2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail

In March, I joined a group for new quilt bloggers.  We had a few weeks of critiquing a few blogs and receiving critiques as well.  Thanks to Kara @ Sunshine Kwilts,  Jen @ Dizzy Quilter, and Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts  for their feedback.  It’s from their suggestions and encouragement that you now see bigger pictures and a few other changes.

image_uploaded_from_ios_480The group (called a hive) I’m in decided on a “Name” and a “Logo”: “Lets Bee Quilt’n.”   I think the logo that was created is super cute!  I joined a talented bunch of people, right?

This week, it’s my turn to participate in the blog hop.  Be sure to visit the various blogs and enter the giveaways!

My Introduction

First, I’m to tell you about myself and my quilting journey.  (Yes, I know that some of you may have heard, or been part of, my story – but this is for the benefit of those that don’t know and are visiting my blog for the first time.)

Initial Quilting Inspiration     I grew up knowing that my grandma, who lived way far away from me quilted.  When I was in my last year of high school, I drafted my own pattern, made square and rectangle templates from cereal boxes and cut out my fabric.  I only used scrap fabric that my mom had from making clothes.  The quilt got tied because I didn’t know how to do anything.  I was just going by guess.  I used the quilt during my 3 years in nursing school. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture.  The quilt later became the dog’s blanket and I’m not sure if it was buried with her or burned.

Fast Forward a Few Years    I belonged to a church that made queen sized quilts for couples getting married.  With helping to make these quilts, I learned to rip strip sets (before the days of rotary cutters), sew quilts together, put them on a frame and hand quilt them.  At this time, I made a quilt for each of my husband’s siblings and my sister.  Again, I don’t have pictures.

Then life changed   We moved, had lots of neat adventures and quilting became a thing of the past.  I went back to school and finally graduated in 2005.  The day after I finished my final paper, I went sewing machine shopping and within a few weeks,  I bought my Janome 6500.  A machine I still love.  I have made a many many quilts since 2005.

Not sure how many quilts I’ve made since I finished school.  But as soon as I retired (beginning of 2016), I had enough quilts to do a trunk show … and I know I have given away more than I have kept.  Here’s a picture of a few quilts I gifted in 2007 & 2008.

And these are a few that were gifted in 2010 & 2011.

2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop

This week’s Blog Hop in “Lets Bee Quilt’n” include these great blogs!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting     Nancy is a Long-Arm quilter and shares many of her customer’s quilts as well as her own.  There is lots of eye candy in the form of beautiful quilts with wonderful quilting.

Kathy @ Kathy Kwilts and More   Kathy is a new ambassador for Island Batiks and is currently working on an appliqué project.  She sees many exciting challenges in the months ahead as she continues on this new journey.

April @ JANDA Bend Quilts  April has designed a few small quilts for a challenge.  And, it looks like she attended and Eleanor Burns :Quilt in A Day Teacher Certification” in Paducah, Kentucky,  How cool is that?  I need to find out more from her.

This Blog Hop is hosted by 3 awesome bloggers:

Go to their blogs to enter to win giveaways (prizes)!!

Quilting Hints

Done1.    One of my favourite mottos, when it comes to quilting is “Done is better than perfect!”  I know that we are our own worst critiques!  What good is a quilt top that languishes in the closet waiting for “some day”?  A few weeks ago, I listened to a pod-cast by a famous long-arm quilter and she said that she has yet to meet a perfect quilter.  Even the best of the best know that there are mistakes in their quilts.

2.  Ignore the fear.  Many quilters are afraid to try new techniques because they fear they are not good enough.  Each of us started out in life without being able to walk … eventually, for most of us, we were able to walk without fear of falling.  We just kept getting up and trying again.

A Question for you to Answer?

Sew … what are you afraid of with your quilting?  Is is curved seams?  appliqué?  free motion quilting?  sewing half-square triangles?   paper-piecing?  or something totally different?

In the comments section of this blog post – tell me what your greatest quilting fear is.

