My first quilting project
I learned to sew in my junior high Home Economic class - I loved it. I made a dress, from buying the fabric to cutting to sewing it together. My favorite part was hemming it with a slip stitch. I continued to sew, using my Mom's Singer, and made myself clothes through college and into young adulthood. Now I quilt! Although my Granny pieced and quilted many quilts, I had to take a class to learn the basics in 2010 at Oklahoma Quiltworks when we lived in Oklahoma City. You can click right here to read more about my class and the resulting table topper pictured above, made with classic blocks.
"Get On Board" is the theme of this blog hop. To decide on a project related to the theme, I started thinking about the surfboard in the blog hop logo, and that made me think of Hawaii, and that made me think about the plates gifted to me by my Mom in the 1990s. Mom visited Hawaii a couple of times, and raved about the lush bright flowers there. She loved Danbury Mint plates and gifted me with five treasured, floral plates - these plates are precious to me. The flowers and colors have a tropical feel, which fits with the theme.
With a floral palette in mind, I needed a design. Last year my husband made a plate shelf for my "special plates", and these hang above the little table in our kitchen. The space above the door just begs for something to hang there, so a wall hanging seemed the perfect choice. Our kitchen doesn't have a color "theme", but it has light gray walls and color is welcome here, so I made Kitchen Garden!
We were unable to hang it up above the door frame yet, but you get the idea
how it will look! I will update with a photo once it is property hung.
Kitchen Garden Quilt
Riley Blake's Indigo Gardens was my inspiration for colors, and I ordered the navy and yellow floral yardage to use in my project, and I used coordinating fabrics from stash. I chose a pattern from my files by Margot Languedoc called Sunflower Seeds and used my bright colors instead of fall colors. I reduced the size from 4 x 4 blocks to 3 x 3 blocks, and I left off the sashing to fit my space. The final size is 32" x 32". I added a navy with yellow pindots binding and quilted a simple meander. I named this little quilt Kitchen Garden!
I think these fabrics will certainly brighten up the kitchen!
Backing is an I Heart You Panel by Moon Cookie for In The Beginning - I've had this panel since 2014!
Be sure to visit these other blogs today - get inspired, make a friend, maybe win a prize!
Karrin at Karrin’s Crazy World
Yvonne at Quilting
Jetgirl
Emily at The Darling Dogwood
And now for my giveaways!
I am giving away a charm pack of I Believe In Angels plus a sampler pack of Magic Pins! Just leave a comment below for your chance to win. If you sew, let me know how/when/where you first learned to sew. Comments will remain open through midnight, September 12, then I will let the kitties randomly "paw" a winner to be notified by email.
Please include your email address in your comment.
Love seeing your plate collection from Hawaii! And the quilt will be a wonderful addition when it is hung! It's a lovely quilt! Thanks for sharing! L-)
ReplyDeleteMy Mom taught me to sew. I sewed many of my clothes.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will come back and leave me your name and email address!
DeleteThat will certainly brighten up your kitchen, love it! I first learned to sew from my mom at an early age. Sewing doll clothes to start, first quilt at 18 and continued to sew doll clothes at craft shows for 30+ years and took up quilting for craft shows during that time.
ReplyDeleteI had a problem with the above comment form and couldn't leave a comment. I remember making play barbie doll clothing as a child, nothing fancy but my first real project was the apron I made my first year in 4-H. I made a lot of clothing over the years for me and my daughter. Now most of my clothing sewing consists of mainly altering purchased clothing. My main love is piece quilts. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteI learned to sew when I was about 10 from my mom and grandma then took home ec class in school and learned more, used to make clothes in high school and baby clothes later - then I learned to quilt.
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty bright quilt! I love that backing panel too. I learned to sew as a young girl first from my mother and then I took home Economics in high school too (too bad they don't still offer that course anymore).
ReplyDeleteI think your wall hanging is perfect for your kitchen spot. I love decorating with quilts, really brightens up a spot. Thanks for sharing. I started sewing when I was eight years old in 4-H. When I was a freshman, I took sewing in home economics and have never looked back. I am always thinking of my next project.
