It's Not Hard, It Just Takes Time . . .

That's what this little old lady told me about taking up quilting, "It's not hard . . ." true true. I should have waited until after I had kids to have the time to pick up this hobby though!!!
My sister's quilt is done! She is due at the end of this month, and after it came back from the quilter, I knew that I didn't have much free time to get the binding on, and a label. So, that is what I did today. Here is the result. If you click on the pics, it will show them larger and with more detail. The ribbon border you see on this bear quilt is a new thing for me. It seemed like a good idea at the time; like dying easter eggs with small children, cleaning out and organizing the "junk" drawer, renovating the kitchen, putting favorite recipes in order, and other enterprises that you find yourself immediately in over your head. So, this may be the only one that I ever do.

I like the effect, but it was dang expensive and labor intensive! Other time munchers are quilt labels. I make my own, so, it's not like I can just write in sharpie, "I did this quilt on "x" date, for "x" person. No no no. It's gotta take up a whole morning, and be excruciatingly personal. Preferably with a profound quote. So, here for your viewing pleasure are the labels for this baby quilt, and the stars quilt mentioned in last month's blog.

Danika is not a real, I dunno, "ribbons and frills" kinda girl, so you will notice that her baby girl quilt has NO PINK. Scottish plaid, oh heck ya, we're all about our ancestry! But, no florals or pastels. Just high contrast, sophisticated color scheme that is non-gender specific, and "smart." So, when it came time to find a quote for her baby, it couldn't be too "sugar n' spice" -ish. It just wouldn't fit. So after perusing a ton of resources, I found this one that I really love, "If you want to know how much you are loved, just count the waves in the sea." I love that thought. The ocean waves constantly renew themselves, and as a parent, you know that the love for your children continues to renew itself, when they smile, drool, - anything! you name it. It never extinguishes. That love is sorely tried, absolutely, but never extinguished. So, it seems to fit the baby, quilt, AND new parents.

As for the stars, they are going to meet a better fate than originally intended. Instead of being just rolled up with my other quilts, it has found a home. My mother (who I have never made a quilt for) saw the pic on this blog AND LOVES IT!!!!!. And she wants to hang it in her apartment there in New Jersey where she is serving a mission. She'll pick up the quilting tab, and all I have to do is send her the binding, sleeve fabric, and label. It's a win/win situation. My quilt is loved and adored, mom finally gets a quilt from me (that she likes), and its also paid for! Mom, on her part, gets a wall hanging for just the price of the quilting, as well as all the accoutrements of finishing it off. I love the quote for this one as well.

The funny thing about both of these quilts, is the Karma. Each quilt has fabric donated from the person I am giving it back to. Danika gave me the white fabric that is the foundation of her quilt, and mom let me raid her stash during the 2nd incarnation of the star quilt with some of her beloved beiges. So, I guess it's true that if you cast your fabric upon the waters, it may come back to you quilted! And as for me, it's a great feeling to be done with both. I have closure, I have accomplished something that can be scratched off my "to do" list. Gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling! And quilts, we know, often outlive the creator. So I feel like I've sent two more bits of me into the world.