Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop

Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop

Monday, July 15, 2013

Mystery Quilt 2012-13

Hello Pieceful Quilters,
 
Last week we had the Mystery 2012-13 Reveal.  As usual, I was blown away with how beautiful these quilts are.  I knew you would want to see them, so  without further ado, here they are, starting with mine, the shop's sample:
 
 







 
 
Aren't they beautiful?  Isn't it amazing how the same pattern can look so different depending on the fabrics that are used?  Be sure to look for our next Mystery Quilt starting in January 2014!
 
Happy Quilting - Carrie

Monday, July 1, 2013

Finishing is Overrated....

Hello Pieceful Quilters!

Finishing is overrated!

Yes, I have often been heard saying something along those lines - and I do truly believe that, on some level.  After all, why do we really quilt?  Sometimes finishing is important - when we are making a baby quilt, or a gift for some special occasion - but, more often than not, we are quilting for personal reasons.  Sometimes it is our only creative outlet, sometimes it is our therapy, sometimes it is just a good excuse to go out and meet new friends.  Whatever the reason, it is usually the process that makes us happy.  I so often hear people say, "I can 't start another project until I finish...."  Usually, I can hear the torture in their voices.  We don't really want to finish that old project, we want to start something new and fun!  Isn't that why you started quilting in the first place?  When you force yourself to finish things that you are really "done" with, you take all the fun out of it. 

So - don't be afraid to move on and leave those unfinished projects for some future quilter to discover at an Antique Store.  Maybe they will finish it, or maybe they will just buy it to study and enjoy.  I have a bunch of unfinished Antique tops, and they all make me happy, even if I will never do more than look at them.  See how it works?

So, now that I have stated my philosophy of quilting, I should also point out that there are always a few quilts that you will want to finish - but choose wisely.  There are only so many hours in the day, and it's not worth it to torture yourself. 

I am happy to say, that I finished a quilt this weekend!  I really love this quilt, and it deserved to be finished.  It is the result of a Pyramid Block Exchange that we did in Sarah's Sewing Circle at least two sessions ago.  We have been doing exchanges each session, many from the book, "History Repeated," by Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle:
A really great book!
 
This is not even the first quilt that I have finished from this book! Of course, finished to me means the top is done and ready for the quilter.  So here is my Pyramid Quilt:
 
Sorry the picture isn't better - the darn thing is huge!  I do really love it, though. 
 
Here is another quilt from the book that I finished (more or less):
 
In progress
 


 Quilted, ready to be bound
 
You may wonder if this beauty is really done, yet - as in bound - Well, it could happen......
 
Have a Great 4th of July!
Carrie