I would like to tell you a little about myself, if I may. I am retired--Such a good thing to be retired. I can spend much more time quilting now. I am a Respiratory Therapist. I spent most of my career working for an oxygen company, checking that my patients were able to use their respiratory products correctly. I loved it, but spent lots of time on the road, travelling to my patients' homes.
I have been quilting for more than 20 years. Earlier this year, someone reminded me of the quilt I made them almost 21 years ago. And it was not my first. Some day I'll show a picture of my first quilt. Not a pretty sight. I didn't know what I was doing. What was your first quilt like?
I much prefer piecing to applique. What is your preference? I think I'm a better piece-r than aplique-r. Probably why I prefer it, you think?
Here are some of my quilts:
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| Celtic Solstice |
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| Desert Sky |
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| Christmas quilt |
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| Crazy stars |
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| Crystal Star |
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| Dilly Dally |
I have learned so much about blogging from this New Quilt Bloggers Group. I was a raw newbie in January. I asked a lot of questions, Googled a lot of ideas, and tried things. Don't be afraid to ask questions and try it! That's what I would tell other beginning bloggers.
In that line, the thing I would tell beginning quilters is to check and double check your 1/4" seams. I still have to keep checking myself. Especially if I change machines. I have a machine at home, and another in the camper. We have spent a couple winters in Florida. I told you retirement was good!
What was your best vacation? About twenty years ago we rented a motor home and the 5 of us, plus dog, went out west. Grand Canyon, and the whole bit. A great way to travel with kids. There was enough room that nobody was touching anyone! Far less whining. (Including me.)
Several years ago, my husband and I took a Hawaiian cruise. We flew to Hawaii and got on our ship. Better in my mind than spending days cruising the ocean. A trip of a lifetime!
Those are my two best vacations. Totally different.
Last year I bought a Handi Quilter Sweet 16 sit down long arm, and I love it! You'd think with the addition of my quilter, I'd be getting these quilts finished. Well, life keeps getting in the way.
Such a long post, I know. Thanks for sticking it out.
Be sure to peruse the others in the Blog Hop today. They are all my new best friends!
Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs
Liz @ Green Cheese Quilting
Janet @ Simply Pieced
Ruth @ Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner
Kristyn @ Melon Patch Quilts
Jo @ Riddle and Whimsy (http://riddleandwhimsy.
Linh @ Calling All Stitchers
Alida @ Tweety Loves Quilting
Rachel @ Quiltineering
Thanks,
Lin
24 comments:
Hi, Lin! It's so nice to "meet" you! I love your use of bright colors in your quilts. My first quilt was done entirely by hand with a needle, thread, a pair of regular scissors, and a 12 inch ruler like you would use in a classroom. It was quite an adventure, but it turned out okay. I gave the quilt away as a baby gift back in 2011. I still get a glimpse of it from time to time and it's still in one piece...what a relief! I also prefer piecing, but I like applique. I've found that I can more freedom with applique when I need it. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store in the future!
Nice to get to know more about you, Lin! My first quilt was a twin size quilt that I made for my dorm room bed in college. I pieced the top as a Junior in high school and my paternal grandmother hand quilted it for me. It got a bit sun-bleached on one corner because I bunked by the window, but I love it and what I learned from making it! It has been fun following along with you from the blog hop, and I look forward to more of your bright and bold quilts!
I enjoyed learning more about you. I also enjoy piecing more than appliqué. And I love my sit down quilting maching, but life does get in the way sometimes. :) My favorite family vacation has really been any where with my boys. Their favorite is Legoland.
Love your dilly dally quilt! I'm definitely a piecer but I can't stay away from applique especially hexies. My favourite holiday was a 22 day trip to China with 3 of my best friends - amazing holiday took 33 rolls of film (2 of them on Pandas!)
Hey Lin, I love your quilts, and dilly dally is simply wonderful. I totally understand about having a quilting machine but still need quilts quilted. I'm working through my backlog of tops, slowly but surely. I look forward to seeing what you do in the future.
