Pain and Beauty of Life's Tapestry

Before the twentieth century, many American women knew how to quilt. Often the mainstay of quiet afternoon work, quilting also provided a social time for women to gather. Life was hard and, except for church, there wasn’t much time for socializing. Quilting bees provided both social interaction and the opportunity to make quilts for the family beds or wedding gifts. Later, quilting became part of church fundraising efforts. Even today, a quilt can sell for hundreds of dollars at a charity event.

One of the things I lament in the twenty-first century is the lack of necessity of quilting. It’s still a popular hobby, and for some, a source of income or ministry. But, in our busy world, most people go to the store and buy a new comforter when the old one wears out or no longer matches the newest home décor. 

In my newest Christian novel, Return to Walhalla, the main character Penny Ruskin finds herself drawn to the charm and industry of the older church ladies of First Baptist. Their goal is to make a hundred quilts for Russian orphans. Humor, love, and years of experience are handed down along with the craft of quilting. I was drawn to this idea as a secondary storyline because it was something I had experienced in my own church. Like Penny, I’d never quilted before, and I was both enraptured and intimidated by the idea of quilting.

Life is a lot like a quilt—a tapestry of pain and beauty woven over time. As Christians, the finished product is a beautiful masterpiece presented to the heavenly realms on our day of passing into eternity. Christ knows all the little stitches, the blunders, the places where too many uneven stitches are sewn or pieces have been ripped out to be replaced with something new. He knows our lifetime of sorrows and joy. In fact, He is weaving us into a new creation for eternity.

I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery! Colossians 2:2-3 MSG

Isn’t it great that God has shown us the mystery of His Son Jesus, whom he poured out his knowledge and love through? The tapestry He unfolded in the life and hope of Jesus is one that encircles us like a warm quilt on a cold day. I don’t know about you, but there’s no place else I’d rather be than abiding in that warmth!

Which Bible verse provides you with the assurance that God is working in the messy places in your life to weave together something beautiful? Or maybe a special hymn that lifts you up on those difficult days?

Laura Hodges Poole is a Christian writer and editor. Her latest book, Return to Walhalla, is available for pre-order on Amazon. You may visit her website at laurahodgespoole.com where you’ll find links to her blog, A Word of Encouragement, and her other books. Her passion is encouraging others in their Christian walk, as well as mentoring fellow writers. When she’s not writing, you might find her being crafty, hiking, or playing the piano. A mother of two, Laura lives in South Carolina with her husband and son.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laura_Poole

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Quilting photos courtesy of Pixabay.

Baby Quilts

Good morning, Gentle Readers. Today is my birthday, and I always celebrate that day by setting new goals for another year God has graciously given me. One of my goals for this year is making a baby quilt—an odd choice since there isn’t a baby in my family at present nor a chance of one for several years. But I have reasons.

I write while sitting in my recliner, and for three seasons out of the year, I have cold feet—literally. A baby quilt is just the right size to cover my feet without interfering with my laptop. I’m looking for an easy design. Here are three possibilities.

 
 

Oh, and I want to make my baby quilt the old fashioned way. Handstitched. Later in the year I’ll be writing another book in my Women in Peril series, and the heroine is a quilter. I want to experience the process, however difficult and time consuming.

And it is time consuming. I made a quilt for my granddaughter sixteen years ago. I started it when my daughter told me she was expecting and my granddaughter was almost one before I finished. I’ll never be a master quilter.

Unfortunately, that quilt was destroyed in a fire. Here is the only picture I have of it. Don’t know why it’s in black and white.

When I made that quilt, I envisioned it becoming an heirloom. Maybe that’s why I want to make a baby quilt, even though any old design would suffice to cover my feet. I hope to pass it on to a great-grandchild.

Are there any quilters out there? Which design do you like best?

Comment to win Mail-Order Revenge by Angela K. Couch. Contest runs through May 1st.

And check out my new release, Cloaked in Love. The cover was designed by our very own Crystal Barnes.

A woman in peril. An unlikely hero. A love woven by God.

   With Pa off on a cattle drive, Jeannie Baylor is alone on their isolated Wyoming ranch. When she’s taken captive by a gang of ruthless outlaws, she realizes her virtue is in imminent danger, and her life is safe only as long as they need her house for a hideout.

    Then one of the outlaws, Zak Collins, proposes a fantastic scheme to save her life. Having no other choice, she has to trust Zak. But God gives her another way, and its success depends on the cloak she’s crocheting for a friend.

Your Opinion Please :)

Howdy y'all! Crystal, here. I'm at a stalemate, catch-22, deadlock, impasse, standoff. Get the picture? No, really. Did you get the pictures below?

