Saturday 19 May 2012

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Spring

The uber talented Amy is hosting another amazing Bloggers Quilt Festival. 



This is where we can enter one of the quilts we've made into the online festival, be gobsmackingly inspired by all the other entries, and maybe even win one of the many giveaways on offer (although that spot has probably already been reserved for Hadley!!).

If you are stopping by via Amy's, then hello and welcome!

You may be surprised by my choice for this years BQF, because it isn't modern, or funky, or hip or happening!

But the American Civil War quilt I made for my Dad's 70th birthday in February this year, is a very special quilt.


I researched the blocks for this quilt from this book:


My Dad has a keen interest in military history, and the American civil war in particular.  

I finally tracked down some repro civil war fabrics here in UK (Homespun Loft) and then set to work up-sizing the blocks from 6" square in the book, to 12" square for my version of the quilt.


And of course, the back is even more special than the front:

All of these patches are personalised messages from Dad's immediate family - my mum, Dad's children and grandchildren and sons and daughters-in-law.


And as if this wasn't 'story' enough for this quilt, since its presentation in February, it has been on tour!

My mum has flourished in the role of Tour Manager & the quilt, accompanied by the book, have been touring around friends, family, neighbours & visitors from other countries these past few months!!  Several grown men and women have wept on seeing this quilt and on reading the corresponding civil war entries in the book!

But most important of all, is how much my dad loves it!  That has made the many weeks of researching, cutting, sewing and quilting all worth while!

I don't expect this quilt to be an outstanding winner in the festival, despite the many categories.  But it is already a winner in my eyes, simply because of the love that has gone into it from all of my family, and the heartfelt reaction is has received from my dad and many others.


You can check out the many other amazing quilts being entered here in the Flickr pool.


17 comments:

  1. It is a winner in everyone's eyes! Love your quilt and a quilt made for someone else is made to their tastes and no one else's. You did a spectacularly fabulous job and I hope you do win a prize!

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  2. Oh I love this quilt for everything it stands for and love it brings!
    (I won't win anything - you have gone and jinxed that!) x

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  3. It's a great entry for the festival, so much work and love poured into it, and it looks fab!

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  4. That top is beautiful and the back is truly something special!

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  5. What a fab entry for the BQF.

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  6. I think it is great to see the blocks in 12" size. Your dad is very lucky to have it and how cool your mom is there to share the story too.

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  7. I can only say "WOW". Just wonderful!

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  8. Love the idea of your mum as the tour manager! Every bit fabulous!

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  9. Lovely to see your dad's quilt again - it sums up all that is good about quilting - and I'd forgotten how wonderful the quilting is, might have to vote for it in that category.x

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  10. great quilt!

    Check out my blog if you can...

    Margaret Gunn
    www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com

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  11. I still love this quilt and it has a wonderful story. And the new news about the touring is even better, I am so glad your parents are having fun showing it off.

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  12. If your quilt and it's story make people laugh and shed a tear it is most definitely a winner. But you may yet win again!

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  13. its a great entry to festival and a great story to accompany it

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  14. Such a great quilt and a wonderful story.

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  15. It's such a wonderful quilt and I'm really glad you've entered it!

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  16. Brilliant entry to this competition, J, and oh so worthy of a prize. Love all those messages on the back :) xx

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  17. What a great "traveling" quilt. I love the surf one too. I am sure he will cherish it : )

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