Wednesday, April 26, 2006

My Inspiration Quilt



We all had one, right? I went to The Fabric Patch in the fall of 2000 and was too scared to sign up for a class. When I got home, I thought about it a bunch and decided that, yep, I was going to go back the next weekend and do it. Well, that Friday I fell and shattered my shoulder, so that took care of that.

A year later, in July or August of 2001, I went back over to The Fabric Patch and sat in the parking lot a long time deciding whether I was brave enough to try quilting. I walked in the store and this quilt was hanging up on the wall. That did it! I wanted to learn to quilt! So I signed up for not one, but two beginner classes. I've already posted my blue and white triple rail. The other class was a sampler from Quilts Quilts Quilts.

Of course, the Robyn Pandolph Morning Glory line was in the store - a huge line - and I bought two yards of every single piece of it! Newbie that I was, I didn't know any better! LOL! My stash was off and running!

A couple of years ago, I was wandering around in the FP and saw a bunch of sampler quilts for sale. OMG, they were going to sell my inspiration quilt! So it followed me home!

My friend, Leora, loves this quilt. She's posted it a dozen times on our online message board. She calls it the Daisy Quilt because of the picture of Daisy sleeping the day she got back from the hospital having back surgery last year.

That's how I got started quilting. I would love to hear how others got their start.

Today was a bummer day. I had a flat today in one of my brand-new tires. Luckily, I made it to work before it went totally flat. I took it back to where I bought them tonight and they replaced it with a new tire. Pays to have that road hazard warranty! And I had to work through lunch today, so I stopped and got a great pastrami sandwich on the way home.

My gratitude today is the cool weather and drizzly rain. Quilting weather!

14 comments:

Mary Johnson said...

I was into photography and had seen some memory quilts done using family photographs. I'd never sewn, didn't own a machine but decided I was going to try and quilt.

Funny thing - I've never made a memory quilt using photographs in the 5+ years I've been quilting but I have used photos on labels. Also since I started quilting my Mom, 3 sisters, 2 aunts, and 2 cousins, and a niece in law have started quilting too - not bad for someone who didn't even know how to sew.

tami said...

I love your inspriation quilt. That is one of my favorite patterns. I have made one for my daughter in her colors and the one in my colors is on my bed right now. :o)

I'm not exactly sure when I started quilting. My grandmother always made quilts and I remember playing under the quilting frame as she, my mother and aunts were tieing quilts. I also have a childhood memory of my sister and I taking squares of newspaper and using them as foundation for crasy quilt blocks. I guess it has always just been a part of my life.

KC Quilter said...

What a gorgeous quilt! And a darling doggy too!!!

The Calico Cat said...

I'll blog me "jump in with two feet" quilting experience!

Cher said...

catching up Vicky-great first quilt-so wonderful you were able to buy it too. loved your getting started in quilting story-and loved the Daisy photos of getting into mischief-what wonderful friends you have -based on the work they have sent to you-so special!

Anonymous said...

I've heard this story before, but I'd like to know what took you into the Fabric Patch the first time? Were you toying with the idea of quilting already?

Vicky said...

Yes, back in the late '70s or very early '80s I bought several quilting books because I saw an antique quilt that I felt in love with. I was so busy in my career at that time that I just didn't have to time to devote to learning how to quilt with templates, etc. Then in 2000, on a Monday holiday from work, I caught an episode of Simply Quilts - and they didn't use templates at all! That got me interested again.

Linda C said...

gorgeous, gorgeous quilt---if I were to have a top 25 quilts I would like to try, this one would be on the list--in all purples for the squares and yellow for the between parts.

I do have a small, donation sized one cut out in some novelty fabrics that might get this notion out of my system, LOL.

I'll post on my own blog about my starts in quilting

Jeanne said...

Oh, Vicky, that is a pretty one! And how fun that you were able to buy it later :)
Daisy is toooo cute!
I'll do my quilt story in my blog.
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Oh Vicky...I remember that pastrami...ummmm I can smell it all the way over here. Oh, and yes the quilt...love, love, love it!!! and the story that goes with it.

Vicky said...

LOL, Cheryl. I knew you'd remember that trip home with the pastrami smelling so good! Didn't you ask me to pull over to the side of the road so you could eat? LOL

ForestJane said...

I love the picture of Daisy lounging on the quilt - she looks almost like a seal!

Is that HER quilt now?

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

2 yards of every piece? Oh, that is too funny! It is a lovely quilt - I have seen that pattern done in many different color ways and I've always liked it.

Good story - I see that you have started an interesting 1st Quilt thread around the blog ring.

Cheers!

Evelyn

Hanne said...

I really like your Inspiration Quilt :-)