I pushed through over the weekend and Monday, finishing my scrap quilt for our guest room. This was one of my goals for the finish-a-long, one I was sure I could complete.
It is the first bed sized quilt I have made for our family that didn't seem too small when I was finished, probably because I laid it out on the bed itself as I pieced it.
I thought about a scrappy binding to use up more of them, but in the end decided on the black and white. The scrappy binding and a couple of other choices I considered got lost against the rest of the quilt. My design assistant (daughter) agreed.
The backing was two fabrics I had on hand, and you can kind of see them here. I wanted something that did not require a lot of piecing to avoid competing seams on the front and back. One was a white stripe and one was a floral, both gifts.
I chose a loopy daisy for the quilting and that did not go so well. Some, like the daisy on the left below look ok, but others ended up more like the "daisy" below on the right. It was difficult maneuvering so much weight!
Today I visited a camp for foster kids and a Salvation Army Getting Ahead class graduation. As I think back on the day and am looking at this quilt, it was a day centered on hope given to those in the low times of life. Being at the camp was depressing on a lot of levels, yet for those children the camp is a huge blessing and provides hope through the love poured on them by the adults there. The hope that the Getting Ahead class has instilled in their graduates--that getting out of poverty is possible and that regardless of what mess they have had to work through in their lives, they now have more tools for a better future--that was powerful. As I look at this quilt now, it is one more example of this hope, that regardless of the bits and pieces and mess of our lives, we can still hope. God can put those bits and pieces back together and help us make something amazing, unique, joyful and useful out of our lives to be a blessing to others, as others were a blessing to us.
It is the first bed sized quilt I have made for our family that didn't seem too small when I was finished, probably because I laid it out on the bed itself as I pieced it.
The backing was two fabrics I had on hand, and you can kind of see them here. I wanted something that did not require a lot of piecing to avoid competing seams on the front and back. One was a white stripe and one was a floral, both gifts.
I chose a loopy daisy for the quilting and that did not go so well. Some, like the daisy on the left below look ok, but others ended up more like the "daisy" below on the right. It was difficult maneuvering so much weight!
Today I visited a camp for foster kids and a Salvation Army Getting Ahead class graduation. As I think back on the day and am looking at this quilt, it was a day centered on hope given to those in the low times of life. Being at the camp was depressing on a lot of levels, yet for those children the camp is a huge blessing and provides hope through the love poured on them by the adults there. The hope that the Getting Ahead class has instilled in their graduates--that getting out of poverty is possible and that regardless of what mess they have had to work through in their lives, they now have more tools for a better future--that was powerful. As I look at this quilt now, it is one more example of this hope, that regardless of the bits and pieces and mess of our lives, we can still hope. God can put those bits and pieces back together and help us make something amazing, unique, joyful and useful out of our lives to be a blessing to others, as others were a blessing to us.
What a joyful quilt! Scraps are the best. It is so sad to think of kids going foster care and tough times, but so good to know that there is a ray of hope for them.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Sylvia (Treadlestitches)
Thank you. I love making the scraps into something useful--but am also a bit tired of looking at them after this project!
DeleteIt's a gorgeous quilt, good job using those scraps!
ReplyDeleteIt's a gorgeous quilt, good job using those scraps!
ReplyDeleteLove, love this quilt! What a wonderful composition of beautiful fabric!
ReplyDeleteScrap quilts always seem so homey to me. What a delight for a guest room.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, cheery quilt! Scrap quilts are the best!!
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ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to make it go away! I hit the wrong button. Sorry Rachel!
DeleteVivid and colorful- what a fun finish. The polka dot binding is perfect for this madhouse of color. I like the red tones that pop out.
ReplyDeleteI love quilts like this....to make and to look at...and the binding is just right for this quilt. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love a scrappy and this one looks great. The binding works really well and bravo you for working to help others. Quilters do seem to be very generous people. Congratulations on the finish and thanks for linking up to the FAL quarter three on behalf of your team of hosts
ReplyDeleteI just found this. This is a beautiful quilt, all scraps.
ReplyDeleteMost of us, that is what we are made of, a bit of everything.
I love those kids in need. They appreciate every little bit of love and help. It is a joy to surround them with hope.
God has indeed made us every thing we are.