I finished! Yippee! Not only finished but I flew it across the country, wrapped it up in pretty paper and hand delivered it to my precious niece, Christin Morrow. I have to say, I’m quite proud of myself because there’s something you don’t know about me. I finish 95% of the projects I have to do for work but only a measly 20% of projects I want to make for loved ones. Geesh, something’s wrong with that picture. That will have to be my resolution for 2012.
When I do get the opportunity to make something for someone I absolutely love the process because I get to focus on the recipient. During the Bubble Quilt, I added a dash of purple fabrics because Christin loved purple during her childhood. I thought of the days we spent splashing in the ocean and playing in the sand and picked fabrics with watery themes. I thought of how she has grown into a beautiful young woman – a very smart young woman and worried that the quilt would live up to her adult standards. But mostly I thought of the joy she is about to experience with the birth of her new child in a few months.
I got to spend the whole weekend with Christin and her husband, Tom, at her parents’ home (my oldest sister, Mary Pat and her husband Aldo). There were a bunch of us as their family keeps growing. Now there’s a new fiancé (to daughter Kim), a sweet boyfriend (to daughter Regina) and a dog (a first in that family).
If a reunion like that was at the end of every project on my list, I think I would complete them all. Here’s a quick look at the mom-to-be, four of my five sisters and my dear mom at the baby shower.
Christin Morrow, Liz Scully, Mary Pat Palombo, Betty Ward (seated), Theresa Ward Murray, Marie Zinno and me.
But enough of the celebration. Let’s take a look at the quilt!
Here’s a bit of the process. I worked on quilt sandwich strips of white fabric/batting/backing adding circles spaced 1 ½” apart. Then, I auditioned the strips on the design wall. I wanted to space the darker value circles evenly across the quilt.
After a little rearranging, I taped a piece of painter’s tape to each strip and numbered them. Numbering the strips saves confusion later on if the strips get out of order. I also placed the tape at the top of each strip so I would know what end was up.
Then it was time to piece. The reversible piecing technique is fast and manageable. I built the quilt in segments then seamed the two larger segments together. It was less fabric to wrestle under the needle.
And oh yes, I bound the quilt – in the traditional method. If you’ve attended one of my seminars then you know how I often cheat on binding. Sometimes I fuse the binding to the quilt. But not the Bubble Quilt, I went the extra length and did it the right way.
Next week – Handbags! Finally, it’s time reveal all those handbags Nancy Zieman and I made this summer. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog so you get first notice on new posts.
Happy Stitching!
|
|
|
|
|
Email this post
this is very nicely done ,great job
great job
I prefer a bound book. I have downloaded ebooks but I find I am printing out the pages that I want to use in my sewing. I like to have the book up in my sewing room next to my machine when working on a project. I like to be able to easily flip through the book for reference–page, by page…..
Beautiful job! I prefer e-books since I am now running out of places to put all of my hardbound books!
“Books vs EBooks” is a very difficult question for me because I am a librarian who automated libraries (once upon a time) so I should also appreciate the immediate satisfaction that an automated product brings. However, I tend to not take ebooks, well, seriously. I don’t get them filed where I can find them. I tend to just staple them together at the corner, rather than put them in a three-ring binder so they aren’t easy to work with. I love the feel of a good cover on a book. I love the ability to look at the title on the binding. I enjoy being able to flip back and forth between chapters and pictures to fully understand the process that I am trying to learn. So, I guess I would have to say that books are my favorite of the two. Sherrie
I still like to be able to god the book and flip through the pages. I have a Nook, but I haven’t tried any quilting or embroidery books on it yet.
I like ebooks. The titles I’m interested in are not often available locally and I have to order them on line. I like the immediate gratification of downloading a book or pattern right away and they don’t get dog-eared from me looking through them!
Love ebooks they are sooooo handy especially when I have so much paper patterns laying around waiting to have holes punched in them for the beautiful binders I have made, BUT I love the feel and look of real books too! I am torn
Gee, aren’t we all?