Option "A"

Option "B"

I'm trying to decide between the two arrangements of pieces. The quilt I'm working on (don't ask how long I've been at it) is a conglomeration of different pattern types. This square is a slew of connected triangles.
(Yes, I realized the headache this would be after I cut out the pieces, thank you, and yes, I'm a glutton for punishment because I'm still gonna put them together. Call me crazy, I know.)

My question to you today is: Which option would you choose? Option A? Option B? Or Option C [Insert Your Suggestion Here]? 

I'd love to hear your opinions on this. I've got to make like 3 or 4 of these things, so any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


Remember, those who leave a comment are entered into the drawing for The Declaration of Independence Complete Series by Amber Schamel, Murray Pura, Joseph Max Lewis, and John V Amodeo. The winner will be announced in the Weekly Wind-up Post on July 12th.

Crystal L Barnes is an award-winning author, who also happens to be a born-n-raised Texan and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She has a degree in Computing Science because she loves putting things into their proper place, and she enjoys writing because she gets to share her love of old-fashioned things and the Lord. When she's not writing or reading, Crystal enjoys knitting, sewing, or crocheting while watching old movies/sitcoms. I Love Lucy is one of her favorites. You can connect with Crystal at her website, her blog, her Amazon Author page, Goodreads, Pinterest, Google+ or on her Facebook author page.

Happy Trails, y'all!

Trapunto or Stuffed Needlework, So Elegant

      

      Average Colonial American women were so busy spinning, weaving, cooking, making candles, and tending animals, as well as doing hundreds of other daily chores, they didn’t have much leisure time for quilting.
      Many of the quilted garments, such as winter petticoats, and bedcoverings were stitched by professionals who made meager salaries. It was mostly the well-to-do women who had time for fine needlework such as trapunto, which in Italian means "to embroider." In Latin it means "to prick with a needle." English and American quilters called the technique stuffed work.

Quilted petticoat with trapunto trim

      Quilters would stitch lines through the quilt top, the batting, and the quilt backing. The patterns were usually flowers, feathers, leaves, and vases.

Picture courtesy of the Quilts a Lot Blog

Once they sewed the lines of a pattern, the quilters would separate the threads of the thin backing making a tiny hole.
      Next, using a stiletto, a toothpick, darning needle, or an instrument called a bodkin they stuffed tiny pieces of stuffing or yarn through the holes. After stuffing the space evenly, they would move the threads of the backing into place, closing up the holes.
      In some of the finer examples of trapunto, quilters would stuff darkly dyed batting or yarn underneath the thin white topping, allowing the color to shine through like a pale shadow. This was a tedious process that took a long time.

There's a nice video that shows how to do this elegant needlework at:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3836/video-boutis-provenal

You may also want to visit the Quilts a Lot blog at:

http://quiltsalott.blogspot.com/2011/03/trapunto-by-hand.html

Susan F. Craft is the author of a Revolutionary War suspense novel, The Chamomile, which won the SIBA Okra Pick. Her post-Revolutionary War suspense novel, Laurel, will be released by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas January 12, 2015. She is represented by Linda S. Glaz, Hartline Literary Agency.

Five Fun Reasons to Try Hand Applique

Country Songbird Quilt Pattern by Cheryl A. Benner and Rachel T. Pellman

  

Have you ever tried hand appliqué? Here are five fun reasons to give it a try.

• You can carry your work with you wherever you go since most projects are done in blocks.
• It’s not as hard as you think. If you master only one stitch and the prep technique, you’re ready to start. Check out Sarah Fielke’s great class, Big Techniques from Small Scraps. It includes a section on appliqué. I took the class and she makes the process easy and fun.
• You get to use many of those small bits of fabric you just loved, but couldn’t find a use for. I like to think of appliqué as painting with fabric.
• You can draw your own designs and patterns. It’s easy to make templates for the shapes and fun to pick out the fabric for something you created yourself.
• Applique is pretty. Most designs are simple in nature. I think simple is the most beautiful. When you love what you are creating, the hard part of the process seems to disappear.

The photo above is one of my projects in progress. This is The Country Songbird Quilt, designed by Cheryl A. Benner and Rachel T. Pellman from the Lancaster, PA area. The Country Songbird Quilt book is out of print, but you may find it where used books are sold or on Ebay.

I hope you pick a pattern you love and give appliqué a try. It's fun and beautiful too..

 

Jelly Roll Bags

Jelly rolls are strips of fabric, typically 2.5 x 44 inches, and found in a roll. The color schemes are eye catching and I've been looking for different things to make with them. Knowing this, my mother shared this video with me. Now, I know it is long, but if you like quilting it's well worth the watching. Unfortunately, due to writing deadlines and a family issue, I haven't had time to make my own yet. It's the first thing I'm going to do once I turn my book in, after I read one book from my to-be-read pile. ;)

The possibilities are endless. Here is a picture of one bag my mom made.

