Alma Stoller

inside my Handmade Fabric Beads workshop

2012-01-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

To register:

Handmade Fabric Beads

Handmade Fabric Beads workshop

2012-01-20T12:22:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to announce that my new online video workshop

called Handmade Fabric Beads starts on Monday, January 23, 2012.

In this step-by-step video workshop, I will show you how to make the fabric beads illustrated above.

I also show you several creative versions of this design. With these beads, you can make fabric necklaces and bracelets, incorporate it into your mixed media fabric art, embellish home decor items like pillows and curtains, as well as, closures/buttons for fabric and art journals. Included in this workshop is information on free motion sewing, beading on fabric, how to bead a loop, beading a cascading fringe, a beaded picot and much more...

The clear and concise demonstrations will show you how to make

your own colorful collection of fabric beads from beginning to end.

A pdf file is also included which you can print and keep for future reference.

You have unlimited access to this video workshop,

this means that you have access to the workshop 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

You can watch, create and play at your own pace.... ALWAYS.

This workshop does NOT have an END DATE.

It is open and accessible to you at any time.

The use of a sewing machine is preferred, but you can adapt my instructions for hand sewing.

The workshop is held in a private site and only registered members are invited.

The videos are not downloadable.

Once you register, you will receive an email within 48 hours containing information about joining the private blog. As an additional feature, a Flickr group and a Pinterest board are also incorporated into this workshop for sharing and showcasing your work.

registration: $50.00

(USD)

-all sales are final-

-no refund after registration-

Handmade Fabric Beads starts January 23rd, 2012

To register, click on the ADD TO CART button.

STITCHED: showcase and giveaways

2012-01-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

The giveaway item of the week for a lucky STITCHED participant is
this boxed set of Aerofil Threads from Nancy's Notions.

here is a peek at what is coming up next, also from Nancy's Notions,

and at the end of the month, the winner of this Janome sewing machine will be announced.

inside STITCHED workshops

2012-01-11T12:21:00.000-05:00

This is the latest piece I made from one of the STITCHED workshops. Jennifer Ofenstein from sewhooked.com designed this pattern as an introduction to paper piecing. If you have never taken a paper piecing workshop, this is the place to start. Jennifer is a brilliant designer with an extensive collection of original designs which include the most amazing Harry Potter themed designs and an entire Harry Potter inspired alphabet.

These are by Penney Klaproth from Annie Hutchings' workshop called Fabric Flowers 101

This is by Tracie Lampe from her workshop called Bohemian Bag

And this is by Elizabethanne Embroideries.
From Dale Anne Potter's workshop called Journal Your Landscape

The growth of STITCHED has completely amazed me.....in just 10 days, it has grown to 115 participants. WOW! Such amazing projects and giveaways.

I am so excited to announce that Contemporary Cloth has joined in as one of the STITCHED supporters. This company is donating an awesome giveaway package for a lucky STITCHED registrant.

If you are a business/artist/sewing or mixed media company and are interested in showing your support, please email me at: almastoller (at) yahoo (dot) com

Click here to read more about STITCHED workshops

Happy New Year and Welcome to STITCHED

2012-01-03T12:03:00.000-05:00

The New Year has started out with a bang and the first giveaway (a Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine) has been posted in the STITCHED site. A winner will be announce February 1st 2012.

Yesterday, I received another wonderful giveaway package full of creative

and sewing supplies, all for a lucky STITCHED student.

At the moment, I am working on one of the STITCHED workshops by Jennifer Ofenstein.

STITCHED for the holidays

2011-12-22T13:44:00.006-05:00

still looking for a holiday gift?

fiber beads by Tracie Lampe

paper pieced block by Jennifer Ofenstein

embellished hearts by Tammy Gilley

quilt by Wendy Gratz

baby quilt and owl softie by Vanessa Wilson (Crafty Gemini)

http://almastoller.blogspot.com/p/register-stitched-workshops-2012.html

2011-12-17T21:02:00.000-05:00

STITCHED opens in two weeks and we simply can't wait.