I love both,(1) books are really easy to “get” to if you are in a hurry for both information and ideas,(2) E-books are good if you have some “spare” time to browse for information, probably cheaper to.
I still like having the book in hand, although I can see that storage and organization are going to require some changes in the future.
Love the Bubble Quilt. Great arrangement and color combination!!! Ebook vs. hard copy…I like to have the real thing. A book to hold in my hand and within easy reach fir reference!!! So my vote is for a book not an ebook!!!
Beverly, what a great last name! Life really is a Beach in your house.
Definitely ebooks! They are compact and continue to remain in perfect condition!
Real paper and books on sewing are my fav. There is something about holding a book and reading about my next project while sewing on the current project! Just pulled out an old book of crafts with ‘bazaar stitchery’ from years past. Patterns and everything included.
I love a REAL book. I love flipping through the pages over and over again.
Love the Bubble Quilt! What a Great Gift…. I still like to have the book….seems like I look at projects more often with a book versus looking on my pc..
So bright and cheerful . . . a real winner!!
I still like to curl up on my chair in the evening & read a book. Your quilt is lovely and the story that goes with it quite endearing. Keep it up.
Thanks for your kind words, Pat.
I love your bubble quilt. I like to read books, the e-book just doesn’t seem like a book to me.
My preference is always books. They are like mysteries and treasures. Something to hold on to, something to dream on and something to love
I prefer books. Something about opening the binding and learning something new everytime I read them
Eileen, Your Bubble Quilt turned out great!
I am torn between e-books and real books. If I actually had a reader other than my computer, I might lean more toward the electronic version. I love the simplicity of storing and toting the electronic versions. On the other hand,I love going to the library and bringing home a big stack of craft/sewing/quilting/embroidery books to flip through.
I prefer books over e-books. I love the look and feel of them. Somehow, an e-books doesn’t seem as important as one that is professionally bound.
Oh, I have to say books! I like to use my hands and fingers in the the Table of Contents and the Index as I look up what I need and flip through photos, outlines and bullet points. I am a “touchy-feely” person – more tactile I guess you would say. Just another way to experience the book. Maybe that’s why I’m such a fabriholic at heart.
I like having both. As I am working, for sewing, quilting or embroidery, I’d like to have a spiral bound book. But, e-books are great for searching and highlighting.
Your quilt is beautiful. One of these days I’ll complete several quilts that I have started.
Ooooh that’s a toughy, book vs ebook. If its a short book then ebook is fine then I can either save to my computer or print out what I want. If its a instructional type book w/ illustrations then I want a regular book to refer back to especially if its machine embroidery.
dee
p.s love the bubble quilt and loved seeing the pic of all the ladies.
I have to go with real books. I like holding a book in my hand, flipping the pages and then flipping back in case I forgot what I read or to understand better. I like the feel of the book in my hand. Maybe one of these days I’ll try out my husbands IPad, but for now I prefer real books!
BTW, your quilt is beautiful!
I love both e-books and real books!! Totally love reading. E-books are great for instructional and things you don’t need to keep for ever. Real books are good for going back to like recipes, however, recipes are sure easier to find on line, just not necessarily your all time fave. LOL Just give me any kind of book.
I prefer books, I can carry it with me to read while sitting in a waiting room, use it as bedtime reading and just pick it up to page through it to take me into my quiet world. Just anytime I want to enjoy it.
Your quilt is quite beautiful and I am sure your niece loves it! I prefer books b/c I like to riffle through the pages which is hard to do on an e-book… just a little old fashioned, lol
Greta
How refreshing to find someone else who has a hard time getting “round tuit” when it comes to family gifts!
As for books, at this time I think I still prefer books to e-books. Books can be drug out at any hour of the day or night, e-books, except for quick projects, would have to be printed out and then stashed somewhere “just in case” I decided to do the project one more time. I’m concered too with storage space on my computer, it’s getting to the limits, which means it’s time for a cleanout.
