I suspect many of us are travelling along a life-long course of creative crafting. I’m 60 years old/young, making use of my eligibility for a Seniors Railcard, but definitely not feeling any inclination to forsake practising techniques or miss out on learning new skills.

PATHS LEADING TO PATCHWORK-QUILTING

Some of my clearest memories of childhood are dominated by the many hours spent making things out of all sorts of materials. From countless LEGO houses to clothes for my Sindy dolls and furniture for the dolls house my Grandad built for me.

Through my teens – when my knitting skills improved and I explored English Paper Piecing via the instructions in the St Michaels Book of Crafts – to adulthood when I’ve had phases of knitting, cross-stitching, all sorts of paper crafting, bead craft and, of course, patchwork-quilting.

Have you come to patchwork-quilting via a roundabout route taking in many crafts?

PATHS RUNNING AROUND PATCHWORK-QUILTING

There are so many variants to ‘basic’ piecing and quilting aren’t there? I’ve had fun (well mostly fun!) exploring hand and machine applique, walking foot and free motion quilting, EPP, foundation piecing, traditional piecing techniques such as crazy patchwork right through to modern improv.

Have you discovered the techniques and styles of patchwork-quilting that make your creativity flow? Are you continuing to progress, learning new skills and techniques under the very broad umbrella of patchwork-quilting?

PATHS RUNNING FROM PATCHWORK-QUILTING

Away from the sewing machine my passion for patchwork-quilting has led to many new new ventures including:

• Writing blog posts – New Every Morning Patchwork & Quilting began in October 2014 🙂
• Discovering the wonderful, inspiring online Worldwide Quilting Community.
• Selling patchwork related items at fairs and online.
• Taking part in a county-wide Open Studio event.
• Writing patterns – including having a couple published in magazines.
• Teaching patchwork classes.
• Working in a fabric shop.

Have you slipped into new ventures via patchwork-quilting? Maybe done things you’d never have dreamt of doing before you discovered the craft?

********************************************************************

All this looking back, taking a little time to think through all the twists, turns and paths I’ve taken as a direct result of my passion for patchwork-quilting has been brought about by the choice to step back from much of it through this year so dominated by happy family events. First the return from overseas of DD and SIL in February, followed by the birth of their firstborn in May. Now the anticipation of #1Son’s wedding in just two weeks time. He and his lovely fiancée receive the keys to their new home tomorrow (!) It has been wonderful getting to know her and her family. Then there’s the bitter-sweet awareness that DD, SIL and Grandson are on schedule to return to their home overseas before the end of the year…

Of course, stepping back hasn’t meant abandoning stitching, designing or playing with fabric but there’s been less direction, much more meandering (my word of 2023 is proving to be very apt) and a more haphazard engaging with our Worldwide Quilting Community.

Paying less attention to some areas has been absolutely the right decision. A bonus has been a gradual clarification of the aspects of the leading to, around and from patchwork-quilting that really do light-up the craft for me, sparking my creativity and enjoyment.

Thinking forward to 2024 I would definitely like to:

• Attend some classes, learn new techniques, meeting other patchwork-quilters along the way.
• Return to running workshops – I am really missing the joy of teaching and sharing skills, seeing class participants running with ideas to create their own versions of what they are learning.
• Pursue selling the things I make (I expect some of you have experienced just how tough selling craft can be?) maybe moving back into in-person craft fairs as well as online. This surprises me! I thought backing out of selling would bring relief but apparently I’m not yet ready to shut-up shop!
• Continue this blog – it was my first social-media platform and has always felt like home to me 🙂 Reading posts by other quilting bloggers has provided plenty of inspiration which I in turn enjoy sharing in the Saturday Quilting Bring & Share posts.
• Carry-on working a few hours a week at Purple Stitches. Standing in the shop for several hours can be a bit tough on my old legs but I enjoy being part of the team. It’s a great place to meet other patchwork-quilters too, among them plenty of local quilting friends.

Over the next few months I hope to put together a schedule of workshops for the first half of 2024; tidy up the Gallery pages of this blog; share a bit more about my shop, Allison’s Patchworks; and maybe even write about some of my project meandering (can you believe I’m forgetting to write about quilts I’ve actually finished!).

Thank you for taking the time to read through my musings! Has it got you thinking about how patchwork-quilting came into your life and how it has impact it’s had on your activities and ventures?

Allison