Stockings (Part 1): Quilty Appreciation

Hi all!  I've been busy this weekend with a bunch of family stuff, but since this is my crafty blog I thought I'd share my newest project with you.  Last week I found out that Lyanna from PurplePandaQuilts has given a challenge out to fellow crafty folks - she is trying to get Christmas stockings made for kids in foster care.  As she says on her blog: "From October 1 - Dec 1, I will be hosting a stocking drive to benefit the foster children of Central Virginia".

So I decided to join her!  A while ago I received a box of festive fabrics from my bloggy friend Brooke.  She is an amazing quilter, and had already pieced together some blocks for me.  Now in case you don't know me well, I'll tell you - I have ZERO experience with quilting.  None.  But the blocks were already put together - and they're so great - and they'd be PERFECT for Christmas stockings!  So I gave it a go.  

Which brings me to the title of this blog post.  I have a new-found appreciation for quilters, and the art of quilting in general.  Seriously, quilters are ARTISTS!!!  I am not intimidated by new ways of doing things, and Lyanna had a tutorial for making a quilted stocking, so I thought I'd jump right in!!!

Fortunately, the tutorial was a good one.  Oh my - after 4 hours of hard work, I finally figured out that there is a tension adjustment on the BOBBIN.  And that was just for starters.  But I finally did it.  I quilted straight (or as near to straight as I could get!) lines down the front of the first stocking, then tried out the "stitch in the ditch" method for the others.  That worked a bit better, and I actually came away from it with some fairly cute stockings.

So for all of you quilters out there, I say thank you.  If you love it, do it well.  And I promise, you will get no competition from me!!!  I encourage you to use your craft as an outlet of joy and good will to others.  Not just for holidays, but in every season.

Well, I'm off to work on my next few stockings, which are fairly heavy on applique and embroidery (oh yeah!  Back to my comfort zone!!!).  This fun little face is a sneak peak for my next post.  Until then, be blessed.  :) Caren