Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2013

It's that time again!  Amy has put together another

Blogger's Quilt Festival.

This is such a great event in the quilting community.

We get to see what inspires everyone,

and what they are up to.

So if you are new to my blog, welcome!

And if you have been here before, welcome back!

This time around I am showing a medallion quilt that I have just finished.

This quilt is very special to me for a number of reasons.

I started the middle blocks thinking I would make a quilt like this one

for myself, after I had given this one to my daughter.

Funny enough, I showed that quilt last fall.

More on that in a bit.

Then I was asked to make a quilt for a donation to a special charity.

So I took those four center blocks and started on my way.

I used a inspiration quilt from Kathy's Material Obsession.

You can see the post about that here.

As usual, I jumped right in with no plan or measurements.
I did some flying geese and corner stones.  I added a striped border.
Then . . . 

I changed a few things.  I didn't like the small striped border above,

So I switched it out with a smaller green border below.

I loved the finished top so much!

And it would be hard to part with . . . but . . .

I chose channel quilting, using the edge of my presser foot

to measure the width of the 

channels.

A Denise Schmidt print for the binding.

I love to photograph my quilts at the beach!

The sun is so great this time of year.

I love a pieced backing.  The backing didn't  photograph so well, but I love the polka dots

on the bottom half of this quilt.  My new favorite!

So where is this donation quilt going you ask?

Well, I didn't talk about it here, but last year I had breast cancer.

There, I said it.  I want this place to be about creativity and moving forward.
I wasn't ready to "let the world" know.

And now that I have moved forward, it is easier to talk about it.

I am fine.

I won.

I don't ever give up.

My darling daughter, "the kid," took amazing care of me last year.

There were only giggles and hope.

Maybe a couple of tears, but honestly not many.

So the quilt that I showed last year at this festival, was a gift to her for all that she so 

selflessly did for me.

It is only fitting that this new quilt with the same stars goes to a cause so close to my heart.

 This quilt is going to the Breast Cancer Alliance silent auction

in two weeks in Greenwich, CT.  I hope they make a ton of dough!

And here is a picture of me with my new niece a few weeks ago.

Life goes on, hair grows back.

Never give up!

Thank you Amy for another wonderful festival.