Geez

Louise.  I guess it's been awhile.  Funny thing is - I've actually been pretty productive!

I made this quilt for my girlfriend from Colorado.  She came out and visited me for a couple of days.  Of course, I waited until the last minute to make it.  I started it on Thursday - and she got here on Tuesday. 

                                            

I picked a really easy pattern, though, so it went together really quickly.  I used mostly Flirt by Robyn Pandolph.  I really love that fabric.  It is just so girly and soft.  I'm really a sucker for soft fabric.  It needed a bit something else, so I added some Amy Butler to it.

                                            

I backed it with a soft, striped, green flannel.  I also added those fabric squares on the back.  I have to say - I really love the way it looks with those squares added on the back.  I think that's the first time that I've done anything like that - but it won't be the last time.

I bound it in Amy Butler Moon Dots.  I'm not sure, but I think that every quilt I've finished recently has been backed with flannel and bound with Moon Dots.  But it just looks so great and feels so great - how can you not do it?

And, of course, it wouldn't be complete without a crochet edged (crocheted edge?) pillowcase to go with it.  This pillowcase was made with more Amy Butler fabric, but the truth is, I've been making most of these pillowcases with flannel.  Everyone seems to love the flannel.  I just love the crisp look of regular fabric, though.

My girlfriend loved it.  She cried when I gave it to her (although she is a bit of a crier).  She has since let me know how much she loves it and how it makes her feel when she uses it.

Which brings me to a couple of blog posts that have been circulating the blogosphere lately.  You can find the links to the posts here (even though I'm sure you've already seen them) (and how happy are we that crazy mom is back?  Very, VERY happy!).  I'm not really sure I agree with all that they have to say.  Why do we quilt?  I think that answer is very different for everyone.  I think that answer probably changes even for ourselves over the years.

I quilt because I love fabrics, because it is a creative outlet that results in something that can be used and loved.  My taste in fabric has changed over the years - and even my taste in patterns has changed.  While I enjoy and appreciate more complex quilt patterns (and even enjoy working on them, although I do tend to get bored with them and ultimately stop working on them),  I also love being able to get a quilt done in a few days and giving it to someone to show them how very much I love them.  I want them to be able to use the quilt and wrap themselves up in it and feel loved.  If in a few years the quilt is worn out - all the better.  Then I'll know that it was used and loved. 

Some other people might quilt so that they have something to blog about.  I don't think that's wrong - it's what's right for them.  And let's face it, it has worked fabulously for many bloggers and they've become very popular because of it.

I think sometimes, too we want to get too wrapped up in terminology.  Modern, contemporary, geometric, whatever.  It is still a quilt.

So no, as far as this quilt goes, "it isn't art, it isn't design," and you might not find it interesting.  But I made it with love, it was given with love, it was received with love, and it is loved every day.  That was my goal with this quilt, and I believe that goal was fulfilled.