I am so happy to be part of the 2014 New Quilters Blog Hop hosted by Beth of Plum and June. I hope you have been following along, I am proud and excited to be in the company of so many amazing creative quilters.
As the button says I am new to blogging and actually also new to quilting. I have been sewing most of my life, you would think it would have been a natural progression but I didn't know anyone who quilted. I always thought I would be enjoying my retirement painting or sketching with fabulous colored pencils, unfortunately RA entered my life. Quilting gives me a little of everything, designing my patterns, picking out pretty colors and creating something beautiful and useful. I love it and I do paint once in a while. My very first blog post gives you a little more of my journey found here if this is your first visit.
This journal of my "quilty" life which includes those closest to me does not usually call anyone by name, so let me fill you in. I married my best friend David 35 years ago and technically we would be empty nesters. I retired last year and hubbie plans to join me at the end of the year. In my blog I refer to the Golden Girls, that would be Bella Rose and Isabel Zoe (Izzie) Every day is happy and full of fun with puppies.
When I refer to little boy or baby girl in a post that would be my children Dave and Vicki respectively. They are grown technically but until they get married and have children of their own that's how I see them.
My Quilting
I may have come into this wonderful world of quilting later than most, for me it was perfect. I now have time to sew when I want, take my time on each one and quilt without rules. At my age I can do that and not feel guilty, really throw out the rules, no quilt police exist.
A couple of things could be said about my style
1) I like to try new patterns or techniques. I don't make the same pattern two times in a row.
2) Labeling my quilts with some sort of pocket is a must, I have done them in several interesting shapes and sizes. I consider it a challenge now
3) AND I am NOT afraid of color! (That's kind of an understatement)
I don't post a lot of tutorials per say but if I find a way to do something that is easier for me I will share.
I currently have two things on my to do list, a log cabin quilt in king size and the Farmers Wife Quilt. I have started the log cabin and am thinking about what colors to use for the farmers wife. Should I go with 4 or 5 colors and stick with those? Pick one color to be in each block like peach or aqua two of my favorites and make each different as long as it has one of those colors? I do know I want them cohesive, to look like they belong together. The other option is to go crazy with my favorite bright fabrics in every color, that is so me but may not be appropriate and I did just finish a bright quilt (Learning Curve)
I will know when I find it.
Here are a few of my favorites
In the meantime I love magazines, books and of course blogs for inspiration. I always find something new to add to the list. I'm not big on multiple WIP's, I feel I need to keep things workable.
I can, so I do, as long as I can!
Time to sew for me, now check out some other blogs on this weeks hop
enjoy
Pam
Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs
Liz @ Green Cheese Quilting
Janet @ Simply Pieced
Ruth @ Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner
Kristyn @ Melon Patch Quilts
Jo @ Riddle and Whimsy (http://riddleandwhimsy.
Your fur babies are SO CUTE!! My husband wants to get a golden :)
ReplyDeleteNo one would know you're a new quilter by looking at those gorgeous quilters. WOW - they are seriously spectacular. I'm particularly fond of the second one. The colors are so vibrant and delightful. It makes me want to be a lot more bold with my fabric choices.
Do it, even if its a smaller project go for it! It took me months on the design board to decide and happy I just went for it. Goldens are the best, we have had 4 now
DeleteBeautiful stuff, Pam! My kids will always be my babies...even when they're married. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi, Pamela! I can understand how sewing and quilting are two totally different things. I quilt, but I don't sew. It's a different mind set. I'm glad you've branched out and joined the quilting world. You've got some beautiful projects! I love your curves!
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! Golden's really make for wonderful pets, and your golden girls are super cute (love the kerchiefs!). Great to get to know you better and how wonderful that learning to quilt fit so perfectly into your life. I love it when things just fall into place like that!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun learning about you. My mom didn't make her first quilt until my oldest brother got married. She found it so enjoyable that she taught me to quilt when I was a teenager. I can sew, but enjoy quilting so much more. Your quilts are beautiful, and I like having just one or two WIPs at a time as well.
