Fearless, butterflywing, absolutely fearless!

I agree that a quilt journal and a quilt label are not the same thing.

I also think that what the original post was about more of a technical/information sheet - kind of a "how I did it and what I made it of"

versus a

how, what, who, why, when, and what I was thinking while I was doing it sort of journal and did the cat throw up while I was making it sort of thing.

I think all of the above can be useful.

I was just thinking that if one didn't get around to doing an information sheet or journal, at least put something on the quilt.

I have a file in one of my Flash Drives called Quilt Descriptions. I keep track of the number of the quilt firstly. The Log Cabin I am making for Jim for Christmas is number 69. I put the name I gave it, the block name, the size, the date it was completed, (but not the start date) Just anything to make it interesting.

At one point I even had who in my family would get it when I was gone, but I did not have enough for the entire family so I had to take that back out. I even kept some scraps of fabric from each one so that I could keep track of how much they might fade over the years, but that is not in the flash drive.

definitely location - very important for historical reasons - that way "Jane Doe" out in Alaska won't get "credit" for the quilt YOU made!

Since this is kinda your personal journal (which hopefully will be passed down through the family) it would be great to have a picture of the recipient with the quilt (if it is a gift) or you with the quilt. Also, I think a "story" about something that happened through the quiltmaking process would be fun. When I made my sister her quilt, worked through the first few blocks SO FAST, I was on a roll, just knew I would get the whole thing done in record time. So I went to lay out the blocks and ARGH! I had pieced the stars together wrong on EVERY block - so I had to spend 2 of my quilt retreat days unsewing the blocks and putting them back together. I slowed down after that....but a "fun" story to remember about the process and hopefully fun for others to read in the future.

pictures....

i'm not fearless. i just don't know what i'm supposed to be afraid of. if i haven't seen it, it doesn't exist, right?

I have a quilt journal, and I definitely put start and finish dates in. I don't see any of my quilts as a "race to finish", and think the longer something takes usually means it's a lot more complicated. I also put size, reason it was made, and tips or hints I learned along the way.

But reading a book in the library the other day and there was a fabric journal from the 1900s. A woman had added small patches of each fabric she used, often cut out into cute little animal shapes, and glued them into her journal. I thought that was a really good idea, especially since my digital photos never seem to accurately capture the colours.

My Mom had a collection of VERY old handwork/sewing magazines that belonged to her mom (b. 1891). I don't recall the name - and they're in AZ (I'm in CT). Grandma made notes beside a Lone Star quilt pattern of the colors she would make it in. As far as I know, she never made it. I DO have a utility quilt she made from squares of men's wool pants and flannel shirts with batting of black sheep's wool. It was tied. The magazine has long since ceased publication. It was small - about 5" X 8". In addition to at least 1 quilting pattern per issue, it had crochet, knitting, tatting, embroidery - others than I don't remember at the moment. My grandmother's notes are the closest thing to a QUILTING JOURNAL that she left. Even MORE interesting were her recipe books. Handwritten in pencil - the most memorable started "40 lbs of hog meat." You've probably guessed, Mom grew up on a farm. Lots of great stories - but I've already hi-jacked Pam's thread, so I'll stop here.

I'm starting a scrapbook with pictures of all my quilts and this is great info to include. Let us know when you've complete4d your form.