Below is a trailer to Ann Tucker's class called Working in Wool: A Flower garden Pillow Workshop.

Do check it out.

The winner of the Blackbird Design fabrics is:

purplesunset24 said...

What beautiful fabric. I would love to win this set.

December 11, 2011

Congratulations:

Please email me your contact info.

Giveaway: Blackbird Designs

2011-12-09T12:01:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite stitching blogs is Blackbird Designs by Alma Allen....

(so cool that we have the same name)

Her work is completely different from what I do, but that is what I love about it. When I first started to seriously take up sewing, one of the first things that I taught myself to do was cross stitching, applique and whitework embroidery. Traditional embroidery was easy. The stitches where stored in memories....from watching my mother ornament pillowcases and cloth napkins....wow, those were the days as I've noted HERE.

Anyway, I am loving Alma's new line of fabrics, and at the moment, I am busy putting my embroidery skills to use and working on a project using her lovely fabrics. So, to celebrate the launch of my new collaborative project STITCHED, I thought I'd share the love with a giveaway.

This is my Christmas gift to a lucky reader. It's a bundle of fabrics by Blackbird Designs.

Someone is going to win.....why not you?

Comments are now closed

~~Simply leave a comment below.~~

~~A winner will be selected via random.org and announced on December 17th.~~

enjoy,

Alma

For more giveaway goodness,

STITCHED Giveaway: Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine

2011-12-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

I am excited to show you one of the giveaway items a lucky STITCHED student will get.

This is a Janome Sew Mini sewing machine.

Weighing in at only 5 pounds, it is simply one of the cutest machines out there....and it sews like a pro.

check out the line up of STITCHED instructors, many are also offering amazing giveaway.

Tracie Lampe, Tammy Gilley, Jackie Bowcutt, Paula Joerling, Cindy Caraway, Ann Tucker,

Jennifer Ofenstein, Nikki Wheeler, Karen Ruane, Joanna Martinez, Wendi Gratz, Dale Anne Potter, Penney Klaproth, Vanessa Wilson, Jill Verbick-O'Leary, Sara Lawson, Kelli Nina Perkins, Mollie Johanson, Deborah Boschert, Annie Hutchings

read more and register for STITCHED here.

Workshop Announcement

2011-12-01T00:01:00.034-05:00

After months of preparation, I am happy to finally announce the launch of STITCHED. It consists of 20 video workshops by 20 talented fabric artists teaching a variety of sewing and fabric art projects. Everything from quilting, paper piecing, mixed media fabric art, applique, fabric jewelry, embellishments, accessories and more. With lots of giveaways, learning, sharing and creating. Learn how to make all of the projects pictured below....plus much more.

To read more about STITCHED and to register, click

Here

how to make a paper necklace : Autumn Leaves

2011-11-23T06:00:00.008-05:00

We have been having beautiful autumn weather here.

So I thought of a perfect crafty project to help extend the colors and feel of this season.

The instructions below can be used for a Thanksgiving garland, an autumn themed table scape or any thing where a leaf-like shape is needed.

Collect some paper towel rolls.

Flatten a roll.

Cut it into 1/2 inch - 1 inch pieces.

Add glue around the edge.

Adhere it to a piece of card stock or a cereal box.

Let it dry and cut it out.

Cut around the leaf shape.

Adhere it to another piece of card stock/cereal box.

Let it dry.

Cut around it.

Prime it with gesso or paint it with white acrylic paint.

Paint it a color of your choice.

draw on it with a waterproof marker.

Pierce a hole through the sides of each leaf.

Use a large-eye needle to thread a ribbon through it.

Make a knot after each leaf in order to secure it in place.

enjoy!

Pin It

Video Tutorial: 101 coiled paper pieces

2011-11-18T06:25:00.009-05:00

tutorial: how to make coiled paper pieces.

