Quilting group-Updated!

As many of you know, I am the type of person that sees something and thinks..."I CAN DO THAT!"  I get it in my head and then I am determined to do it.  I get the supplies needed and start working on it.  I love creating things.  So it is with quilting also. 

+- 10 years ago I was sitting at a dental convention when I saw a lady making a baby quilt.  She was hand peicing hexagons about the size of your hand together.  As I watched her I thought..."I can do that" but,  I decided to make the hexagons much smaller...like 1.5 inches wide.  And now, 10 years later, I am still working on it.  However, I am getting closer and closer to completion. 

I attend a quilting group weekly.  One of the AMAZING quilters there made a postage stamp quilt with her scraps. (TONS of 1 inch squares) I said to myself, "I can do that too."  Well, lets just say, I attempted it.  I made it, however, it is not pretty.  This has been a great lesson for me.  I have never machine peiced, only hand peiced.  So needless to say...rarely did the corners meet up.  I have never used a rotary cutter...clearly I am terrible with it. 

Here are the 10 lessons I have learned from this experience;

1. While I can do anything I want, I cannot do EVERYTHING well.

2.  Just because something looks simple...doesn't mean it is. 

3.  If you think you are good at crafts, you are not guaranteed to be a good quilter.

4.  Cutting and squaring your fabric is A MUST! and often.

5.  Measuring cannot be like my measuring when baking (I don't)...dashes do not work, close enough does not either.  Quilting is a game of exactness.

6.  Pins are the most useful item when quilting.  Amazing how they hold things together when you sew.  Perhaps I should use them?

7.  I am not consistent in my sewing.  Need to work on consistency.

8.  I really dislike it when I compare myself to others...I am at the bottom of the totem pole here baby!  I need blinders so I don't give up.

9.  Applique is SO NOT quilting.  I am good at applique (more like crafting) but need to work on quilting.

10.  Patience Patience Patience!!! Not good at that either. Can you tell?

LOTS of LIFE LESSONS can be gleaned from quilting.  I am thankful for these excersises that have given me insight into my abilities.  I have much to improve on, but I am thrilled to do it.  Isn't this what talents are all about?  You cannot develop a talent or keep a talent if you fail to USE IT. 

Here are pictures of an ALASKA themed quilt by one of the ladies.  Last years theme for everyone to do a square.  Then you must "quilt" the squares together by peicing.  And magically it looks like this.