How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? I’m doing A-okay.
About a week ago, I started work on the quilt tops for my grandchildren, and I’m loving it! I don’t know exactly what it is that appeals to me, but I find it to be fun, creative, and extremely challenging.
Twenty three blocks are finished, including New England Stars, Missouri Stars, Windmills, Flying Geese, and a funky house made with musical note fabric for each quilt because they both love music.
Grandson’s dark colors, plus ‘money,’ and cards
Granddaughter’s pink and purples
And, a quilt for my grandchildren would not be complete without a Maple Leaf because they associate all things “Maple” with treasured friendship. I have one made and three more to go – labor of love.
Maple Leaf Block
I will not even attempt to blog about the topic of quilting except to say I wish I’d started sooner.
And, if you have ever wondered what a new quilter’s most important tool is, here is mine:
Seam ripper
Back to the sewing machine to finish that flower square that I’ve already ripped out once but I know I’ll get it right this time.
Flower quilt block pieces
Flower quilt block
Thank you to…
– Michelle at Quilting Gallery for having a drawing for a Craftsy quilting class which I won and have fully utilized and enjoyed.
– Susan at Gourmet Quilting Blog for her wonderful daily ten-minute tutorials.
– Jane at Jinny Beyer for great customer service in my effort to duplicate their beautiful Grandmas Star block.
– All the experienced quilters who blog regularly and offer practical advice and support.
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
Look at all the pretty blocks! I have to admit that I don’t use the seam ripper as much as I used to. Not because I don’t make mistakes, but because I have learned to just accept a certain amount of flaws. A very wise person once told me that “if you can’t see the mistake at midnight from the back of a horse going 30 miles an hour, it doesn’t matter”.
Any piece 2 yards or smaller I fold to fit in the stash drawers in my closet. I need the stash because I like scrap quilts, and that kind of fabric variety can usually only be accumulated over time. I don’t usually buy larger pieces for borders and backing until I am working on a specific quilt and need them. (I have 3 pieces of larger yardage in the bottom of a drawer that has some quilt tops I am working on. That’s it.)
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Thank you for the advice because I’m going to need to get organized and I will certainly remember those sage words about perfection.
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What treasures these will be. My 92-year old friend still has the cherished quilt her mother made for her on her bed. 🙂
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I can only imagine how special that quilt is to your friend. I hope she has someone to pass it down to that will cherish it as much as she does.
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If you adopt me as a grand-daughter will I qualify for a quilt? They are lovely.
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One can never have too many grandchildren – right?
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They are beautiful. I can’t wait to see them. You are so talented.
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Beautiful blocks! You have been working hard! The kids will love them!
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Lovely work! How much fun are you having? I do enjoy piecing and working through those challenges with the seam ripper occasionally! I try to keep the block I am working in a nice arrangement on the table next to me and think it through as I pick it up and head to the machine. I tend to use a pin at the top to remind me “which way is up”. Keep posting the pictures as you go along.
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Thank you for the suggestions. I will certainly utilize them. I was working on a maple leaf today and had to rip out several pieces because I got it off balance. And, it just seems no matter how large your work space is, there isn’t enough room to do all the various tasks needed. 🙂
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What a wonderful gift! They are going to be so beautiful!
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These are beautiful! I don’t have the patience to quilt, but I see how you find making the blocks fun and creative! My favorite is the maple leaf!
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Thanks. We were outside today with some good friends with experience putting some lines up for tapping some of our Maples. We did a few buckets last year but are going bigger this year. We love real Maple syrup.
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Goodness! Is it maple time already! With this weird weather I wonder how the lines will flow this spring? Thanks for reminding me! I’ll have to use this weekend to sort out and clean the taps and buckets 🙂
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Do you use pails or lines?
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We have used both in the past, but I think we will keep it small this year and just use the pails. When we just use the pails, we only tap about six trees but that makes about a gallon and a half or sometimes two, and that is usually enough for us. Do you tap just for home or do you sell your syrup?
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We have good North Country friends who have a sugaring business. Last year, they helped us with pails for four trees. Yesterday, they came down and ran some lines covering about 20 trees. I may be spending lots of time with the cooker this season. We love Maple Syrup, and it is a great learning experience for the grandkids.
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Wow you are ON A ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 🙂 Yee Hah! :0 )
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Absolutely beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.
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Oh that dreaded seam ripper. That thing and I are close, but not friendly!!
Your quilts look lovely.
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