Tuesday 24 February 2009

Something way too exciting.

I will start by saying I have always been a bit jealous of ladies who have a history of quilting in their families. They have quilts their mums and grandmas and even their great-grandmas made. The quilting tradition passed down through the family with tales of family quilting bees etc. How great would that be ? As far as I knew I was the only quilter in my large family - my mum was one of 8 children and my dad one of 6. I once worked out I have 43 first cousins - nearly all of whom have married and had children themselves.



Anyway 3 of my mums sisters emigrated in the 1950's. Two of them have since passed away. But my Auntie Lal lives in Australia and I recently met her when she came over for Christmas. There is my mum, auntie Lal and my uncle Len left now. My uncle and mum arranged a surprise party for auntie Lal. If you like you can read about it here. I so much enjoyed meeting her - she is a lovely, lovely lady.



Whilst chatting one day at my mums house with my auntie she gave me the exciting news that her daughter and grand-daughter were quilters too. Hurray - my very own quilting relatives - lol ! Just before auntie Lal returned to Australia - a bit later than planned because of the snow - I made up a couple of fat quarter bundles for my cousins. I popped in a little card with my email and blog addresses. At the weekend I had something very exciting happen - emails from my cousins Sarah and her mum Gail and guess what ? They are bloggers too !! So cool - unknown bloggy cousins. Here are their addresses Sarah and Gail. I've also had emails from Sarahs SIL Roseanne and a friend Isabella. I'm way too excited to meet these ladies and you know a funny thing - whilst reading through the comments on Sarahs blog a lot of these are my bloggy friends too. Amazing !


Onto quilting - in my last post I mentioned digging out a UFO. This one - which was made from leftover strips I'd cut for a piano key border from another quilt.



After a bit of applique - simple borders and even simpler quilting it's done.






Here's a bit of a close-up of the stripy binding.





Turned out well and although it doesn't have a home yet I'm sure I'll find some-one who would like it. Neighbours had a baby last week and had it have been a girl would have been ideal. But not to be - they had a little boy.



Actually one of my cats seems to love this and keeps snuggling up on it wherever I put it. Too nice for a moggy I keep telling him - lol !


Lastly thankyou so much for all your lovely comments over Jess's troubles. I must say I had to blink hard when reading through them. What smashing people you all are. Now the worst case scenario has been ruled out I'm hopeful we will find out the cause - we are definitely looking into Celiac disease as suggested by Howdy and a few others. I have discovered there are a couple in the family who have this.


With a bit of luck I have few hours uninterrrupted sewing time ahead. I have beef stew and dumplings in the oven for our evening meal - yum !


Take care xx







26 comments:

Vicki W said...

What a cute quilt!

Guilitta said...

Hello,

You made a wunderfull quilt. I like it very much!

Greeting
Guilitta

jovaliquilts said...

How wonderful for you to find quilting cousins!! I know the feeling -- there were no quilters in my family, either, except for one niece who took it up as an adult (just as I had). She has a blog, too, and we've had so much fun sharing quilty stuff even though we live 2000 miles apart. Enjoy your newly discovered family!

Jackie Russell said...

Cute quilt!

Gail said...

My heart just melted when I saw this little quilt! You don't have some really distant kin that emigrated to the US in the early 1900's do you? Then I could claim you as a really distant quilting cousin!

Patricia said...

How very exciting for you to connect with your family of quilters. Congradulations write it down (journal it) And I love the the quilt, I may try something simalur, it has inspired me. thanks.

Patricia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh the baby quilt is adorable. But what is really exciting is your story about quilting relatives! That is just too fun! Oh and I"ll be over for beef stew and dumplings! Mmmm!!!!

heather said...

That's quilt is so cute!

Carolyn said...

What great luck to have found quilters in your family! I'm one who has quilts from mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, but no stories of times around the quilting frame...didn't find out they were quilters until I was an adult. Your baby quilt is adorable and dinner sounds delicious!

Elsie Montgomery said...

My family has a few quilters but they are not bloggers so we don't connect - boo hoo! I'm so glad for you that you have found family who share the same passion.

Your baby quilt is simply adorable. Wherever it goes, the owner will love it!

Unknown said...

How special, I have no quilting relatives. Is it your mother on the picture with Lally and Len?

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

Love that "leftover" quilt.... it is darling. I am hoping to take a bargello workshop in May, through my guild. Always wanted to make one... but love yours. And the quilting looks wonderful!

Sylvia F said...

What a coincident your blog and Sarah's blog is bookmarked in my computer. It is good to find relatives that are interested in similar things.
Sylvia:)

Libby said...

Congrats on finding your quilting family members...and bloggers no less! That is super exciting. Your baby quilt is very sweet; I'm sure you will find the perfect owner for it.

Rose Marie said...

That quilt is so sweet and how clever of you! The appliqued hearts give it a special touch. Finding blogging relatives ... it really is a small world after all.

Mary said...

What a great little quilt!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Wow - guess the bloggy world is small too...how cool!

Thanks for the links ;o)

Quilter Kathy said...

Glad to hear your good news...that the worst case scenario has been ruled out for your daughter and that you have quilty relatives.
Your baby quilt is so pretty...the striped binding is perfect!

Floss said...

What a cute quilt, the hearts make it more special.
What a small world we live in. To think you though none of your family quilted, you just never know..

Beertje Zonn said...

What a cute quilt!
Kind regards,

Beertje Zonn

meggie said...

Lovely quilt!!
It is so nice that you have found your rellies also have blogs! Quilting & blogging are so good for making friends.
We have just had a scare over our daughter too. Thankfully she is much better than the news could have been, & she should be able to get treatment for her extreme pain.

Fabricmom said...

What a beautiful finish. Job well done.

Carol said...

How lovely to find quilters in the family. I have no family members who have quilted or quilt.

I love this quilt it's beautiful.

black bear cabin said...

what a fun story...thats wonderful that you discovered some new quilting family members!!!
love the baby quilt...the hearts add just the right touch :)
Hope all is well with your daughter soon!

Sally said...

Hello

Thank you for introducing me to the world of blogging, have had great fun reading yours and I have now set one up for myself. Please come and see me and let me know what you think

Sally from DJ

http://running-stitches.blogspot.com/