This is a quilt I’ve been working on since 2004 or 2005. I love this quilt designed by Peggy Waltman titled “Hopeful Sampler;” it contains pieced and applique’d blocks along with embroidered quotations relating to “hope.” This quilt contains much of my journey as a quilter. It was while making this quilt that I found my true ¼″ seam. This quilt also exhibits various stages of my work in applique’–it contains some of the worst applique’ I’ve ever done as well as a block that shows some great improvement in needle-turn. I learned to machine applique’ while working on this quilt, so a couple of the blocks are machine-applique’d.
This quilt also exhibits some of my own creativity–I substituted one of the quotations with a favorite of mine from Emily Dickinson–“Hope is the thing with feathers.” I also substituted some of the blocks that I didn’t particularly care for with others that were more meaningful to me; I didn’t love the borders in the pattern, and the border I finally used was of my own design.
Creativity
The reason it took me so long to finish this quilt is that I knew I wanted to make some changes to the pattern, yet I didn’t trust my own creativity. I was afraid to “change it up.” In fact, it took me over eight months to finally put the borders on…and since I wanted it to be “perfect”…I procrastinated. What I finally discovered while sewing the borders last week was that the ideas came quickly once I began work. I realized that in creating, the creativity often comes only once we begin. I’m also reminded of one of my favorite quotes on creativity–“A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song.”–Joan Walsh Anglund
Happy Sewing!
Sew Many Ways... says
Hi Sherri,
This quilt is spectacular!!I love all the colors and designs. Your work is definitely worth the wait. Needle turn is my next venture, but I’m like you… I procrastinate. Congrats on such a wonderful finish.
~Karen~
ps thanks for the suggestion about using clips for quilt borders. I have 2 teen daughters who dance, so those clips are everywhere!!
Stephanie says
It’s beautiful Sherri! Love the colors. I like to change up patterns and make them my own. That took me awhile to get my confidence to do also.
Stina says
Magnificent… I love it… well worth waiting for!!:o)
Yvette says
A one of a kind piece of art. It is beautiful! Congrats for finishing it.
Molly says
This quilt is absolutely gorgeous and you must be so happy with it–and what you learned about your own creativity… priceless.
Cara says
This quilt is beautiful! Great work!
Nedra says
Sherri- You should be soooo proud of this quilt! I have an unfinished Peggy Waltman quilt that I started years ago. I even took a class from her. Love her things and you did a great job in putting in your own personality.
Kristin says
Beautiful quilt! I love your rich colors. Congratulations on your great finish.
Annette says
This quilt just takes my breath away! So much work and beautiful detail and it is just gorgeous. Truly a treasure. I love your quote and fully agree with you.
Kris says
That’s a delightful and happy quilt. I love to look back at the quilts I have done in the past and see how I have improved. With each quilt done, comes more creative license.
Happy stitching!
Pat / Silver Thimble Quilt Co. says
Beautiful quilt and I so agree about the creativity..once you dive in the creativity just gets going.
Pat
Chocolate Cat says
What a beautiful quilt and how special it is with all your memories and learning of different techniques in it. Enjoy!
Roberta Granada says
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Carrie P. says
And now you can sing Sherri, your quilt is lovely and it is great when a person makes a quilt their own.
Sonnja says
Beutiful! I love all the colors and designs.
Kind regards,
Sonnja & Bear Zonn
Sheri Howard says
I love that quote. Your quilt turned out so darling! Some things are worth the wait…it loks like it was! Thank for sharing!
Tudy says
I love the quilt and the fact that you say it has bad and better blocks in it. We all learn by doing not by planning.
Joy says
Wow Sherri that quilt is amazing!! I just love it … such a lot of work has gone into it and the colours are beautiful. You should definitely be proud of it :o).
Hugs,
Joy :O)
Kritta22 says
What a great quote! Thanks for sharing!
I love the quilt! What an adventure!
Mary on Lake Pulaski says
Awesome quilt! I’m sure with the great success you had with this quilt, you will breeze through the next one that needs your own personal touch.
QuiltedSimple says
Oh this is spectacular! Love the colors and the design – very pretty!
Kris
Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie says
Sherri this is a beautiful quilt, you did good. Great finish.
Keep Stitchen’
Bonnie
ivoryspring says
Sherri,
Thanks for the sweet “welcome back” — your quilt is lovely! I love all the colors you have used.
Tina says
Love your quilt, the colors, all the details. It’s cool how it represents so much of your growth as a quilter!
Lorraine says
fantastic….and I love that you have added your own ideas……well done. it looks fabulous! I started an applique quilt a while ago and look back at the first blocks now and wonder if I should redo them…they are pretty bad…but I think I will leave them….it was a great learning experience…!
Shasta says
While I really like the idea of sampler quilts, I don’t really like most of them, because they just look like a bunch of blocks mashed up next to each other. This quilt is so beautiful – all the blocks look like they really belong together. Great!
Handmade by Mai says
What a great looking quilt, the clours are perfect.
Crazy for Primitive Quilts and Gardens says
Wow! This quilt is stunning! How beautiful and did you do some nice work! Thank you for showing us :o)