Online Trunk Show!

Have you seen the Trunk Full of Quilts linky going on over at Whims and Fancies?? How much fun is that? I have been over there several times this week enjoying all of the sharing that is happening and I can resist no longer, I must participate :)

If you haven't seen this (and how is this possible, so many great bloggers participating!!), or haven't checked recently on new links, check it out! So much inspiration and so much fun seeing other people's progression in their quilt making journey :) Here's mine! (A little note about where to find 'the rest of the story' about the quilts shown. For the first two, click on the caption and you will be taken to the final blog post for that project. For the remaining quilts, just click on the picture.)

Yup, microfiber suede and . . . ready? That striped fabric is Burlap!! Not kidding. And not one stitch of quilting in that huge space. . . This quilt still lives on our bed in the summer.

This quilt taught me two very valuable lessons. It was the first pattern that went totally awry and quite honestly, I didn't even realize it until it was completely sewn together. . . And it didn't matter, I lived it anyway! Secondly, this was the quilt in which I really fell in love with quilting! I was starting to figure out right about here that the denser the quilting, the more I like it :) This quilt is used by my husband daily. Every time I look at it I have to resist the urge to grab it and quilt more, specifically something in those squares! ;)

This quilt was my first attempt at curved piecing. LOVE this quilt. It is currently folded up next to me, sometimes I use it as a pillow for a nap. . . Why is it still folded up? Because it definitely needs more quilting! I'm thinking that will happen in the first months of 2016 :)

My first pieced backing!!

My first commission and my first QAYG!

First use of shot cottons (these are Kaffe Fassett) and first use of contrasting quilting thread. . . really contrasting - BLACK! :)

My first (and only) scrap quilt and my confirmation that maybe patterns are not my thing. Click on the picture to go to the final post - it was quite the ride this one!! And I LOVE it! I sleep under this one every.single.night!! :)

A lot of firsts with this one! First triangle quilt, first attempt at improv (none of those logs are the same size as are none of those inside triangles), first quilt made with Oakshott Cottons. . . this is when the love affair started ;)

First online QAL! First time using rulers while quilting on my domestic! Yes, I now use them often :)

First show quilt! First time using double batting (wool and cotton). To read about my first show experience, go here.

Biggest lesson on this one - don't enter a challenge if you hate the chosen fabric!! I don't do pastel. :)

My first 'live' class! First truly successful use of stencils First use of 'scribble quilting' - LOVE!! :D

First pattern testing! Yeah, me!! ;) And first use of light table for quilting. Definitely won't be the last!!

Family tree quilt. Recently added more stitches to this one. Lesson? Sometimes more stitches is exactly what a quilt needs and sometimes the quilter just needs a little more time to develop her skill before adding those stitches :)

There are SO many more quilts I could add to this show . . . I am restraining myself :) If you want to see more, click the tabs above to see pictures of all of the quilts I have finished. This little trip down memory lane spans a little over two years (my entire quilting journey to date). I have recently had several conversations with different people about my quilting journey. A common question is, how did you get to where you are so fast? There is only one answer to that, practice. Time on the machine. I am lucky. I can quilt every.single.day. And in the beginning, I did! :) There are still times that I will slap a practice sandwich together and just quilt. Sometimes I just need to stitch :) What I regret the most is throwing out those initial practice pieces. I really wish I could show you how I started out and promise you - it looked just like any beginner - bad tension, toe hanger stitches, jerky movements, nests, oh the list just goes on and on! So for those of you who think you can't, or stop because those initial pieces are so 'awful', please, keep going or just give it a try! It's not for everyone, I get that. But please don't say I can't before you even try! OK, stepping off of my soap box ;)

Climbing back on. . . ;) Chuck that fear aside! Most times I had no idea that I wasn't supposed to be able to do what I was doing! LOL Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss and most rules were meant to be broken!! I'm off the soap box, go forth and quilt!! :D

Go check out the linky party at Whims and Fancies!! I promise, you are going to see amazing quilts and read very amazing stories!! And if you are so inclined - share your trunk full of quilts!! :D

Until next time, keep on quilting!!