Quilting, It's a Good Thing

Many of the quilters that I know enjoy quilting as a way to express their creativity.  Now we may have another reason to enjoy quilting all the more.  

According to an article, Learning A New Skill Works Best To Keep Your Brain Sharp by Lauren Silverman, a study done at the University of Texas at Dallas, showed that learning to quilt can actually improve the person's memory.

So I want to send a big shout out to all my students who keep on learning new techniques!

Do we really need another reason to justify our passion?  Probably not, but let's keep on quilting--It's a very, good thing!-Linda

Capturing Memories with Memory Quilts

Do you ever have a project that you know will be fantastic, but you just can't find the time to get it done?  Well, for two years I have been planning and imagining how wonderful this memory quilt was going to be.  I was hoping to complete it for the wedding--I had envisioned it as a backdrop behind the wedding cake.  Then, I thought, it would make a great first anniversary gift. Needless to say, I missed that date.  But one sure fire way to complete a project is to make it a class sample.  So this past year I offered a trapunto by machine class, and yes, I was able to get it done.

The Anniversary Quilt

Details of the center.

The quilt also features, shadow work trapunto, photo transfer, 3-D machine embroidery designs by A Bit of Stitch, lace and ribbon embellishments, and my husband's and my flowers from the wedding.

Even though the quilt didn't get finished when I thought it was appropriate, it was finished in time to share a memory with two important people in my life, Jacob and Brooke.  Congratulations on your first two years.

Mixing Things Up

As most quilters, I began to develop my skills creating traditional quilts.  However, within a few years I began to paint on my quilts.  This is officially my first mixed media quilt.

It was created to participate in a fall challenge for the Beatrice, NE Quilter's Guild Show.  The sunbonnet block was a red work pattern from a quilting magazine.  I wish that I could remember which one it was! Instead of doing the hand embroidery, I used textile paints to create the block.  The rest of the quilt is machine pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted.

 If someone knows where I found the sunbonnet pattern, let me know and I will be sure to give them credit.  I guess that is a big lesson in documenting all information on the back of your quilts!

Peeking into the Past,  Linda B

 

In the Beginning

I have always been attracted to creating things.  I loved my home economics and art classes. I have always been surrounded by those who love to create.  My mother loves to hand embroider items, crochet afghans, and now she is into quilting. I will never forget when my grandmother let me use her treadle sewing machine, it fostered a love with sewing machines that has never died!

They influenced me to pursue a career in home economics education (now referred to as family and consumer sciences).  This only fueled my passion to create things.  After the birth of my first child, I began to create quilts, and I have never stopped! 

The purpose of this blog is to inspire others to explore their creative side, and to encourage me to continue to grow in my artistic pursuits.

Let's both have some fun together!

Linda B.