Jane at Sew Create It! has tagged me. Here's my little blurb of sewing history...
Sew you want to know when I started sewing? As I recall, about a hundred years ago, I heard my mother's
Elna calling me to come sew something. And sew I did. I think I was attempting to make doll clothes for my sister's doll or something like that. I was hooked right away. I loved to make clothes and did sew several garments during my high school years. It was very common for hand made clothes to show up at school in those days. There were sewing classes at school. I recall making a down vest and jacket, goodness but those feathers flew and I did complete two rather ugly blue puff balls! And then there were several of those hair pulling sessions for my poor mom who was trying to help me (a teenager, LOL) complete overly ambitious projects. Thanks Mom! Mom is a very good at sewing but I haven't talked her into trying quilt making. Yet. And I made up for all of the hair pulling by giving her two granddaughters!
Why sew and what did I make? I am a do it yourself sort of person. I have made curtains, pillow and comforter covers, stitchery projects, camping equipment accessories, I can't even recall most of it anymore! I made some of my own clothing as well as those for my daughters, when they came along. Loved making the little girl pinafores and cute PJ's . Now, I buy off the rack. Since I found quilting I don't take time to sew much in the way of clothing or have a desire to make household items...I think I've got everything covered now, so no real need for more at this point in time, but the next home may need something...
Why do I quilt? I am completely in love the art of quilt making. I have no problem cutting up huge amounts of fabric only to to sew them back together again...there seems to be a question looming among non-quilters, they ask, why on earth do people cut up cloth only to sew it all back together? The answer is simple enough. It's just prettier that way! The pieces become a work of art and so much more. Quilts decorate my home, provide warmth through the winter season, make love filled gifts for folks of all ages, especially for newly born babies. Historically, quilts were used as trail maps to guide folks to a safe place...possibly the only way to trick a man into accepting help when lost?
What do I make? Check out my blog from time to time! You'll find out it's all about quilting these days! :)
How has this changed since I began sewing and quilting? I have a blog to share quilt information with fellow quilters' now! :) I have learned to use more ambitious mixtures of color and pattern along the way. I'm more willing to let go of those "safe" ideas from quilting lessons past. I've found that wall-hangings and table runners are a great way to share something quilted. My very very first quilt projects were two hand-pieced patchwork quilts for my daughter's baby dolls. Those little quilts were awfully rough, but I was hooked! While I no longer hand piece blocks (with the exception of an appliqué here and there), my machine piecing and hand quilting skills have improved considerably since those doll quilts! I am more open to a variety of designs, more pattern in my fabrics like batiks, gotta love those batiks!. I substitute kit fabrics with fabric from my stash to tweak them a bit. And now, after seeing what so many other quilter's are up to, I know I need to branch out even further and use those scraps! Think crumbs, strings, quilted postcards...