It's a nice, large size and durable. My laptop, as well as my notebooks would fit nicely inside and there is a pocket on the outside for my index cards, pens and pencils. My youngest daughter would fill it with her dance shoes or yarn.

I love this little bag. My mom added a zipper to the top and created a box pleat. It's really cute and perfect for cosmetics, pens and pencils, medications and all those other things that typically find their way to the bottom of the bag.

The jelly roll bag I envision making will have earth tones and I'm thinking I'll iron on my book cover to the pocket portion.

Have you made anything with jelly rolls?

Quilting Circle Wisdom

Put yourself in the 1800's. Let's get more specific--let's say you're a woman living in the 1860s. Why might you join a quilting circle?

1. To support the war effort, making quilts for the soldiers. During the Civil War in 1861-1865, women in quilting and sewing circles where among the many who joined forces with various aid societies to help provide for the needs of soldiers on the battlefields and in hospitals, many of them converted homes and schools.

2. To keep your hands and mind busy. My Sis Linda calls quilting her therapy. Quilting is comfort food for her spirit. Quilting was an opportunity to make some beautiful in turbulent times.  

3. To hear and share news. No telephones, Facebook, or Twitter--word of mouth was the most consistent source of news for most women left behind in the war.

4. To learn the craft of quilting and to share your own skill with others. 

5. To participate in a sisterhood that shares joys and sorrows, doubts and faith...with one another.

Did you come up with other reasons to partake in a sewing or quilting circle?

Meet the Saint Charles Quilting Circle in my new book, The Quilted Heart omnibus--3 Novellas in 1.

Once a week, Elsa Brantenberg hosts the Saint Charles Quilting Circle at her farmhouse on the outskirts of the riverside town of St. Charles, Missouri. The ladies who gather there have all experienced heartache related to the intense hardships of the Civil War, and together, they are facing their painful circumstances with friendship and prayer. Can the tattered pieces of their hearts be stitched together by God’s grace? 

Click here to order your copy of The Quilted Heart omnibus, the prequel to Prairie Song, Book 1 in the Hearts Seeking Home Series.

What would be your reason for joining a quilting guild, sewing circle, or knitting klatch? Are you part of a group of women who lend each other spiritual and emotional support?    

Please save the date for THE QUILTED HEART release party! When: Friday, January 24th from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (Mountain Time) Where: My Facebook Mona Hodgson Author Page / Notes Section As we mingle to celebrate this new release, I will answer questions, give away prizes, share behind-the-scenes stories, and more! Please plan now to join me for this great time of fun and fellowship! If you haven't already "liked" my page, you'll need to like it to participate.

RSVP for the Facebook Release Party for The Quilted Heart

Quilt squares serve as centerpiece

They cost 50 cents, maybe a dollar, but no more than that. I wasn't even going to buy them - a shoebox full of little four-piece quilt squares - but my sister insisted I'd be able to do something with them and wouldn't let us leave without them.

They are simple and sweet, sewn by hand by someone who had a plan for them at one time. But for the last two years, they've sat undisturbed on the closet shelf.
Until this fall, when the agriculture organization where I serve as director of communications hosted Harvest Fest. We planned how to dress up the rental hall. Someone brought in straw bales and pumpkins, a board member loaned antique farm tools. I mentioned this little shoe box of quilt squares.

My co-worker Sarah is a talented artist. She had the creative idea to use raffia to tie a quilt square onto a mason jar. Here she is working the morning of the party. (I'm also happy to tell you two weeks later she had an adorable 9 pound baby boy.)

At Sarah's suggestion, we put a piece of burlap on each table and added sprigs of rosemary to the jars. These center pieces were both fragrant and charming.
Someday, these scrappy squares may be sewn into a quilt, but I think for now they are lots of fun just like this.

What are your ideas for decorating with quilts or scraps?

~Susan Mires

Crafting the Quilt

I love quilts, old-new, contemporary-traditional. It doesn't matter. I love the creativity and the art work that goes into each one. In September, I went to the Kansas State Fair and found quilt heaven. My mother and I can get lost in the varying layers of quilts. The initial impression, and the the close-up detail. Not that I'm an expert, but since I work with furniture and sew I can usually spot a crooked line with no problem.

I have made a few quilts. and although I've made a small pieced together quilt, most of my quilts have been simple squares tied with pieces of yarn. I've never appliqued and I've never hand-quilted one, both are on my bucket list. And ever since my visit to the fair, I've had an itch to get back to stitching.

The first one I want to do isn't one on my bucket list, but it is one I believe has a great deal of importance. It's a scripture quilt. Notice how this is just one piece of fabric? I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do with it. My initial thought was to cut out the individual scripture squares and sew them to an accented fabric to make a queen/king sized quilt. Now, I'm not so sure. That might be a bit too much for the person I intended on making it for. So now I'm considering making four separate wall size quilts, one for each of my children.

What do you think? If someone made this for you what would you prefer?