OK, the first finish isn’t mine, but it’s all the more notable because of that. A friend who had previously made only two quilts decided she wanted to make a sea glass quilt and asked for my help. And by help, I mean I only showed her how to do things; she did every bit of the cutting, fusing, quilting, and binding herself! She just decided she could do it, and she DID.
Sea Glass wall hanging by Michele
The only part that gave her any trouble was the binding, and I think we can all agree that’s a challenge for many quilters.
The second finish is a quilt I made for the Mancuso Celebrating Women challenge.
Full Circle
To make this, I cut up a partial quilt top left by my Grandmother, Mary Lee Ownbey Kimsey. I’ve written before about the dilemma of what to do with the unfinished pieces I inherited, and this seemed an appropriate solution.
Grandmother’s wedding picture, 1908
Granny pieced by hand and her seam allowances were only about 1/8″! However, there was NO chance those seams were coming apart. She took tiny stitches and backstitched frequently to lock the seams. I originally tried taking some of it apart to re-use, but that was almost impossible!
Quilt Stats
Name: Full Circle
Finished size: 24″ x 24″
Designed, pieced, quilted by me, using some pieces joined by my Grandmother some time in the 1950s.
I submitted this in accordance with my resolution to submit more/be rejected more this year. And by the way my entry to the International Quilt Festival was not accepted, but the point is that I tried.
Zippy Quilts 
Full Circle is wonderful! A worthy show entry. Are you familiar with quilt historian Mary Kerr? She does wonderful things with vintage/antique pieces. And your friend’s Sea Glass is beautiful.
I looked up the Mancuso website for more details. I’m amazed at how you’ve done so much within the realm of specific entry deadlines. Full Circle is filled with the essence of your family ties – even down to the sturdiness of stitching! Lovely piece – artistic, historical and skillfully crafted upon a foundation of generational love. Brava, Zip! 😍
Thanks, Laura. It’s always good to hear from you!
Oh eloquent Laura!
😊 Sweet of you to say!
Congratulations to your friend on her sea glass. An important reminder we are capable of more than we think. Love your full circle quilt too. It weaves the old and new perfectly and very impressive quilting.
Thank you, Helen!
Wow your grandmother didn’t want any of her seams coming apart, she didn’t play! I like that you are submitting your wonderful work and you of course figured out that you can’t get accepted if you don’t put yourself out there to be potentially rejected. Always a brave thing to do when it comes to our art 🙂
Thanks, Tierney.
Love your friend’s attitude…’She just decided she could do it, and she DID.’ What a testimony!
How blessed to have your grandmother’s gorgeous wedding photo as well as her piecework! The other Laura said it well, ‘Full Circle is filled with the essence of your family ties….’ 🙂
Thank you, Laura. And yes, that friend can do most anything–she’s one of those!
You have made me think of how making quilts brings close connections, present and past. Am struggling to express myself. I was moved by the way you encouraged a new quilter and honoured your grandmother’s work.
Thank you, Mariss. The funny thing is, my grandmother would be puzzled to see what I did with her work!