Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Silk purse from Sow's Ear









I've been watching, with amazement, the line up of links on Amy's blog for the First Annual Bloggers Quilt Festival. What a great idea this was and how much fun it is to see everyone come up with their stories and posts about their favorite quilts. It's inspiring and fun.



I've thrown my little blog into the mix with my favorite quilt. Many years ago I made a quilt with fabric I really loved in a sort of scrappy mix. It was long before the quarter inch foot and more precise methods of cutting. In short, I kind of winged it. The resulting top looked every bit the experiment it was. No two seams lined up and even though I loved those fabrics, it was a mathematical mess. Tic Toc Tic ...time marched on.....the quilt lay folded and forgotten in the Closet of Shame. One day, I was reading my friend Debra's Blog and she called for any quilters who cared to join in making Quilts of Valor for injured returning veterans. I sent her an e-mail explaining all about the pretty mess that was folded in the Closet. She asked for a picture to see just how bad it was. I didn't even have enough fabric to finish the top and bottom borders. Nothing I said discouraged Debra. She told me to send it on to her to see what could be done. At some point she sent it to Deb Geyer, a great long-arm quilter who had volunteered to quilt it. I really hoped that Deb wouldn't hate me forever after seeing the mismatched seams and blocks of different sizes. When It came back from Deb to me for a binding I nearly cried. It was so beautiful. The quilting made a silk purse out a real sows ear. It was quilted with feathered wreaths and feathers in the borders. I momentarily regretted giving it up. As it turned out, the quilt went to a re-hab hospital to a young soldier who had lost an eye in Iraq. I took a number of pictures before sending it on and it makes me smile eveytime I see them. I hope it gave as much comfort to the young soldier as it gave me. You really never know how much the quilting makes the quilt until you see what an expert can do.

The pictures are clickable and I urge you to do so to see what a professional job is like.

After this experience I had another similar top in the Closet and donated it as well. Again, Deb made magic with the quilting but that's a story for another day. Hope you enjoyed this one.

Thanks to Amy for making this possible. After seeing the links-it must have been a full time job these past days.

27 comments:

Vicki W said...

what a great story! I'm sure that quilt made the soldier very happy!

Bonnie said...

Stunning...I think it is beautiful!

Cleary (Cie) said...

I really like your quilt, thanks for sharing it with us.
Huggs,
Cleary

Anonymous said...

This is a great quilt! I'm so glad it found such a wonderful home. I think projects that seem like disasters at the time are often to best way to learn.

aneela said...

You did a great job, love the colour, I agree the quilting is amazing!!

Bunny said...

wonderful! great color.

Coloradolady said...

Beautiful quilt. I love the design and colors. It would have been hard giving that up as well. I am sure it is enjoyed.

Zonnah said...

Wow! I love how this quilt looks. The pattern is amazing.

Deb Geyer said...

How special to see that quilt again!! Thanks for showing it.

And if you don't mind I will save copies of the photos. I don't have such good photos.

Terrie Sandelin said...

What a beautiful quilt -- gorgeous colors and design, and the quilting really does look extraordinary!

Debra Dixon said...

Ah yes, I remember that quilt fondly too.

Karlene said...

Beautiful quilt and love the colors...Great Job!

Jocelyn said...

What a beautiful quilt! And what a sweet story. So glad that the quilt went to a soldier.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

really! very lovely! you need to make another! ;-)

Quilt Rat said...

one word.....SPECTACULAR!

Scrappy quilter said...

Awesome quilt.

Cindy's Stitching said...

what a great design

Janet said...

You're right! The quilting design is gorgeous. I'm sure the soldier appreciated the gift and knows it's a work of art....and love.

Cindra said...

What a fabulous quilt... although I can't imagine it was ever a sow's ear. The quilting is wonderful... and the purpose even better. Great story, Dee.... great quilt.

Mary Johnson said...

It's rare that quilting doesn't improve a quilt that we may not like so much but in this case I like both the top and the quilting. I'm sure the soldier that received it finds a lot of comfort in it's beauty and warmth.

Jean said...

This is gorgeous, what a great job of quilting too, but I think the top is great too.

Kay said...

Great story, beautiful quilt.

dot said...

What a great quilt. I just love it. The guilting is wonderful also.

Unknown said...

Love your story! Your quilt is beautiful - I always love my quilts more after they have been quilted. I hope you are not a perfectionist anymore - I think it often keeps us from recognizing beauty in the imperfections. Thanks for sharing!

Nat Palaskas said...

Every quilt has story to go with it. Yours is special. Thanks for sharing - notjustnat

imquilternity said...

It's a beautiful, beautiful quilt!

Grazia said...

A wonderful quilt...congrats Dee!!!
Grazia