Happy National Button Day

2011-11-16T00:01:00.003-05:00

via RettGrayson

This is a blurb I found on a site called Zany Holidays.

"Today, November 16th, is Button Day. Take this time to honor and recognize the humble button, so simple yet so important to our lives. Where would we be without the red button, not to be pushed under any circumstances? If you've ever worn a button-down shirt, winter jacket, pair of pants, or any sort of corporate ensemble, you're intimately familiar with buttons. Today, bask in your new-found awareness of these fasteners' importance, for without them, our apparel would be a sorry mess of flimsy snaps and busted zippers. True fanatics can join the National Button Society and obsess over buttons all year round."

Alma Stoller

I don't know how Button Day got started, but I am happy that it did.

I haven't met a fabric artist that wasn't a collector of buttons. Whether we are aware of it or not, it seems like we are all button hoarders. Whether of the Mother-of-Pearl kind, acrylics, metal, wooden, or the handmade bejeweled kind....we all stash them in tin containers, glass jars or in plastic bins. My favorite kind of buttons are the handmade kind...these are some of my polymer clay buttons.

Alma Stoller

Below are some beautiful photos by other artists that apparently share the same passion.

It is nice to know I am not the only one.

Are you a button collector?

via Chelsea Donnell

How do you store your button collection?

any suggestions?

Dirty Footprints Studio Presents: 21 Secrets 2012

2011-11-14T15:38:00.000-05:00

There are so many wonderful online workshops coming up in 2012. Aside from STITCHED, I am also participating in another round of the art journaling workshop called 21 Secrets.
Now, if you already know about 21 SECRETS, then you know that it is hosted by the super talented Connie Hozvicka, whose blog, Dirty Footprints Studio is one of my daily reads.

If you are new to 21 SECRETS, you'll be in for a delightful surprise.

21 amazing artists, 21 different and creative video workshops, a supportive community in a totally private site. I have created a really fun workshop exclusively for 21 SECRETS.

Read more about 21 SECRETS and the other participating artists HERE.

Aimee Dolich

http://www.artsyville.com

Alma Stoller

http://www.almastoller.blogspot.com

Christine Mason Miller

http://christinemasonmiller.com/

Christy Tomilson

http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/

Connie Hozvicka

http://www.DirtyFootprints-Studio.com

Dale Ann Potter

http://daleannepotter.com/

Diana Trout

http://dianatrout.typepad.com/blog/

Dina Wakley

http://dinastamps.typepad.com/

Dion Dior

http://diondior.blogspot.com/

Gina Rossi Armfield

http://sweetsistergina.typepad.com/

Jenica McKenzie

http://www.jenicamckenzie.com/

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/

Karin Bartimole

http://aviewbeyondwords.blogspot.com/

Kathryn Antyr

http://www.truenortharts.com

Kelly Barton

http://kellybarton.com/

Ken Robert

mildlycreative.com

Martha Lever

http://marthalever.blogspot.com/

Nolwenn Petitbois

http://inner-voices.net

Traci Bunkers

http://www.TraciBunkers.com

Tracie Hanson

http://www.mybloominglife.com

Zom Osborne

http://pinchmetoseeifyouaredreaming.blogspot.com/

productive streak

2011-11-07T17:55:00.000-05:00

I have been on a very productive streak lately and have been working on a few tutorials that I hope to finish up soon. I am also revamping a class I taught eons ago called She's So Unusual.

I have posted more information HERE

What are you working on?

How are you preparing for an awesome and creative 2012?

And now finally, the 5 winners of the artbeads.com giveaway packets are:

1) Edie

2) Molly

3) Lee

4) Kay M

5) Glenda

congrats and email me.

Introducing :STITCHED 2012 instructors

2011-11-03T15:38:00.004-04:00

STITCHED is a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 amazing and talented fabric artists. Each workshop provides you with high-value and high-content information to get you sewing, designing and creating.

I am also delighted to have the support of some amazing companies which will be providing me with some great giveaway items and products for several lucky STITCHED registrants.