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing forever. I actually learned by making Barbie doll clothes and then went to making clothes for my self. All through my childhood I went to the library every week and checked out all kinds of craft and sewing and quilting books. I made stuffed dolls and dressed them including quilts for their beds. I made my first real quilt when my nephew was born and have been quilting and gifting quilts for the last 40 years.
ReplyDeleteWow, I really love the plate shelve your DH made!!! And your floral themed quilt is going to look great over the doorway!!! I first learned to sew in summer school, between 6th and 7th grade.
ReplyDeleteLinda, those plates are beautiful - what a treasure! And the wall-hanging you made is gorgeous, and will be lovely hanging in your kitchen. You know I've been on a sunflower kick this summer, but I've never seen that sunflower block before. So pretty! My mom taught me to sew, and like most of us, it clothes that we made. I never enjoyed making clothes much, but when I discovered quilting about 20 years ago, I fell in love! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing since I was about 9 years old - my mom taught me in 4-H. I started garment sewing and gradually moved over to quilts.
ReplyDeleteI love your plates and the rack your husband made - my mom collected souvenir plates from places she visited and my sisters and I each have some of them. My mom started to teach me to sew (also to make Barbie clothes) but decided I would do better in classes at a local store. She would ask me what I learned and then tell me that the teacher was wrong and show me her way :-) I'm very grateful that I got my love of sewing and crafting from her!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Lol what a cute story about your Mom!
DeleteMy mom taught me to sew when I was 9 years old. For years I made clothes for my family and myself. I was in my 40s when I started quilting and I haven't stopped in 40 years.
ReplyDeleteCute project, and perfect for above your door. I have been sewing at 13, began quilting in 1994, so 28 years. While at home I made all the clothes for my mother and sister and myself.
ReplyDeleteI started sewing clothing, too, when I was about 12. I bought my first sewing machine with babysitting money and tools classes at a local Singer shop. I love the plates and the bright quilt you made to coordinate with them. I love the things that were my mom's - a way of feeling her presence with me.
ReplyDeleteI too learned to sew in Home Ec classes, sewed garments and now a quilter! Enjoying your blog!
ReplyDeleteMy 1st attempt to sew was when I was 8 years old and I wanted to make an apron for Mother. She, of course, had to teach me. Years later she told me that she had always regretted the fabric she had given me for the apron because it was much too light weight to actually function as an apron. She said she had not thought I would actually end up with an apron, but I did:) Today is my 80th birthday, and I am still sewing.
ReplyDeleteWell happy birthday! What a lovely story about your Mom. I hope you will return and leave me your email address so you will have a chance at the drawing.
DeleteYour bright and beautiful wall hanging will brighten up your kitchen, LInda.
ReplyDeleteI learn to sew first wirh my mom, then I had classes, but sewing clothes wasn't for me. And the sewing machine, which my mother gave me when I got married, was put in the closet for almost 20 years. Only in 2001, when I started getting interest in patchwork and quilting. I get back to sewing.
That pretty wallhanging will certainly brighten up your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your quilt finish! The bright colors will be lovely in your room. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon!
DeleteMy grandmother was teaching me to sew - I was getting ready to start 4-H and we had all the plans on what we were going to make, unfortunately she passed away in February before I started 4-H in May - I skipped that year, but Mom helped me the next year. Then of course in Home Ec.
ReplyDeleteAwww that is sad! I always wished I had talked with my Grannies about sewing and quilting.
DeleteGorgeous and cheerful quilt , Linda and it will look perfect above your door way.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun coordinating wall hanging to go with your special plates. What perfect inspiration to pull from for your quilt and this blog hop!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt will certainly add some color, I like the bright colors in it. I have been making quilts for about 20 years now. My sister-in-law got me addicted to it and I now have fabric stashed everywhere lol.
ReplyDeleteHaha don't we all! I hope you'll come back and leave me your email address - thanks for visiting!
