Sewing I have bought

I wasn't sure what to do with the blog this week, I'm absolutely exhausted and I have been much too tired for sewing.  I want to sew, but even the effort of plugging the machine in seems too much!  Early nights instead.  So I thought I'd share some sewing that I'd bought instead.  I have two quilts in my house, neither made by me, but both are lovely.

This was bought at the Christmas fayre held in our local community centre four years ago; we go as a family annually and it is great fun.  They have stalls with teddies, endless raffles, lace-making, cakes and sweets,  dancing by local children's groups, watercolours. My favourite stall is always The Quilters Society.

I got this before I could sew, I just liked it.  I had no idea what I'd use it for.  The lady who sold it described it as a wall hanging but I can't imagine having  it displayed like that.

It has lots of hand sewn shapes. I've subsequently learnt this is called English paper piecing, and it is so fun with so many different pictures to look at.

The lady who made it is an American, now living in the UK, and she told me every stitch is done by hand.  She also said that she is addicted to quilting, works on them all-day long. She adores making them, and even sews her name into the quilts.

I loved it so much that the following year, I went straight to her stall and purchased another.

This one has even more of a nursery feel I think!  Even though both quilts were sewn entirely by hand they've been through the wars: they've been used as playmats for puking babies, a quilt on a toddler bed, picnic rugs, parts of a fortress or play house.  These have been in and out of the wash and now have that lovely soft worn feel of loved items.

They almost make me want to make my own quilt. Almost.  I'm still in the thrall of the quick hit you get from making a garment, and I'm under no illusions: quilts take time, and lots of it.

Have you ever made one?