The approach of the Fall/Winter season starts the inspiration for new quilt projects for those chilly nights and snowy days. During my time as an undergraduate I looked forward to winter break for myself and my kids! This gave us all some great family time of games, movie nights, baking, and crafting. One snowy day over holiday break, about 15 years ago, I decided to create a mini quilt guild with my 5 children! Our project was a quilt that represented everyone's individuality and this is what we came up with! As they were too little to sew or quilt (ages 4, 5, 6, 8, 9), I gave them sketch paper and pencils and asked them to design a quilt block that represented them or what they enjoyed most in life. They also were responsible for choosing colors/fabrics for their block which they loved doing - I had to limit this to a color scheme or it could have turned out super wacky :) The sketches and fabrics they brought to me made me smile and with a little tweaking it all came to life! They each patiently waited (sometimes impatiently) for there block to be created - this took awhile - but after embroidering their names and adding in sashing and borders we were all ecstatic! As you can guess Valentine's Day was the upcoming holiday and on that day it hung on the wall complete! I will never forget that wonderful holiday season... Amazing as it seems their interests haven't changed over the years. Now they are all adults (ages 20, 22, 23, 25, 26) yikes!
My oldest, Derek (26), loved video games and still does as most of us do! He has a Bachelor's degree in Geology now - I'm glad that I didn't have to quilt a rock! Brandais (25) is married and is a wonderful mommy of 2 - she is also a wonderful artist/painter (check out her artwork @ https://www.etsy.com/shop/heartcard). Elizabeth (23) has added pandas to her favorite loves, but she just got her own place and a new kitten to call her own - "Misty". Christina (22) also has a cool new place with a freshly painted pink kitchen! Still loves hello kitty - who doesn't? A talented knitting expert and cake designer - you have to check out her new blog site @ http://chrissybeans.weebly.com/. Lastly the youngest, Colin (20), on the verge of 21! At 4 years old, he didn't know what to make for his quilt block but told me he wanted a heart with spirals flying out from it :) so that's what he got! He is in culinary school now and makes the best pastries - a cupcake block would have been fun to make! He also just purchased his own sewing machine and is making costumes for his cosplay competitions. I am, as all mom's are, so proud of them all and love their individuality! As I made this quilt, I was finishing my Bachelor's in Biology with a minor in Japanese so my block was a kimono and with my name (mom) written in Japanese. Together we made quite a successful quild and I still take this quilt out to enjoy and remember how close we were now that everyone is beginning lives and families of their own!
So if you are in need of inspiration for your next quilt - look to your children, family, friends! It can make a close bond even stronger :) It definitely doesn't have to be holiday themed, but now I wish I had asked them to design their own pumpkin or snowflake! I think this will have to wait a few years and then I will enlist my grandchildren to join my mini quild and we will create magic again!
So if you are in need of inspiration for your next quilt - look to your children, family, friends! It can make a close bond even stronger :) It definitely doesn't have to be holiday themed, but now I wish I had asked them to design their own pumpkin or snowflake! I think this will have to wait a few years and then I will enlist my grandchildren to join my mini quild and we will create magic again!
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