DK Quilt Guild: A place for quilters to gather, share ideas, projects, and to make the world a better place, one quilt at a time. Join us and share your thoughts, projects, questions, and tips. Quilters here are at many different levels of skill. Beginners and non-quilters are welcome, too.
We NEED diarists!
Your diary can be elaborate and full of photos, a simple story of your own quilting history or that of someone you love, a discussion of a current project or a technique you're learning, new adventures... You could post quilt retreat-day recipes (things like crockpot meals, so food appears without much attention from you)...
We could do show and tell or open thread, also, but either way, we need diarists to host. It is EASY if you're willing to take the chance.
Diary Schedule
8/11 — OPEN
8/18 — OPEN
8/25 — OPEN
The quilt above won a First Place Medium Wall Hanging ribbon a few years ago at the local guild show. I made it from a kit and custom quilted it. It remained in the cedar chest with my other quilts until I took some of my quilts to sell at an “artisan craft fair” last November. I sold two quilts and this one sold for $160.00, the other one for $80. I don’t know if I even got the cost of the fabric.
I don’t make quilts to sell them. I make them because I like the patterns and/or the colors of the fabrics. The brighter, the better. I realize now, that if I was going to quilt to sell, I needed to make more traditional quilts, in neutrals, rather than the wild and crazy ones I’ve done over the years. Have you sold any of your quilts? Do you feel you got a fair price? Where and how did you sell them? Please share any quilts you’ve sold below if you’d like, and any information you’re comfortable sharing. Do any of you have an Etsy account? I was thinking of going that direction but not sure.
Quilting has gotten me through rough times. I made this quilt and while making it, my first dog passed. I finished it five years later. The quilt is called Broken Heart (Eleanor Burns “Still Stripping After 25 Years.) An appropriate pattern name and it won 1st place, Medium Sized Quilt, at the Dixon May Fair a few years ago.
Quilting was one connection I had with my narcissistic mother. At least we had the quilting that was a positive in our relationship. I inherited all of her fabric and her Accu Quilt Electric Go. Lots of gratitude!
She passed two years ago and the quilting keeps me from continuously pondering the rough times.
I just finished this quilt and put the binding on with the long-arm. Made from some of the Kaffe Fasset from my mother’ stash. Off to being bound.
The quilting room is my go to place in my home because my adult disabled daughter lives with us. She has the family room with our dogs and I have my sewing, quilting sanctuary. If I’m in my sanctuary I might as well make more quilts!
I quilt to get through the chaos and pain of what we’re dealing with politically. I had much more joy quilting during Obama’s presidency. These days, it’s my escape from PTSD and depression. I was gas lit by my mother all my life. 45 does that daily. I was in a Christian cult for 15 years and the trumpist cultic mentality is reminiscent of being mind-bent.
¼” seams are extremely therapeutic because I focus on that rather than the chaos and intense feelings this administration causes me.
Also finished this one last week and it’s off to my binding buddy. I’m thinking of finding an LGBTQ group that fundraises and they could raffle this quilt. I donate two a year to a work-out buddy who has a fundraiser for the Saving Gracie Foundation. She’s helped quite a few local dogs with surgery and healthcare that owners can’t afford. I donated 25 quilts to fire victims last year. Donating is gratifying.
Why do you quilt?
Why you choose to make what you do?
Is it an escape?
Is it just creativity or something more?
Is quilting therapeutic for you?