What I did on the airplane this past weekend...
I wrote my original Quilting Without Obligation post as a virtual reminder to myself; to quilt more and compare myself less. After I wrote that post I wrote another and another... and then an idea was born and that idea was to share my scraps and in that process, free myself of those last lingering obligations.
I have enjoyed writing here and making friends who share my same passion for quilting whether they are beginners or have been quilting for years. I have learned a lot about myself and my own process but I have also learned a great deal from other quilters and how they create. I confess that I'm a bit strange because I worry about quilting, both design and colors. But just when I think that all the gorgeous quilts have been made, another unique quilt surfaces and I think that might be the best part of quilting... the inspiration and the process of that individual.
I received an email last week that perfectly sums up why I wanted to write this series...
Hi Jennifer,
I just read all through your Quilting Without Obligation series and I just had to email you and say THANK YOU! You have addressed so many burgeoning worries I had!
I am a beginner quilter (have made two quilts) and I am very much a blog reader so I have got into quilt blogs, but after having made my first two quilts ( third one starts soon, finishing university had to take priority). To be honest, I've found reading lots of the blogs quite discouraging - I can't afford all these new fabrics all the time, I don't have a stash, I don't like the MoMo designs, and I don't own a ruler or indeed a rotary cutter(though I do want them!). I have often felt quite "uncool" with regards to what I like and how I like my quilts because I've never done HSTs or flying geese or any of this stuff, and I've never had whole yards of whole lines of fabric to play with - or organise into piles. And obviously being a beginner, there's no way I can crack out a "perfect" quilt in two days flat.
Reading your series has given me so much confidence back in what I like doing and how I like doing it. I was feeling a bit silly for having made two quilts without any knowledge of patterns so they're just what I came up with with the fabric I'd bought because I loved it, and now I'm back to being delighted with myself for having two quilts that are entirely MINE, made with a mishmash of fabric lines, pieced exactly how I wanted and with almost no matching corners.
So this is a really a very waffly and stupid [no it's not!] email to say thank you for reassuring me that not all quilting is about having a quilt to compare with everyone else's. I have just ordered myself a big ol' mess of loads of different fat quarters from different lines and I'm looking forward to getting cutting.
Thank you!
Marianna
Last week I hosted a giveaway here and not just any giveaway. These winners have been hand picked and no, I'm not playing favorites but yes, I am picking entries that in some way moved me. There are plenty of random giveaways in blogland {there will be one here soon too} but in my strides to be something different to quilting, I wanted these scraps to mean something more and I hope that is exactly what they will do.
So here are the winners!
Alliekatmom wins the Heather Ross scraps
She said: If you want to dump your scraps on me I would gladly accept them. I have a few ideas for scrap quilt I would love to make. More traditional quilts with tiny pieces but with modern fabric. Also if the scraps are big enough I would love to have them to make some charity quilts with. Quilts for kids would be loving the quilts I make :) I have two done already that I need to drop off.
Alliekatmom was also nominated by her friend, Kelly, who had the sweetest things to say about her!!
Marianna wins the Denyse Schmidt scraps
She said: Both the quilts I've made so far have been made during periods of my grandfather being extremely ill - he is currently very unwell again, and when I get home from (my last ever term at, sob) university next week I will be helping my mama with hospital visits and all the other madness that comes with illness. I want to start another quilt to keep me distracted in the evenings, so your scraps would be used for that! I like being able to look at both of my quilts and see something beautiful (in my opinion) that came out of a really hard time...the next quilt will be continuing that tradition. And I want to try doing some decorative hand quilting...oh, this must be the longest comment ever. Sorry!
Heidi wins the Wonky Nine patch scraps
She said: What a great idea ! I'd love the boyish scraps and would use them for a charity quilt for a foster child ( I'm not quite sure if this is the right expression, I'm talking about kids, whose parents aren't able to care for them and who then live with other families ).
Winners, please email me your contact information!!
For everyone who entered, thank you! This will definitely not be the last scrap giveaway so look for one each time I finish a quilt. I am also putting together a scrap exchange/donation group on Flickr so we are all able to share in the fun of Quilting Without Obligation!
And for those who have read and commented on this series of posts, thank you! I grew a lot as I wrote here and I hope we have all been able to learn something from each other. :)