Hope you find more time to use your sit down quilting machine! Quilting for myself is usually the last thing on the list, but I am trying to move myself up on that list!
Great quilts; love all the colours! I love the Christmas one(but I love a good Christmas quilt!!). The cube in crystal star looks amazing!
A Hawaiian cruise sounds amazing!
My first quilt that I completed I gave away as a gift to a co-worker who had a baby last year. The first quilts I started... well. One I've packed away and occasionally rip out the squares if I need one of the fabrics! And another I gave to my mum to deal with because my seams were terrible (luckily afterwards I found that my machine at the time had a 1/4" foot!!).
Lovely to meet you, Lin!
I am definitely a piecer rather than an appliquer, and I have trouble getting everything quilted too!!
I love Celtic Solace. What is the pattern? Is it paper pieced.
Lovely to get to you know a little more. I'm not an applique fan either. I'm trying to learn stitch-sketching to applique that way instead :)
I just love the colors in your quilts! And your Desert Sky quilt is going to be nothing short of amazing!!
My first quilt was a super king size quilt that currently resides on my bed. I giggle every time I look at it :) Oh the lessons learned that first time out!!
My most favorite vacation was 23 days in Australia. I had to be coaxed onto the plane to go home!
Visiting from the New Quilt Bloggers Hop, thanks for sharing your quilts!
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
I have not tried applique yet but hope to soon! I love piecing though and find that it gives me peace in my crazy life! :-) Nice to meet you!
Hi Lin! My first quilt was for one of my best friend's new baby. I knew my points wouldn't be perfect so I let them have it! It still came out great, and they loved it. My favorite vacation was travelling around central america with two of my friends. We had a great time and ate so much good food! Thanks for sharing your quilts and more about you!
I have recently discovered that I sort of love applique, Lin - raw edge at least. I never liked it till I started doing it : P The Grand Canyon trip sounds fun - we are at that "if everyone's just not touching life is soooo much better" point with our two kids, so I can appreciate the benefit of the camper!
Hi Lin, nice to meet you! I like your dilly dally quilt. My favorite vacation has probably been a road trip my husband and I took through Utah and AZ last year--beautiful and I love road trips, win win.
I didn't even know that such a thing as a respiratory therapist existed before now. What a fascinating job you had.
I think I prefer applique to piecing, especially when it gets small and fiddly. And I can hand applique in front of the telly.
I do like the look of Dilly Dally. Is that your current WIP?
I like both piecing and appliqué. Each has its place in my sewing adventures :-) Your vacations sounds great. I went to Grand Canyon as well and it was fab! Loved it.
Those both sound like fantastic vacations! Last summer the five of us drove from Newfoundland to Florida, putting more then 10,000 km on our vehicle. It was a great trip. Your crazy stars quilt is so bright and fun.
Sigh, I want to be retired too :) Your quilts look great even if they are not quilted. I too am more pf a piecer than an appliquer. I don't know why that is. Maybe because I feel like it is easier and more part of the quilt when it is pieced. Hope you have many more great vacations!
If only to be retired! (Insert jealous face). Love the quilts you selected but the Dilly Dally is my favorite :) Great post
Nice to meet you Lin. I definitely prefer piecing to applique - I find applique takes me forever. Your quilts are lovely - and it sounds like you are quite busy in retirement :-)
Nice learning more about you. My first quilt was only 2 years ago. I saw a picture online and made my own template out of card stock and started cutting fabric with scissors. Had no idea what I was doing but luckily it turned out okay. I later learned that the pattern was a disappearing 9-patch pattern and I made it the hard way, cutting out every little square and rectangle. Oh well, live and learn!
Hi Lin - my first quilt was done entirely in my head, as I was terrified to actually start quilting. I had the batting and everything, but there were so many technical details I was overwhelmed. I'd sewn for years, and many of my family members were quilters, however, it skipped a generation and I'm self taught. Three cheers for all the wonderful Internet tutorials! Dilly Dally is a fantastic name for a quilt, and it's a lovely one! Nice to learn more about you!
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