LOVE the bubbles, I sure your neice will also. I prefer books to e-book. Besides being easier to read, I like to hold and take the book where ever I go – a comfy chair, to bed, to the patio, to work. . . It doesn’t need to be plugging in and it’s relaxing.
thanks. aurora
For sewing and craft books, I prefer a printed book – like to be able to open the book up and set it on my work table. I love ebooks, but mainly for novels and books that I am reading cover-to-cover; sewing books are more instructional and made for viewing during use.
I like real books and always have. I like to be able to refer back to a part of a pattern or process as I go along, or to refer to my library on a certain subject without having to remember where a stapled ebook printout is, or in what binder I may have put the printed pages. I don’t like to have to scan pages on my computer screen, it’s too time-consuming to me. I want a book so I can turn the pages. I, too, love the feel of a book in my hands, as others have said.
I like real books. That way I can take them with me to read over while watching the grandkids or watching TV. I tend to loose pages that I have printed out since they get mixed up with all the other paper I have around. Plus, I’m always out of ink when I really want to print something. Books have MUCH better pictures than what my printer makes.
I prefer real books for embroidery/sewing/quilting books
Congratulations! I’m pressed! See you soon.
I love the bubble quilt. I love the speed of downloading a e-book and not having to wait for delivery though I do miss the feel of turning the pages (actual pages that is).
Wow! Your bubble quilt is fabulous! Your niece will treasure it forever, regardless of her quilting standards.
It’s hard to find sewing related e-books, and I love the portability of reading on my phone or e-reader. It would be wonderful to see if the portable reference would translate to easier sewing.
I prefer books to e-books for embroidery/sewing, etc. This way I can make my notes in the book and refer back to it on the next project. There is just something about turning the pages in a real book and making notes and underlining – it makes it so much more personal.
ebooks! I keep my Kindle reader on my nightstand and read a chapter or so before drifting off. I’m hoping that reading about a new project will kickstart my dreams into creating a new project of my own.
I have to agree with many of the above posts. Love a “book in hand” but also love the convenience of ebooks. As for knowing where my ebooks are, I keep them in files on my computer and can usually find them much quicker than the traditional book on the many bookshelves in my sewing space. I know that I can say that I have never been dissappointed with any book that you have authored whether traditional or ebook. Thank you for all your inspiration.
You’re welcome, Judy. What a lovely comment!
I definitely want craft books in book form. I need the photos, and directions and details right there in front of me.
Hmmm… I love ebooks for projects and patterns, but traditional books with large projects and instructions, I still like to have the book in hand. Just call me old-fashioned.
I really only know about real books, as I do not have the ability to get e-books yet. If it is a Mostly picture type of book I believe I would prefer a regular book, but for reading a story, an e-book. A little bird has told me that Santa may be bringing a new Kindle Fire to me on X-Mas, so I assume in the future I will prefer a mix of books.
Books, I collect books, all kinds,cookbooks, sewing, embroidery,craft, etc. When I purchase ebooks, I end up printing the articles that I like. There is nothing more enjoyable than sitting down in my chair with a book. Look thru it and plan what I want to do next.
Your quilt is beautiful!
I would have to say I love real books, but for saving space and long time storage I would like the ebooks. I am running out of space in my sewing room.
I like both! I have a kindle that goes everywhere with me and I like to have the ebook to read and study the project while waiting in line at the bank, on the ferry, etc. But I like the actual book in my sewing room because it is easier to move back and forth through the pages, make notes, and highlight important things.
Great job on the quilt – it is great!
What a lovely quilt. I love my kindle for reading books, but when it comes to quilting, knitting or cookbooks, I prefer old fashioned books. I like leafing through a book and putting it out on my coffee table or nightstand to leaf through when I have a few moments of quiet time. Somehow printed pages stapled together or in a three ring binder just aren’t that same.
Love the Bubble Quilt. I see the debate on real or ebooks. I still love real books for my projects (sewing, quilting and machine embroidery) but love ebooks for regular reading. If I see something on the computer that I want to do later I usually print it out but how do I find it later, that is the big problem. Maybe after the 1st of the year when I buy a tablet I will then change my mind on ebooks for everything but then again maybe not.
