Last April, my friend Sylvia and I visited a lovely quilt shop in Rogers, Minnesota: Quilted Treasures. We spent a happy hour perusing all of the beautiful bolts, kits and quilts on display. I purchased several individual fat quarters by Art Gallery Fabrics, from a handful of their designers’ past collections. I chose from the heart and purchased an eclectic grouping of colors and prints . . . with absolutely no idea what I might sew with them. That pretty bundle sat patiently in my sewing room for a few months until inspiration struck. As summer gave way to fall, I designed this new quilt, which I’m calling Journeys.
When I’m sewing, I reflect a lot . . . on my quilting journey and on my life journey. Sewing seems to bring about that kind of reflection. Do you find that to be true?
During the autumn, I also seem to be more introspective, pondering the paths I’ve taken and the choices I’ve made. And then of course there’s my age. Being 50-something means I’m in a new season of my life . . . with new journeys ahead.
This Journeys quilt feels very special to me. It represents a time in my life when I’m remembering the past with fondness, but also looking ahead and feeling hopeful about the future. And as far as my quilting journey goes, I feel invigorated that this quilt represents fabric selections which aren’t my norm, but at the same time, feel very true to self.
This quilt also holds a special place in my heart because my grown-up son spent a Sunday afternoon with me, travelling local backroads, searching for brilliant fall foliage and serving as quilt holder while I took pictures. It reminded me of times we spent outdoors when he was little . . . doing those simple things that bring happiness, like riding bike, building a fort, or jumping in leaf piles.
Thank you for being a part of my quilting and life journey. I appreciate the time you take to read my blog, and the messages and finished projects you share with me through email or social media. Whatever your season or journey, I hope that Carried Away Quilting is a blessing to you.
~Taunja
Journeys Quilt:
- Finished Size: 69” x 77”
- Feature fabrics: 18 fat quarters from Art Gallery Fabrics, designers included: Sharon Holland, Bonnie Christine, Maureen Cracknell and Amy Sinibaldi. (The backing fabric was from Bonnie Christine’s Open Road collection.
- Background fabric: Moda’s Indigo Chambray
- Quilting: Woods Edge Quilting of Becker, MN
- Pattern release: sometime in 2022
