AN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING

About 15 years ago, I bought these twelve different brown and white fabrics at some quilting event -- possibly at the International Quilt Festival in Houston.  As I recall they weren't that expensive, but I guess I've been saving them for THAT perfect quilt project.

I learned years ago that there is not a perfect quilt, so I decided today not to wait any longer.  I figure an imperfect quilt is better than no quilt at all!

 I discovered the pieces were mostly stamped on the back with interesting information about being designed in England for the Da Gama Textile Co. in South Africa.

After all of those years in a box, the process has begun.  I washed and pressed the fabric; began thinking about a possible simple design; and searched for a companionable fabric to help showcase these unusual fabric designs.  And, I decided to make a table runner.

I'm ready to go.

Sometimes, a start is as momentous as a finish.

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday
Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

STORING THE QUILTS

My real passion for quilt making began in the 1970s.  My first intention was to just make enough quilts to cover the beds in our home.  But, that is not where it ended.  Soon, I was asked to teach some classes which required some class samples.  More quilts were needed when I began publishing patterns in magazines.  Then came the writing of books, trunk shows, lectures, and gallery shows --- all requiring more quilts.  All along the way, I held onto all the quilts because you can't do lectures and shows without quilts to view in person!

My most asked question is where do I store them????

This is my favorite: An antique wardrobe with glass doors in my dining room that holds 63 of my smaller (under 60" square) favorites.

 I'm so familiar with each and everyone of them, I can see just parts and visualize the full quilt enjoying them each day.

 We have UV protected windows in our house, so I don't worry about fading.  I try every six months or so to refold and rearrange the quilts in the cupboard.

And, here is the UGLY storage; the quilt closet that stores the large quilts, the antique quilts, the family quilts, the utility quilts, and the manuscripts for my books.  I'm thinking I can get rid of the book manuscripts and stack more boxes of quilts.

 Only one bed in the house currently has a quilt on it.  My mother-in-law hand quilted this whole-cloth quilt for us in the 1980s.

My favorite antique log cabin quilt hangs on the wall in another bedroom. 

This is not the end of the storage issue -- I haven't shown the sewing room which has the 'stash/scraps' closet.  Plus, there are baskets full of UNQUILTED tops, which are much easier to store.  That's my lame excuse for not getting around to quilting them!  Oh, and I forgot the buffet that holds numerous quilted table runners.

Do you have quilt storage problems, too?

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

JUNE'S THROWBACK THURSDAY

With so much interest in mini-quilts recently, I thought I would dig out this mini for June's Throwback Thursday.

GOSLING FLIGHT

I made this in 1983; it is 10" x 12", and is machine pieced and hand quilted.  I haven't made a mini since then.

However, I've been thinking about doing another.  I'm sure my piecing skills and fabric choices have improved.  Let's hope so!

I'm joining the following:
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Quarter Inch from the Edge for Throwback Thursday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday