The making of a gift quilt

Some of my most favorite experiences with regards to quilting have been when I've given them as gifts to people who would not normally expect them.

I made this one a scrappy with an off white background. Quilt finished at about 110"x110". I gifted this to a pastor and his wife. Pattern - Burgoyne Surrounded.

My kids, up until recently, have all been a bit in the "transient" stage in life and haven't wanted a bunch of quilts - so they've been kind of a wash with regards to gifting quilts- though, they could pretty much have any quilt I've made if they just speak up.

My sis lives in central FL. Let's see. They actually NEED a quilt for warmth in January - maybe. So, one quilt per bed actually works for them. It's not like us here where we use multiple quilts on our bed at night to stay warm starting in September/October through April!

So, what's a person to do for fun- for a gift - a meaningful gift to someone I know?  

When the wife asked for "cappuccino brown and dark red" I was stunned. I had never worked with these colors before and thought it would be dreadfully dull. Quite the contrary, I fell in love with using these colors.  The effect is warm and cuddly. Quite finished at about 113"x113". Made for a couple who at the time were in Turkey. Pattern is not available anymore - but is a granny square and a chain block on point.

A few years ago I made a large quilt for a pastor and his wife who were retirement age, but hadn't retired yet. In fact the husband had been here to visit us a long time ago.

The wife had commented on a quilt I had made - how much she liked it - (Burgoyne Surrounded). I made one for her in king size and we took it to them when we went to their church. They were shocked. I think she had jokingly said something about "Love to have that in king size" or something like that on Facebook after I showed one but in a lap size.

It was the biggest quilt I'd ever made to date.

Our missionary friend in the Ukraine only needed a twin size for his bed. Whew.  Easy peasy compared to a huge king!  Oh, and blue.  So, blue it was!  Pattern is Rachael's Chain Linked Beauties as in the files section.

That was fun.

Then we went to Turkey a few years ago at Christmas time and I took the couple that we stayed with overnight (another missionary couple) a king size quilt I made them - this one was not a surprise since it was a younger couple - and I wanted to make what the wife liked. I first asked if she even wanted one! She did. 

It took a solid week of almost nonstop piecing to put together that granny square king size quilt (pictured above).

Close up of the nautical themed quilt

But I've not done anything like that lately. Well, last year, or the year before, I made a nautical themed twin sized quilt for a coworker of Mike's in the Ukraine - but his wife had passed away - and typically it's the women who get all excited about a quilt.

But I've decided to get busy again - I want to make periodic gift quilts to people in ministry or others who just constantly give of themselves to others. They are fun--even more than charity quilts - as these are for the purpose of boosting morale of the givers.

I've started on another big one (this time, CA King) for a couple here in Poland. They are also missionaries and I know that they are constantly pouring out of themselves for others.

I first talked with my friend about it and asked her if she'd like one - (as a gift) and if so, what size and what colors.

She said "Yes, I'd love one!"

My friend wants "bright, cheery colors" since Poland can be dark and dreary in the winter. So, that's what I'm going for. I'm trying to imagine "American Jane" type colors - trying to keep to a clear, clean looking bright palette. with a heavy emphasis on red, blue, yellow, green and orange. I'm leaving out purple, pink, brown and black, for the most part. 

This rather large quilt will use 20 of these blocks and 30 of the next style I'm starting on.

More later........Stay tuned. It's fun!  Even more fun than working on charity quilts!

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Feel free to check out what my sis has for you over in the store area!