Moving forward — it’s always a good place to be. Learning something. Improving a skill. Understanding the ‘why’ in a problem or a process or an idea. I’m working hard on the skill of ‘precision’ in my quilting these days. A friendly competition with myself. Very satisfying to see the results improve day by day.
Tag Archives: Seldom Seen Quilting
You either like them, or you don’t.
The old quilts, I mean. The vintage blocks or tops or quilts, made from scraps left over from sewing, or from garments whose usefulness has passed. Made with skill or with the promise of skill in the future. Or even with the reluctant hand of one who does not wish to learn. I like them. I see thrift comingled with creativity; necessity softened by beauty. I often think of Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote: do the best you can with what you have where you are. That’s like the definition of a vintage quilt.
Starry, starry night….
This quilt, a pattern published in McCalls Needlework and Crafts in 1979, became the connection in 2014 with another quilter. She, like me, chose this challenging pattern for her first quilt! She finished it in a year, and hand-quilted it … Continue reading
Darkness and light…
This quilt began with a simple pattern, called pioneer braid and reproduced from an antique quilt by Denice Lipscomb at Common Threads Quilting in Waxahachie. I admired the pattern for a long time, and finally decided to try it when … Continue reading
Textile reminders…
I’ve renamed this quilt — the pattern is named Pioneer Braid. But to me it has become my Prayer Braid. Each piece of fabric reminds me of someone — the green leafy one in the picture is a scrap from … Continue reading
Better than I imagined…
This block, part of a design I hope everyone will like, is turning out even better than I thought it would. I love the way the fabrics work together, and how the design has depth. Can’t wait to start on … Continue reading
A new form of writing…
I am learning a new form of writing: quiltmaking instructions. This is a first ROUGH draft of the pattern I am designing, which is named “Celtic Nights.” I am puzzling over the best way to illustrate these directions, or whether … Continue reading
The start of something good…
This strip — 1.25″ – 5″ – 1.25″, dark, light, dark — represents the beginning of a quilt that I hope will rival the Judy Niemeyer Wedding Star quilt I did at Christmas. I guess that’s awfully ambitious, since I … Continue reading
Today we gave thanks…
With our needles and our thread, our machines and our scissors. With our hands and our tools, our creative ideas and our time. With our abilities and learned skills, with our effort and even our trepidation. With our hearts. We … Continue reading
Wonderful prizes from wonderful friends…
These are some of the door prizes that have been provided by wonderful friends and fellow businesspeople for Saturday’s big event — our First Birthday here at Seldom Seen Quilting Studio! Aren’t these fabulous gifts? A beautiful (and heavy!) French … Continue reading
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