mirabelle

JeanieG I think every one has made an Eleanor Burns quilt at some time. I know I have a photo of that quilt somewhere, might just go and find it to share

gardnergal970

Some of my earliest memories are sitting behind Mom's treadle machine as she chained pieced quilts for gifts. Most were made from feed and flour sacks. I was allowed to use her scissors and cut the threads and make a new stack for her to work on. By the time I was 9 I was taking sewing in 4-H. Our leader was a wonderful seamstress and so patient. I might mention that my Grandmother sewed professionally, making clothes for the well-to-do in her small town. I can't remember ever having boughten clothes for school and by the time I was in high school, I made most of my own. Early years of married life, I was still making most of the families clothes, even suits for the males. Almost 40 years ago I took my first quilting class and learned the basics. Like Jeanie mentioned, everything was cardboard templates and scissors! My goal was to make a quilt for each of my children but they were so young I did a couple of twin size quilts for my in-laws. One was a Log Cabin QAYG. Life interrupted and I didn't get back to quilting until about 4 years ago. I've taken classes and sewed up a storm since then. There are still many tricks to learn and patterns to try and I work at it faithfully almost every day. BTW...my first Eleanor Burns quilt is her El's Kitchen which I'm doing as a BOM right now. Great memories, QuiltE. Thanks for asking. Love hearing others stories too.

QuiltingNinaSue

A common thread....Eleanor Burns. I have most all of her quilt books.

I still have the treadle I learned to sew on with DGM who raised us kids...no blood relation to us...but took us at four months and seventeen months when DM was not able to raise us. Since she was not able to have children, they 'helped' raise seven other children, including our Mother. They never had much money, but lots of love in their hearts. No one paid them to raise us, no relative or government.

I sewed up sun bras and clothes for myself at an early age; later helped do the tied quilts and look through DGM trunk of goodies...quilt blocks, crazy quits...dress up dresses, etc. It was in 1972, my dh and I started the family quilting together, trying to teach the love of Christmas giving over commercial bought gifts. It has continued today....so have gifted many quilts along the way...fellow teachers first born baby...weddings....friendships...never took any classes, just bought books and dove into the middle of it. Belonged only to one guild...in CC with dh. Have many more projects planned...hope to continue onward...and praying that the eye will heal and allow me to see to quilt.

mirabelle

More wonderful stories, such a common thread of love of family here.

I tried to find the photo of my second quilt but couldn't, and after going through all the photos twice and ending up in tears with so many memories I gave up.

So I decided to give you a peek at what else I dabbled in, bear making. This photo was taken at a friends house and was on the cover of my catalog, all my own designs. I sold them through a craft shop in Darwin. The little cane chair they are sitting in was bought by my Grandfather for me when I was 6 years old. It has pride of place in my bedroom today.

deranged_damsel

ahhhhh you ladies are amazing!!!

I have missed you all

I also started stitching at 8. Mom started me on crosstitch and embroidery. my mother dabbled a little in this or that, so she had some materials laying about that I would get into and "borrow" from her when she wasnt looking. when I learned to sew by hand, Mom cut up old clothes and tossed them into the rag bin, I was allowed to take pieces and make doll clothes from. a great learning curve to sew dimensional!
My first "QUILT" I copied from a picture in a book, knowing nothing about seam allowances, my half squares turned out smaller than my squares... but I sewed them together anyways and made a wonderful little chair seat cushion... Mom got after me for cutting up my skirt to make it! but she was never mad for too long
I altered my clothes my entire teenage years, too tall for anything to fit... I cut up ALOT of clothes! FINALLY mom let me use her sewing machine, she figured out she couldnt really stop the determination... so she resigned to it. Also she dug out her grandmas fabrics.... we together cut squares... and sewed nine patchs... she taught me to hand quilt with thread instead of tying and we did three king size quilts!
when I was first married... I was stretching my skills making a storm at sea, for Dhdd... and crying because I couldnt open and close my hand anymore from cutting pieces with scissors... DH finally took me down to the quilt shop and bought me a mat, cutter and ruler... and you know.... there is just something sooooo addicting about the rotary cutter... ahhhhh maybe its the sound it makes..... hmmmmm... and the HUM of the sewing machine..... I have been addicted ever since! I sew everyday if I get the chance
I have been sewing baby toys, bears, blankies, clothes, quilts, and gifting them away since I was a teen! my favorites ALWAYS a baby gift

ah what a nice subject! thanks ladies! I will try to drop in soon... helping sis move into her new apt this weekend. hopefully find some me time soon to come say HI
Have a good one!

JeanieG

Anael, you did sew for those babies when they were in NICU - gosh was that a year ago??? I'm sure she appreciated those cute things you sewed for them! They were so tiny! No wonder you did such a wonderful job on those things - being a "certified" seamstress!!! Wow, I'm impressed! We have not seen photos of the twins and Mick for a while, how about some new ones??? Please!!!!

gardnergal970

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2...-star-for.html

QuiltE...this is for you. A Canadian block!

mirabelle

Ggal thank you for the link and what a pretty block, I will be saving that blog to my Favourites.

mirabelle

DDamsel I have missed you, hope everything is going ok with you..

QuiltE

GGal ... THANK YOU! so much!!!!!!!!!! And a lovely block it is. Canada's 150th is in 2017 and inspired by Muv's Diamond Jubilee quilt, I have been thinking about doing something special. So this might be a starter for me. Now, if only Barbara Brackman would come along and design blocks for each of our provinces! (or someone!)

The Underground Railway story is well known here too, with several historic locations recognized. I have visited a couple. A friend of mine lives in one of those communities, and their quilt group did Underground Railway quilts this winter, combining it as a BOM and monthly historical research reports of the real UR story. They had their showing of them last night!! It would have been nice to see how each interpreted theirs with different fabrics and patterns. My friend did hers all in batiks with a black background ... and miniaturized the blocks for a wall hanging. Chances are many of them will make it to the Fair this year ... so I will see them then.


So many good stories about our sewing and quilting journeys.
And so many common links between all of us as to how we learned.
What talented people we have in this group ... so many amazing women!

However, I think DDamsel takes the cake ... with cutting up her skirt when making one of her first projects! Are your kids getting the bug? (PS ... glad that you dropped by today to share your story ... miss you!!)

Yes, I too have a couple of Eleanor Burns books. While my first quilt was not an Eleanor Burns pattern it was taught in a QIAD course, where many used her patterns. We chose the fabrics, took them to wash and press, returning them to the LQS to cut them. When we arrived on The Day ... everything was cut and ready. They were smart to do that as it sure took away a lot of the work and helped get us all hooked! Neither do I have that quilt nor a photo ... sure wish I did! Though my 2nd and 3rd quilts were Eleanor's Log Cabins!

MiraB ... oh my look at all those cuddly teddies! Looks like the jointed ones. I was on that curve for awhile in the 80s, but no, I don't have a photo or bear left!