So I heard a little rumor from Kaye that this quilt blog festival was going on. They time it so that it is going on during the International Quilt Market . The Fall market is the BIG one of the year. There is also one in the Spring but the Fall one is where most new releases on fabric lines, etc are launched or revealed. If you've been with me for any length of time you'll remember this.
The result of that is that I am STILL working on designs. Here's the thing. I had 3 companies that were promising. One who sent me an email when I got home and said they loved my stuff and they would be in touch very soon. That sounds good, doesn't it?
Well, a month later I got a short note from them that said "they decided to go another direction". I was ok with that because there were still 2 others in the running. Both of those said that I needed to tweak some things, work on colorways, etc but that they really loved my designs.
Last week, after not being in touch with those companies since May, one of them emailed me again and said they were really impressed with my presentation, really loved my designs and looking forward to my resubmits.
Again, sounds promising. Really.
Problem is, I'm not a graphic designer. SO...I'm slowly trying to figure out what I need to be able to do this myself and I'm asking for help from some friends. And I continue to network with others who have done this before me. Sandi Henderson and Bari J and Lila Tueller - all very kind in offering me advice and encouraging me along. Networking is so very helpful.
I was in such a hurry before to get "there" but now, I just put it in God's hands. If it's meant to be, it will. If I'm blessed enough with talent and skill that can grow into a career to help support my family - then it's God's plan and it will happen when the time is right. I'm much more relaxed about the process now.
For months, I've been planning to take November and December off. I just submitted an article to a magazine for publication. I have 3 publishing companies that I'm working on book proposals for and I'm actually pulling in some all new sketches to build my collection that I have now named, designed my selvedge edges for and have a few sewing patterns to go with...and I will actually have, before Christmas, the first of those patterns for sale and ready for distribution.
In God's time. Not mine. If it's meant to be. It will. If not, then I'll keep doing what I'm doing. Sewing for my friends and family and loving every. single. minute. of it.
Which brings me back to the Blogger's Quilt Festival.
You are supposed to write a post about a quilt and tell it's story.
The first quilt I ever made, I made when I was about 10 weeks pregnant with the peas, my twins. I didn't know it at the time that there were two of them in there so I was only making one. I actually haven't made a second one yet. And they are now, ahem, 8 years old. It was a nine patch with a flannel back of bears with angel wings. Adorable.
It's been loved...to pieces. I've told them I'll have to cut it in two for them and make them into little wall hangings or something.
And then last Christmas, I made my parents a big throw quilt. I also put a flannel back on it because my Dad is always cold. The front I did just giant blocks and put a cute vintage cowboy flannel on the back.
There really isn't any story to this. Except I was so busy working filling orders that I didn't get to make this until the week of Christmas.
And I had a new baby at home.
And I stayed up into the wee hours after everyone was in bed asleep sewing.
And piecing.
And quilting.
I have alot of respect for quilters. It's a big job. But the results are timeless.
I say that because in the baby's room, framed is a quilt square from a quilt my great grandmother made. It had started to fall apart and so each girl in my family got a square of it framed.
And I made Christmas stockings for my parents from it.
And I still have more left. There will be some other sweet projects to come along, I'm sure.
xoxo,
Trish