Sunday, May 23, 2010

Blogger's Quilt Festival 2010



Amy over at Amy's Creative Side is hosting Blogger's Quilt Festival 2010.
I didn't know much about it, until Natima over at Not Just Nat asked me if I'm going to participate.
For some days now, I've been thinking of which quilt means more to me than others. It hasn't been an easy choice, because all the quilts I make do mean something special to me.

Here's my choice....


This is the first bigger quilt I made. I think it was in 2005, when I started quilting (2004/2005)
My intention was to start quilting while I still lived in Norway, but all I managed to do was to buy a few books, cutting mat, ruler (in cm) and a rotary cutter. I've always loved sewing, so I already had some fabrics, but not much.
One day I got a parcel - from Bente (no blog) in Norway - containing 5 stunning autumn colored fat quarters!
I had done only a few smaller projects - more for practise - when I decided to make a door curtain. I started 'hunting' for suitable fabrics here, which wasn't that easy to find. There are tons of bolts, but not much suitable cotton. At the local textile market, I bought a few yards blue and red fabrics with dragonflies - beautiful.
I decided to use the autumn colored fat quarters, and together with some fabric I already had, made some 9-patch blocks. A newbie at that time, I don't think I knew the blocks  I was making are called 9-patch blocks - lol!
Being a newbie at that time, making errors here and there (not that many though!), I do love this quilt - the vibrant colors and the fact that I mastered such a 'big' quilt! :)
The quilt - door curtain - was made to be used. I hate too many doors in a house, and when we moved into our new home 3 years ago - this quilt is used as a 'door' between our bedroom and bathroom.
What I have learnt on the way is how important 1/4 inch seam allowance is and the advantage using inch-rulers instead of cm. Of course there are lots of other things I have learnt too, but this is the most important - to me. :)

18 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love how you use this for a curtain for a doorway - you get to enjoy seeing your quilt all the time! Too bad though that you don't have more fabric available to you locally.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Annika said...

So beautiful!

Nat Palaskas said...

Go Astrid! It's a great first quilt and it has a lovely story about you and how you started quilting. I'm so glad you decided to join the BQF this year. Isn't this fun choosing the quilt and tell story? Love the quilt - Big hugs Nat

Kerstin said...

Your first quilt is really wonderful!

Greatings from Germany
Kerstin

zarina said...

I'm not too sure if I can make it for the festival - the one I want to submit I have yet to bind and have not been sewing much lately. Trying to gain back my energy after weeks of hard work and taking care of three little people this weekend.

MY first submission for the festival was my second quilt that I FMQed. The first one is too dull.

Dirt Lover said...

Astrid, you rock!!! I just love the fact that you wanted to learn something, and jumped in with both feet. You ended up with a functional and beautiful, "door/quilt" that you get to see everyday.
~~Lori

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...

What a gorgeous doorway that quilt would make! Fall colors are my favorite ones and this quilt is beautiful! What a perfect job for the first large quilt! Sigh... if only I felt half as brave! LOL Have a great week~ xxVicki

Marie said...

Beautiful quilt and such a good idea to put it on a doorway. Congratulations

Quiltpiecer said...

Lovely! Enjoyed reading your post ... thanks for sharing!

Susan Michele said...

Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

SewCalGal said...

Cozy quilt. Great colors & fabrics.

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

Eileen said...

very nice. love the colors and love your "door". great idea

Michelle said...

What wonderful colors! And although 9 patches are one of the easier ones, in my mind, it's a classic.

Angie in SoCal said...

My goodness - you must be on the other side of the world from me and here how easy we can converse with each other. That is a darling quilt and I applaud that you can put it to such good use. My husband keeps telling me as I make another quilt "that's nice, but what are you going to use it for?" Men!
Wonderful colors. A very nice quilt. Did you use batting? Here in California it can get so hot in the summer, that I make some with no batting - just the front and the back.
I'm so glad you entered it in the festival.
Regards,
Angie who is now a follower of your blog.

Unknown said...

Lovely quilt!

hugz, Pam

Sandra said...

what a charming quilt-can't go wrong with 9 patches.
Come see my antique quilt entries
http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

What a great idea for a quilt! It is a beautiful quilt. I have yet to do anything larger than a wall hanging! Hopefully, I complete some of my unfinished tops before we get any future grandbabies.

..I am off today from work, so will hopefully get to some others on the quilt fest. I have some drawing orders to work on and of course, cleaning house... Now that our children are grown and my hubby and I are empty nesters, I can't be a "stay at home mom", but I would love to be a stay at home wife :o)

Blessings & Aloha!
If you have a moment to come over, please let me know by leaving a comment at my post. It was fun meeting you!

patricia belyea said...

Great story. It’s always interesting to see what pushes us to a new level. Keep kilting.