Love the Bubble Quilt. Call me old-fashioned but I still prefer the hard-copy books. I love to sit down and page through a book. Just don’t get the same feeling from e-books. I do print off things I find online and file them for later reference.
I do love my books but when you have four book cases full and no more room e books are your only option.As I have recently had to down size to a unit that is when you find it a problem with all the books.I can now take my e-reader with me anywhere and it takes up no space at all. Love the Bubble Quilt
There is a place for both in my life. I have a Nook which I love and use a lot since I don’t buy any more recreational reading hard copy books. I went this route because I don’t have any more room in my bookshelves. However, I prefer embroidery or quilting books to be hard copy because it is easier to really see the techniques and instructions being presented that way since most of them are 8 1/2 x 11. I am working on re organizing so there will be a little more shelf room for embroidery/quilt books.
Love the Bubble Quilt! It is so cheerful–a lucky Mom-to-be and lucky baby!
I have always loved reading. My mom used to tell me to go out and play during the summer, as all I did was lay around reading books! I also appreciate technology, so it is a difficult decision. However, for sewing/craft type books, hard-cover for sure is the winner–the photos and fabric colors are so vivid. And I can take these books to the sandy beach to while away the hours(dreaming of my next project) and not worry about the sand getting into the electronics.
Solid tactile real books have it way over efairial ebooks any day. Something I can lay open beside me as I work and book-mark for a quick flip to a referance that I may need.
Note you are not the only one on that 20% completion list for friends and relatives. The only thing worse is my completion list for myself. Yes we really need to do something about that.
Since today is my birthday I decided to spend some time on your blog…Love all the things that I have purchased from you and also enjoyed meeting you in Illinois….Wish you would make a trip to Milwaukee….Lots of people would love your seminars. I love your circle quilt and I vote for both real books and ebooks. I prefer books for instruction type things so that I can page back and forth, but love my Kindle for recreational reading.
Happy Birthday Jan!
I have not used an ebook yet but I like both hard or soft cover books; can’t have too many books. Embroidery, quilting, sewing, and cook books you can use paper clips or post-it notes on the page or pages to go back to easily. I’ve had the books laying beside me as I work on a project so that I can follow the instructions. When I get a new book, I’ll flip through the pages first so that I can see the lovely pictures and later read it.
The quilt is lovely.
This is awesome. Where can we find the pattern for this.
Coming soon!
I am really getting into Ebooks now. It is so handy to have all the books on my reader and take it anywhere I want to go.
I love “real” books. They travel every where and are easy to share. I love to mark pages of future quilts to make or projects to do. I love spending time just looking through different books and getting inspired.
In this day and age reading is so very important. I love setting an example for my grandchildren with my stash of hard copies and my slowing growing ebook section.
I like ebooks. I have the nook, but I mainly use my ipad. I can bookmark, highlight, and even “bend” the corners. I can flip back and forth between bookmarked pages much quicker. I even do my recreational reading on it.
Love the bubble quilt. Love the use of colors and the designs is not too “girly” love love love it.
I have to say that as I’m running out of bookshelf space, it would have to be ebooks becoming my favorites in a rapid way! LOL! Love the bubble quilt and the tips for making it effectively, too.
I do not have an ipad or other device that I can browse through on the go. So I guess my choice would be a traditional book that I can carry with me wherever I may go.
The quilt is gorgeous! I want one!
I like ebooks because they are ecofriendly and they don’t clutter up my shelves.
Although ebooks are convenient for storage or on the go sometimes they are a bit inconvenient when I am at my sewing machine trying to follow a pattern. I usually photocopy the pages I need for easier reference and I can tuck the pattern away with the project if need be and I will know what I am (was) doing when the project is pulled out again. There usually isn’t any space around my sewing machine anyway to set my laptop. Too much thread, fabric and supplies that I need at hand. My vote would be for the actual book.
For sewing and crafting I prefer a paper book. There are usually lots of pictures and my e-reader is black and white. Also, those books tend to be in pdf format, which is akward if you need to enlarge the font size. For stories, though I prefer my reader.