DeleteI learned to sew in Home Ec class…and from my mom. Sewing quilts and clothing for twin girl granddaughters is the best!!
ReplyDeleteHoping you will return and leave me your email address. In the meantime, I will try to figure out which blogger has twin granddaughters! ;)
DeleteLinda, your sewing story is very much like my own. My Granny taught me to sew when I was 12 on her old singer machine and I loved it, then the next year I took Home Ec and loved it! I love your quilt and the pattern is perfect. It reminds me of a pretty flower! Your hubby did a great job on your plate shelf and your plates are gorgeous. I have a few hanging in my kitchen, a couple of very old platters from my mom and a plate from my MIL. Very special! Thanks so much for sharing with us and joining us on our blog hop journey!
ReplyDeleteI watched my mom sew at a very early age. I was a fifth grader when I enrolled in a sewing class at a local Singer Sewing Center. I made a dress, matching jumper (pinafore). I thought I was very "uptown". I made a cheerleading costume for a neighbor's daughter when I was in high school out of white wool.I did not sew my wedding dress or bridesmaid dresses, but I did sew bridesmaid dresses and flower girl dresses for my sister in law when she got married. Lots of clothing for both my children, Curtains for our first home, then draperies with pleater tape. Does anyone remember that?? I didn't actually piece a quilt til 2000. Although I embroidered blocks and put them together with solid squares the same size then tied it for a baby quilt for a friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. I love your cute little wall hanging.
I don't know if us hosts are allowed to enter so if not, just omit me! I don't have a story other than I can't remember NOT sewing! I was constantly into my mom's sewing cabinet before I was old enough to keep track of a needle, if you get my meaning. LOL. (My poor mother!). I love your wall hanging! I keep saying I'm going to actually make some for my home (because it's super odd for a quilter to not have one single quilt on her walls, right?) but I just never get around to it! This must be my goal for next year I guess!
ReplyDeleteI first learned to sew when I was a small girl from my mother who was a very good seamstress. She made clothes for me and I made clothes for my dolls.
ReplyDeleteI learned to sew in 4-H and the whole story will be on my blog post on Wednesday :)
ReplyDeleteI learned to sew from my mom and grandmother and my great grandmother who lived with us. I was surely blessed! My mom usually sewed clothes but my grands quilted and it was so fun!
ReplyDeleteI learned to sew literally at my mother's feet. When I was really small, I played beneath the sewing machine as she sewed. I do remember the time I was big enough to push the foot pedal with my hand and sew straight seams across a piece of fabric. The first garment I made was a brown and white plaid apron. My mother was also my high school home ec teacher.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt, it will look so pretty above the door frame! I learned to sew from my mother as well :) Only really like it when I was older though!! xx
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect addition and blends so well with the plates. I would look up every time I exited the room. Beautiful finish.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Hope you will return to leave your email address. :)
DeleteMy mom taught me to sew when I was about 10 years old on an old Singer sewing machine. I used it until I was in high school when I burned up the motor and it stopped working. My mom gave me an Elna for Christmas when I was in 10th grade. Around 1980 my mom and I learned to quilt and have been ever since.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon - hope you will come back and leave your email address to have a chance at the giveaway!
DeleteThose plates are gorgeous - and the memories that go with them! LOVE the piece you created. It will look so beautiful next to them!
ReplyDeleteI learned to quilt in home economics class in high school as well - pillows and a hat! Then took an advanced class and learned to quilt, but continued to learn quilting from my mom after I got hooked.
ReplyDeleteLinda I really enjoyed reading the stories and memories you shared. Love that little wall hanging. It will look perfect when it’s hung in it’s spot above the doorway. 😉
ReplyDeleteIt seems like most ladies I know fell in love with sewing during Home Ec. Thank God for those patient teachers! Wow! Your first project is lovely! Well done!
ReplyDeleteYour plate themed wall hanging will look lovely above the door, really setting of your beautiful collection of special plates!