Friday, December 16, 2005


It's 3am and I can't sleep...
Maybe it was too much diet Coke...maybe too much knitting... I swan (as my great Aunt Margaret would say) knitting seems to put you to sleep while you're doing it, but once you try to lay your head down, you're still trying to slip that needle under that yarn, pull the thread over, loop the needle under, slip the loop off... well, it's just stuck in your brain like a scratchy record. Maybe I'm a bit obsessive. Anyway,

This is a picture of the first quilt I ever made that was, what I would call, peiced. My first actual quilt was an Eleanor Burns' Trip Around the World. I made a queen one for our bed and was pretty pleased with myself. It took me longer than the day she said it would take, but it was something I actually finished, so it couldn't have taken much longer. I made 3 more, but alas, the two I kept are in shreds in a landfill somewhere. Wal-Mart fabric, a ton of kids, and I just tied it- which is hard on a big quilt, 'cause of all the pulling. You eventually pull holes in it where the threads are. And you know kids, once there is a hole big enough for their fingers to fit in, out comes the stuffing. Tragic, but true. But they got my feet wet and I was hooked. I saw a pattern for this one in a magazine. It had a lot of things in it that I had never tried, but thought the directions seemed good. I had such a blast. I still remember the cool June breeze coming through the window and Sarah Brightman singing loudly on the stereo- DH had gotten me the CD for my birthday. This quilt is also tied, but it has held up better. I have been meaning to quilt it with swirls- for snow, but just haven't gotten to it. I backed it with a bath blanket(try saying that really fast, 3x!)- a very heavy cotten flannel-type thing, so the kids love to cuddle under it. It is very "early 90's", but I still like a lot of things about it- such as the star sashing.

9 comments:

Carolyn said...

I love both of your first quilts! They are so cheery. I watched Eleanor Burns all the time...even taped a number of her shows. She was always entertaining! Thanks for sharing your early works with us!

Holly said...

I like it! I like the trees bordering it and the stars in the sashings. Your other first quilt is fun, too, very colorful. My kind of quilts.

Hunter said...

What wonderful quilts. Sorry you can't sleep. If we lived near each other we could keep each other company at 3:00 a.m.

At least I'm finally able to quilt in the night. I just have to stay away from the scissors and the rotary cutter. ;)

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

I can't believe these are your first quilts! They are wonderful. My first quilt was for a 3-D art project in high school and I got a D on it. Oh well, even if it wasn't perfect, I LOVED it (I made the pattern, used anywhere from 1/2" to 5" seams and stuffed it with an old orange blanket!). After the first quilt I started to improve - slowly! But your first quilts, well let's just say that the art teacher wouldn't give you a D!

Cheers!

Finn said...

Great houses Nina ! Love the pine trees and the stars in the lattice. It has a very homey feel to it..quilting snow swirls might be alot of fun in July..*G*?
I've gone back and put quilting in things that began life "tied". The ties act like basting and it works fine. Maybe you want to embellish this one abit also?? I could see some crystal seed beads in the snow swirls..*VBS*

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I love the trees around the houses! I love the way it all looks together! Great quilt - I would love it.

And hey - I collect nutcrackers too!

Joanne said...

Love the first quilts, Nines. And all the stories about the kids' feasts. Looks like your daughter is definitely going to be a quilter!

Tonya Ricucci said...

It's beautiful and your kids love snuggling under it - perfect quilt. Glad your kids haven't de-batted this one.

Darcie said...

Oh, I love your colors in this Red Schoolhouse quilt, Nines! It just feels so homey. And it looks right at home where it is hung now. Great display!