Friday, February 25, 2011

Confessions of a Quilt-aholic

Like many addictions, it started out innocently enough.  Being of a crafty bent, I decided, sometime in the mid 1980s to make a quilt.  I had bought a magazine which included a pattern so simple, it could be "completed in 1 weekend!"  It seemed too good to be true!  I bought yards of various blue fabrics and got to work.  There wasn't much actual "quilting" involved--just sewing very large squares together--and so it did go very quickly.  I had made my first quilt.  Ugly as sin, but there it was.
Weeks went by and I felt the urge to try another.  A little more challenging this time--I decided to try making a "lap quilt" where you piece and quilt the blocks first, and sew the blocks together afterward.  I bought some rose and baby blue fabric.  I used templates and handquilted everything.  And proudly displayed the finished quilt on my bed for all to see and admire.
The weeks between urges to quilt were getting less and the urges were becoming stronger.  I began to wonder if I was heading down some slippery slope but I was having so much fun that I didn't question myself too much.  When the urge hit, I'd find a fabric shop, just waiting to sell me something.  And every time I went, it seemed, there were more beautiful fabrics in colors and prints I could never have imagined.  Patterns were popping up every where.  And wonder of wonders, there was this wonderful new invention called the rotary cutter, which made the whole process so much quicker and easier.
Soon, I wouldn't even be finished one quilt and the urge would hit to start another. As soon as I had a bit of cash, I'd buy more fabric. My stash was growing. My self-control was all but gone. I experienced strange symptoms when I found myself without a needle in my hand. I began to plan vacations around quilt shops and quilt shows I wanted to visit. I made new friends--quilting friends. I quit my office job so I'd have more time to quilt. I converted the basement into my quilting "studio". My days were spent stitching and my nights were spent dreaming of stitching.
My house has become almost too small to contain the results of my addiction.  Quilts are draped over chairs,
 piled on top of cupboards, 
 hung on ladders,
and over stair rails.

They hang on walls,
and cover tables.
They fill the wood box next to the fireplace,
and more boxes in the basement.
They are stacked in my linen closet,
on shelves in my studio,
and are piled high on the window seat in the guest bedroom.
 They even decorate my laundry room. 
 And that's not counting the quilts currently on loan to shops selling my patterns,
or the stack of quilt tops waiting to be finished. 
My name is Cheryl.
And I am a quilt-aholic.

20 comments:

  1. I love the look of quilts in a home, makes it so cozy.
    I am still working on larger ones, and want to put them around the house.

    Debbie

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  2. And they are beautiful!!! May I ask what font you're using for your blog entries?

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  3. Love this! I can so related! I will admit that I am so close to truly running out of room to store/hang/display/fold/shove quilts. Will I stop making them? Not a chance!!!

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  4. Hello Cheryl. My name is Beth and I am also a quilt-aholic. I would love to come to your house someday and see all your beautiful quilts. I am so jealous. My quilt-aholicism only goes as far as collecting all the stuff to make dozens of quilts, never making them. I have very few finished quilts to show for my illnes. I love your pattterns!

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  5. Hello, I just came across your blog and I love your quilts, you are very licky to have so many, I enjoyed your blog very much so I have become your newest follower, thanks for sharing and stop by sometime to visit me!
    Heather

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  6. Hello Cheryl! Welcome to QAA (quiltaholics annonymous :o) I am also a member... Love your post! You are not alone!

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  7. Thanks to all of you in my "support group"! Or are we enablers? Doesn't matter.

    Robin, I think the font is "schoolbell".

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  8. I love your quilts! What a wonderful display! Would love a tour of your basement studio... I'm thinking I may relocate my quilt possessions to my basement in the near future!

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  9. Hi Cheryl,
    O I sooo enjoyed looking at all your quilts-they are just beautiful and really make a house a home:)

    Do you mind if I ask what the pattern is of the one in the first pic-hanging on the screen? I would dearly love to make something like that:)

    Thanks, Shazy x

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  10. Shazy,
    I'm so glad you like that pattern! It's called Ribbons and Roses and is included in my book, "Country Comforts". Super easy and fun to make!

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  11. Hi Cheryl,

    Just took a visit to your website. Wonderful quilts and patterns! I was wondering if the quilt draped over the chair in the first picture is one of your designs? I love the squares with the house inserted on an angle. Very uniue!

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  12. Thank you! Yes, that quilt is one of my patterns. It's called "Little Houses on the Hillside" and actually it's been discontinued. But if you want it, I'm sure I could find one around here somewhere!

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  13. And I also wanted to ask you what the pattern is for the quilt hanging on the wall above your staircase? Thank you! - Colleen

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  14. Hi Cheryl,
    Beautiful quilts in a beautiful home! :)
    If you ever need any help refolding or hanging your quilts I'd love to help...hahaha ;)
    Hugs Wendy x

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  15. Hi Colleen,
    The quilt hanging above the staircase is called "Spring is Sprung!" It's available in booklet form for $12.95. Haven't got around to putting it on my website yet!

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  16. I truly don't think there is such a thing as 'too many quilts' - I have them all over my house too and I never get tired of seeing them - and touching them - and making them. But I rarely give them away! LOL

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  17. It is gorgeous and I will definitely be ordering! Thank you so much!

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  18. I confess, I am also a quilting addict. Nice photos of your quilts and home.
    Martine from Quiltinusa

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  19. What a wonderful blog. And how refreshing to have a home filled with such beautiful items made with care instead of crammed full of store bought items. Have thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
    Tamara
    http://incomparablebuttons.blogspot.com

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  20. I absolutely LOVE your story....
    you tell it well!!!

    xo
    eva
    ps: love the design of your blog

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