are some questions that can never be answered: who made this and what purpose was the quilt to serve? We'll never know, the only answer now is that it has been given a new lease on life and it will be loved and treasured from here on in; maybe that's all we need to know.

Life is Good!

A New Creation...

...comes to life and grows
As Christ's new body takes on flesh and blood.
The universe restored and whole will sing:
Hallelujah!

Text: John B. Geyer, b. 1932, alt.

May the blessings of Easter remain in your heart today and every day...

...and may the joy of discovery fill your spirit and guide your path!

Life is Good!

Three Excellent Adventures

Quiltkeemosabe and I had excellent advenure #1 on Friday. We took off bright and early for the Capital City for our scheduled volunteer stint monitoring the Carolina Longarm Association's booth, and selling raffle tickets, at the Got To Be NC Festival. We reconnected with old friends there and made some new ones too; we made a few sidetrips along the way, and stopped for a late lunch on the way back home; all in all it was a wonderful day. We always have fun together, it doesn't matter at all what we're doing; we can be stopping at the grocery store or going on a weekend roadtrip or retreat together, when Quiltkeemosabe's along it's a great time. Over the last 21 years we've been through many advenures together, I am thankful for this friend who's always there for me and with me; a friend who's ever ready and willing to listen to my problems or complaints, or there to cheer me on, a friend who'll take a stand on my behalf or happily jump in the car and go along for the ride wherever it happens to be headed!  Here's to you, my friend; thanks for your friendship through the years and here's hoping we have many more adventures side by side, you help to make my life's journey a joy-filled one!

Saturday saw excellent adventure #2. Working with the saints at Bailey's Chapel and seeing not one, but two, quilt tops become reality!  With a small crew assembled, including their Pastor(r), everyone worked tirelessly all day long amid the hum of sewing machines and easy conversation until that last stitch. I will meet with them again to baste the tops together and get the first quilt loaded on a frame for hand quilting. 

Excellent adventure #3 could also be called the joy of discovery... or rediscovery as this case may be. While looking for a bin in which to transport all of the pieces and supplies for the previous adventure I emptied the contents of a large container that resided beneath my cutting table to find the beginnings of this quilt top from 1998. Along with the mountain of scraps and this assembled pinwheel section were my handwritten notes detailing my plan to set these 6" blocks together (with 1.5" sashing) 14 across and 15 down to create a king-sized quilt for our bed that would measure 116" X 108.5".  My first thought yesterday was "yeah, right; I'm not sure I want to spend the rest of my days cutting HST's...".  But then, a lightbulb went off... "I wonder" I thought, if I happen to have a the right sized die. Oh, yes, I do; Accuquilt to the rescue!  Then and there this one passed the "can I reasonably finish this?"and "is it worth finishing?" test in my own mind. Meet my newest project: "Light of Day". The name represents what this fifteen year old, instantly vintage, quilt has had shined upon itself, it has stood the test of time and is ready, at long last, for the Light of Day! This one is going to become my R.A.W. (Row A Week)  project, look for a completed top summer's end. What a wonderful weekend this one has turned out to be!

Life is Good!

From my notepad Note Quotes for Quilting Friends:
"A messy house is the sign of a happy quilter."