"A Day In The Life of a Quilter"
I am giving thought to why I like to sew. I like every aspect of the process. I love choosing fabric from my stash to get started. I don't think I ever have a thought of actually starting a project, I just see something and it gives me an idea. I have never planned a Quilt.
I love the cutting of the fabric. The rotary cutter, mat and ruler are wonderful tools, but I love the feel of a 'great-cutting'pair of fabric scissors. I love to sit for hours, EC beside me in his chair, Mack and Thelma at our feet, and the "Helper Kitty" roaming around contemplating mischief; with my best scissors, a pair of KAI's, in my hand. Sometimes I cut six or seven hundred one inch strips that need to be cut into six, seven or eight inch lengths. I love arranging the strips and then the cutting of them.
I fill one of my home-made baskets with all the smaller pieces. The next part of the process is the sewing together of all those (sometimes thousands) little pieces. Now why would a grown woman want to sit for days,mezmerized by a sewing machine needle going up and down. The simple, short answer is: for the love of it.
Finally, when I see the completed piece that I've sewn, my head starts racing with ideas of what to do with this newly created piece. Should I cut this up and add new fabrics to it? Should I leave it alone and just add boarders? What kind of boarders? Racing Strips? Blocks? Maybe it needs fish, maybe a bird, should I put a cloud above the tree? Does it really need a tree?
All this is the fun stuff for me.
At least I'm sure of one thing, I have definately decided on the batting. Years ago I discovered that Hobbs Washable Wool Batting was the best. I buy that by the 'giant, huge roll. I love the drape of it, the loft of it and the hand of it. Since I travel with my Quilts, it folds well, without leaving that horrible, permenant crease.
I've even learned to love 'reverse stitching'. To quote my friend Marty, "Mr. Seam Ripper is my friend!" I have one Quilt that I removed all the Quilting from, not once, but twice. It had to be done. There is no reason to sit and wonder about it. If it has to go, it just has to go.
Even after the Quilt is finished, with the binding, backing, hanging sleeve, label, I may sit for weeks, painting the thread . Don't ask. It is just something I love to do. My most often used motto is "Whatever it takes" and if that's what it takes, I love to do it.
The binding takes me three full days to hand-stitch down. That is such a peaceful time. I love all the tiny stitches.
There are so many awful things one could be hooked on, I am so fortunate that Quilting is my choice.
Oh, I forgot! The Top of the List! The never ending hunt for the most beautiful fabric. The 'road Trip's,wonderful Quilt Shops, the stacks and rows of color that is FABRIC! Oh, and the thread that is the 'glue' that holds it all together.
Aren't we lucky. How many times have you ever met a Quilter that you didn't like? Very seldom. What a great craft we have chosen to be a part of!
What's not to love?
We'll talk again soon,
Carol Ann, Quilter
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"Quilt By The Mile" is a wonderful process whereby one can create a beautiful piece of fabric from one inch strips. I invented this process more than ten years ago for my own Quilting. As more people saw it, I started having classes and traveling to various Quilt Guilds in my home state of Arkansas. Word spread and now I've traveled to Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee teaching and showing my work at Guild Programs. There are photos at this site to show what "Quilt By The Mile" is.
I have also invented a process called "Century Log Cabin" and photos of that are also included. I sew 100 different fabrics in a Log Cabin design in a four inch block. I also teach this process in a half day class. It does take a very special mind set to want to attempt this block.
The third of my process inventions is "Jibbles and Bits". It is a very scrappy way to use up a lot of your left over fabric. (See Photos) All three of these processes are included in "Fiesta Roses".
I teach all three of these, "Jibbles & Bits","Century Log Cabins" and "Quilt By The Mile".
I love to teach, I love Quilting and I love to travel.
Enjoy the Photos and should you have questions, please get in touch with me.
I am:
Carol Ann Wilbourn, Quilter
You my contact me at carolsquiltcastle@gmail.com.
Carol Ann Wilbourn
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"Quilt By The Mile"
"Quilt By The Mile" is a wonderful process whereby one can create a beautiful piece of fabric from one inch strips. I invented this process more than ten years ago for my own Quilting. As more people saw it, I started having classes and traveling to various Quilt Guilds in my home state of Arkansas. Word spread and now I've traveled to Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee teaching and showing my work at Guild Programs. There are photos at this site to show what "Quilt By The Mile" is.
