Category: Quilts

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime?

This blog tells the tiniest piece of our story. So, if you read my last post and don’t interact with me, you might think that I am languishing. Let me be clear that despite the pull to hold still lately, I definitely continue to do things with joy.

Last week, I celebrated a bride, visited a friend, helped host a dinner for Primary presidents, cheered for the summer olympians, coordinated the staffing of baptisms, attended baptisms, and sewed. I also rearranged the upstairs furniture, only to move it all back in place later in the evening. 😅 But I mostly held still. I don’t know how else to function in this heat and smoke but to stay indoors.

Finished baby quilt

Just a few more weeks until baby McLaughlin comes. We are so excited!

I have waited several days to photograph this quilt because the sun has been elusive. In the end, it is still a moody March light that you see in these images.

Finished Dresden Plate Quilt

I began making this quilt right after Tim left on his mission. I let the finished quilt top sit for 9 months before fixing a problem with the outer border, then there was a major delay having it quilted. I was in no rush to finish it until last week when I just snapped and got this thing done at the expense of almost all of my responsibilities. It is made from scraps from my sewing projects and the fabrics go together pretty well because I like what I like. Each fabric holds a piece of our history.

stitching

I had a friend who did a lot of hand applique work on her quilts. She said she had time to do it as she sat with her husband who liked to watch crime dramas. I cross stitch in the room with the boys as they watch football. There has been a lot of football this winter.

I am also making a baby quilt to hug our grandson when I can’t be with him.

Sending this one off today.

It needs one more ironing.

This quilt has been a year-long project, and it is finally ready to hand off to my friend to quilt it. The Dresden plates are hand-appliqued, and the colored fabrics are from my fabric scrap collection. The colored border is made from a few hundred squares. Good job, me. I like the quilt because the fabrics remind me of my history. I should be able to finish binding it by the end of the month.

It’s a process

I keep going back to the guest room to rearrange these quilts blocks, and I think I am getting close to the final arrangement. As I post this photo, I see some blocks that need to be moved. Or maybe I will rearrange them all into a gradient of colors. Photos are helpful with this. I can stare at the fabrics for a long time and not pick out problems as well as when I look at a photo. I don’t like the sunflower print as much as I thought I would. This is going to a sunflower-loving family, so they will probably like the print just fine.

Projects update

I can’t stop making these little cross stitch pictures, and I can finish one in about a week. Since our piano has been in the shop, Mark and I have spent a lot of time at the church so he can practice the piano and organ in the chapel. I sit and listen, stitch, and rest. I give these little creations as gifts to friends, and the pictures leave my shelves almost as quickly as I can produce them. I post them here as a record that they were made.

If I keep working, I might have a Dresden plate quilt to show for the year. I don’t feel any rush to finish this quilt, which is nice, so I can enjoy the process.

I can look back at photos of a quilt, doll, or cross stitch project and remember the circumstances around their creation. I remember who was with me while I worked. I recall the stresses and joys of the time. I remember the loved ones for whom they were made. Creation is tied to life, and it doesn’t seem to matter what I create, whether it is with fabrics, home decor, paint, or words, my creations hold my history.