Through Emily's Eyes

Hello Everyone,

Just because you haven't heard from me in the last couple days doesn't mean I haven't been quilting. Just the opposite, I will have quite a bit to show you for the next couple of days.

I had a fun day Saturday with my 8-year-old granddaughter, Emily.  She was born with congenital cataracts and then developed glaucoma. After several major operations at the age of 3-months and multiple (so many I've lost count) procedures at UCSF medical center in San Francisco with a world-renown specialist, Emily can see well enough to make yo-yo's!  She can even use a sewing machine to make hour-glass units.  There was a time we never thought this would be possible. 

I started making a quilt out of Kim Diehl's latest book call Simple Graces.  I own every book Kim has written.  I love her style and her sense of grace in her quilts.



Emily and I spent the afternoon upstairs in my quilting room playing with Grammy's toys.  She went right to work selecting the nine fabrics she needed for each block.  She didn't need any assistance at all in selecting her fabrics.  In fact, she did a better job than I did!  She would tell me what colors we didn't have and what we needed to include.

She always selected the fabric for her center yo-yo first and worked from there.  She had an excellent eye for color and I saw this quilt for the first time through Emily's eyes.  She added a spark to it that wasn't there before.  My blocks were drab and hers were vibrant and beautiful!

She counted each stitch and knew exactly when she had completed the whole circle.  It was a day well-spent and one of those days that she is going to remember when she is my age. 

 

One day, this will be Emily's quilt.  She wants to work on it every time she comes to Grammy's house.  I could see the passion she had while she worked. I could hear the desire in her voice to come over everyday after school and make more yo-yo's.  Another life-long quilter is in the making!

Spend the day with a child and you'll will be surprised just how much they can teach YOU.

As always,

Lynn

Gifts in the Mail

Hello Everyone,

I received a very nice surprise last week from Julie in Tallahassee. Julie was the winner of The Wilder Family Cookbook giveaway.  She made me a "mug rug" for the new coffee mug she sent me!   Look at all of the detail in the spool of thread.  It is a beautifully quilted "Spoolie Bird" of Julie's own design.  I have it right by my computer where I enjoy my first cup of coffee every morning.  It is so cute that I don't want to put my new mug on it in fear of a little spillage. 

Julie and her sister Edie made this adorable needle case.  I never had a needle case!  This is going to be a permanent fixture in my quilting basket that I will take everywhere with me.

I virtually 'met' Julie and Edie on the Internet when they both signed up for my Party in the Garden BOM.  A few notes, emails, comments on the blog, and a quilting friendship developed through the words that were written in the  notes that were exchanged.  Thank you both so much for the gifts.  I really appreciate them.

I'm off to the shop this morning for the March Madness Shop Hop.  Click here for details.  While you are there, check out the free pattern the shop is offering for the Quilt Shop Carousel. Go to all of the shops listed, register with each shop on the Internet, and collect all free twelve patterns.   Let the HOPPING begin!

As always,

Lynn

You don't have to make a quilt by it's cover!!

Hello Everyone,

It's done....finally, the second Summer's Blush quilt that I'm going to rename Pinwheels in the Stars. The name Summer's Blush just did not fit this quilt at all.

The difference between the two quilts is just amazing.  The hexagon flowers show up so much better in the darker quilt.  I like the red polka dot posts in the lighter quilt.  The new quilt is smaller by one row in the length and width making it 67" x 67".  The "peachy" quilt is 80" x 80".



I'm happy with both of them, but my preference is leaning toward the smaller of the two.

What a difference the choice of fabric makes!



I told the girls in my class that I would have this one quilted by our next class meeting.  I put my nose to the grindstone and got this one finished for the Shop Hop that begins this Thursday.  I worked on the binding through the whole Academy Awards show and then some.

So I guess the moral of this post is you don't have to make a quilt by it's cover!  Experiment with color.  Change things up a bit.  Have fun with the whole process from the planning, to the shopping for fabric either in a shop or your own stash.  Play with your fabric.  DO NOT BE AFRAID!  What is the worst thing that could happen if you use a fabric that you are not quite sure of? The fabric police will not show up at your home.  Quilting is supposed to be fun and I had lots and lots of fun designing and making both of these quilts.

(But I must admit I'm glad it is finally finished and I don't plan on making another one!)

I can't wait until March 15th when I hold my next class meeting for Summer's Blush/Pinwheels in the Stars.  The quilts are all going to be different, spectacular, colorful and unique!  Stayed tuned for pictures.

As always,

Lynn