Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Getting the Big Projects Out of the Way

I decided in January that I had two big projects that I wanted to complete by the end of my Spring Break. Once they were done I could focus on some smaller projects. My first big project was a quilt for our bed. We had a mass-marketed duvet cover from Ikea. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I wanted something unique. I let it stew in my brain...for quite a while. Finally I decided on a coin quilt.

However, I had never made a quilt. Yes, I know. I am crazy to take on a queen-size quilt for a first time project. No baby quilts or doll quilts for me! I figured that I could "earn my stripes", and then anything after that would be easy. I used this book as a loose guide for techniques and began. A few weeks later, this is what emerged.



I am pleased. Is is perfect? No. There are some flaws that I can see. But isn't that the charm of handmade? I am a perfectionist and usually the flaws bother me, but the more I create the more I appreciate the little things that give something that "rustic feel".

I really like how the colors work together. I made a pillow to go with it by using the uneven ends that I had trimmed from the coin strips. I had thought about tossing them, but luckily did not. You never know when some scrap will come in handy!


This is me, feeling very accomplished. I am a quilter!
Stay tuned until tomorrow: big project number two will be revealed.