Friday, January 25, 2013

Where did the Inspiration come from?

You know, it's a funny thing Inspiration!
I have a file on my desktop full of photos from
all over the Internet and it is named
INSPIRATION.
I do look at it and browse through it a lot.
But this past Sunday when I was working
on the
"organizing my sewing room"
project of the century cutting anything 
smaller than a quarter yard into
2.5" strips or smaller squares
I picked up a bag of green scraps 
to cut and found (what I thought was)
INSPIRATION!

So I started cutting and liked the colors
so I pulled my stack of greens off the shelf 
and cut a strip from each of those.
This ain't all of 'em...let me tell you that much!
Then it hit me...
I could make a green scrappy
Double Irish Chain!

Off to the computer I went, pulled up EQ
and designed a simple table topper.

Simple enough and cute for March...
after all, I am Irish you know!

Well, as I was sewing and sewing and looking at the very large pile of green strips I realized that this would turn into something larger than this little table topper.
I have enough strips to make a King Size quilt...
AND THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN!!!

So I kept on sewing and thinking...what size should this be?
On Wednesday night it hit me...
THE REAL INSPIRATION FOR THIS QUILT!
It wasn't my picture file.
It wasn't even the green fabric strips.
It was a shopping trip I took with my wonderful sister Doreen!
Last year my sister was diagnosed with
early onset Alzheimer's.
The time we share together now is more important and precious to me than any other.
Last Thursday we went shopping together.
As I sewed I remembered she spent a lot of time on this day talking about Ireland and hoping to go back there again in the near future.  She talked about the last two trips she had taken there and really wants to go back.  In addition, she focused a lot on the St. Patrick's Day decorations in the stores where we shopped and even met a man from Ireland at the Wendy's were we ate lunch that day.
She spent a good 20 minutes talking with this wonderful man all about Ireland and our family.
We had an absolutely fabulous day together.
AND THAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS QUILT!

So far it looks like the original plan...
...but I have quite a few more blocks already sewn and more to ready to sew the rows together.
This quilt is not done and I don't know what it will be in the end other than...

A 60th Birthday Gift for my loving sister on her
Birthday in November!

So, if you want, stay tuned for what the future will bring for this quilt top.

Happy Sew Year,
Colleen


6 comments:

retrorevival.biz said...

I too have and inspiration file. Isn't it awesome though, that our best inspiration comes from the loves in our lives? Goosebumps:) Your loving creation is beautiful!

sandy davis said...

The quilt will be beautiful Colleen and you are a wonderful sister.

Auntie Em said...

Couldn't ask for better inspiration than a loving sister. What a treasure you are creating.

Unknown said...

I love that pattern! And the reason behind the piece is the most important part. Can't wait to see it as it progresses!

Colleen said...

Thank you all for the wonderful comments and sentiments. I am truly enjoying stitching each and every seam on this quilt top.

Cynthia@wabisabiquilts said...

What a meaningful, lovely quilt. I don't have a sister but I have tried to help my daughters appreciate their bond, which will last a lifetime through thick and thin. Thanks for sharing your inspiration!