Thursday, March 21, 2013

My (very first quilt) Creative Space

Grandma's quilt. 

Hey peeps,

I am making a quilt!  Yes, I am.  I really am. It will be for my Grandma, who turns 90 next month.  She has recently moved into a nursing home.  She does not want to be there, she wants to be back at home. I can't blame her, but she needs lots of help with everyday things and the nursing home can help her with these.

We visited her in February when we were in Melbourne.  I immediately felt that her room needed some more hand made goodness.  She has been able to bring a few items of furniture from home.  My step-dad installed some shelves, and they have been filled up with family photos. I felt she needed a happy, bright quilt for her bed.  One made with love - so my mum and I got started right away.

Grandma's quilt.

I had "won" some fabric charm packs (pre-cut fabric squares) in the Let's get Maybelle to the Ellen Show charity auction.  We used two packs of "Honey Honey" by Kate Spain for Moda and part of a "Trade Winds" by Lily Ashbury for Moda.

The charm pack squares were all arranged and sewn together over a few days while I was still in Melbourne. I added the border to the quilt top when I got back to Hong Kong. The border is "Petunias" by Phillip Jacobs for Rowan, Westminster Fibers (pastel colour way)

Grandma's quilt.

Yesterday, I finally found the courage to make the backing.  We had chosen more of the petunias fabric (in different colour ways).

Grandma's quilt, the backing.

Today I will finish sewing the petunias backing together.  Then I will be ready to quilt this.  This is what I am scared about.  I have never done this before.  I'll read a few more (hundred) online tutorials.  I hope I'll be ready then to quilt.

If you can recommend any great online tutorials, please let me know.

Wish me luck!

Happy Creative Space Day to you.

Cat xox

12 comments:

  1. Wow! Look at those straight lines - yes, I have line envy :) Great work. Kx

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  2. That is a beautiful bright Quilt Cat,I'm sure your Grandma will love it, it will bring love and sunshine into her room, well done.
    Cheers R.

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  3. I can't recommend anything because I'm not a Clever Clog. But I admire this work. How beautiful! Are you sure you haven't done this before???? All the best as you finish it off. xxx

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  4. The quilting scares me too. You are making a gorgeous quilt for a beautiful reason. I am sure your Grandma will not mind if the quilting is not perfect. Cherrie

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  5. Oh Cat, your poor Grandma, it is so hard when our lovely elderly relatives need to go into a nursing home. We went through a similar thing with my grandparents, it was very hard and extremely emotional for everyone. But, that BEAUTIFUL quilt, WOW, I honestly believe that will cheer her up no end, it's stunning. Fabulous effort Cat xo

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  6. It so beautiful and colourful. I am sure she will absolutely love it. xxx

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  7. What a happy quilt, sure to bring sunshine and joy to your lovely Grandma

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  8. I really love your quilt and the colours are amazing. i'm sure that your Grandmother will love it. it will really add colour and warmth to her room.
    Rosie

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  9. That is so lovely....and the meaning behind the quilt makes it so much more special. This is sure to brighten up her room :)

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  10. Meet your follower number 136.
    Hi! I absolutely adore your blog and I love reading it. Such an adventure moving all the way from Melbourne to Hong Kong. I imagine you'll find many nice fabrics there to make all kind of funny and lovely things.

    Your quilt is quite an explosion of colours. Your grandma will be ever so happy. I like quilting myself , you can check it out, all the items under the label "patchwork" at:

    http://homeiswherethedachshundis.blogspot.be

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  11. Cat, I'm sure your gran will love her new quilt! It'll be just the thing to brighten up her room and make it feel more comfy. Such a lovely thing to do!

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Thank you for your comments. I always try to reply back to you and/or check out your blog, but some days this is not possible. Nice to meet you. Cat