Yesterday I was looking through my quilts, and I ran across this quilt.
Like all other quilts, this one has a story. However, this story ends with the question, "Why?"
Well, it all started when I went to a party at Terry's (my best friend) house. She has a large back porch that she decorates so beautifully for a party. There are antique quilts on tables, quilts hanging off of the banister, as well as antique tablecloths and antique dishes. She even has a quilt on the seat of her swing that hangs from the porch. It's just absolutely breathtaking.
We had lived in our house for about 5 years when we decided to expand our patio and build a cover for part of it. The decorator in me wanted white wicker furniture, a cute table and chairs, pots overflowing with flowers, while overlooking our backyard and the flower beds.
I found the furniture, fixed the flower pots, and everything was pretty, but I didn't have a quilt to cover my table when company came over. So, I decided I would make one. I chose fabric colors that would match the cushions on my furniture. I then decided that I wanted the quilt to look "organized" scrappy. I got my inspiration from a quilt that I saw in Fons and Porters magazine. It was called "Broken Dishes".
As you can see this quilt has a million half square triangles. It's narrow and long to accomodate my patio table. It matches my furniture to a "t". However, the only parties I have are when the grandkids come over, or when I invite the neighborhood kids over for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.
Yes, I know that we need to decorate, clean house, dah dah dah for ourselves, and not for when company comes over. And, yes I love this quilt on my table when my husband and I are outside drinking coffee( not on the quilt) and reading the paper, but this quilt has taught me a lesson: to be more selective in the quilts that I make. My time is valuable. I spent way too much time on this one, especially when it is going to be used for a table cover. There are much easier quilt patterns I could have used and got the same effect.
Oh, well. It's done. I do love the quilt. I guess I should change my view of it and say, "Why not?"
Do you have a quilt that you wonder why in the world you spent so much time making it? If you do, post it on your blog. I would love to see!
OH well -- live and learn! But it is a beautiful quilt and you deserve to have it for yourself . (I tend to do the same thing though -- spend time on stuff for other people, but not on myself) But -- we're worth it !!!
ReplyDeleteMy labor intensive quilt involved a gazillion little pinwheels. The end result was very nice, but oh-my-goodness, no more pinwheels ever! Your friend's porch sounds so pretty.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did the same thing once. Perhaps we all do... Mine involved flying geese, UG, a ton of work and it turned out a jumble or mis mathced pastel french fabrics paired with more modern prints. Horrible. But, I'm still a beginner so the time on my machine was valuable.
ReplyDeleteI deffinetly think that being fascinated by something can lead to a passion for that thing, but sometimes we are happier being fascinated as we don't fully understand the consequences or reality of being passionate about something.
ReplyDeleteI feel it can be one of those "what have I gotten myself into?" things but at the same time, I truly feel it is only then that we truly find the things that bring us the most joy: quilting, culture, poetry, you name it. We or it caught us, and sometimes we can be subject to it, due to or growing fascination!
Isn't it a wonderful thing to think about!
I love your quilt. Quilt with the glass half full!
have a great Saturday!
Lizzy,
ReplyDeleteYou're so fun to talk to. You really make me think!
It's fun to talk about!