Sunday, January 18, 2009

I Still Quilt

So, yeah, I'm still quilting. In general, I've been paying less attention to fancy designed quilts this year, and more on the recycled scrappy quilts. Not that I've entirely abandoned the designed quilts -- there are three of them that I putter with from time to time -- but when I've sat down to quilt I've just generally felt like doing something quick and easy. And there's nothing quicker and easier than pieceing together one of the StormQuilts.

State of the StormQuilts

People often tell me that the StormQuilts -- those are my scrap, salvage, and recycled lap blankets, remember -- are terrific. Then they pause and ask, "but what are you going to DO with them?" An excellent question, and one I didn't really have a great answer for. This little crisis was resolved by Christmas, when I gave the four completed SQs away to siblings and in-laws. To dignify them just a bit, and to explain them, I made this label for them first:


And, it seemed to work, in the sense that no one angrily threw the offered quilt down and shouted that they were insulted. Plus, it made for a very economical Christmas!

Meanwhile, the production of new StormQuilts grinds unstopably forward. Heres' one, SQ9 if memory serves, pinned out.


And here's the simplest yet, yet also possibly my favorite. It's SQ8, I think.


And then here's the slightly more complicated centers for SQ6&7....


...or SQ7&6....



Yesterday, I pieced these centers together and put a couple of borders around SQ6. It's quite handsome, and I'm sure I'll be showing it to you soon.

Of course, this reintroduces the question of "What am I going to DO with these?" Well, we'll find out eventually I guess.



12 comments:

jovaliquilts said...

I'm glad to see you're still quilting. The idea behind your storm quilts is inspired, but to my surprise, the quilts are good to look at. Kind of like vegetables that actually taste good.

Debra Dixon said...

I've been working on a variation of your idea for a homeless teen project--lots of big corduroy pieces in my quilts.

I really like the ones that you circle the square with borders. What will you do to get them into rectangles? (if you plan to do that)

Rebel said...

Glad to see you're still quilting too. The thing that's nice about a 'storm quilt' is that it has all the home-made coziness of being a quilt, without the "but it's too nice to use" guilt. Not that I have that guilt mind you, but you know what I mean. These can be taken out on a picnic, or used to make a fort in the livingroom, or to keep in the car for emergencies. I highly support the storm quilt project.

Michael5000 said...

@jovali: They're the red bell peppers of quilts!

@Debra: I rectangled one of 'em and made the other into a much larger square just today. I'll show pictures next week or so.

@Reb: I appreciate your support. Picnics or car emergencies would be perfect uses for these puppies!

Jeri said...

Wow - I love these quilts! You're doing a fine job!

Unknown said...

Love 6 & 7. Awesome color gradation. Thanks for sharing them!!!

Unknown said...

I love the two pieced centers. A much grander piece than the ones I did that way ... and turned into pot holders!

Best Wishes,
Cindy B.
Happy Valley, Oregon

Bridget said...

I, too, am really loving 6 and 7 . . . and if you really don't know what to do with them, I'm sure some dork reader from L&TM5K would love to get their hands on one in a special giveaway or "pick a charity" event . . .

Sarah Nopp said...

I am going to post this particular link to a couple mail groups as a really excellent idea for fast and easy charity quilts. Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

Your charity quilts are wonderful! I am sure clothing banks, women's shelters, etc. near you would welcome them. Barb in Aberdeen, WA

Michael5000 said...

Thanks everyone... although I don't want to let the misimpression that I am making charity quilts stand. I have a lot of respect for those who make quilts for charity, but I'm a long way from sending even the scrappiest of my own babies out into the world for use by strangers.

Eversaved said...

I can promise SQ9 is in good hands! :-)