You will also get a full video workshop about Fabric Jewelry by me, 5 additional mini video workshops, a printable pdf file which includes patterns and related instructions from each workshop, as well as the support of our awesome instructors in a completely private site.

STITCHED begins January 1st 2012
more information, giveaways, updates and surprises will be posted as we go along.

I am delighted to introduce you to the 20 amazing artists that are a part of STITCHED.

Annie comes from a family of seamstresses and quilters, so really had no choice in the matter. She was put in sewing classes each summer from a very young age, and couldn't be more grateful! She absolutely adores it. Annie works tirelessly for the online shop http://shopsewobsessed.com, founded by her Sister, Lorna Phillipy. She is a computer whiz, creative quilter, photographer, painter, artistic consultant etc. etc. etc! Not to mention devoted wife and mother of two. Annie was born in Illinois, but has lived most of her life in the Salt Lake City area, though she's been able to do some fun traveling as of late. She is fearless and a dynamo. She's got her finger on the pulse of all that is new and trendy. Believe it or not, she is a cosmetologist as well, plays the violin, sings, dances - great at anything she tries!

Blog: OriginateAndRenovate.blogspot.com

Deborah Boschert is a fiber artist living in Crofton, Maryland. In her busy basement studio she creates fabric collages, art quilts and other bits of crafty goodness. Her work is infused with personal symbols, unexpected materials and layers of detail. She has been published in several books and magazines and her art quilts have been seen all over the world. Her favorite color combination is green and purple and she kicks off every morning with a cuppa coffee and a crossword puzzle… after the kids get on their way to school!

Blog: www.DeborahsJournal.blogspot.com

Mollie Johanson, a trained graphic designer specializing in print projects, began her blog Wild Olive as an outlet for more whimsical works. Daily dreaming and doodling have resulted in a variety of embroidery and paper projects, most featuring simply expressive faces. Mollie, based in a far western suburb of Chicago, commutes daily to her in-home studio via the coffee pot.

Blog: www.WildOlive.blogspot.com

Jennifer Ofenstein is a quilter, pattern designer, instructor and enthusiastic all-around craft enabler from Austin, Texas. She's the owner and editor of Sewhooked and Fandom In Stitches, and hosts a craft vlog community called Talk To Me Tuesday. She enjoys all things whimsical and lives in crafty bliss with her husband, two kids and four cats.

Blog: www.SewHooked.com

Paula is well known for her beautiful illustrations, notably in her work with The Lang Companies. She was noted for incorporating fabric, stitched paper and found objects into her art. Always in search of inspiration, she scours flea markets, antique stores and garage sales in search of goodies to work into her mixed media pieces. Old department store catalogs, vintage wallpaper sample books, costume jewelry and buttons are some favorites. Although she is better known as an illustrator, the sound of paper being stitched has lured her back into the magical world of stitched paper collage and sculpture pieces and she couldn’t be happier. Her stitched paper dresses, shoes and flowers are quickly being picked up by collectors. Recently she was commissioned by The New York Metropolitan Opera to make paper reproductions of costumes from their collection.

Blog: www.PaulaJoerling.com

Sara Lawson is completely captivated by sewing. She is interested in sewing bags, women's and children's clothing, quilts, and home decor. In Chicago at her house, sewing hours are late at night after the kids are in bed, but somehow she manages to get projects done. Sewing pattern reviews, tutorials, and sew alongs are just some of the things that you can find on her blog.

Blog: www.SewSweetness.com

Karen Ruane is a freelance embroidery designer working from a little room in her family home. Inspired by women throughout history who have used cloth to create comfort and beauty for their families Karen works exclusively in hand embroidery techniques, continuing tradition and referencing motherhood. Qualified to Degree level Karen adores cloth, drinks too much coffee and can often be found supporting her local football, (soccer) team with her husband and son.

