Wow... Amazing quilts and lovely new friends being made...

Hello My Lovelies,

I must confess that I have not stitched at all this weekend.

Ok, does 1 and a half Klosje count?

:)

I have had a very busy week at work, and this weekend I have been enjoying my family and touring the wonderful exhibit of quilts hosted by Amy. Have you?

I have come across such beautiful quilts and I have laughed, cried, been challenged and certainly have felt supremely humbled and inspired.

The Blogger's Quilt Festival runs until Friday, so you still have time to join with your own quilt, or visit the hundreds of quilts on display, including mine presented in the previous post.

I have also met some amazing people in the process. Here are just a few:

I have taken a pledge: To discuss and be open about the whole process of creating and constructing a quilt. This Transparency can be very liberating and extremely creatively constructive. Blogging can be such an amazing tool to encourage and support us in mastering and promoting our craft and I was delighted when I found Rossie echoing those same feelings and challenging us to do something about it. She refers to an article written by Cheryl who very eloquently expresses something I have been feeling for a while now ( and have had a chance to discuss with some of you in our personal mail). I highly recommend you take the time to read Cheryl's observations.

So:

I, _Valentina_, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them into words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there.

I also joined a Hexies group.

Yep, another one... and this one is sheer self-indulgence!

:)

So here it goes: in the name of transparency in process:

As I have been making Spotty Dotty Hexi-flowers and My "Al Fresco" Hexies, I have been secretly putting aside hexies for a 'someday' Charm quilt.

In comes the lovely Melanie, Ms texasfreckles, herself! I luv that name! :) ...anyway, Melanie proposes a Hexagon Charm Quilt Piece-Along... How could I resist, please, I am only human! :)

And since we are confessing: I have also joined Jossie from Cybele's patch in making a small Dollie-quilt version of her clamshells quilt.

I really want to practice Applique, like some of you already know, so I thought this is the perfect opportunity for me.

Please, don't judge me for filling my plate up so high at the buffet table... I know I cannot do it all. But I have also seen the power of encouragement. And I have enjoyed knowing that I am working alongside you to achieve a common goal. So I will continue to do my best and enjoy myself while doing it.

Life is serious and challenging enough as it is...

Therefore, I have also pledged to make 2 baby-quilts for Shruti.

Shruti is requesting help to make baby quilts for an orphanage of new-borns in India. She can use anything you can provide, from UFO-blocks, to extra pieces of batting and binding. I am sure I am not the only one with fabric in my stash that no longer makes my heart sing... So I have enlisted my boys' help to me make a quilt 'for the little babies'.

Hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend, and I will go and visit some more quilts!

See you soon!

Valentina

ps these are some more Roses I wanted to share with you from my MIL cottage garden.

:)