I've learned how to find out Just How Popular some bloggers are. Not long after I posted the Roman Blinds tutorial I started getting 500 extra hits a day all from this blog in Turkey (it took a minute to figure out that was the language). Yesterday morning Jessica at How About Orange posted a link to it and already there are over 1000 views, with the 24-hour counter not rolling over for another six hours. I'm so glad it got put in front of so many people!
Here is a quilt I recently finished.
It is about 44" square.I started it when we were redo-ing the family room space to create a kid's area. Knowing that I would keep it forever I didn't mind using lots of my usually hoarded vintage fabrics. While I don't like the overly busy flying cherries that I used to border the pieced blocks, there are a few things I actually do like about it-- I printed the red letter fabric that I cut the alphabet out of. I hand embroidered in black around each letter. Most of the blocks represent something meaningful to us, our family or our area--two cats, one dog, nautical items, the cupcake I keep trying to perfect, the umbrella for all our rain, kite for the Spring, small airplanes that go over our house every day. In the friendship block I wrote Love, Grandma. The pinwheel I picked is called John's pinwheel. I did the machine quilting myself. It really was a personal labor of love. Also around that time our local Quilt Guild decided what this year's Challenge would be. Use a Swamp Patch block AND use the color lime green. Hey! I'll throw in a swamp patch (between the O & P), keep this under the required size, and enter it! The *contest* with VOTING was last night. I felt pretty good about my homey little offering, until I saw The REST of the story! 26 people participated. It really was a pleasure to see all the different interpretations. Here's some pics taken from my seat
Feel free to laugh at how mine looks amongst the rest of them. Lord knows I did!! Here's three groovy 3-D offerings as well:
This one won Viewer's Choice award, and deservedly so. Check out those trees. Pat Durbin teaches a class on how to do that called Thread Play.
When I stood up to talk about mine I started with, "Well, Clearly I need to get OUT more often!" Talk about getting perspective. :-) No regrets. I still love my little Grandma Loves Us quilt. One other thing I wanted to share about it. I said to my mom on the phone that I forgot to add a label to it and she gave me the idea to combine the hanging sleeve with the label so this is what I did:
I've run out of time and room, but I want to share some amazing photos of our Guild's Opportunity quilt so I'll be back with those tomorrow. Have a great day!
You're hilarious:) Your quilt is wonderful. I never cease to be amazed at what some people can do with fabric. Quilting Arts type stuff. I can't imagine ever devoting what it would take to get so incredibly skilled at something. Properly sewing fabric squares together is very hard for me. I still haven't finished poor Jackson's Roy Rogers quilt. I guess I should pay someone to do it. I'm too intimidated.
Posted by: Donna Layton | January 28, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I just love your quilt, no laughing from me...
Posted by: dawn | January 15, 2009 at 09:29 AM
Thanks so much for the roman blinds tute--as one of the thousands!
Posted by: Lori-Ann | January 12, 2009 at 04:45 PM
You slay me with your quilts! Gorgeous!
Posted by: Lotta | January 11, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Beautiful quilt Jen! After I posted about my enamel pin mirror last year it got picked up by the same blogs in Turkey and ever since, my stats by country rank USA #1 and Turkey #2. Oh yeah, GeorgiaPeachez is huge over there in Turkey! xo, suzy
Posted by: GeorgiaPeachez | January 10, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Love seeing all the quilts, but HANDS DOWN #21 is the best. Your sleeve slash label... GENIUS!
Posted by: happy zombie | January 10, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Well I'm still super fond of your quilt, I think it's grand! How fun to meet with other quilters on a themed project like this, I love the way everyone works their own interpretation. My little quilting class group is just kicking off for the new year, we're hoping for some new members too.
Posted by: Sue McG | January 10, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Its lovely. And what a cool bunch of quilts at the guild. SEe there's room for everyone's interpretation. Love what you did. xo
Posted by: pam | January 09, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Jen, I Love your quilt!!! It's gorgeous...
Posted by: karin@creativechaos | January 09, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Great quilts but I love the one you made the very best.
Posted by: Sharon | January 09, 2009 at 05:13 PM
WOW! I love your quilt. So unique and GORGEOUS!!! Love all the other interpretations too. You have some very talented people in your guild.
Posted by: Barbara | January 09, 2009 at 12:50 PM