Please join me in welcoming today’s guest blogger, Beth Helfter, as she shares with us her quilting journey. Leave a comment below for a chance to win a kit of Beth’s Funky Tree Farm pattern too.
Sixteen years ago next month, I became a quilter. Logic might then lead you to guess that my age is somewhere between 60 and 80 and that I have a full head of gray hair. In both cases, logic would be wrong, although in the second case this is mostly due to the fabulous invention we call L’Oreal Excellence Crème hair color. In reality, I’m a brunette-turned-redhead of 41, and have proudly called myself a serious quilter since the ripe old age of 25.
While I am no longer the infantile quilter that I once was, I still refuse to put myself in the mid-range of quilters, and will resist doing so until I am at least 93 if possible. Young is an attitude, after all, and I have plenty of that. And thanks to most sources I found when I used the very professional research tool "Google", which puts the average age of quilters at between 55 and 62, I have a long way to go before I am average – as if I ever could be. Even though my campaign to keep me the youngest member of my guild via blocking all new members under 40 is destined to fail miserably, I’m apparently still on the younger end of all quilters everywhere, and I’ll keep it that way as long as possible.
Those of us who discover quilting at younger ages get to have many more decades to enjoy our art than those who take it up later in life, but sometimes we have to work just a little bit harder to be taken seriously. A friend of mine, Robin Koehler of "Nestlings by Robin", told me that she walked into a guild meeting for the first time as a thirty-something and was immediately taken aside by one of the members and taught all sorts of basic quilting stuff. Little did the member know she was already a published designer.
Another member of my EPQD facebook community, Lisa Dragan of "Equulibrim Studios", told me people tell her all the time she doesn’t "look like a quilter" because she sports tattoos and sometimes quilts directly from the horse barn in riding breeches and boots. And I’ll truly never forget the time I asked for a quarter yard cut of fabric at a quilt shop when I was about 30 and was asked if I wanted a fat quarter or a regular quarter yard. When I replied that it didn’t matter to me, the sweet lady behind the counter put on a caring face and asked "Honey, you do know they are different shapes, don’t you?"
Now, many of you are likely asking "WHY did she only ask for a quarter yard of fabric? That is barely enough to make a pincushion!" The answer would be two-fold: 1. I was buying other fabrics as well, so never fear, I am a real quilter (even though I never prewash, but that’s a blog for another day). And 2. Sometimes we quilters with young families need to be cheap so as to pay for the numerous dance recital costumes, swimming lessons, drama lessons because we don’t get enough of that for free from our kids, and 35 pairs of shoes each season. Having to share my resources, which could be used for fabric, with my family is a burden, but one that I shoulder happily. I figure eventually everyone will be out of the house and out of my wallet, and then I can buy as much fabric, in all shapes and forms, as I like. Until then, it’s another price to pay for being a youngish quilter.
I attended a webinar with Maria Peagler recently, and she gave a statistic that was upsetting to me – there are fewer quilters in America now than there were a few years ago, and the segment that has dropped off the most are quilters under 45. Ladies, (and a few gents I am sure), where are you going and GET BACK HERE! But on the other hand, I do get it to a certain degree. For those quilters in the throes of raising families, quilting is just one more thing to add to the day’s "to do" list, and in our quest to make everyone in our lives happy except ourselves, something that gives us pleasure is the first thing to go. But it shouldn’t be. I am a firm believer both in "a happy mom means a happy family" and in my own personal 20 Minutes a Day rule.
See that quilt? That’s one that I use in my trunk show to demonstrate that 20 minutes a day can really add up. Sure, that was a lot of 20 minute increments of my life over the course of two and a half years, but those 20 minute increments may have been all that kept me sane and feeling like I was accomplishing something just for me during the first two and a half years of my twins’ lives. And there is a lot to be said for remembering what makes YOU happy while you are trying to keep everyone else in your family happy. I am not sure how to reach all the former quilters who have given up due to a perceived lack of time, but I sort of want to make it a personal quest now to get them back. Because for one thing, the more under 45 quilters we have, the longer I can stay well under the average age. Do it for you. Do it for me.
There is one huge bonus I can think of to having a young family and being a quilter or quilt designer – you have cute models for your photos who will work for Goldfish crackers. Take this photo of my eight year old daughters, Eva and Paige, that I use on the inside cover of my "Diamond Dazzle" pattern. Cute, huh?
My friend Jen Eskridge, the thirty-something force behind "ReannaLily Designs" used this cute photo on the cover of her book. Who can resist those little feet?
It’s sometimes amazing to me that I have been doing this for as long as I have, and when I give my trunk show lecture to guilds I can only hope they enjoy comparing where I have come from to where I am now as much as I do. Every time I start at the beginning of my journey 16 years ago, I am amazed by how my style has changed so drastically. But that’s another fun part about being a quilter with decades ahead of you – you can experiment at will and find your bliss in your own style at whatever pace suits you, and can keep growing as a quilter for a little longer.
I’ve always liked the look of appliqué, but it took me years to develop my machine appliqué style of using lots of tone on tones for backgrounds and lots of funky shapes and fun embellishments to dress it up.
