College and Quilts

It is that time of year again! Most of the local college kids are back at school and beginning class this week.  It is hard to believe that once again summer is over, my daughters are at their respective schools and I myself will be heading back into the classroom in a couple of days.  It has been a harried few weeks of preparing everything a college kid needs, this time moving into new apartments. The beginning of classes will almost be a relief!

One of my favorite gifts for sending a student off to his or her first day of college or for graduation is a quilt in their school colors.  I finally finished my daughter's graduation quilt (see her graduation celebration here) just in time for her to take it when she left for graduate school this past weekend.  My daughter's high school, college and now grad school colors are blue and yellow.

This is a simple patchwork quilt.  I got the dimensions from diaryofaquilter.com here.  I like this pattern because it is easy, quick and the larger patch allows us to highlight fabric with a bigger pattern. And yes, it is laying on my deck.  Don't worry, I threw it in the wash right after!  I like the comfy crinkly look that a washed and machine dried quilt has. 

I got most of the fabric from my favorite local quilt shop, Bella Fabrics.  I just love the pretty little flowers that the quilter, Robin, stitched into it.  

My quilts aren't heirlooms or quasi-museum pieces.  I want people to really use my quilts- to take naps with them, cozy up on the couch with them or throw them down on the ground for a picnic.   I have used mine for tailgating, as a beach blanket, and to keep warm at a fireside marshmallow roasting.  I hope the quilts that I have made for others are equally loved and enjoyed.  

I have to admit that I was never interested in quilting when I was younger.  The quilts that I had previously been exposed to had fussy complicated patterns with dull fabric and had been hand-quilted.  (Who has time for that?) A few years ago, my daughter found out that a new fabric shop had opened up locally and when we visited I found out that the "new" quilting fabrics were bright and fun and the patterns could be anything that you wanted them to be.  And, there are people at the quilt shops who will (machine) quilt them for you!  Since then I have enjoyed making quilts for weddings, babies, birthdays, holidays and of course, graduations and college.  I like to think that they all have been loved and enjoyed by their recipients. 

So it looks like it's back to school week here at Gardenias and Glitter.  I have some crafts and other fun stuff to share- so I hope you come back soon! 

Thanks for stopping by today!