The Creative Process

I've always been facinated by the creative process. I'll pick up a finished product--whether it is a book, a quilt, or a particularly delicious cookie--and wonder what inspired it and how it went from inspiration to that finished product. 

Sometimes, for me, it's very simple.

1. Fabric Lust
That moment when you see a particular fabric, fall in love, and simply have to have it.

I have to admit to a deep and abiding love for Winnie the Pooh. Even when I try to branch out, I keep going back. This might account for the five or six different Winnie the Pooh fabrics that currently reside in my stash...

2. Finding the Perfect Pattern

It's fun! It's bright! And it has large spaces to showcase Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger! (Pattern from Fat Quarter Quilting by Sun Penn.)

3. Putting It All Together

It certainly wasn't a difficult block, though I made it harder than it needed to be. Sometimes you have to learn by trial and error... or maybe it's just me. =)

4. Finishing It Up

Quilting done by the lovely Miss Nancy. And the binding still needs to be done, so it's not actually finished... but it's close. I haven't made too many quilts at this point, but this is definitely my favorite so far. I don't think I'm going to be able to give it away.


Of course, if you're me, not every project goes quite so smoothly. More often than not, the creative process is something like this...

1. Fabric Lust

I still squee a little every time I look at this fabric. They're SO CUTE! I'm definitely on an owl kick right now.

2. Looking Through Every Book You Own To Find a Good Pattern

And going through quilt blog after quilt blog, waiting for inspiration to strike. But nothing seemed right.

3. Deciding to Design Your Own

More than one sheet of graph paper was sacrificed for this cause. I had one pattern all drawn out and I was ready to cut... when I realized I had absolutely no desire to sew partial seams. Whoops! Back to the drawing board. I had entirely too many pages of measurments, checking and double-checking my basic arithmatic. In my defense, it's been a long time since I had math!

4. Realizing Your Pattern is Completely Crazy, and Deciding to Go For It Anyway

There are four sections to the quilt top. Three and two-thirds are finished. A few more seams to sew, and then for the borders! Right now, I'm thinking a narrow green border and a wide pink one. Unless anyone has any better ideas... =)

When it's finished, it will fit a twin-sized bed, reaching nearly to the ground on both sides. I can see this one in a seven-year-old girl's room. Problem is, I don't think I know any seven-year-old girls...

Welcome!

Back in the 1760s, a fellow named James Hargreaves invented the "Spinning-Jenny," which was kind of a big deal, as it allowed someone to spin multiple threads while using only one spinning wheel.

Fast forward a couple centuries, and in the 1980s, God (with an assist from a lovely young couple named Rob and Heidi) created a Quilting Jenny, which was not quite as big a deal, historically speaking. She learned to sew, crochet, and cross-stitch from her mother, and eventually, armed with a sewing machine and a pile of books, ventured off into the wide world of quilting.

This blog is meant to chronicle that journey. I hope you'll come along for the ride (or at least for the pictures of gorgeous fabric and an adorable basset hound).

I'm Jenny--the twenty-something wife of a wonderful Coast Guard officer (who is, incidentally, an enabler, and encourages the purchases of fabric, notions, yarn, quilt books, and new sewing machines when what I really need is someone to tell me no). We currently are stationed in Pensacola, Florida, where we are working on our happily ever after, accompanied by our hound, His Drooliness, George Gordon Lord Bryon.