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Friday, May 13, 2011

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

Amy's Creative Side | Bloggers' Quilt Festival
Today begins the Bloggers' Quilt Festival sponsored by Amy's Creative Side. I'm excited to participate for the first time and would like to share my Supernova quilt.
I made this quilt "quilting along" with Lee of Freshly Pieced. When the quilt along was announced, I was on my way to Hawaii for my niece's wedding. I was mulling over if I could manage to participate and if so, what fabric I would use. Then it dawned on me that it would be great fun to combine the quilt along and my vacation, by visiting some quilt shops in Hawaii and purchasing my fabric there!

I confess that while I was in Hawaii (near paradise!) for a wonderful occassion (a wedding!), my time there was bittersweet. While we were away, my step-dad  back at home was put on hospice care. Shopping and planning for the Supernova was a pleasant distraction from life's realities. Hubby was a real encouragement, caught the vision, and helped me put together a fun stack of fabric. As we gathered our stash, we looked for blues and greens and teals to remember the beautiful waves that soothed us; some golds for the sun that warmed us; some black for the lava rock seen all over The Big Island; and then we surrounded all that with KONA Sand. 
I got home just in time to plan my layout and start cutting! Lee's instructions were so helpful in planning my blocks, and before long, I had all my block fabrics ready to go.
This quilt is special to me for several reasons - that hubby and I planned it together, that it was a comfort to me when I was able to sneak snatches of time to work on it during a very emotional family time, and because every step of this project was like an "ah-ha" moment! I mentioned in an earlier post that there was "drama at every turn", and that was seriously so. 
What I learned during the Supernova process was not to scrimp. If there's any disappointment in my final project, it's that I threw the back together rather than take the time to do what I really wanted - put an extra supernova block there or something more creative (love what some of the others did!). But time was of the essence if I wanted to get it done on time. 
All in all, this was one of the most rewarding quilts I've worked on in some time. Every step of the process (except basting - I dread that every time!) was a pleasure. And it will always be a reminder that joy and heartache walk together. Maybe because of my intense sadness while I worked on this project, the enjoyment was increased; I don't know. But I do know that I treasure this quilt and the journey that brought it to be.
Additional notes about this quilt ~ Batting is Warm and White Cotton Batting; I machine-quilted it on my Brother Innov-is QC-1000, with a wavy stitch; Binding is Hoffman ‘Sea Grass’; Finished size is 62" square.

40 comments:

  1. Great story Debbie, and beautiful quilt! I think having a quilt with such emotion makes it all the more special, and like you said without sadness you wouldn't be able to experience such joy. Every time you look at this quilt it will bring back such wonderful memories and experiences. Beautiful job!
    P.S. I like the back just the way it is!

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  2. What a great quit with a great story as well!

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  3. I love the fabrics and the pretty swirley lines you have chosen for this quilt. TY for sharing!

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  4. Beautiful quilt and lovey story too. Thanks for giving us a peak!

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  5. It's so lovely. You really did an amazing job in a difficult time and the results paid off.

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  6. This is really gorgeous, and I think the back looks just great, too. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

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  7. Love your quilt. Great design and lovely colors. Does remind me of Hawaii. Spent a few years on north shore...two going to college at what is now BYU Hawaii and the other a couple years later while hubby was stationed there. Loved spending as much time as possible in or near the water. Hope your family is doing well. I took care of my mom on hospice for her lastvthree months. A hard time but precious too! Thanks for sharing and have a great day

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  8. What a wonderful start your quilt had. You have done a fabulous job. Your quilt is great.

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  9. Such a beautiful quilt! I'm so glad it was able to bring you some joy during a sad time!

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  10. The fact that your husband pitched in makes this a very special quilt. The distraction from hospice care and the colors reminding you of the good times in Hawaii make this a very special quilt. The fact that it turned out beautifully is icing on the cake.

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  11. Your Supernova Quilt is beautiful. And so is the story about it. The blues and greens definitely remind me of Hawaii - I was on the big island, near Kona recently, too! And it is paradise. Ahhhh.
    You must be so happy with this quilt!

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  12. Hawaii sounds pretty good to me too. My FIL is talking with Hospice. Sad day when he is gone. How is your step dad? Your Super Nova is pretty nice. Not big enough to cuddle with your hubby though.

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  13. Fabulous story - and your lovely quilt captures the essence of Hawaai, the sun and sand and surf.

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  14. gorgeous quilt with a tale to tell. I've just started using temporary glue spray to baste my quilts and so far i've been really happy with the results, have you tried it? It might stop you from dreading that part

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  15. This is an awesome quilt!
    I love this pattern, I thik you chose fantastic colours for it!

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  16. Thanks so much for sharing the lovely bittersweet story of choosing these fabrics - yay for quilty husbands!

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  17. Such a beautiful quilt! And how wonderful that your hubby helped you pick fabrics, that makes it even more meaningful. I'm sure it helped you through a very sad time...

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  18. Your quilt is wonderful. Beautiful fabrics and they work so well in this design.

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  19. I love the way that quilting can give us comfort emotionally as well as physically.
    A lovely quilt.
    Deborah

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  20. Love your quilt! I've been itching to do a quilt in similar colors but the right pattern hasn't emerged yet. Supernova is great!

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  21. I love your colors and the story is wonderful. This quilt is definitely on my to-do-eventually list and seeing your colors may have just bumped it up the list a bit!

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  22. Quilts and quilting bring comfort in so many ways. Beautiful results.

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  23. Love the Supernova quilt and your beautiful colors of Hawaii!

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  24. beautiful quilt! I love the colours and the reasons behind them.

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  25. I love the back story to this quilt Debbie. The memories you have of making are so varied. Ive always thought Im not very partial to blues in quilts but seeing this quilt I think Im converted!

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  26. A beautiful quilt--and I love the colors. My DH has become a most valued critic of my works in progress. Such a great story of this wonderful quilt.

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  27. Love the colours and design of this quilt, and thanks so much for the lovely comment.

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  28. Lovely quilt and love that it gave you comfort during a difficult time - even before it was done! :)

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  29. Oh what a beautiful quilt to illustrate the healing powers of quilting on one's soul. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. What a beautiful quilt. I often use quilting as my therapy. I am glad it could provide you some comfort.

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  31. Its a lovely quilt. The combination of blues and greens is soothing. I often find that I stitch and think so my crafting becomes a comfort.

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  32. Debbie, I love your quilt - but I love the story even more. How wonderful that you created your own souvenir. Maybe I should try explaining that to my husband next time we travel and I want to go to a fabric shop. :) Seriously, it is a beautiful work! Thanks for sharing it!

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  33. Your quilt is amazing!!! I love that design but I don't think that I'll be able to pull it through!!! The colors you chose are my favorite!!! You did a fantastic job!!
    xoxo

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  34. Your supernova quilt is really beautiful, especially after reading the reasons for the colours choices.

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  35. Your quilt looks lovely and must be extra special for you, having worked on it with your hubby too. Great job!

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  36. Beautiful fabrics. They have come together really well to make a stunning quilt.

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  37. This is a beautiful quilt with lovely colours!

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  38. It's so pretty. I'm so sorry to hear about your step dad. I really like the colors you chose.

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  39. Thanks for sharing your quilt story, Debbie. I was very moved by it. You right so beautifully, by the way. I love that your husband got excited about this project with you and that he had a bit of a hand in it. It has such lovely meaning on so many heartfelt levels.

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  40. I love this quilt! I have enjoyed watching you make it and seeing it all done and quilted is so great! Thank you for sharing its whole story, so many memories get stitched into our quilts.

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