I FINALLY took that first step today towards making a quilt by attending my first quilting class. There are 4 ladies in the class so the instructor can provide lots of hands-on instruction. I made my first 9-patch square (I think that's what it's called). By the end of seven weeks I will supposedly have a small quilt with different patterns made to take home.

Nancy, our instructor, has quilts hanging in the art museum in Mobile so I'm pretty humbled by her abilities and skill. I told her I am pretty anal when it comes to sewing (if the seams and such don't line up I will rip it out and do it over until it's right). She laughed and said I'd make a great quilter...I think that was a compliment LOL.
Are there any quilters out there who could share their love for quilting and any tips they might want to share? Photos?
My uncertainty is coordinating fabrics...I had to pick out six today...two solids and 4 patterned...we'll see how things go in the coming weeks.

I share a love for them, for sure. I use to collect old quilts until they got so expensive I had to give that habit up. I've never made one, and doubt I could. I don't have the patience. Yet I can knit for hours on end...go figure.

I would LOVE to see a pic of whatever you create. Good for you in doing something you'll love. Isn't it fun to create?

Hi JJ....Yes, it's a lot of fun to create...I'll send you a picture IF it turns out looking okay...oh, what the heck...even if it's not! The point is to have fun when you do these things...crocheting, knitting, painting, learning a new language...whatever. Now that I'm retired it's nice to know that I have the time to do things I enjoy that I didn't have time when I was working fulltime.
You do something I could NEVER get the hang of...knitting. I just cannot work two needles at the same time...must require using both sides of the brain at once...mine doesn't work that way. What are you knitting JJ? Got any pictures of your projects?

I hope you show pics whether you think it turns out good or not...I betcha you do beautiful work! I can think of few things more fun than sitting around a quilt, jabbing with the girls, while quilting. You can fellowship and make something useful (not wasting time) at the same time.
I'm going to dig up my dad's book and share with you his memory of his mom and her friends/relatives quilting.

Knitting is a little different, to me. You can watch TV or the grandchildren, even read when you knit. It's a mechanical procedure, unless you have to count... knit one, purl two, knit one, purl two. When can we see some of your work, JJ?

Dee, that's wonderful. I tend to go through creative phases in my life which isn't always so good! I don't tend to stick with what I learn. In the 80's I crocheted and absolutely loved it. After a few years I put it away. I was in ministry then with my husband and as near as I can remember I stopped when we moved to a large church in late '88. And the only experience I had with quilting was doing four pillows (2 for MIL and one for my mother) one Christmas in the '80's. When Mom died 2 1/2 years ago, I got the two pillows back that I had given her. I completely cherish these and protect them. I remember the (literal) blood that went into these! A cathedral pattern and so nice.

Oh girls, I have long since given away anything I knitted and if truth be told, the receivers probably have them tucked away in some closet! HA! I love to do these things (knitting, crocheting, etc.) because they allow my brain to continue on thinking at a fast rate, while my hands go in another direction and create something.

I also (don't laugh) am an avid, and I do mean avid, jigsaw puzzle worker from wayyyyyyyyyy back. My whole family works them. Regularly. 1,000 piece or better. No three-D ones, just the regular, theme ones. Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Mickey Mouse, cottages, NO THOMAS KINKADE (ew), James Dean, Norman Rockwell, and on and on and on. I can show you plenty of pics of those. My whole house has them all over the place.

When I talk to one of my sisters and they say they have been to our cousins houses and stayed the weekend, I say, "Well good, what did ya'll do?" The response always include, "oh and we worked that new jigsaw puzzle that just came out, ____(fill in the blank). I would rather work one of these than eat. Too bad there isn't a biz demand for them. I work a 1,000 one in about two-three days. Tops.

Then I glue and frame them. Lordy I love that fetish! Can you tell?

I'd love to see them JJ.....I LOVE jigsaw puzzles. I also love word puzzles....but back to the jigsaw's. There's something so comforting and resting about sitting for hours doing these....and coming back awhile later to put in a few more pieces. I concentrate nicely so I don't have to think of much of anything else. I hate sharing though yeah, it's true. I love having the puzzle all to myself but I do share if I really have to! Love 'em...and this is the time of year that I MOST love them. Life has been too crazy and my mind has been elsewhere so I haven't put them together as much in the past few years.

I don't want to take away from Dee's quilting post, but here are just a few. Mostly, I donate them to children shelters or women shelters. These I kept



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woooohooooooo JJ! Fantastic! Love them!

JJ, so who's your favorite pop star?!