Blog: www.KarenRuane.blogspot.com

Fiber and mixed-media art have become a passion

for me and save my sanity from the craziness of being Mom. I discovered art quilting while browsing the magazine racks during a rare outing without children. I haven't looked back since. I love playing with color and texture. The softness of wool felt contrasted with shiny glass beads, the way fabric puckers each stitch, and the serendipitous mixing of wet paint all make my heart sing. Fiber and mixed-media allow me the opportunity to play without rules and experiment to my heart's content.

Blog: NikkiWheeler.blogspot.com

I am a UK textile artist with qualifications in Creative Studies (Embroidery). A recent Diploma in Art and Design introduced me to the medium of artists’ books, which has been the focus of recent work.

I am an avid blogger. A comment by a reader talked of my ‘endless inspiration’ and that she enjoyed following ‘where my imagination had taken me’. A comment which I feel nicely sums up my creative life. I enjoy many techniques with the hope that at times they come together to express a meaningful message.

Blog: Stitchworks-Jackie.blogspot.com/

Joanna is a quilt artist and designer specializing in needle-turn applique.

She loves modern fabrics, mini-quilts, and shopping at thrift stores. She enjoys baking bread, homemade milkshakes, reality TV (while quilting of course) and is not afraid of color.

Blog: www.AppliqueToday.blogspot.com

Wendi Gratz believes anyone can sew – and she's on a mission to teach them. She teaches men and women, adults and children – and she loves seeing what her students make. She specializes in bright and cheerful patterns, inspired by children's books and designed especially for beginners.

Blog: www.ShinyHappyWorld.com

Ann Tucker is a fiber artist who creates primarily with recycled wool. She works with recycled wool blankets and sweaters while throwing in hand crocheting or knitting into the mix. Leather and burlap are also found throughout her work. Ann loves purple, cozy homes, Canadian Bacon pizza, rummaging through estate sales, and…purple!

Blog: www.TheLavendarTree.blogspot.com

Cindy Caraway is a beadwork and fiber artist living in Dubuque, IA. Her award-winning jewelry creations have been featured in gallery shows across the U.S. and have appeared in major craft publications. To find out more about Cindy and her artwork

Blogs:

www.CynthiaStAnne.blogspot.com

www.ArtfulLivingOnTheBluff.blogspot.com

Dale Anne is a Textile Mixed Media artist who lives in a small town in SW Saskatchewan. She makes art because it brings her JOY every day. She is inspired everyday by the world around her — nature, its textures, rhythms and colours, the materials at hand, fabrics, paper, found objects, and the movement of life — provides her with the ideas and enthusiasm to create new work.

Visit my blog at: http://DaleAnnePotter.com/blog/

Penney creates mixed media books and journals inspired by textures, colors, and nature. The daughter of a seamstress (and now a quilter) she absorbed information by osmosis and loves to sew. A hobbyist photographer she incorporates her photos into art as much as possible. Along with photos, Penney adds recycled items, mementos, and bits from nature in unusual ways. Most pieces are finished with zen-like hand stitching. A teacher by trade she loves to share her knowledge and techniques with others hoping to inspire creativity wherever she goes.

http://FaerieAcres.blogspot.com

I love to create, and I make lots of different things. I love that about my brain and about my hands...they work together to turn ordinary items into art. I started stitching since the first day I could hold a needle and thread in my hand, and haven't stopped since. My mom and my grandmother gave me sewing lessons at the dining room table. I've had a love of creating my whole life, and am now fortunate enough to share my love of stitching with other creative souls. I live and create in Portland, Oregon.

blog: www.TammyGilley.com

Tracie is a "maker of things". She loves all things fiber but her favorite medium to work with is trash.

Everyone has it so why not use it! She loves chewing bubble gum, blowing bubbles, hot summer days & laughing until she cries. Check out my book Upcycled Accessories: 25 Projects Using Repurposed Plastic.

