It Doesn't Take Much

To distract me from my ufo list. Like so many other quilters I find I get bored very quickly working on the one project from start to finish. I need a variety of things to hold my interest. I like the freedom to be able to choose according to my mood, whether it's piecing, machine quilting, embroidery or applique. I seem to have been bitten badly by the embroidery bug, I love to quilt, but I must admit I get more pleasure (at the moment) embroidering. I love watching the design come to life in front of me, and then my thoughts go to how I'll put it all together with other blocks, what type and colours of fabrics I'll use for sashing and borders, how it will be quilted and of course what the label will say.

Most of my embroidery tends to leave my home, winging it's way to it's new home and it's new owner, and I just love to hear, or read how it's received. As I was pondering what to write today my thoughts went to a quilt I made for my daughter, Jenna last year, (photo previously posted, but now repeated) "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and the effect it had on her when she opened it on Christmas morning. At this point I should say that Jenna admires the time and work that goes into a quilt, but she's just not a quilty girl, although she has asked for two more quilts. All this aside I decided I wanted to make her a quilt that would tell her exactly how I felt and how much I missed her. Just thinking about it makes my eyes well up. As I was saying, I wanted this quilt, which is actually a wall hanging to be special, I wanted her to know how much I love her and miss her. I chose blues for the houses and the borders, her then favorite colour, and a bright green for the trees, the background is kona snow, although it shows up as a yellowy cream in the photo. Along the top of the border I embroidered "I'll Be Home For Christmas and along the bottom "If Only In My Dreams".

I really didn't know how she'd receive it, I thought that perhaps she may think it was sort of cute, but the phone call on Christmas morning dismissed any doubt that I may have had. After the usual Christmas greetings I asked what she thought about it, poor girl couldn't speak for the tears. So you can imagine it didn't take more than a second for my tears to flow, not only because I missed her but to know I had chosen well, just as she had with her gift for me, simple but so Jenna. A lovely mug with the words across it "All I want For Christmas Is My Mum. She and I are so alike. So when you make the decission to make a quilt, or anything else for that matter whether it's a quilt or a bag or a stitchery, whatever it is, for someone else you put a part of yourself into that project, and the person who receives that gift knows that it's stitched with memories, thoughts and love.

Happy Stitching Everyone and thanks for stopping by.