Happy Quilting
Gail

43 thoughts on “2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop”

  1. I loved reading this! Like you, I give away more quilts than I keep…so my biggest fear is my quilt not being like or used or even appreciated. I once made quilt for somebody who at first kept it draped over the back of her couch and then one day I stopped in and found it in a box being used as a cat bed! But at least it was being used….right?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hmmm … well draped over a couch means that it might occasionally be used for naps or TV watching …

      I have adopted the attitude that once a quilt is given away, it’s no longer “mine,” I no longer have any say in where it lands or how it’s being used.

      Personally, I find that the saddest is when a quilt is put away in the closet and kept for “good.” I like them being used. But, then again, I gave it away and no longer have any say in the matter, right?

      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. I guess mine is not so much a fear but an avoidance of a descent into doubt. I see some of those art quilts and microquilting and think, “I will never be able to do that!” Then I tell myself, “maybe I don’t want to do just THAT.” Quilting covers a wide range of territory and even if I only straight line it with a walking foot, I’m still quilting!

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  6. Just dropping by to say a late hello and welcome to the world o blogging. My greatest fear? It used to be that no one would ever read my posts. They did, but now I worry they will stop. My tip for you is just to be yourself, it’s the only way to blog and be authentic. You’ve had a great start.

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  7. Hi, Gail – Great post!
    I guess my biggest quilting fear is that I won’t get to make everything I want to try. I am not afraid of any particular technique, although I do tend to put off things I think will be boring.

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  8. My fear is choosing colours, getting it wrong and having to live with it! Strange because most quilters say this is their favourite part of the process. Oh and having to admit this in print…too late!

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  10. I enjoyed reading your blog. As a former new blog hopper I found it a great experience. And as to what I avoid doing, definitely curves, they always look more improve than I intended

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  11. Fear is such a destructive force where creativity is concerned, but I think it is something we all face from time to time – I love your perspective! Thanks for sharing your quilting journey 🙂

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  12. Hi Gail! Congratulations on your great post! I am amazed by your quilts, so beautiful and varied. I really appreciate your tips, trying not to let fear stop me from trying new techniques. FMQ is one I am trying to improve on. It was nice getting to know you here ~Abbie from the Better Bloggers Hive 🐝

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  14. Great post! I think the thing I’m most afraid of is fabric waste. Lol. I just really hate wasting fabric. I usually only buy exactly what I need for a project and then I try to be as accurate as possible during construction. I also prefer to use no-waste methods for certain blocks. I love the look of scrappy quilts but I never seem to have any scraps! Lol.

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  15. Not really a fear, but I just don’t want to “tackle” certain kinds of quilting, I guess. I only have so much time so I want to do the types of quilting that I enjoy. Lovely post and I am now following you.

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  16. Gail, I love your post! I gift almost all of my quilts, the only one’s I’ve kept have been the kids baby quilts and one I made to replace our old comforter. I used to be scarred of new techniques because I always thought I wasn’t ready for them. Then I tried foundation piecing and it’s my new favorite thing. I’m also on the journey to perfecting curved piecing and I have a clam shell quilt in the works. It’s a shame you don’t have pictures of past quilts, your work is beautiful!

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  19. Great post! I don’t really have any fears. Two things I’m not very good at are paper piecing and FMQ. I know I just need to practice more so when I do either one its not like learning all over again. I’m a new follower and look forward to checking out your blog.

    usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. Hi Gail, glad to meet you on the Blog Hop. Great post. A quilting daredevil I am not and accept that I will make only what I want to make and know my limitations and dislikes. I don’t need to make something just to prove that I have the skill. My time is precious and I rather make something I know I will enjoy. Quilting should be devoid of stress and filled with joy–that’s what I try to do. My quilting fear use to be the rotary cutter, die-cutters are really nice.

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  22. Great advice!! I, too, say “finished is better than perfect!” And I absolutely love trying new things! Right now, I’m most scared of meeting sewlebrities! Lol! I’m attending Quilt Market for the first time, and I’m terrible with names! I’m sure I’ll just stammer and stumble over words when I see Tula Pink and others. Ha! It was great to learn more about you!

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  23. Hi Gail! Love your moto! I am a relatively new long-arm quilter, and I have to admit that I am a afraid of free motion quilting. There I said it out loud. I am not sure why I am afraid of it. I am usually pretty brave. I guess that I just need to get in there and try it. I enjoyed reading your blog. Have a great week.