I have also invented a process called "Century Log Cabin" and photos of that are also included. I sew 100 different fabrics in a Log Cabin design in a four inch block. I also teach this process in a half day class. It does take a very special mind set to want to attempt this block.
The third of my process inventions is "Jibbles and Bits". It is a very scrappy way to use up a lot of your left over fabric. (See Photos) All three of these processes are included in "Fiesta Roses".
I teach all three of these, "Jibbles & Bits","Century Log Cabins" and "Quilt By The Mile".
I love to teach, I love Quilting and I love to travel.
Enjoy the Photos and should you have questions, please get in touch with me.
I am:
Carol Ann Wilbourn, Quilter
You my contact me at carolsquiltcastle@gmail.com.
Photo
Carol Ann Wilbourn
Carol Ann: A Thumbnail sketch
I made up my mind to become a Quilter in the Fall of 1986. My husband and I decided that we were changing our lives by moving from a big, sprawling city to the country. That being the beautiful ridge that runs North and South through Eastern Arkansas, to the town of Paragould. We made no other plans other than that. But, since we were moving to Arkansas, Quilting seemed to be the natural progression of my thoughts.
Today, I am a Quilter. It is what I do. My home is my Studio. We live around the Quilts and all the ‘Toy’s’ that one has that goes along with being a Quilter. Of course, I have my ‘Stash’, the rulers, rotary cutters, mats, The Machines (including my Long-arm), walls with thread wracks, a design wall and all the other wonders that we, as Quilter’s must have to help us be successful.
But, in the beginning, that wasn’t the case. I just wanted to be a Quilter. I didn’t know what that meant, but I wanted to be one. The years that have passed between deciding to become a Quilter and becoming one, is the story of my life.
There is no history in my family, that I know of , of any other Quilter. My Grandmother’s nor my Mom sewed. My Mom loved the yard and what grew in it. Her Mom raised eleven Children and didn’t have time. My two sister’s, Susan and Sarah Beth, took Home Economics, just like me, but it didn’t take, in my case. I never sewed.
I wanted a job, so that’s who I was for the first half of my life. I was married to E.C. when I was 28 years old. Before that and after that, I had a job. Until I became 40 and we decided to leave City life and move to the Country. I quit my job and the person that I am now started growing.
Becoming a Quilter has taken many years. The story of that Adventure is the tale I share when I present Programs and Trunk Shows around the country. I am proud to say that I am a Quilter. I love the whole process. I love the learning, the sharing that all Quilter’s do. I love the ‘Get Together’s’, the Quilt Shows, the Fabric Shops, the equipment. I love the Student’s, the Teaching, the learning.
Quilting is a wonderful world and I am proud to say that I am - - “A QUILTER!”
Today, I am a Quilter. It is what I do. My home is my Studio. We live around the Quilts and all the ‘Toy’s’ that one has that goes along with being a Quilter. Of course, I have my ‘Stash’, the rulers, rotary cutters, mats, The Machines (including my Long-arm), walls with thread wracks, a design wall and all the other wonders that we, as Quilter’s must have to help us be successful.
But, in the beginning, that wasn’t the case. I just wanted to be a Quilter. I didn’t know what that meant, but I wanted to be one. The years that have passed between deciding to become a Quilter and becoming one, is the story of my life.
There is no history in my family, that I know of , of any other Quilter. My Grandmother’s nor my Mom sewed. My Mom loved the yard and what grew in it. Her Mom raised eleven Children and didn’t have time. My two sister’s, Susan and Sarah Beth, took Home Economics, just like me, but it didn’t take, in my case. I never sewed.
I wanted a job, so that’s who I was for the first half of my life. I was married to E.C. when I was 28 years old. Before that and after that, I had a job. Until I became 40 and we decided to leave City life and move to the Country. I quit my job and the person that I am now started growing.
Becoming a Quilter has taken many years. The story of that Adventure is the tale I share when I present Programs and Trunk Shows around the country. I am proud to say that I am a Quilter. I love the whole process. I love the learning, the sharing that all Quilter’s do. I love the ‘Get Together’s’, the Quilt Shows, the Fabric Shops, the equipment. I love the Student’s, the Teaching, the learning.
Quilting is a wonderful world and I am proud to say that I am - - “A QUILTER!”
Class Requirements and Cutting Instructions
To download Class Requirements and Cutting Instructions in PDF format click HERE:
Copyright
All photos, artwork and written contents are property of Carol Ann Wilbourn and "Quilt By The Mile". All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. Copyright© 2008.
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