Sunday, May 8, 2016

My Inheritance

As I write, I note that it is Mother's Day.  My mother left us 13 years ago, but I honor her for her love, her art, her laughter and her appreciation of what makes each individual unique.  Another quality, which has impacted my life is her bulldog stubbornness in some circumstances.  This comes in very handy in quilting as I seem to have inherited this quality to some extent.

I have been making stars to kill time.  I finished one, which I had re-designed and discovered that I didn't plan for the correct meeting of two points.  I still like the design, but I had to throw out what I had done because there was no way I could figure out how to redeem it.  My bulldog gene has not left me though.  I will do the design correctly and re-make the star.  Wasted fabric is not an issue - I'm trying to get rid of what is left from the Phoenix and there is plenty more for the star project.

If you have followed this blog you know about the troubles I had with my Phoenix quilt.  It was created from a drawing by my teenage granddaughter.  I ran into one problem after another, but that bulldog gene enhanced my determination to get it done and to do it right.  In the end, after 1 1/2 years of stitches and ripping, I finally finished.  It has been to its first show, HMQS (Home Machine Quilting Show) in Salt Lake City.  It is was granted a Judge's Choice award.

Finally I can unveil my mythological bird and show you the finished product.

Phoenix Arising
I will be taking a three week blog-cation due to family commitments.  If I have time I will stack up a couple of posts with some favorite photos.  Photos often inspire my quilting so I consider them apropos in moderation for this venue.

Sew many happy seams in the next three weeks.




9 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous! Such amazing use of color in the bird...congratulations on the win.

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  2. Mardi, your mother left a great legacy - Bull dog tenacity will get you through many a rough spot. Your Phoenix is stunning! Well worth the work and your granddaughter must love it too!

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  3. That is a wonderful quilt - congratulations! Enjoy your blogging vacation. :) Thanks for linking to MCM.

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  4. WOW! It certainly deserved that award! I've been curious about the full phoenix since I first saw it, and I am not disappointed. :)

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  5. Your finished Phoenix is certainly a beauty, Mardi. How wonderful to have it in the show and to win such a prestigious award! Congratulations!

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  6. Lovely! What a great family collaboration. Congratulations on the award!

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  7. What a beauty. A well deserved win.

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  8. Beautiful quilt, it has been so neat to watch your journey with it! Congrats on the award!

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