When I find something I love, I go back to it again and again. In the spring, when the flower beds are tidy and blooming, I can walk around my yard three or four times in the same evening to visit them. When I find a book that I love, I can read the same sentence several times over just for the sheer pleasure of the words. Such is the case these days with the Isabel Dalhousie novels by Alexander McCall Smith.
And when a beautiful object comes my way, I can't stop looking at it. Such is the case with the quilt that was a gift from Martha.
I haven't decided where to put it, because I want it everywhere. Right now it's in the dining room (there's just a scrap of wallpaper peeking out along the right edge) because I have a good view of it from the kitchen, where I seem to have spent a lot of time this weekend.
I toyed with the idea of making a vignette with some doll dishes. The quilt is the perfect scale for this, but the dishes cover up too much of the surface.
The pattern is sawtooth, but it reminds me of the sailboats on the lake in the summer. These little sails are prettier, though.
Each time I look at it, I pick a different square that's a favorite. Which at this particular moment is the square with the blue tulip fabric.
Except when my favorite is this red print, which incorporates each of the colors I love the best. If you look very carefully at the largest red triangle, you can see that it is made of two little scraps of fabric that were sewn together. I love when a piece is pieced (I'm sure quilters have a better term for this.) It speaks to such care and appreciation for even the slightest bit of fabric.
Happily, just like I don't need to choose a favorite sentence in a book, I don't have to pick a favorite square. I simply get to enjoy the whole of it and appreciate the craft and care that went into it.
Thanks so much, Martha!
How sweet a gift that is! Love it and so cute!
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | February 21, 2010 at 09:27 PM
I'm so happy you like the little quilt. Thank you so much for the darling vintage fabric scraps and, of course, for writing my favorite blog.
Posted by: Martha | February 21, 2010 at 10:15 PM
What a sweet gift!
Posted by: LiLi M. | February 22, 2010 at 03:50 AM
Lucky you! The quilt is beautiful. I especially like how the scale of the prints in the pieced sections is small and in the border the scale is more medium. No wonder you love it!
Posted by: Jenifir | February 22, 2010 at 10:25 AM
This really is a beautiful gift - I can't believe all of those tiny stitches by hand. So pretty. (you do lovely work, Martha). -amy
Posted by: Into Vintage | February 22, 2010 at 12:06 PM
What a most beautiful quilt. I love the colors!
Maureen
Posted by: Maureen | February 22, 2010 at 01:08 PM
Oh my!!!! Such an adorable,beautiful little quilt..Just the right size and shape and color for a sweet little faerie princess.. It's just a magical little quilt..I love all the colors..but the red is probably my favorite..such lovely work..
Posted by: CC | February 22, 2010 at 03:09 PM
Wow - you lucky girl! I think I'll be visiting Martha - she sounds like a great Quilter (aren't we all?) I love the prints she chose for you - I think she got it right! Jewels
Posted by: Julie | February 22, 2010 at 06:25 PM
We have way too much in common.
I'll check out that series, its one I haven't read.
Posted by: Karla Nathan | February 23, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Wow! What an incredible gift! And hand quilted, so very nice!
Posted by: Shelley G in Iowa | February 23, 2010 at 11:33 AM
What a sweet gift- I never get tired of looking at those flour sack prints. And I don't supposed you're that surprised, but I have a set of those tin strawberry dishes, too.
Posted by: Beth Leintz | February 23, 2010 at 04:06 PM