My First Quilt

I started quilting in the summer of 1999, the quilting bug bit me good.  At that time I was VERY into rubberstamping.  I have a dear sister friend, Ms. Sarah Kate, who at the time was interested in my hobby.  So, one afternoon, she and her two littles, at the time, came on over and we set to stamping!  It was fun on overdrive.  When it was time for her to go home and get supper started, she invited me over for a quilting lesson the next week.  Well, I thought I'd never be able to figure it out, but we'd had such a good time that afternoon, what could it hurt?  Hehehe.... little did I know!!!  Seriously, stop and laugh here!  The next week I took my two littles, at the time(the one in the oven, too ;)  ), and headed on over not knowing what to expect.  I was in wonder at her quilts, and at that time she was even selling to a gallery in Chicago.  HOW would I ever learn to DO that?  Weirdest thing happened...she pulled out a piece of paper.  Then she told me I was going to sew the fabric to the paper, and that would make a quilt block? Really?  I had seen my grandmothers and great-grandmothers quilt, and that was NOT how they did it.  But since I knew nothing, and it looked like she did, I decided to trust her. :)  Ever so glad I did.

Paper piecing was a perfect way for a young mom to learn to quilt.  It required no math, even though I thoroughly enjoy that aspect of the process now, when your about brain dead from pregnancy and preschoolers, it's kind of nice to just enjoy the creative process, without too much critical thinking. ;)

She kindly sent me home with patterns and fabric.  Sarah Kate, have I ever said, "Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart."? 

Well, it wasn't long(read *within the next two days) before I was out buying fabric, and I haven't stopped yet!  Hehehehe.....

And, so, within a couple of weeks, I had made my first quilt... and it is entirely paper pieced, borders included. Lol  This quilt has been loved, washed, dried, thrown up on and I don't even want to know what else...  So, the colors are a little faded, and my color choices certainly have changed, but here it is...

And the girl I made it for "then"...

And "now"....

My sweet Bonnie Love!  Who just happened to turn 13 last week.  Oh, how time goes by...