ReplyDeleteLove your golden girls and your use of colour is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHi Pam. Just stopping by very briefly to say you are showing as a 'no reply blogger' on my blog. I used this tutorial to fix it when it happened to me http://www.flusterbuster.com/2013/02/are-you-no-reply-blogger.html
ReplyDeleteI'll be back with another comment on your work later today.
I love your use of color!!!!! I'm always drawn to bright colors, and that purple quilt is right up my alley. I can't wait to see what you do next
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy, I used this once already- looks like it happened again. Cant fix till the weekend when I get back on my computer. Ipad isnt very user friendly for that, having issues just checking out everyones hop but I keep trying
ReplyDeleteI think your kids will always be your babies! Your Lone Star/ appliqué quilt is stunning.
ReplyDeleteLove your Golden Girls! They look so happy! Your work is lovely too. The second quilt you posted is my favourite!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I love your work! That second quilt is my favorite. The colors are great!
ReplyDeleteHi again Pam. Yes, I gave up on Google+ and changed to a normal blogger account. I think that's the only way to avoid reverting to 'no reply blogger'.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, nice to meet you and your quilts are great. I love the big. bold pink one best, though that teal/green one looks very interesting too.
I'm sorry to hear that you have RA. I have it too! Mine started when I was just 33 with a new baby. I'm OK most of the time, but winters can be hard going. It sounds like you have good balance in your life now you have retired.
Lovely to meet you! I LOVE your double wedding ring... wow!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the color and fabric choices in your second quilt! You might have convinced me that I have to make one :) That darn list just gets LONGER! ;P
ReplyDeleteDogs make everything better.
ReplyDeleteI love how you flit between traditional applique and bright, modern and graphic. It is good to explore variety. And that lion is adorable!
Keep not being afraid of colour. I have never known it to bite. :)
Visiting from the New Quilt Bloggers Hop, thanks for sharing your quilts! Those Golden Girls are just precious.
ReplyDeleteCarole @ From My Carolina Home
Dogs are such good companions. They never tell your secrets.
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing all your quilts. Beautiful
I like to try something new each time too ... I get bored otherwise :)
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are beautiful! I've only made multiples of a couple of quilts, all really small ones.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! I love the picture of your dogs, they look like great quilting companions. I like working with bright colors too, and I like the variety in your quilts - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIs that second quilt the Polka Dot Bikini pattern? I won a copy way back in January but haven't had any time to make it. Love the colors in it and in all your quilts, Pam!
ReplyDeleteActually Sarah the second pattern is from Sew Kind of Wonderful- Metro Rings. I also own the poka Dot Bikini pattern but havent made it yet
DeleteThe top two quilts you posted I just LOVE! Those are so gorgeous! I love you all of them but those are my favorite! It is nice to meet you! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab quilts you shared! Nice to meet you Pam.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilts Pam! I love the idea of sticking a label pocket on your quilts. By the end of a quilt I'm so done with it I rarely take the time to label it!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful quilts Pam! I am very lucky to have met you through the new bloggers group and bee.
ReplyDeleteI think Beth brought together a great group, hope to keep in contact with many long after the hop ends. The Bee is just an extra perk!
DeleteI love that you are not afraid of colour - your quilts are so fun. Nice to meet you on this blog hop :-)
ReplyDeletehello and nice to meet you! You've made some lovely, bright quilts, I do like colourful quilts. I'm contemplating the Dear Jane quilt and wondering about colours as you are about the Farmer's Wife
ReplyDeleteI have seen some very interesting Dear Jane Quilts, I favor the ones made with solids~ all one color per block. Strategically placed for quilting. I also like the brighter ones, I think small blocks need color but I'm not afraid of color :) cant wait to see yours
DeleteOh my, that second favorite, the photo with all the color, is STUNNING! I love it. You may have started quilting late, but it doesn't show. Your work is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! I'm still going through all these lovely blogs in the hop - so much to take in! I, too, tend to see sewing and quilting as two different things; I have to set everything up different for sewing projects. Your quilty curves are amazing, and the color works so well. Dogs are people too, and clearly yours know it well! :)
ReplyDelete