Friday, April 17, 2009

Bloggers Quilt Festival Entry

The first annual Bloggers' Quilt Festival is underway. Amy at Park City Girl has asked quilters to post about their favorite completed quilt project, and the story that goes with it. For me, this was an easy request. This log cabin quilt was finished just days before my little b was born.

I have blogged about this quilt before, so therein lies the partial story; but what this quilt means to me is a different tale altogether. Early in my pregnancy, I went shopping for fabric. Little b was born on the Winter Solstice, so I had a wintry palette chosen. Then I went to a new fabric store in our town and absolutely fell in love with the selection of batiks there. I shelved my other fabric for holiday projects and chose a rainbow of batiks, and decided to try my first log cabin quilt.

After piecing the top, Sue was kind enough to let me use her short-arm quilting machine. I loved it.
This quilt was my first attempt using many things: batiks, a log cabin design, free motion quilting, a quilting machine, and hand binding. Although lately I've been enjoying more improvisational quilting, I still smile every time I look at this gift to my son. Stitching the last of the binding just days before little b's birth was a powerful exercise for me, and it seemed to absolve my fear about not being able to shower my new baby with the same level of attention I had grown used to giving Big B. This quilt was a gesture, however symbolic, of my intention to cover this new soul with warmth, with brightness, with love, and with careful attention.

18 comments:

Millie said...

What a perfect quilt for a child! Very happy! Beautiful.

Kama said...

So pretty!

Dionne said...

What a beautiful quilt! What a lovely story. I love the stories!
Cheers,
Dionne
PS - The photos of a child's foot, a child's hand... so very precious! I miss those little hands and feet!

Unknown said...

That is just beautiful! I really love it! What a gift he will always treasure ... and pass down to his own children I imagine.

Sara said...

I love that log cabin. Its so beautiful! Batiks are my favorites and you did a great job on it. I am sure little b loves it! and a touching story!

Anonymous said...

you are such an inspiration.

i love you sister.

anna

Kerri said...

what a beautiful quilt!! it is soo bright and cheery!!

Zonnah said...

Oh, I love this quilt. I really want to make a log cabin quilt.

Kathy - Pink Chalk Studio said...

OK, that made my eyes tear up. A beautiful story and quilt!

Andi said...

What a wonderful creation. Love how happy and vibrant it is!

Donna/Sara from Kindred Crafters said...

I can see why this is your favorite! It's beautiful.

stitchinpenny said...

Very Pretty

Anonymous said...

What a rainbow of colours, and a lovely story to go with it. Loved it.

Quilt Rat said...

I agree, very cheerful, love your fabric choices. Isn't this online quilt festival simply the best?

Vicki said...

So cool. I love log cabins and you picked great colors.

Unknown said...

Aw! Beautiful sentiment :) Those transitions are so hard - esp with pregnancy hormones in the mix!

All those firsts in one quilt - it's really cheery and so well done! Thank you for sharing.

Red Pepper Quilts - Rita Hodge said...

What a great quilt! I love that you used a short-arm machine to free-motion quilt this yourself! Thanks for sharing this quilt!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!!