You may not know that I am a quiltmaker... Even though nowadays I have not spent much time doing it, it still holds a special place in my heart, and has fueled my extreme addiction to fabric!!
Shortly after I got married and moved to the US, in 1992, I became fascinated by these patchwork quilts I kept seeing, so I found a sewing machine at a garage sale for $10 and took a basic sewing class at a fabric store. Then, I bought a few books about patchwork and taught myself. When we moved to London in 1997, I was really anxious to connect with others who liked quilting, but there weren't many withing the americans at the embassy that did, so I decided I would teach them!! I started running classes from home, and before long, we had a little quilting group going!! Our favorite thing to do was to take off on a saturday morning and quilt shop hop, then finish off the day at the pub for fish and chips!! My classes continued through our stay in Rabat, and, until a few months ago, I was still teaching!!
Unfortunately, I only have a few digital pictures of some of my quilts, since I only got a digital camera a few years ago.... Boy how I wish they had been around longer!! One of my favorite designers is Kaffe Fasset, he started off designing knitting patters, then ventured off into quilting. When we lived in London, we visited his store in Bath, but I don't think it's there anymore... The hatbox pattern is his. It is one of my favorite quilts! I actually went to an upholstery fabric store and asked them if they had any discontinued sample books that they wanted to discart, and before I could blink, they had filled the back of my car with fabric swatch books!!!! Most of the fabric I used for the hatboxes came from these books!!
Another of my favorite quilts is the "Pretty Dresses". It is from a book called "Quilting with my Sister". I used some of my prettier fabric, of course!! This is one of the patterns I have taught.
Nowadays, quilting has taken a back seat to my love for vintage, and I still have quite a few unfinished projects (including a Jane Austen quilt started when I was pregnant with my son - he is 5...). But I still love it, and my brain is always in gear thinking of new ideas... If only I could stop the world from turning for just a few weeks so I could catch up...!!!
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Isabel, I love your quilts!! My most favorite would be the basket one as I have a "thing" for baskets. Don't fret that you don't have time to quilt...enjoy your children....you can catch up later. Having said that, I was more productive when my kids were in high school....of course, I got up at 5:30 to get some work done before they got up. Well, now that I think about it....I no longer get up that early to get some work done...but I do stay up til midnight, or later, so I guess it evens out somehow. I love what you are doing now...you'll get back to quilts eventually, so enjoy yourself! Pat at birdnestontheground
ReplyDeleteWow! Your quilts are so pretty! I love the hat box quilt - oh and the pretty dresses one as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the world would stop spinning for just a little. I'd love to catch up on a few things too. I just want to do it all... Thanks for sharing your quilts!
ReplyDelete-Karoline
Your quilts are wonderful! I so envy the patience of a quilter... I am such an instant gratification kinda gal, and I realize just looking at the collection, that the process of creating the art really IS the art and the enjoyment. Vowing to slow down and savor the creating...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your treasures!
xoxo
K