Waltzing Matilda in Australia

 

The Waltzing Matilda quilt has safely reached its new home in Sydney, Australia!

I love to see my quilts in different locations, and there sure aren't any palms in New England in the northeast corner of the US.

Megan said, "the quilt is, of course, absolutely wonderful..." and that it was welcomed with "the thunderous applause it warrants." She says it has been given pride of place on the lounge where it will be used throughout the winter.

For me, this smile says it all. We make, and give, quilts because of the "Sheer Love Units" they generate.

Mission Accomplished!

Love, Love, Love

My son, his cat, and the Magic Carpet quilt I made. Love, love, love. This picture tells why we make quilts.

Yeah.

Be Still My Heart!

It's the most wonderful kind of magic when a quilt goes to the RIGHT person.

 My DIL loved this quilt from the moment I started making it, and it was pretty much destined for her right from the start. Looking at this photo I am really, really pleased I laid out the blocks the way I did.

I had asked the kids to take the quilt out for some beauty shots, and these are much better than I ever could have imagined! This one was taken at the Manhattan Beach pier.

This was taken under the pier. Gosh, in this photo my DIL looks like a queen and the quilt is a regal cape. My granddaughter is pretty cute too!

My DIL wrote, "I love it so much. It [the quilt] looked fantastic on the beach but it will probably never hit sand again. It's already been washed and is getting ready to be put on the bed."

A Time For Friendship

Sometimes you finish a quilt, and it tells you where it wants to go. The Grand Prismatic wanted to live with Val in Nova Scotia.  I "met" Val about 2-1/2 years ago when she sent me the most incredible letter thanking me for inspiring her to get creative in her quiltmaking.  She has since gone on to make this stunning beauty. I enjoy her risk-taking and her irreverence. She's been having a rough go lately, and I felt she needed a hug, so I stuffed the quilt in a box and sent it on.

It's the Holiday Season, and it's important to cherish and be thankful for the ones we love. Sometimes a quilt is the next best thing if you live faraway.

I've added a page to the blog. It's called Quilts and their Owners, and the link at the top of this blog. Many of my quilts are arty quilts that aren't meant to be used, but this group of quilts is definitely part of the "wrap me up and feel the love" variety.  Enjoy.

Diane says THANKS!

Diane sent a text with the following photo my son and DIL last night. She had finally received, and opened the package with her quilt. (She had been back to Johns Hopkins in MD for consults with her physicians.)

 
"Just WOW!!!!! I can't even put into words how much love I feel right now!!! DUDE!!! I am so in love with this very very special blanket and awesome book**. You [DIL] are very special to me.  I am so grateful for you and [DS] and [DS]'s Momma - unbelievably talented! My family and I are just in absolute awe with the kindness and support you've shown us!!! (heart) (heart) (heart) (heart) (heart) (heart). I WILL FOR SURE SNUGGLE WITH IT EVERY NIGHT!!!"

**my son & DIL put together a book of pictures of the quilt. They took it out for beauty shots.

like this one.

and this one of me, and included it when they sent her the quilt.

I'm glad Diane loves her quilt and will enjoy it.

Happiness is a Quilt

Happiness is a well loved quilt.

Or two.

As you can see, the Petals quilt has arrived at its new home. (That's the Sunshine quilt underneath it.)

SLU's (Sheer Love Units)

We all tell ourselves that we make quilts because it keeps us busy, that it gives us a creative outlet.

We like playing with color.

We like to explore repeating designs.

 We like exploring differences in scale and pattern.

Sometimes we like to experiment with a limited color range.

Sometimes we like to create something totally new.

Yeah, that's why we make quilts.

Lies. All lies.

We REALLY make quilts for the Sheer Love Units they generate. You can see SLU's in each of these pictures.  I'm telling you, SLU's make all the difference.  They transform an ordinary combination of fabric, batting and thread into something magical.



Sheer Love Units.  SLU's.  A new quilt term I believe deserves wide acceptance.  Go ahead, steal it!