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Here is MY third block for The Splendid Sampler™, Lina's Gift, block 18/100
I am thrilled to do a basket block this time. Baskets are so important to quilters. We keep our sewing supplies in them, we keep our projects in them, we make friends by talking about our baskets.. wait... you don't have friends who collect baskets? Well let me tell you a little story.. but first.. i know you want that block.. so go download it.. then come back..
Go to our Splendid Sampler™ Website to learn more about the project
Are you ready? ok.... Let me tell you a bit about my friends, Lina being one of them.
When my quilting teacher told me I should 'join the quilt guild' I had no idea that doing that would literally change my life. When I walked in the door of that building and someone said, come sit with us, I had taken my first step to making life long friendships.
The gals I sew with have taught me so much .. and early on, they taught me what it was going to be like to be a quilter. Debbie, Heidi, and Kelley all patiently explained things to me. And Debbie asked me to join the charity quilt group to make quilts for others.
My block is reminder of the things Lina taught me. Besides the fact that she is a brilliant and prolific quiltmaker, Lina has a heart as big as the ocean. One guild meeting I sat down next to her and she was making little basket blocks, which were darling and I had to know more.. what was she making.. what was it for. Lina explained that she was making blocks for a quilt that would be given as a gift.
I can so clearly remember hearing her say that, and thinking .. how could she give it away... all that work ... That day Lina's gift helped me appreciate quilters who put thousands of hours into a project and then give it with love ... to someone else.
What I learned from Lina, and the others, is what it means to be a quilter. I learned to be generous, to be giving, to be helpful, to be kind. I am so honored to have Lina and the others as life long friends who have helped me so many times with over the years.
Brenda and I worked together, she taught me how to look at anything and break it down into it's unit so it can be created easily.
Ann came to my class and we got to know each other on the way to the emergency room after she sliced her finger.. nothing like that to create a strong friendship for life!
Then not long after joining the quild, I found Lennie, Judy, Joanne, Pat and Patty S. We connected at a monthly meeting held in the primitive quilt shop..soon we started our own group with Ann and Debbie... to this day i count them as my closest friends. How lucky am I to have these friends for more than 20 years.
Over time my friendship circle grew to include more wonderful quilters ... Sue, Monica, Stevii, Joan, Margaret, Kimberly, Patty W, Jeri, Lorine, Eileen, Chris, Sherry.... and we get together once a month to chat and catch up.
Every stitch I make in my personal Splendid Sampler™ reminds me of sharing this love of quilting with my closest friends... Thank you everyone.. you enrich my life every single day.
Now let's sew!
- I did some tips for my block last month.. read them HERE if you missed them
- I'm taking the advice of Lisa Bongean and letting my starched fabric dry by itself, then pressing and using. It's an experiment because honestly.. i'm so impatient and I dont think in advance what i want starched... Lisa and I talk about that on my podcast April 4, 2016.. LISTEN HERE
- When I trim I'm still loving this ruler .. it's not fancy, but does the job really well so I can trim to size before I press open. BUY IT HERE
My stack is growing! When I travel I'm bringing my blocks so you can see them in person
If you are coming to a class or lecture, bring your blocks, or one of my blocks so I can see it, and I'll sign the block for you if you like!
Do you see the little embroidered heart? I'm adding them here and there to my blocks...
What do you think of them all together? it's so exciting!
I need a way to display them.. working on some ideas for that.
I'll do a separate post soon about my 100 Heart's aflutter block project!
Visit our Splendid Sampler™ Website and share your finished block!
I'd love to know, what has been your FAVORITE part of the Splendid Sampler so far? Leave me a comment please!
My Featured Items are
- Have you signed up for my free tips and articles? RIGHT HERE
- My Triangle Book is at your favorite quilt shop, & Amazon (which has digital)
- My Aurifil Thread
- My Fabric
- The ruler I use to trim HST
- Time to upgrade your cutting mat.. some great options HERE, the rotating ones are awesome!
- CHECK the Daily Flash Sale!
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