hey yall.i’m rachel from p.s. i quilt
i’m SUPER excited to be a guest blogger on quilting gallery. {thanks michele.}
let’s see…where to begin…
it all started when i was 16 in home ec class.
i thought that our home ec teacher was the bomb.
she was young, hip, and could totally hang with us and our humor.
{she definitetly gets credit for my domestic goddess status. lol.}
we learned all the basic home ec-ish things.and then we learned how to make pillow turn baby blankets.
i was hooked right then & there.
i still have that blanket.
and it means SO much to me.
all 3 of my kids have used it!!!
reality check:
when i made it, i never would have imagined that i would have 3 babies using it!!!
{i thought 1 baby…one day…but 3!!!}
crazy!!!
and then one day, out of the clear blue sky, i was bitten by the quilting bug!!!my great grandmother was a quilter.
i never had a chance to learn anything from her because i was 11 when she passed.
other than that, i had a ‘quilter free’ family.
that was until i decided to teach myself.
that’s right…i taught myself!!!
it wasn’t easy…and sometimes it wasn’t pretty…
but i did it!!! yayyy!!! go me!!!
thank goodness the internet is SO resourceful!!!
thank goodness for awesome quilting magazines!!!
and thank goodness for people like pat sloan who write amazing quilting books!!!
i ♥ quilting.on so many levels is the best form of therapy!!!
if you are cranky: just do some improvisational quilting.
if you are chipper: take out those charm packs and fat quarters and play with them.
if you are relaxed: hand applique.
and when all else fails go buy more fabric!!!
tehehe.
my quilting hobby opened up a whole new creative outlet for me with blogging.
i think that quilt blogs are the coolest things EVER!!!
i have {virtually} met some of the kindest, most aweome people on the planet!!!
and they ALL inspire me. daily.
{not to mention being in some of the coolest swaps imaginable.}
i ♥ being as young as i am in an sterotypical older hobby.
i think my generation has really stepped up to bat in the quilting world.
and i love that all of us, no matter age, just ‘get’ each other.
{i’m 26 by the way.}
i’ve learned alot since being that bright eyed 16 year old girl in home ec.
and my home ec teacher, without a doubt, would still give me made props on my work.
{she was THAT cool. promise.}
so there you have it…my little quilting story.
hope yall enjoyed it.
please feel free to come visit me over at p.s. i quilt
rachel griffith
Rachel, I’m 32 and love quilting! I love the connection to the past and the creativity.
im 29 and love it, wish i learned sooner though!!
I’m 27 and am mostly self taught too. I love quilting. And I just started blogging and I love it, I find so much inspiration in the blog world.
nice interview, rachel! good girl!
I’m 25 and I love quilting… I think I’m the youngest person I know with their very own professional longarm quilting machine and complete sewing studio!! My husband had no idea what quilting even was and bought me the longarm! He’s great! :o)
Hi Rach….I am so glad that you “younger” gals are making time for quilting and sewing. I know it’s hard to do with kids and jobs….but it’s a great stress reliever…
I don’t think as many people think of quilting as only for the old anymore. Love your shots!
How fun to get to know Rachel a little better. I’m a “younger” generation quilter too so it is fun to have others to look towards. I also really appreciate the internet and blogs on how to quilt!
I learned how to quilt in the same manner by reading books and blogs! I am 32 and have been quilting for a little over a year now.:)
I think it’s great that you took Home Ec in high school. I hope my GD can take it. She was planning to, but I don’t know if she will or not. I took it in junior high back in the 50’s and it definitely helped me. From then on, I was sewing my own clothes, but didn’t start quilting until the 80’s. I follow your blog all the time!
I just loved home ec in 6th grade. My kids have had it in H.S. and now they call it Family and Consumer Sciences. Go figure!
I know what you mean about the older steroetype. I joined my guild at 26. No one thought I would last a year! I have been sewing for 30 years and quilting for 25.
I really thing our generation has stepped up! I am 34 now!
Dianah
It is so wonderful that at your age you have embraced quilting. I would hate to see this hobby die out when it can bring so much joy and can be done in difficult economic times.
Great interview!
Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)
Hey, Rachel — It’s Pat (one of the stereotypical OLDER gals in this hobby….hehehehe). GOOD job here today!
Hi Rachel,
I talk about the importance in my guest blog today too! We have a few young members in my guild…
I meant to say importance of Home Economics:)
Great post! Your enthusiasm is so contagious. I love your work and I’m glad we’ll have the opportunity to swap soon!
Way to go Rachel, your post is awesome! Congrats on being selected. And I love the orange fabric you posted…and OH…the bundle of Nicki…i just love that fabric!
Congratulations Rachel! Don’t you love that Nikki fabric? I made a rail quilt top with some of that line and I can’t wait to get it quilted! It’s nice to know there are other younger people out there that like to quilt! (I’m 34 – but, I’ve been sewing since 2nd grade). It’s so nice to hear how you got into quilting!
Loved your article! And those orange & blue fabrics are gorgeous! The web and blogs have really helped me ‘meet’ younger quilters (I’m 29) as I’m the only one that I know…So thank you for inspiring all of us!
Nice article Rachel and I adore the fabrics you showed.
Nice article – it is inspiring!
I just wonder: what is home ec? I am not familiar with that word? Anyway, it has shown to be good for you and hopefully for the other kids too :)
Your home ec teacher would be so proud of what you have already accomplished.
Look at all of us Spring Chicks in here!!
Your babies used the same blanket?! That is awesome!
Great post! You are a great inspiration to young quilter’s who I hope hear your message and get out there and learn to quilt. Nice Job!
Great piece! Keep spreading the word about your love of quilting Rachel. Us older generation quilters want that love to spread to your generation too! Share the riches it brings to our lives.
Hi Rachel, just had to pop over and read your guest blog! :) Loved reading about how you started sewing…and it’s wonderful to know that I’m not the only 20 something spending my Saturday evenings in front of a sewing machine instead of at the club! LOL*