Blog:

http://RadicalRecycks.blogspot.com/

Vanessa Wilson is the founder and proprietor of Crafty Gemini, LLC, a sewing, quilting, cooking and crafting video tutorial business that showcases her many talents via her YouTube channel- TheCraftyGemini. After graduating from law school and getting married in 2008, Vanessa (with the help of her husband) decided to turn her passion for creativity and teaching others into a business. She loves teaching practical and functional skills to anyone willing to learn. She is a published quilt pattern designer and long arm quilter. Vanessa has also been featured in the New York Times and on ABC's 20/20 for her crafting tutorials on YouTube. She credits her clear and concise style of instruction with her success. Vanessa lives with her husband and their two children near Gainesville, FL.

Blog: CraftyGemini.blogspot.com

I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. My art is a reflection of my curious outlook on life and my love of diversity and individuality. I believe there are no limitations to the imagination. I am self-taught, but owe my love of handmade and my joy of creating to my mom and my grandma. They celebrated the things I made and never yelled about the mess I left behind. I am crazy about working with fabric, fibers and color. There are just so many inspiring techniques, materials and subjects in this world, it's hard to focus on just a few. I believe in using the highest quality materials. I use a lot of up-cycled materials in my work. We all need to care for our mother earth! Adding vintage and pre-loved materials infuses a bit of history into each piece. I made the switch to fine crafts after over 35 years as a fine artist and portrait painter. It has given my creative identity a new life and a fresh outlook. It just goes to show that you can never stop learning and dreaming!

Blog: Sew Old Sew New, www.sooldsonew.blogspot.com

Kelli Nina Perkins is a librarian, teacher and mixed media artist; in no particular order. She is the author of "Stitch Alchemy: Combining Fabric & Paper for Mixed Media Art" and has been turning common life into art for more than a decade. She's enjoyed writing for Cloth Paper Scissors, appearing on Quilting Arts TV and teaching textile arts. Kelli loves roller derby, handmade soap and stitching the unexpected.

Blog: www.EphemeralAlchemy.blogspot.com

a spotlight on the work table

2011-11-02T12:33:00.000-04:00

These are a few of the Glossy pieces I've been working on.

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T14:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween 2011

This year, I am actually going to dress up a bit and I am

starting by wearing this Bad Fairy wig.... but honestly, I can see myself wearing it all year.

Hooray for neon pink.

Julian and I decided to make

some Oreo Spiders for his karate school Halloween Party.

These are super easy to make.

giveaway: ArtBeads

2011-10-28T16:12:00.001-04:00

ArtBeads.com has been such an amazing support of my year long embroidery project

called The Glossy Project, that a few months ago I received a

package full of their amazing products.

HERE is a tutorial and a product review I did a few months ago.

ArtBeads.com has provided me with 5 giveaway packages.

Each lavender organza bag has 5 packets of beads, in different colors and sizes.

To win an organza bag with 5 packets of ArtBeads.com beads,

simply leave a comment below.

Five winners will be selected via random.org and

announced on Monday, November 7th 2011

Also, check out my Facebook Page for other upcoming

giveaways, related products and projects.

enjoy!

Introducing : STITCHED

2011-10-25T17:21:00.002-04:00

I have been busy setting up the most awesome and

most creative fabric related project I have ever been a part of.

STITCHED is a collection of online video workshops featuring sewing and

fabric art projects from an eclectic and talented group of artists.

For 89.00 you get a total of 20 unique workshops by 20 amazing artists.

I will be teaching a class called:

In addition to the 20 workshops,

I will also be including 5 extra mini sewing video projects.

STITCHED is all about fabric art designs, textile art, embroidery,

beading, sewing and every sort of needle art imaginable.

I am so excited to finally provide sewing enthusiasts with a

collection of all fabric-based workshops.

I will be posting more about it soon.

I Heart: Books

2011-10-22T09:26:00.003-04:00

I inhaled Breaking Dawn. I couldn't put it down.

I am beyond excited about the upcoming movie.

What are you reading these days?

