Saturday, May 16, 2015

The year was 1999

The year was 1999 when I was first introduced to the Internet and the website Sewing World , You might want to make yourself a cuppa something this may be long winded . It was on this site that I first exchanged 10" squares of fabric in various themes , great fun , then in that same year I signed up for an 18 month exchange of quilt blocks with a group know as the Friendship Quilters , each month was a different block and a different partner .If my memory is correct we each had a turn at choosing the block for that month . This all went along very well for a while and I did receive many of the blocks that were suppose to arrive but as in all things in life there were a few glitches and some blocks never did arrive . Those blocks sat idle in a box for many years and every once in a while I would take them out and tell myself you really should sew these together . Well about six years ago I was going to a woman's retreat with the church and I was asked if I had a quilt I could bring along so the women could learn to hand quilt and we would eventually form a group to quilt at church . SO...... I quickly pieced together those blocks with whatever fabric I had on hand and to make up for those missing blocks I added some blocks I had made as practise blocks , I always did that when I exchanged , I wanted the best block to be sent out . I wasn't all that happy with the way it looked but hey this was for practise, right ,so off I went with batting and backing to put this quilt on a frame at the camp . The retreat was wonderful but I think we spent less than one hour on the quilt and that group never did form . The strange thing is my quilt went home with someone else that day , it was her frame and I wasn't too concerned as I figured that we would soon be quilting as a group. After several years of wondering why this never happened I called the gal who I thought had my quilt and left messages which were never answered ,so one day we were out driving and I stopped in and asked her for it . That was a couple of years ago now and last year I finally put this on the frame at home and started to quilt it then as you may remember I broke my wrist so again it sat idle only this time taking up room on my frame . This winter I decided I was ready to tackle it again and finally it is done !!!! I sat last evening during FNSI (thanks to everyone who sewed along with me ) and sewed down two and a half sides and just now finished the rest while enjoying the sunshine and warm air on my deck .
As soon as I finished I draped it over the railing to take this picture . Then I did the clothesline ..
So there you have it , I am sure I could have arranged those blocks much better had I put some thought into it but it is what it is and I am so pleased that I was able to hand quilt this myself . Oh I must tell you we each had chosen a colour scheme and mine was sage green and pink , obviously many people have different views of sage green lol . I do love pink and green together , something calming about that colour combo . I am going to confess here too , I would not have remembered that the group was called the Friendship Quilters had I not made a label way back when and eventually sewed them as part of the backing when I took it to the retreat .
Here are some of the labels sent ..
and here are the rest which makes 12 labels that I have attached so the rest of those blocks were made by myself . Carrie Ingram is the only person here that I still have contact with .One more picture ,on the bed .


 Now  about the postcard exchange , I think by majority rules the theme for our upcoming postcard exchange will be the beach / sun , essentially summer !
For a little inspiration here are three I did for an exchange a few years ago with a yahoo group .Thanks to everyone who has signed up and still lots of room so don't be shy . 
 Thanks for stopping by today and taking the time to read my ramblings .
 Hugs Sheila 

20 comments:

  1. Great story! And it shows the importance of labels. I love pink and green together, and I think your quilt is beautiful.

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  2. What a lovely resume of how that quilt came to be finished. I belonged to the international friendship quilters but did not join In any swaps at that time as I was not confident that my work was any good. But how we have all developed with the web and blogging. Will be joining the postcard swap again.

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  3. Lovely story. The quilt is beautiful. Hugs, xx

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  4. Wow! That's great! I remember seeing it on your frame a few years ago, before you broke your wrist. I'm so glad it is a finish! I think it's very pretty and certainly tells a story!

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  5. Your quilt has a very interesting story! It's really pretty, and that story adds so much to its history.

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  6. That is something to remember,
    sheila!!!!!

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  7. What a great story! Congrats on finishing your quilt and it turned out quite nice. I'd like to sign up for the postcard exchange if there's still room. Thanks for organizing another one!

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  8. what a beautiful finish and a great story to accompany it.
    Great that you persisted and got your quilt back, it looks wonderful.
    cute postcards too...

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  9. Lovely story Sheila and I am so pleased you have finally finished it. I think it is a great quilt. xx

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  10. love the quilt and what a great story to go with it...
    Hugz

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  11. Enjoyed reading your story Sheila.. The quilt looks fabulous ....
    Looking forward to this swap..thanks.

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  12. Loved reading the quilts tale. It is beautiful. Very nice post cards too xx

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  13. Quite the quilt story! Thanks for sharing it.

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  14. Never give up seems to be the lesson from your story. The quilt looks very nice, even after all these years:)

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  15. I remember this quilt when you broke your wrist. I always thought of asking you for her.
    Glad you're done! And he was beautiful!
    Beach and sun? Cool! I liked! I have been thinking how I will make my cards!
    Hugs!

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  16. So glad you were able to finish the quilt. I have a stack of 10 inch squares too. I'll use them one day.

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  17. Lovely story. Nice postcards...

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  18. Awesome story about the quilt Sheila! I didn't get involved in on-line quilting stuff until about 2008 - I didn't even know there was such a thing back in 1999! The quilt is quite lovely and you completed the quilting quickly too.

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  19. I know you feel good about having it completed and it is very pretty....its a shame the group never really got started...I wish there was a place where quilters could meet and help one another with the finishing of a quilt from making the sandwich layers to starting to quilt. It would be fun...there is a crafters day at my church once a month...I've not ever been but I think I will go someday.
    mama Bear

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  20. Wonderful story Sheila, how awesome that the quilt is finally done and it has labels too to remind you of its history! For the randomness that you describe it looks gorgeous!! Great finish :-)

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