Another quilt for my TO DO list

Maybe I'm a little slow but I just barely bought a copy of the Spring Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler Magazine today at Walmart. As I stood at the checkout with my 16 month old, my 3 year old and my over flowing cart of bananas, baby wash, cheerios and various other neccessities, I decided that I'd reward myself for surviving another shopping trip with a quilt magazine. And boy am I glad I did.

I've been thinking about this block for a summer quilt block exchange that I'm participating in with some quilty girl pals from Saratoga Springs, Utah. We are all making 12 star blocks using only the Moda Prairie Paisley Fabric and then will exchange and have a beautiful bunch of blocks ready to assemble into a patriotic sampler. But I'm getting off onto a tangent. I'm not sure if this is going to be the block I use for the exchange. In fact, I don't think I am because this block has so many little pieces and I don't want to go completely crazy this summer trying to fit them all into a 12 inch block. But I AM MAKING THIS QUILT! So classy, so crisp, so fun.

Two Color Quilt Challenge

I'm excited to join in on my first online quilt challenge. Nicole at Sister's Choice http://sisterschoice.typepad.com/ has issued a Two Color Challenge for the summer and I'm definitely going to take on that challenge!

I've been wanting to make a two color quilt ever since checking out Better Homes and Gardens Two-Color Quilts from the library last summer.

I also have a good friend back in Utah, Kristin, who inspired me several years ago by making a beautiful red and white Drunkard's Path quilt.

I love how classy Red and White quilts and Blue and White quilts are. I've really been leaning towards making a Blue and White one because blue is my favorite, but I'd like to have one of each eventually.

However, both of those will have to wait for another summer because I've decided to make a purple and cream quilt. Several months ago I saw a beautiful purple and cream quilt in some quilty magazine. It was gorgeous. And I vowed right then and there to make a purple and cream quilt for my mom, who loves purple. She is also a quilter and seamstress extraordinaire. She could easily make herself a beautiful purple and cream quilt. But I'd like to make one for her too because I love her, and it'll be a meaningful experience for me to think about her all summer long as I work on this quilt for her.

I've started my hunting and gathering. Aren't these gorgeous?!

As for the pattern, I'm not sure what I'll do yet. I haven't found just the right block yet. This one might be it, but I'm not ready to commit yet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/manulao7/527655337/in/pool-twocolorquilts Isn't that pretty?

Go check out Sister's Choice for details. Basically anything goes as long as its two colors and you post your progress each month and finish by August 1. I've posted links to the other participants in a new area on my sidebar. Anyone else up for a challenge?

A Big Thanks to Blog World

I just wanted to post real quick about how fun this blogging thing is. I can't believe how much inspiration is out there and how wonderfully easy it is to get positive feedback and share ideas.

I love the show and tell aspect of it all. How fun is it to be able to show off something you are proud of! I can show off my quilts to my husband and kids and they appropriately praise me and my quilts, but I know that fellow quilters can appreciate them a little differently.

I equally love the opportunity to show off something I'm proud of and to get some friendly comments. When I first started this blog (uh, a few weeks ago), I'd check it almost every hour to see if I was getting comments. My husband must have thought I was a little silly to get so excited about each and every comment. I'd giddily run upstairs (he works from home) and tell him I'd gotten another one, who it was from and the nice things they said. Thank you, bloggers!

And now about the inspiration that is out there. Where to begin?! I can (and do) spend hours looking at beautiful quilts made by people from all over the place. And what's more, these people offer suggestions, helpful hints and sometimes free patterns. Another big thanks, bloggers!

While thinking about all the bloggie goodness that is out there, I thought that it might be fun to share some of my favorite finds every once in awhile.

So for today I'm going to start with my three favorite finds from about the past week.

1. http://fredashive.blogspot.com/ This is such a good blog by the sweetest gal named Nanette and her daughters. (I haven't figured out where Freda came from.) They post on a regular basis about QUALITY stuff. I think that Nanette is one of those people that really has the gift of color choice. Check out the cute quilts. One that my sister and I have already committed to make together: http://fredashive.blogspot.com/2008/04/mosaic-squares.html I love simple quilts made of squares.

2. Crazy Mom Quilts new quilt along. http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/04/star-quilt-along-week-1.html I have had the priviledge of participating in several quilt alongs with girl friends from my old neighborhood and I LOVE them. I have never participated in an online one but this girl is really tempting me. Look how cute this quilt is! That really sounds fun.

3. And lastly http://sisterschoice.typepad.com/sisters_choice_quilts/2008/04/red-and-white-d.html Nicole over at Sister's Choice has really inspired me to get going on a two color quilt. I don't know if she's seriously considering doing some sort of challenge/quilt along but if so, I'm definitely in. I've been thinking about doing a blue and white quilt for about a year or so now and there is a big bare spot on my family room wall that is calling out for a warm, blue and white quilt.

Have a Happy Day, Blog World! Thanks for the inspiration.

Antique Beauties

This past week I took a trip out to Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas State Park with my sister and our kids. The little kiddos enjoyed seeing a working historical farm full of chickens, cows, and piglets. The bluebonnets are in bloom and the scenery couldn't have been more beautiful.
I stumbled upon a few beautiful quilts there on the beds in the historical farmhouse. Please excuse the poor photography. But hopefully you can appreciate the beauty of these antique quilts.
The history of quilting is part of the allure for me. I love being involved in a process that has been around for centuries. I love thinking that millions of other women have felt the same joy in creating something beautiful out of simple fabric- mostly scraps. I love that quilts are a lasting functional piece of art that has not only brought warmth and comfort to loved ones for centuries, they have also captured a little bit of their creater amongst their stitches. I feel connected with my own ancestors and culture when I see old quilts and when I work in my own home trying to create something of my own. It's a beautiful thing, don't you think?