New Quilt

I received a letter from the quilt shop I used to work at a few weeks ago. The owner was looking for people to make quilts for the shop. She's been making most of the samples for the 5 years she's owned the shop, or paying others to make them. She said she has so many samples at home that it was time to have others make them! So, the deal is that she will provide the pattern, fabrics for the top, back and binding and batting to the quiltmaker. The quiltmaker will provide the finished quilt, completely quilted and bound. After a period on display at the shop, the quilt will be returned to the quiltmaker to keep.

Well, it seemed like a great opportunity to me! I can make quilts that are out of my usual comfort zone without a huge investment in fabric. If I don't like any of the quilts that she wants made, I can pass on making one. I don't know how often she'll need quilts, but I figured I'd try it.

The first quilt is this pretty little gem called "French Rose Buds" by Heather French. It's soft edged applique, which I've never done. It also required multiple, mitered borders...another first for me. Shockingly, they turned out perfect the first time! I can't wait to get this one quilted so I can see how the flowers fray and curl up. This quilt is so soft and pretty!

I'd like to thank Screen Door for tagging me as a blog that keeps her thinking for the Thinking Blogger Awards. Now it is my duty to tag five more blogs that keep me thinking. I read over 100 blogs, so that's no easy task!

One has got to be IrishLakeQuilter. I've known Judy for a number of years and was delighted when she started blogging. She makes the most beautiful applique quilts and always sets me to thinking that I should make one...although I haven't gotten beyond my Grandma's Country Album quilt that I made so many years ago, but haven't quilted. Judy is quite an inspiration to me.

Another would be Mary at Making Scrap Quilts from Stash. She is very prolific and has embraced wholeheartedly the Heartstrings program which she created. What a wonderful thing to take on and to inspire others to quilt for charity.

My third choice would be PrairieQuilts. Nines makes beautiful quilts, bakes her own bread, has lots of kids and embraces the children of others for long visits and does it all with grace and charm. Her blog is a breath of fresh air!

My fourth choice (please note these aren't in any order, I'm just typing them as I think of them!) is Pages from Me. I love reading about life in Australia and seeing the gorgeous quilts that Mereth makes. I'd love to have the creativity that she has!

And fifth, I think I would choose Quilting Twin, Mereth's sister Keryn. Another inspiring Aussie, Keryn makes beautiful quilts and more beautiful designs for machine quilting. These twins definitely came from the same gene pool and inherited scads of quilting talent!

Now, all this being said, there are so many other blogs I read and admire. I don't want to leave anyone out! I also appreciate all of the comments that everyone leaves on my blog...it's so wonderful to have this forum to show my creations and get honest feedback on them. I'm so grateful that I took the leap and started my blog. I really thought no one would care what I wrote and at the time figured I wouldn't keep up with it. I surprised myself and couldn't stop blogging now, thanks to all of you! Okay, I hear the background music playing...must be time to stop my Thinking Blogger acceptance speech! :o)