Why We Quilt... And Yet, One More (But Not The Last) Reason

If you've been following along with the last few posts you'll find the theme of "why we quilt" a continuing one.  Today I would like to touch upon those who have gone before us and how inspiration has played a big part in why we quilt, and continue to, to this day.  As a new quilter back in the mid 1980's I recall being inspired, and nurtured, by the established quilting community within my own local Guild. These ladies were all highly competent, gifted quiltmakers in their own right who, seemingly, had all the time in the world to guide a wide-eyed, ready to learn young woman in the proper quilting direction. I quite literally sat at the feet of some of these quilting masters soaking up every tidbit they had to share! Here is one, Vera Bell, these photos were taken at a Guild show back in 1992, she was 77 years old. I am particularly interested in both of these photographs because I just so happen to be piecing both a sixty degree diamond quilt and a tumbler right now. As you can see, Vera was an accomplished, and stylish(!), quilt artist; a lovely lady both inside and out. She was no stranger to winning ribbons and the colorwash beauty, hand-quilted of course, on the right won her the Best of Show that year. I recall falling in love with a most stunning Carpenter's Wheel quilt that she made for her son's home. He lived in a converted barn and she leaned heavily on a silver-gray color palette  incorporating a few, choice, bright accent colors to complement the rustic two-story barnboard wall where he planned to hang it. I can't see a Carpenter's Wheel quilt today without remembering Vera.  Does this lovely lady inspire me still? Yes, she does!  Looking at these photos reminds me that I can always go that extra mile, do a little bit more, challenge myself. That sixty degree diamond quilt as well as the tumbler that I am currently piecing I had planned to trim up straight and square along the edge. Now I am thinking about appliqueeing them to a border, capitalizing on the shapes and not destroying the integrity of the pattern, that's exactly what Vera did. We quilt because we love it; we're nudged to be our best by those who have gone before and encouraged us along the way, those who recognized that spark and had the good sense to breathe life on our fledgling attempts, thus igniting the flame and passing the torch!  I will always be grateful for that inspiration that has fueled me and drives me still... it's why we quilt.

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Vera E Bell 1915 - 2005 was a member of the Bell family. Vera was born on April 24, 1915. Vera died on February 17, 2005 at 89 years old. Vera E Bell's last known residence is at Winston Salem, Forsyth County, NC 27103.

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Life is Good!

Look It Up!

Disclaimer: C.O.W.* alert!

It's been a pet peeve of mine since I was eight. If I didn't know a word or a definition my teacher in school would urge me to look it up... of course, the age-old conundrum has been: "if I can't spell it how can I look it up?" I'm old enough to remember a certain television show in the 60's that spawned a catch phrase: "look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls'." There's a modern day twist to the same old command now, a 2012 exhortation that I see everywhere on an almost daily basis; this time put forth by my peers, not comedians or my educators: "Google It!". I've heard it used as a throw-away phrase, in an almost elitist manner, and let me tell you... it strikes a big ol' nerve in yours truly! If you have something to say, that I don't understand, please take the time to explain it to me or be courteous and supply me with a link. Rest assured, if there's something I don't know I will, indeed, look it up. I might even use Google as the search engine; but I'm not looking it up because you told ordered me to do so, I'll seek knowledge on my own terms and at my own prompting. I'm stepping down off the soap box now. Thanks for listening and allowing me to rant.

Over the weekend I dribbled some spray adhesive on the front of a knit shirt and I cannot get it out with normal laundering, does anyone have any ideas? Oh, never mind... I might know where I can look that up.

Life is Good!

* Cranky Old Woman  
With credit to Nancy who introduced me to the term.

All Too Human, Quirks And All...

foible (n.) [foi.buhl]
1. a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect, an all-too-human quirk or weakness. From the French (faible) for feeble.

That's me, full of foibles, I'll admit it. The greatest of these? I only listen half as much as I should. That was the case this past week with my Bernina Stitch Regulator. It's a great little invention that senses the all-too-human movements of the fabric beneath it's foot and makes a quilt stitch length accordingly. (In a perfect world with a foible-free operator!) I have used this accessory many times with stellar results. Not this time. I had journal covers to quilt for my recent blog giveaway. I could quilt, oh... maybe two inches, and the thread would snap and break. I changed needles, I altered the tension, I traded bobbin cases, I swapped out bobbin thread, I even lubricated the top thread with silicone. Nothing changed the result. The stitches were AWFUL, and that was when I had any line of them measuring more than an inch or two. I was frustrated beyond belief. My husband reminded me that this had happened to me before. It had? I didn't remember that. (Another foible perhaps, forgetfulness? I was blaming that on hormones!) I decided to take both of these pieces, back them together and load them on Sundance for quilting, I knew I could do that! But then I decided that I couldn't let this get the best of me, I should be able to quilt a small piece using the BSR. I stopped by my LQS last Thursday on my way home from a meeting and talked with the shop's owner, she immediately suggested that I switch from a 80/12 quilting needle to a 90/14 to accommodate the larger diameter thread (30 wt. Sulky) that I was determined to use. It was that simple! After I made that adjustment the quilting progressed like a Nascar race under a green flag. I had forgotten all about the larger eye and scarf for a heavier thread, or had I ever heard all that I needed to? I guess I just don't listen to all the information that I need; but rather, think that I've gleaned enough and rush head-long into whatever needs doing. Yep, it's my all-too-human quirk, I'm foibled. But, the quilting's done!

Life is Good!