April
17
Blogging Quilt Festival
Park City Girl is having an online quilt festival. I’m entering my ocean waves quilt that I made for a friend of mine’s wedding as my favorite quilt.
I had always wanted to make this pattern but the main reason that it is my favorite is the story behind it. I work best on a very strict deadline – also known as massive procrastination. I had to have this quilt ready for a bridal shower at the end of September. I had it figured in my mind exactly how much to do each day to get it done. It was a good plan.
Then in mid-September of that year my husband left me. Bit of a shock as you might imagine. It totally derailed the plan. My mother came down and a major source of trying to distract me was to get this quilt done. Then my sewing machine died. We went and borrowed a machine from a friend. We kept sewing. Finally we thought it was done and laid it all out. That’s when I realized that I had miscalculated and actually needed 19 more of one of the sashing units. I just remember my mother pushing me towards the bathroom and telling me to go take a long bath. I think she figured that that was going to be the last straw for my fragile psyche.
We did get the extra units done. (Mom learned to paper piece!) The quilt was done in time for the shower. I remember people asking me how long it took to make. I would answer truthfully, “A little over two weeks.” No one believed me. I was sort of amazed that it was done too!

April 17th, 2009 at 8:03 am
although given the circumstances, you {& your mom} made a beautiful quilt.
thanks for sharing.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Amazing. My favorite quilt was also made during a difficult time in my life. I find it amazing how therapeutic and healing the process of quilting can be. Your quilt is gorgeous and I’m sure that it is well-loved.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Beautiful! I love this pattern!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:41 am
I am glad you finished it. It is such a beautiful quilt. I am sorry for the circumstances. Thanks so much for sharing.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:05 am
A beautiful quilt. I hope it helped you through a challenging time.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:28 am
What a lucky bride! I can see why people had a hard time believing you made it in two weeks. It looks great, and how nice of your mom to help.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Aren’t Moms the greatest. And I love your quilt.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Quilting is SO therapeutic, isn’t it! Lovely quilt and a good story to go with it! And, God Bless Moms!
April 17th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
You sure are a brave girl sharing the story behind this quilt…I get the feeling that both the quilt and the ‘quilters” getting together create a kind of healing energy.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Lovely quilt – thanks for sharing the story, too.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Beautiful. I have been wanting to make this pattern for a long time too. It sounds like you have an awesome and supportive mom.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
What a great quilt and story to go with it. I love just about anything that is blue. I hope that making the quilt helped you get through your difficult days and that things have gotten better. Thanks for sharing.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Thanks for sharing your favorite quilt and it’s story – it seems that even the most difficult times produce beauty, not only in your quilt but you too! Being able to share from your heart is very telling
I love your quilt, the color, the movement – it is all amazing!!
April 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
“storm as sea” is a favorite of mine too. I started a quilt but found the paper piecing tedious and gave it to a friend to finish or not… Looking at yours makes my heart tug to give it another try, but I will stay strong! :-0
April 17th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
It is so pretty! I love the color combination
April 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
It is a beautiful quilt. What a special Mom you have.
April 17th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
This pattern is on my someday list. You did a wonderful job. I must say give your Mama an extra hug for seeing you through such a heartbreaking time. I always say qilting is better than paying for therapy.
April 17th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Love the quilt. Your Mom is one smart cookie.
April 17th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
i love this!! what a great design!
April 17th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I’m sorry for the circumstances for which the quilt was made, but it came out beautifully. One day I will get around to doing this quilt. Love the quilt.
April 17th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I think a lot of us are guilty of “massive procrastination.” I have always loved the storm at sea pattern. I’m glad your mom helped you through a rough time.
April 17th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I love this quilt! The fact that you pressed on (pardon the pun) is amazing. You must be a very good friend, seriously, that is really inspiring.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
What a lovely quilt! And two weeks? Crazy! And how wonderful that it is something that you and your mom worked on together. That is special.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Wow, what an amazing story. Thanks so much for sharing it. Hope you are doing well.
April 18th, 2009 at 12:01 am
It’s beautiful. I’ve decide it’s one of the next on my list.
April 18th, 2009 at 4:14 am
I have also lived thru similar circumstances, when ever something happens outside my control I work on a quilt as part of the healing process
April 18th, 2009 at 6:51 am
I’m so glad you could quilt to help you get through a rough time. It is healing, isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to make a Storm at Sea quilt too; yours is beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
April 18th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Beautiful quilt. I’ve always enjoyed this pattern.
April 18th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Lovely quilt! Well worth the stress.
April 18th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
It’s beautiful and I love the colors.
April 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
This quilt is on my short liet too!
Good job!
April 18th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
wow. what a story behind this quilt. I would imagine that it was a lot of work but a lot of therepy too. Lovely work.
April 18th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Looks like a bit of quilt therapy. Beautiful work
April 18th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Hi Heather,
What a great quilt- I love the Storm at Sea- you did a wonderful job for your friend’s wedding- I am sure that they treasure it.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Anna
April 19th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I love the colors. They would work in any house. And the story behind the quilt adds a lot of meaning to it.
April 19th, 2009 at 7:58 am
The quilt is lovely! I love that pattern too.
Micki
April 19th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
A very beautiful quilt. Sewing is such therapy for me. You did an incredible job, what an accomplishment.
April 19th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Gorgeous! I have always loved that pattern as well, and am a big fan of the blues.
Some of my best work has also been my best therapy. I’m glad you used this art to get through it. The results are beautiful!
April 19th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Two weeks?! That is amazing. I’ve made a storm at sea – it was my first quilt – made with scissors and templates no less. I’ve always thought I would go back and make a “real” one, but there are so many quilts to make.
April 19th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I love the quilt. I’m glad that you were able to finish the quilt with your Mom’s help. It’s really beautiful.
April 19th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
And, it turned out very pretty – despite the things that were going on in your life…
April 19th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
love these colors you used! you did an awesome job!
April 19th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Love the quilt. You (and Mom) did a great job. It’s good she was there to support you.
I’ve never seen this quilt pattern before, it’s fabulous.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I love this pattern, it has so much movement and life in it. I am sorry the quilt was made in such sad circumstances though.
April 20th, 2009 at 4:44 am
So many of the quilts in this online show have a special story behind them, often in the face of adversity – I do believe that quilting is, if not the panacea for all ills, a good old cure in its own right – lovely quilt – another of those designs on my to-do list
April 20th, 2009 at 5:28 am
Great quilt – and lovely to hear it helped you work through a tough time. Thanks for sharing it!
April 20th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Way to go mom for helping out. Working with a needle and thread is great therapy. You made a lovely quilt.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:51 am
One of my favorite designs – this is quite lovely. I hope making this was more solace than stress for you, sounds like it was a lot of both!
April 21st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
What an amazing piece of work. The quilt looks wonderful.
April 21st, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I love the story too! This beautiful quilt was quite instrumental in not only getting you focused away from your pain for a while, but it was also another way to bond with your mom. Ya just gotta love quilts and everything that the process entails!
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Beautiful quilt! My favorite colors with one of my all time favorite patterns (I haven’t made one yet). Gorgeous!
PS (Who are all these people? Holy cow! LOL)
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I’ve always loved this pattern. You did a great job.
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I love your colors, just wonderful!
April 24th, 2009 at 7:56 am
The quilt is beautiful and I’m so happy your mom and you were able to complete it together. Lovely all around.