Congrats Eileen on finishing the Bubble Quilt – I absolutely love it. I’m especially proud of you for finishing it with “real” binding!!!
) Anyway, I prefer to purchase embroidery, sewing and quilting books. I look at a computer all day and sometimes I like to come home and actually read a book. Plus, when I work on a project, I can always add notes to pages because I have a habit of always changing something in a pattern. Hope you are enjoying our cooler Texas weather – I definitely am. Take care.
Beautiful job on the bubble quilt. The colors you chose are very pretty together. I guess I’m just old fashion, I like real books. I am always refering back to them for something and that’s just so much easier for me. Not only that I make notes in them for future reference (the older I get the more I forget). But my husband would rather me invest in ebooks to save space.
Hooray for the old-fashioned book!
Congratulations to Mary!
I just love your bubble quilt, such a fun piece. I have been thinking about making a circle quilt, fun way to use speciality fabrics, too. I have gotten some ebooks and have not been thrilled with them. The reader is slow and it doesn’t always print out the right pages, so prefer real books. I do like epatterns though.
Debbie
That quilt turned out nice!! So glad it was done on time – that’s always a plus, huh! Christin will love that you included some purple for her too!
I like that I can instantly access the ebooks (no waiting on snail mail), but, I like hard copy because I can over and over the pics, and make notes if I need to, and even take the books along to doctor’s appts & other waiting times.
Thanks for the great giveaway!!
Wow!!! Beautiful quilt and I can’t wait for the pattern! I read the posts regarding ebooks and “real” books..I, too, am torn, but I’m definitely running out of space for “real” books. And, I can usually find ebooks easier by doing a search on my laptop…but, I need to remember to keep my back up hard drive up to date!!!
Looks good.
I like the hard copy/paperback books because I can take them anywhere, mark the pages, and read them in a lot of places. For instance I wouldn’t take an ebook reader into the bathroom.
Your Bubble Quilt is lovely, you have given me and idea for family
friend’s wedding present. Books are the best at my age I want to pass them to my daughter and granddaughters. Something about a book that never goes away and can be shared with friends and family. Technology is great but somethings need to stay so we can go back to enjoy our memories and dreams. Your niece will be able to tell her children you made the lovely quilt just for her. Thanks for sharing!
Love the Bubble Quilt! I prefer hard copy books. I’ve always loved to read and I really enjoy looking through quilting/embroidery books and the beautiful pictures of projects that so inspire me.
The bubble quilt is delicious !! As for e-books compared to books..
e-books live in that computer netherworld…I think as seamstresses and quilters we are tactile people…I love to touch and feel and smell the book. A book is an invitation to curl up next to the fire, make a cup of tea and FEEL what we read, caress each page we turn and fall into the pictures….cannot do that with the glare of a computer screen sitting at a desk…or curled with a laptop. ..give me a real book everytime..I will pay for it…
I love the Bubble quilt. You did a great job, and I really like the colors. I have the same problem as you do, I have a lot of unfinished projects; I seem to get started with a quilt, and the next thing I know, it is sitting in a pile, and I am back at the embroidery machines!! One was not enough, just seemed to be too slow, so now I have two, and they are generally both running at the same time. Then I put the quilt in a container, and I am lost; it is back to embroidery. I like regular books, not an ebook, and I really like them if I am lucky enough to have a DVD in the back that shows what the book is all about. That way, I can watch the video with the book open, and make notes on the various projects. For my everyday reading, I also prefer to have a regular book in my hand. I read a lot, always have, and I am fortunate to be able to read very fast. The bad part of that is the books get finished way too quick!
I loooove All About Blanks, they sure have a lot of my money!! They have absolutely the best blanks to embroider—and I can find almost anything there that I want to work on.
Oh, I love the bubble quilt. I am ready to dive into my stash and make several for the local House of Mercy that was damaged by fire last week.
Love the bubble quilt as well as it’s story!! I am a lover of hard-bound books rather than ebooks. I end up printing out the ebooks anyway ……….
