Creativity: Remembering my "WHY" as I read: Our Family Quilt

Our Family Quilt

The Fabric of Life

by

Rhonda Cratty

Summary: Join and experience creativity and nostalgia through Grace, a master quilter, -as she shares her creative gifts with her young granddaughter, Audrey. Together their lives unfold around their family quilt.  The love between grandmother and granddaughter keep a family’s generations turning despite minor setbacks, disappointments and celebrations of life. As friends and family of this charming mountain town in Colorado come together for life’s moments. Creating an inspirational, heartwarming story to share with those you love.

Our Family Quilt immerses readers in:

• Family Life
• Contemporary Women
• Quilting ideas
• Creativity for everyday living
• The secret world of Grandmothers and Granddaughters and the people they love…

 I was flattered and happy when author Rhonda Cratty, sent me a copy of her book, The Family Quilt for me to read and offer as a give-away here on my blog. I'm enjoying this book in-between quilting my "monster" ragged roses/nine patch quilt. (Which your guys, is almost done!!!) After a few e-mail correspondences between us, it was fun to get to know Rhonda and learn about her path to quilting and how much we have in common. She lives in beautiful Colorado and like me, enjoys walking, hiking, and cross country skiing. And like many of us quilters, when she is not writing, she enjoys traveling, quilting, crocheting, cooking, reading and painting.

Remember our WHY!

As I read, though I don't have family nearby, or any granddaughters, I love the idea how quilting connects people. Like you and I. And lately, it's so wierd, but I have been asked why I quilt. What do I do with all my quilts. Why don't I just sell them. I even been kinda laughed at for having a dozen (okay more) quilts just piled around my house and that even the dogs have a quilt! They gasp...while I'm internally thinking: "Of course they do! LOL!"  

I hate when I don't have a quick answer....I always find myself contemplating others views and comments rather than having a quick response. Hmmm....more often than not, I do ask myself those very questions. Am I evolving into a lonely, old quilt lady? Why do I do what I do? 

While reading Rhonda's book I'm intriqued how writing Our Family Quilt began as a book idea but then moved her into research of quilting as an art form in America. The characters in this book evolved through quilting classes, quilting shows, museums, shops, the Columbine Quilt Guild, inspiring speakers, and encouraging quilters. Each experience inspired the Rhonda to add a different dimension to both her quilting and writing.

Like Rhonda and I'm sure many of you, I find the quilting process moves me forward and inspires my NEED to be creative. It adds that different dimension to my life that I like. I value the quiet time it provides me to recharge. It's a way I take care of myself....a healthy outlet during times I may feel lonely or sad from life's challenges.   But it also allows outlet to my creativity. I love that I can create original gifts for others. I can give to charities. It allows me to continuously grow and learn. Example, while quilting the "monster" I have gained a new confidence in my quilting and with that, took a pile of business cards to my favorite quilt shop for distribution. Out of the blue...while rhythmically quilting those 99 blocks, a brand new idea has been formulating in my mind. Each day I have found myself enthusiastically capturing those ideas in my sketchbook for later reference. I'm learning that confidence comes from doing something you thought you couldn't do. Inspiration comes from sources we don't predict. That's why I quilt. As Rhonda's book so wonderfully interweaves throughout her story it's the value of living a creative life quilting allows. 

How about you? Why do you quilt? Please do comment and share and perhaps an inspiring email conversation will evolve? Annndddd....if you can't wait for my September give-away of Rhonda's The Family Quilt book and want to get a copy of it now, she forwarded this info. for to me to share:

https://www.acreativespin.com/home.html

·         ASIN: B01N8WSCV7

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Family-Quilt-Fabric-Life-ebook/dp/B01N8WSCV7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1480736270&sr=8-2

·         ISBN-10: 1537796852

·         ISBN-13: 978-1537796857

           Keep an eye out as I continue my series of  "Creativity" posts.

                       Coming up soon: Being Prepared followed by Making Time . 

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

WIN quilt batting this summer. Click HERE to read how.

Jackson: Pet on Quilts Show!

Every August when the Pets on Quilts Show comes around, I appreciate the opportunity to highlight my quilt buddy and loyal companion: Jackson

When I started blogging in 2013, I never intended for Jackson to be such a personality here. Yet whether it be Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall he earns many belly rubs from your comments, is a wonderful  pal to our grandson, and well, it warms my heart that he can always be caught napping on my quilts and I'm grateful that you enjoy his photo bombing my quilty posts as much as I do.

 With that said, the show's voting begins on August 20th. 

I hope as you enjoy the many posts in the show,

 that you'll vote #10 for Jackson in the DOGS on QUILTS Category.

In the meantime remember to:

Click HERE and join us for this fun show!

"Bloom" QAL Finished!

The Front:

This finish measures 62"x 72". 

The Quilting:

Yes I broke all the rules and did a Daisy on a String pantograph on this applique quilt...and I love it! 

This is a loose pattern that didn't take away from the applique. I think that was the key.

 Annnddd a peek at the Back:

Another happy finish that was a great stash buster.

Classroom Quilt's Fair Win!

I love fair season and my grand-guy and I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon visiting ours.

Our Classroom Quilt won a blue ribbon in the group quilt division.

The kids will be so excited and I hope many of them see it at the fair this week.

With the new school year quickly approaching, it will find it's new "home" hanging outside my 

classroom to greet this year's new class. After which, it will be used by the kids during reading time.

I was thinking as we walked through all the exhibits that I really need to create more entries for the fair. It's so fun to see them all displayed and judged. Do you complete fair entries? If so, curious if they are only quilt entries or what other entries do you have?

Week of Grammy Camp

Jackson has company this week that has kept him busy!

Yes! His favorite boy!

While Meme here was busy mowing the yard these two were busy "making mud"... 

...and washing cars. LOL! Yes! They got full of mud...but isn't that what little boys are suppose to do?

Anyhoo....not much sewing or stitching this week...as our afternoons are filled with

swim lessons, bubbles and of course ice-cream!

At three and a half, he's also enjoying puzzles, super heros, books and dinosaurs. Such fun!

I've started a new Quilt Novel this week and the County Fair begins tomorrow.

I'm working on a couple posts during their afternoon naps to share this novel as a Give-Away with you and our classroom quilt at the fair. I'm almost finished binding my Bloom Quilt and will have that posted as a Friday finish! Then I'll find myself at the week's end and on my way to return our little guy to his parents. Guess I'll have no excuse to procrastinate any longer quilting my monster quilt that is sitting waiting for me on the long-arm frame.  And like so many of your commented, it will go faster than I anticipate and to just pace myself. Oh and Tuesday Archives will resume soon. I've posted those themes on the sidebar. I'm  just enjoying the dog days of summer (Our daily highs have been between 97-101...yuck!) and admittedly I'm just going a little slower in all areas of life right now.....                 Gotta' love that! As always, thank you for stopping by. I appreciate you following.