Ooh, I do love this quilt. It's a simple one. Came right out of my scrap bins in fact.
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| Old Fashioned Strings |
But it speaks to my heart and it's helped sooth my frazzled nerves here in the last couple weeks.
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| It's a finish! |
This is the exact kind of quilt that I
longed to make back when I first started quilting. On a trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 1996, I saw a scrappy quilt hanging from a balcony. I stood there for the longest time, mesmerized by the simple beauty of a scrapped together quilt.
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| A little closer look... |
There's no way to know exactly what that quilt looked like now, after all these years and without a photo, but it still remains a beautiful memory in my minds eye. I am so grateful for the opportunity {and ability} to make the kind of quilts that look like they belong in a home. Being used. Snuggled under. Bringing peace and comfort to me and my own.
Making these kinds of quilts, I have to say that I also feel a tiny bit closer to understanding my grandma. She made quilts for years, hand sewing and/or hand quilting most evenings, using what she had on hand. I like to think she'd get a chuckle out of me hand quilting my quilts when most people don't want to take the time. She personally wasn't at all concerned with the time involved. She was just making space for beauty in her very busy life. How ironic that some of the most stressful situations in my life oft compel me to sit down and spend a bit more time with the handwork--learning the things that grandma already knew and probably couldn't begin to explain to a very young granddaughter....
I love, love, love this quilt!! I have loved it since the first pictures of it appeared and I love it even more now. Probably my fav of all of your quilts. It shows everything I love about quilting, the scraps, the colors, the joy, the happiness, everything! Like you I came to quilting when I saw a scrapquilt (in a shopwindow in my case), I had never seen anything like it before , I did not even know what a quilt was at the time. It was an antique (in an antique store) , I could not afford it so I decided to learn and make my own. Scrapquilts are still my favorites even though I have made others of course. I love what you write about your gran and about how quilting helps to cope with stressful situations. So true, all of it. Congratulations on this wonderful finish!
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt too! My string blocks are still waiting to find the right background to put them all together. Strings quilts are so much fun to make and just sparkle. Yours is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love this finish! I may just have to steal this scrappy strippy block idea for my youngest grandson's big-boy-bed quilt, which I'll need to start soon. You are so fortunate to have had your grandma as a quilt mentor, that is a real blessing.
ReplyDeleteI think you have inherited your grandmas patience and devotion. It's a great quilt, and looks like it's been around for a while, not brand new and all perfectly coordinated from a range. There is a place for that, but scrappy quilts always have so much more depth to them.
ReplyDeleteScraps, bright colors, old fashioned, warm and cozy, made by hand. Perfect :)
ReplyDeleteI ❤️ everything about this quilt from the mix of fabrics and color used to the pattern and quilting ... Oh and the blue binding too ... Another beautiful quilt, it looks fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my most favorite of your quilts!! I have it saved in the file of my brain for someday!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. The quilt and your writing expresses the true essence of what we do.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beauty Audrey, and all ready for snuggling under. I too love a good scrappy quilt, and this is a classic. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful. I too have been going through stressful times and when I saw this quilt it immediately made me think of cuddling under it for comfort.
ReplyDeleteAh, so it's in your DNA to make scrappy hand quilted beautiful quilts!.....what a beautiful memory and insight you have of your Grandmother.
ReplyDeleteEureka Springs is a beautiful town I'm glad you had your inspiration there. I love this quilt!! - I always seem to gravitate towards the simple scrappy - this quilt appeals so much I can see one in the making in the future.
ReplyDeleteJust a beautiful finish, Audrey--well-worth the time to hand quilt it. It definitely reminds me of my Grand-mere's quilts--she hand worked them all, too.. I am turning more and more to hand quilting my pieces--nice, slow, thinking time in this "hurry-up" world we inhabit......enjoy this weekend, hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteYour quilt makes my soul sing, as do your words about your grandmother's thoughts on making space beauty. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm going to add this to my list of quilts.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful quilt, Audrey, and your words about it are equally beautiful. Love this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful connection you've made with your grandma through a lovely scrappy quilt. It really has a well loved and vintage look.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful quilt. I love the simplicity and the "making do" with what you had. Your hand quilting makes it so much more special. So glad it helped you through a scary time.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt and the sentiment behind it.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Reminds me of the past as well. The making and using brought comfort as I believe such quilts should do! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteLola
It looks wonderful and cozy. The texture from your handquilting is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteAs my grandma would have said - you done your grandma proud.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite kind of quilt - scraps from many times, places, and sources, assembled and quilted with love and intent. It's wonderful when both process and product can bring such comfort.
So much is written about how early stitchers and quilters had no choice but to scrimp and save and struggle to produce their work, but I actually think the real motive was as you say, enjoyment and beauty rather than hardship. The same motive as ours! So, another beautiful finish, and a great connection to a positive tradition too!
ReplyDeletePerfect.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of my grandma too. She used to tell me stories about the previous life of all the old clothes she cut up and used in a quilt. When I first started sewing I always thought a quilt was what was made from old clothes and scraps left over after making new clothes.
I love this quilt! I plan to make one really soon. Also wanted to let you know that I just finished reading your entire blog history. I can relate to so much of what you have written. I love it when I can find so much inspiration in one place. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonita! I try to respond to comments by email, but couldn't find yours. I'm touched that you spent so much time reading through my old posts.:)
DeleteA lovely snuggly quilt - congratulations on the finish! So nice to hear how much it means to you too :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! These kind of quilts are what made me fall in love with quilting. Beautiful! Glad it has brought you peace and some reflective moments with your Grandma.
ReplyDeleteA very beautiful specimen of both piecing and quilting!
ReplyDeleteScrap quilts are the best. You've made a beautiful one. I love the cream sashing. So understated. And you made your scraps into columns, too. (I'm seeing them everywhere since my string quilt.) Love your version with sashed narrow columns. Congratulations on another beautiful finish.
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely, just a quilt to wrap around you and enjoy all the love in it. I think handquilting ads love to a quilt. After havind made some quilts, I have a box with scraps and start to think about what to do with them, and I love what you have done, so maybe I will make something simular in the future. Many greetings
ReplyDeleteA beautiful finish! There's something really appealing about a scrap quilt, isn't there? And to hand quilt too, well it's made this a true heirloom!
ReplyDeleteI adore it! Simply beautiful. And, I couldn't agree more about the relaxation that comes from holding a needle in my hand. Thanks for sharing the wonderful story about your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteGreat memory! I love scrappy quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a charming quilt! Love the colors and all the small pieces. Your hand quilting is amazing!
ReplyDelete(She was just making space for beauty in her very busy life.)
ReplyDeleteThat sentence makes my heart smile.
The quilt and the quilting are exactly what I love about stitching.
Love this quilt, Audrey. Your grandma would be so pleased and proud. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts of your grandma, I bet she would love this quilt. I know I do. Scrappy quilts are my absolute favorite, hands down, every time, and this one is inspiring me out of my quilting funk. I haven't sewn a thing since the middle of August, and I'm just going with it. I will know when it's time for another quilt (and blog post). It feels good to slow down. Enjoy your cozy new quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love this too. It may be scraps but your eye for colour is very good and it feels totally coherent with a lovely peaceful kind of feel to it. A really comforting, welcoming kind of quilt.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma would have loved and appreciated it, too. I can see why you're pleased with it. It's my kind of quilt. I was raised by those "waste not, want not" people, and appreciate the new inspiration you've shared.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt! The super scrappy ones are always my favorites.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun scrappy use it up kind of quilt. Great idea!
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