Every Mercury retrograde, I struggle with framing Julie’s words of wisdom for the current Trickster season against my need to do the forbidden…. start a new quilt project. I rationalize with thoughts of … “I am just planning, prepping, or this is an old project that needs a completion”. Hah! The trickster knows and sends plenty of trouble just the same.
So I am happy to unveil my latest creative project completed earlier this past summer and back from the quilter a day before the shadow of Mercury’s backward motion. Last weekend I spent a day with my friend Jane (aka Jane Walkers Cards) and she photographed my quilt. Her recently acquired stray cat Barney, it turns out thought the quilt was for him. He had been quite preoccupied with other farm mischief until we showed up in the garden with mega camera and quilt in hand. Try as she could, Barney was deaf to Jane’s raised voice insisting he leave. It was absolutely hilarious and I could not help but think the trickster was having the last laugh over my quilt!
Amazing to me how one small idea can mushroom to something else. For months i have been inspired by Jenny from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. She does the greatest weekly videos with ideas to for easy quilting projects. Her video using a pkg of 10″ squares of paper, along with a dose of inspiration from Pinterest quilt boards brought this quilt together for me.
i love the combination of indigo, white and gold/browns. In the quilt style of pioneers, mine is made of old clothing (a jean skirt, a navy, a brown and a gold moleskin skirts) cut into strips and pieced together with matching remnants of newer fabric. The strips are sewn on a square of paper to make a block. The whole thing was easy and fun.
Many thanks to my friend Jane for these pictures.
Carolyn
Aligned for Mercury Retrograde 
The quilt is beautiful! I love th color combination, homey blue and brown, and the geometric pattern that feels quite contemporary. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Sharon!
Carolyn
Dear Carolyn, I took a moment to look at the photos of The Blue Quilt. How lovely it is! I have been wanting to try making something simple, like a small blanket for my granddaughter, but have not been able to start one. I’ll check out some of the suggestions you made above. I wish you lived closer……I could come over for some coaching!! Absolutely inspiring!
Anne-Marie MacDonell
Anne-Marie – thank you for your kind words. I love quilting! The best part is that compared to years ago there are so many amazing tools and tips and tricks to make it easier. THat Missouri Star quilt company has a bunch of video tutorials i am just hooked for their simplicity. Here are 2 more resources to get you started. At the north end of Toronto there is a quilt shop called Sew-Sisters. It is small but very friendly and they always have inspired project ideas hanging on the walls. They have a nice selection of fabrics in every price range.
I also found that you can’t beat the crowd sourced ideas at Pinterest. I have several boards there dedicated to quilting ideas. You would have to have the nine lives of a cat to make everything that is on your wish list! Here is my link but also search there for baby quilt ideas and see what you get. https://www.pinterest.com/carolynwinter/quilt-ideas/