Friday, April 17, 2009

Bloggers Quilt Festival | My Favorite Quilt

I am excited to be taking part in Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival today! For those of us who aren't fortunate enough (yet? : ) to go to the big quilt festivals, this is a fantastic way to browse a virtual gallery of the quilts that bloggers have chosen to showcase. Be sure to visit Park City Girl to view the full list of participating bloggers ... especially because there are some great giveaways happening, too!

OK, so for those of you who read my blog regularly, you may have noticed that I am a bit of a swap junkie. Actually, I know you've noticed, because you've told me so in my comments!! Well there are several reasons why I enjoy swapping so much.

First, for a relatively new quilter, it has been the best possible way to practice, practice, practice. Seam allowances, matching points, pinning & pressing ... you name it. Swaps have provided me with a crash course in block-making.

Second, it has enabled me to participate in the vibrant, colorful, supportive, and fun community of online quilters. I have met so many fabulous people that I never would have met otherwise. And to be able to share my passion with like-minded people is priceless.

Finally, it has allowed me to help fulfull other people's visions for their creations and put my stamp on a little piece of other people's lives around the world. Being able to play with new fabrics and try new techniques to stretch myself has been nothing short of a BLAST.

So for my favorite quilt, I have chosen to display a virtual quilt made up of some of my favorite blocks that I've made that are now featured in other people's quilts around the world. (A virtual quilt is quite fitting for a virtual quilt festival, no?) Besides, all of this swapping has left me little time to complete anything of my own!


Many thanks to all of you with whom I am taking this journey for your inspiration, your encouragement, your help, and your friendship.
Posted by at 12:12 PM
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61 comments:

  1. SUPER cool idea to do a virtual quilt.
    :D
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  2. Awesome idea! I've been thinking about doing this with my quilt blocks for my VQB so that I can figure out how to arrange them!
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  3. i think it is very fitting! love it!!

    you need to let me know of the next quilting bee you hear of since i've been sooo wanting to join one for awhile! :)
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  4. Your blocks are very cool - you have a very clean, direct style that is visually appealing. And you get all that done while working and having three adorable little kids. Way to go! Thanks for the inspiration. Piece...
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  5. Great idea! Nice color combinations in your blocks.
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  6. wow! you are quite the swapper :)

    I love your virtual quilt
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  7. Such a great idea! You are a busy man!
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  8. One of your virtual quilt blocks is for my real life quilt--woot!
    I'll have to go browsing in blog land for some of those giveaways! :D
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  9. Isn't that cheating? Just kidding!
    Thanks for sharing so much inspiration.
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  10. Wow, what a great group of blocks! I'd have a hard time choosing a favorite as well!
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  11. What I love about this is how each block is so different in terms of technique, composition, and color. Very neat to see all the different things you've done!
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  12. VQ for a VQF...what a great idea...btw, your blocks are AWSOME!
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  13. Oh, I wish I had thought of that!! WAY cool, to have a virtual quilt in a virtual quilt show! ~ Jennie
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  14. A great way to display some of the beautiful work you have done!
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  15. The boy does well . I,m a patchwork /quilter have a look at my quilts on webshots, name of cottonreel, same as my blog
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  16. Wonderful Blocks and great idea!
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  17. Love this idea:) What a great way to see so many of your wonderful blocks in one place--beautiful work!
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  18. Great idea John! I love your swaps and blocks. What a great choice for you!
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  19. There's alot of creativity in all those blocks. I hope you get a chance to finish something for yourself very soon.
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  20. Your virtual quilt rocks! You've created so many beautiful blocks-- it is fun seeing so many of them together like that. Thanks so much for sharing! :)
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  21. Love the virtual quilt.
    Great idea and so apt.
    Andi :-)
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  22. A wonderful quilt! I love seeing all of those blocks.
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  23. What a great idea, and the virtual quilt looks fabulous! wtg!
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  24. GREAT idea to do a virtual quilt! I love your work & I'm sure the recipients of your blocks are pleased to have you in their swaps!
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  25. That is a cool idea...lots of beautiful quilt beginnings in there! Thanks for sharing!
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  26. Great blocks - I've admired these blocks before - it's great seeing them altogether. How creative and artistic your work has become since you first began your blog.
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  27. Great idea John. Love your virtual quilt, very fitting. A great way to showcase all the fantastic blocks that some of us have been the lucky recipients of :-)
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  28. I love your blocks-especially the fourth one from left in the first row-is there a tutorial for that block? it looks like just what I have been looking for.....if not I can figure it out.
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  30. I like your take on this! Now go and make yourself a whole quilt!
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  31. Love the virtual quilt. I've participated in a few swaps and enjoy them. How do you find all of your? I would like to do more.
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  32. yes, i've noticed that you are a swap junkie. but that's great! you also try a lot of new techniques that still scare me. (inset seams, for one!) you do amazing work! and i love your virtual quilt.
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  33. how clever! there's some beauties in there!
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  34. Clever indeed. Rosie Greer did needlepoint, so John does quilting, cool. (I'm in CA, but my daughter lives in Clayton, apropos to nothing.)
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  35. Great idea for the virtual quilt. I will have to do that with my blocks too.
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  36. I'm wearing myself out going back and forth between MY quilt from you on my wall and looking at the screen. So I'm just gonna ask - one of these in in mine, right? *S*