Love the quilt, it’s beautiful! For sewing and quilting I prefer books, even though I own an ereader for most of my other books. Having a book-in-hand is easier for browsing and viewing pictures. I have one or two sewing ebooks though, and it’s nice to have them for convenience.
Love your quilt!! I is just fabulous!! For sewing and cooking, I prefer the hardbound or paperback books.
Gail
Boy thats a beautiful bubble quilt.
As far as a E-book or regular book thats an easy one. I prefer
a regular book over all. Books are more likely to be enjoyed if
you can take it with you anywhere. I like to carry them with me
to places where i will be waiting around for appointments and to
games and just about anywhere. Interesting question though.
Dear Eileen,
Hi! How are you all on the other side of the world,
Thank you for the beautiful quilt,I am going to make it because i have the accuquilt cutter and cuts out the circles a lot quicker,
I have all of your magazines,You all do beautiful work,Keep up the
good work.I also completed a cert 3&4 in digitising.I have been digitising for about 10 years now,but have been embroidering for 20
years.You have really good tips in the magazines which is really good for all embroiders.
Thank you
Regards
Caroline
Thank you for sharing your beautiful quilt and the special meaning and love you incorporated to make such a wonderful gift for your niece. I always like making gifts for others best too and traditional books for inspiration and instruction win in my opinion as I always feel the need to print the ebook in the end.
I love to be able to sip a cup of tea while browsing through a book and dreaming of all the projects that would be fun to make.
So, I prefer that to e-books.
The bubble quilt is precious. What a great use of color and composition.
I really like books, ebooks are fine but I prefer real books I can touch.
I prefer books. My satellite internet connection is so painfully slow that I just don’t enjoy ebooks.
I like both ebooks and regular books. For sewing, I prefer a regular book, but other readings are convenient on my Kindle.
I like books for when I am sewing so I can refer to them. I like ebooks when I am travelling as it saves the weight in the suitcase. I think I will always be buying both.
I like the real thing so I can easily go back and re-read something or refer to pictures, charts, etc. But, when traveling, my Kindle wins because of the space it requires (or doesn’t require!).
PS: Your quilt is a winner!
Your, Bubbles Quilt is adorable!
I prefer books. There is something about the feel and smell of a new book. E-books are convenient and take up less space, but books are the best. I especially like my quilting books spiral bound, but they are hard to find.
Hello Karen,
I, too, like my embroidery and quilting books spiral bound. To get this done is easy, I simply take it to a printshop, they cut off the binding, punch the holes, and add the spiral binding for me. It takes maybe 10 minutes, and cost less than $3.00. Hope this helps you, I know it makes them easier to read when they lay flat.
I like regular books. I have shelves of them. When I want information from a book for sewing I want to be able to open it up and have it by my elbow. Bought a book on CD and the 1st think I did was take it to the office supply store and have it printed!
Technology is great, but for quilting I like to have a book to look at and refer to. I usually check out my books from the library and then decide which ones I’d like to have and put them in my wish list. I had several books 20 years ago, but I didn’t have time to quilt with 3 young children. I gave all my fabric, quilting magazines and books to a gal who was making quilts for soldiers and various charities, and her quilts were beautiful and all beautifully hand quilted.
I recently decided to learn to quilt again now that my children are grown. When digging through my old boxed up sewing supplies, I found the small quilt, long forgotten about, that I helped my grandmother make for me more than four decades ago. What a treasure. I was instantly taken back to her kitchen table, sorting through her old dress scraps and selecting the pieces for her to put in my quilt.
Your quilt is beautiful, and a beautiful gift, but it is so much more. I hope that you don’t wait until 2012 to make a resolution to finish projects for loved ones. I hope you start now!
I like any and all types of reading materials that I gain knowledge from.An ebook for me does not stay e as I have to print it out to have with me and it will not be the quality of a published book. I like the instant gratification with ebooks but prefer proper books for saving,using and reading.I go back to books I bought years ago which may not be so easy to keep and find as an e version.Out ot the two choices I guess regular books are top choice. Larry
Sweet web log, killed a good ten minutes.