17 April 2009

First Annual Bloggers Quilt Festival - my entry



More photos on Flickr.

This is my submission to the First Annual Bloggers Quilt Festival. It's called "Friendly Dragon Quilt" and designed for my godson Harrison. Harrison is an "Englishman" and being English, Saint George - of dragon-slaying fame - is his patron saint. I realised this when flipping through a colouring book I had purchased for my daughters during a summer holiday on Crete and coming across this lovely smiley dragon. Harrison is a positively smiley kid too, always on the go and full of energy! He's also my first godchild, son to my very very good friend Caroline.

I had no idea what I got myself into when I embarked on this project. I had gone back and forth on strange ideas of what Harrison's quilt was supposed to be until I found that dragon. Unfortunately, George the Dragon was missing his butt in the book so I had to add that to the design, copy and blow it up, order "Fossil Fern" fabric and went to work.

It was daunting and kept me second-guessing my plans. But at the end, I was super-pleased with the result. As we all know, 4-year-olds are a hard crowd to please but Harrison was smitten by his quilt, making me love him even more ;-)

I even got a request for a commission but until now, my quilts are one-of-a-kind. What I like about quilting in general and making this one in particular is that while working on them, I contemplate the person I will give the quilt to. I think of them, what they mean to me and this makes me feel closer to them. So as much as any one of my quilts is a present to someone, it's also a present to me.

The above photo was taken in Michigan, outside of Elk Rapids, hours before I presented the quilt. If you click on it, you can see all my posts obsessing about said project.

Now, go on, join the fun of the:


18 comments:

hetty said...

That is one super cute quilt!

Kerri said...

what a fun quilt!! i love the dragon!! i'm the year of the dragon. :)

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

What a lucky little boy to receive a OOAK dragon quilt. The prairie points edging is the perfect touch.

Zonnah said...

I love it!

Jean said...

Beautiful quilt and lovely story!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Don't you love it when something you have had to really work on comes together? I find in my art quilts I am always chllenged to figure out the impossible.
Stepping outside the box really makes people grow----good work!!!

jlk said...

That is a great quilt!

Kim said...

Beautiful quilt and nice setting for the photo!

stitchinpenny said...

Very cute. The dragon is adorable and I think it is wonderful that you created it just for him.

Unknown said...

This is such a fun quilt! I love the prairie points on the edge and the colors are so great for a little boy :) Thanks for sharing.

Quilt Rat said...

What fun this is and I love that border.....so appropriate
Enjoy the festival

Micki said...

I love the quilt! Very striking !
Micki

Janet Brady said...

Gorgeous job on the quilt. Love the picture. I wish I was there right now!

Kathy said...

Ilove the quilt and definitly enjoy the border - which instead of calling it prairie points should be renamed to dragon scales - just for this quilt!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, fantastic quilt !!!!!

Quilty Conscience said...

Very Cute Dragon! My Son Loves it too!

Kim said...

What a great quilt! Fun, whimsical, colorful...I can just imagine the 4-year old recipient snuggling into it and dreaming of knights and dragons and fierce battles!

Quilt+Bitch said...

Superb. Can I have one! This quilt is simply amazing!