    Thx for pointing me to the virtual festival...I'm #66....(good thing not 666).
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  37. I am on overload. That turns into a sampler that crosses many style barriers. Fun and pretty.
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  38. I like how clean and bright all your blocks are. It's nice to see all the different styles.
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  41. I was wondering what you would post! I love your virtual quilt :) I too love the practice and the freedom to try something new with the swaps. Thanks for sharing!
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  42. I am on the list too, and I think it is a super idea! Love your quilt!
    Micki
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  43. GREAT idea to do this virtual quilt for us. You surely have made some wonderful blocks and what fun to know they are living all over the world.
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  44. Too cool! I love this virtual quilt. Hey are there rules to this? I don't think so :-)
    Enjoy the festival
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  45. Great montage John. I can't wait to watch as you continue on your journey and the blocks and swaps turn into whole quilts of your own. You have a great eye.
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  46. What a sweetie you are. Now, quit swapping for a while and make your own. (you can always swap after) Lovely idea of a virtual quilt.
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  47. I love watching all of your blocks come to fruition. You do amazing work. The virtual quilt is a perfect idea!
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  48. it's perfect John! With all the wonderful blocks you've created, it's hard to believe you are kinda new at it!
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  49. John, you truly do inspiring work! Keep it up! :D
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  50. Great blocks! How do you get started and join a swap?
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  51. Great blocks! I love them all. I'm coming back to learn more about this Sew Connected thing.
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  52. Both the virtual quilt and participating in swaps do to time shortage and to improve skill are great ideas. I might have to try swapping for the same reasons.
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  53. cool idea submitting a virtual quilt. quite fitting.
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  54. I love all these blocks! Where do you find your swaps? I would love to do one, but don't know how find them before they've started...
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  55. I've been checking out your blocks on flickr for a while now. I am in total awe of your block making skills. You've made just about one of every kind there is. :)

    Love the green and white mini bento quilt...it's my favorite.
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  56. How fun to have so many different blocks. Thanks for sharing these. I've been trying to talk my husband into joining me in quilting so I had to show him your blog.
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  57. Great idea...virtual quilt for a virtual quilt show! Love all generously given your blocks!
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  58. Loved the HUGE variety in your virtual quilt! Great idea, too. Everyone who has swapped with you is fortunate!
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  59. What a lovely way to showcase a lot all at one time! I like it!
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  61. All the festival quilts and stories behind them are so interesting - - Wow that's a lot of swaps! Good for you.

    And you live in Cary! We lived there for 6 years before getting transferred. I loved it there -- especially all the quilt stores. They are much better than the ones in South Florida.
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