Starburst

I've enjoyed finishing some quilts this holiday. The most difficult one I've ever made was one that I thought looked like an exploding star but my kids named Starburst. I improvised the piecing a bit to get it to work the way I liked. This is typical of me- I rarely follow a pattern completely. I more use it as a kind of guidance ands add my own twist to it. It really makes my quilts feel quite different sometimes. That's the best thing about quilting- there will never ever be another quilt exactly the same so everything you make is unique. Just like we as people are all unique...

So until next time
Gillian

Busy finishing the impossible

I've had a double bed size quilt top sitting in my sewing box for a year. I didn't think I could quilt it so I just left it there afraid I would ruin it. Then about a month ago I decided I better start finishing my work in progress. So Christmas decorations were finished, my green William Morris inspired fabric quilt was finished and my exploding star quilt was finished.

But still my double quilt sat there- I convinced myself I didn't have room to put it together with the wadding and backing.

Yesterday I had one of those moments, the one where you think "oh blow it, just do it, it's just wasted as it is and you may as well risk doing it!!!!". So I've put it together and edged it (I don't like the way binding looks so I see the edge right sides together leaving a gap then pull it through and hand stitch it closed).

I'm now doing machine quilting and about to do something else new- freestyle machine quilting. It's my quilt and I think it will look great.

I've noticed recently that many handmade items in shops and even in published books are no better than mine. It's not that I'm saying they are no good- its more that my are pretty good too and every little imperfection I am soooo aware of are just about invisible to everyone else.

So I'm taking risks and getting things done and making beautiful unique quilts which will last a lifetime and hopefully be passed on to my descendants one day. Oh it's good to do the impossible!!!!

Until next time
Gillian