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  25. Actually, my worst fear is having a bunch of UFOs! I find that, since retirement, I have started WAY too many quilts. So now, instead of starting new projects, I am ‘disciplining’ myself by making myself finish at least 5 old projects before starting anything new. oh, my! (lynnstck[at]yahoo.com)

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  27. Hi Gail, I’ve enjoyed reading your post and getting to know you a bit. My greatest fear in quilting is putting my work out there. Second to that would be free motion quilting. I’m learning free motion in small bites, making mug mats and small quilts. It’s more controllable for me right now to practice that way.

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  29. Hi Gail. I love your story and quilts!

    My biggest fear and cannot for the life of me shake it off is free motion quilting! I have a longarm and still afraid to try. I spend an hour each day on my machine. When I start to feel comfortable, I would load up a top, backing and batting. Then the fear is back!!!! It would take me days to bring up the courage to just “go for it!”

    I look forward to reading more about you.

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  30. What fear? It is all an adventure for me. I learn to do better as I go along and any really quilting flaws are just new designs waiting to be discovered. I have been sewing (and designing clothes) for many years so I fear very little and I have learned to enjoy my journey.

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  31. Hi Gail: Nice to meet you. My biggest quilting fear used to be free motion quilting but now I’ve just jumped right into it. I’m not sure if there is anything I am afraid to do. Right now my problem is finding enough time.

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  32. I enjoyed getting to know you. One of my fears has been learning to quilt on my domestic machine. I’ve now got my first quilt ready to be quilted on the machine this week. I did a practice piece with leftover scraps and batting last week and was surprised how it wasn’t difficult at all. Why do I allow myself to get psyched out?

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  33. Gail, I love the subtitle on your header: “a scrappy quilter and not a perfect quilter.” That could be me!

    I’m currently afraid of y-seams. Have not gotten up the guts to try them yet. I’m also afraid of curves. I took a class once that actually said in the description, “if you are afraid of curves, this is the class for you!” Well, okay then! I signed up, and got a few blocks done during class. That was January 2013. I have not touched that project since.

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  35. Gail, it was a joy to read how you started quilting. I am like you, given away more than I have kept. I agree Done is better than Perfect. Both quilts will keep you warm and cozy. I am afraid of FMQ, it is on my list of things to try this year. I enjoy my straight line quilting, so this will be a stretch for me.

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  36. Hi Gail! I love your tip and try to live by it. Just be brave! Yep, finished is way better than perfect. So glad you’re in the hop!

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  37. I can’t imagine not using a rotary cutter! LOL Your story of learning to quilt is wonderful. I too have a 6500 I bought used four years ago and it’s a beast of a machine – I love it! Thanks for being part of this group Gail, and for sharing your story!

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  38. Gail, it was so nice to read more about you and I love your quilts! Also that is a great motto, I think it is all a learning process so there will always be another quilt to work on.

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  39. My biggest fear definitely changes from quilt to quilt. In general, there are techniques that I am less drawn to, so if a quilt requires those to be created then I will worry over those details the most. Overall, I think my biggest fear is that the person I am making the quilt for won’t like or use the quilt, though. 🙂 Thank you so much for being a part of the blog hop, and thank you for sharing about your journey today!

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  40. Love your header photo Gail! It’s been great to meet you and see your quilts! I’m definitely a finisher rather than a perfectionist. I learn something new every time. I hate to re-do any step and will continue on with the thought that next time will be better! My greatest fear is that someone will call me out on what a lousy quilter I am! So far though they have all been very kind 😉

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  42. Quilting fears are mostly so silly, aren’t they? I worry about cutting into my lovely fabric, that I’m going to wreck it–so instead, it sits, unused, as if that’s better. Or that I won’t be able to do the new technique that is required, so I let a quilt sit, stalled, at the point when an unfamiliar skill is the next step, rather than diving in and learning the next technique. Or rather, I used to. I’m becoming braver and bolder. Saying, “Well, this won’t look perfect, but it will be finished, and I’ll be glad about that.” Deciding what I’m okay with, and seeing if I can figure out a way to work around what I’m not.

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