The winner of the necklace and beads is:

Cynthia Hanna

in Stitches issue no. 5 and giveaway

2011-10-13T00:01:00.023-04:00

I am so excited to show you the latest issue of Quilting Arts, in Stitches e-magazine.

I wrote an article on how to make these fabric beads called The New Beads On The Block.

Issue no. 5 is available on itunes and also available for your ipad.

How super cool is that!

in Stitches e-magazine

To celebrate the launch of this new issue, I am giving away a necklace I made using

The New Beads On The Block and a baggie of New Beads On The Block beads.

Simply leave a comment below and a winner will be randomly selected

via random.org on Friday, October 21st 2011, 9 pm EST.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, October 22nd.

I just started a Facebook fan page, 'LIKE' and double your chances of winning.

Check out the work of the other artists who participated in this issue.

Tour Schedule:

Monday 10/10 Lindsey Murray http://quiltingdaily.com

Tuesday 10/11 Larkin Van Horn http://blog.larkinart.com

Wednesday 10/12 Cheryl Sleboda http://blog.muppin.com

Thursday 10/13 Alma Stoller ...... this post

Friday 10/14 Therese May http://theresemay.blogspot.com

Monday 10/17 Barb Forrister http://barbforrister.com/category/blog

Tuesday 10/18 Carol Ann Waugh http://carolannwaugh.com/blog/

Wednesday 10/19 Jane Davila http://janedavila.blogspot.com

The Glossy Project in Creative Pilgrimage Book by Jenny Doh

2011-10-07T11:46:00.000-04:00

glossies

2011-10-05T18:08:00.000-04:00

You can read more about The Glossy Project HERE

Rose's Quilt

2011-08-30T15:10:00.002-04:00

This is the very first quilt I ever made.

Many projects came before this one, but this one was the first completed....labeled and all.

This quilt is always around.

It has gone from the crib to the stroller.

From her bed to the couch.

Someone is always tangled up in it, under it, beside it...

and it seems we aren't even aware of it.

Even the cats gravitate to it.

I made it when she was two, and it got me thinking about how this piece of cloth has witnessed 12 years of our family's history. Made from fabrics I bought in a little country store in Vermont. Each heart is hand appliqued and made out of scrap from dresses

Rose outgrew or that were too raggedy to hand down.

Rose wearing one of the dresses I recycled

I remember that it didn't take me very long to finish it, even though

I really didn't know what I was doing.

It is now old and worn, but I think better for it because of what it has endured.

We forget that it isn't any ordinary piece of cloth. It isn't a thing made 'special' by the person who made it. For me, it isn't just a thing to hang up on the wall to soften the echo in a room. It isn't even a thing to look at and simply admire as much as it is a thing to live with, nestle in, drag about and love with all your heart.

I suppose the real issue here is that this whole thing has gone just way too fast and

Rose's Quilt is here as a reminder of those baby moments I love so much.

Rose is now 14 and about to start high school in September.

I am left wondering, how did this all happen so fast.

I am sure.....positive it is a universal feeling.... but this little homespun piece of nearly shredded cloth holds memories, carries a weight and a history only it knows and when we stop to hold and look at it....we can begin to remember every little step along the way.

The evidence of what it was, what it meant and what it now still is, is found in photographs, in the many places it travelled with us, in the memories we hold so close to heart. So, the point is this.....get your treasured quilts out of the closet, and use it in your everyday life. It can't be a 'treasured' item if it hasn't been loved and lived in. It will never be considered 'treasured' or mean anything to anyone that matters to you if it hasn't been used somehow. I think it holds little meaning to a child if it has been folded in a closet somewhere. I want them to look back and say... "Hey, remember when I couldn't fall asleep without it... Remember when I made the first rip in it. Remember when paint splattered all over it. Remember when we almost lost it in the rain."

Allow it to have a colorful and splendid history.

Rose and Julian on the quilt

I guess that can be said about anything dear and loved.....

and that is all a part of the continued legacy of

Rose's Quilt.

Rose (age 14)