Although most of my designs tend to use some sort of machine applique and embellishment, I do now and then create something pieced as well, but like my applique, my pieced designs have evolved from traditonal to more artsy. Some might even say "wacked out".Which I would take as a compliment.
I want to thank Michele for allowing me to muse this week about the joys of discovering quilting at a youngish age. I hope no matter how many years you have been quilting and no matter what age you were when you discovered it, that you always have nothing but joy for this art that gets under your skin like no other! I also hope you will visit my blog, Quilting Hottie Haven, now and then to find out what new things I am up to or musing about!
For now, I’d love to hear your comments and am offering a kit to make my "Funky Tree Farm" pattern pictured above to a lucky winner who has something lovely to share about his/her quilting experience.
Give-Away
To enter the give-away: Leave a comment below sharing a brief quilting story of your own. One random winner will be selected next Wednesday to win one of Beth’s "Funky Tree Farm" quilt kits.
If you’re reading this on Facebook, please visit the blog and leave your comment there, not on Facebook. CLICK HERE to visit the blog post.
My daugther, who is just graduating from high school, and I started quilting 5 years ago this month…she was 14 and I was 41. Faced with a final project task from a favorite English teacher, she wanted to make a quilt around 9 poems she had written. It was quite an adventure, given that we had never quilted before. My 7th grade home ec sewing class came in handy! We get a funny response when we encounted other quilters…almost like they think it’s cute but they really don’t believe she’s “a quilter.” No matter. The joy we’ve found in creating this beautiful art together is priceless.
I really like your Funky Tree Farm. It would look great in my newly painted kitchen. I took a quilting class about 20 yrs ago and sewed my first lap quilt. It actually turned out good & I still use it today. After that it took until 2 yrs ago until I started again when I quilted 3 quilts for my 3 grown children for Christmas presents. I now have a sewing room that looks like a tornado went through it and I can’t seem to find enough time to spend in there. I don’t know why it took all those years to get back at it but I’m sure glad I have found it again.
My firt flirt with quilting was a sort of non-traditional “flag” sewn right after 9/11, because we didn’t own a real flag and the kids and I wanted to hang one in the front window. I had done some clothes sewing, but never even given a thought to quilting. But I found some scraps in red, white and blue, and made a flag that -if not official looking – conveyed our patriotism and mourning in that immediate post-terror time. I think that it got me hooked, though. Soon I was surfing the quilting blogs, trying this and that. While I’m still just a hobby quilter, I dream dream DREAM of the day that I’ll have time to quilt in earnest. And I LOVE buying fat quarters of this and that as it catches my fancy. I’ll need it. Someday :)
I started quilting with my mother who died 16 years ago of breast cancer. Every time I sit and quilt, I think of her and how much I love and miss her. Thank you for your generous give away!
My quilting story starts when I was in my mid 20s nearly 30 years ago. A young mum, I started with left over dress fabrics and backed with fleece fabric or the wadding was fleece fabric… thats all I could afford at the time. I had to put quilting aside for a few years and I missed it very much, but then after my youngest son was born, I took up quilting often. I only have one quilt I have made in all those years, and the mice recently ate through a border of it while in storage. I have a few wallhangings still, but I am currently making nieces and nephews quilts, 13 of them, and they are a mix of old and new fabrics, patterns varied but all made with love.
I also care for my family of older autistic children and fit in my sewing whenever I get a few moments to spare. I love the funky trees
I have been quilting since I was 21, and it always amazes me to see what gorgeous designs others come up with. I myself have only designed 2 quilts in my quilting life, but they are mine. I just love your syncopated Ribbons quilt. It reminded me of the first time I tried to piece together a quilt, and it came out looking like that..LOL..but I know you made yours to look like that on purpose. Keep up the great work, you should be very proud.
loved your blog and always enjoy your trunk show. Since we both are members of the same quilt guild, I have take n a class with you. This is one delightful lady and I truly love her concept of not trying for perfection. My very first quilt was before rotary cutting , and boy have we all come a long way. Once again Beth good job.
I really enjoyed your blog. I’m doing my bit to perpetuate the art of quilting by passing on my skills to my 18 year old daughter and 11 year old son. I’d love to win your pattern. Thanks.
Wow! I love your style. I too am 1 of the few young ones(early 30’s). I love crazy quilting which I call “No Rules”. I like to make it up as I go, lol. I have been quilting for 8 yrs (the age of my oldest), and yes it keeps me sain. Thanks for sharing!
I started quilting in my 20″s. I will admit that having kids forced a quilting hiatus. But I am back at with a vengeance, all that pent up creativity has me running multiple projects at one time. I like to start with a pattern in mind and then see where it goes. I would classify myself as an early adventurer in “do your own thing” category.
I try and get my daughter (13) involved, and every once in a while she will sew. Her beds for Slinky were received very positively by the cat. She needs more patience and doesn’t like it when she has to unpick things. I tell her I don’t like it either but we all make mistakes!
Whenever there is an occasion — wedding, birth, e.g., — the first thing that comes to mind for a gift is a quilt. So I start. Midway through, or whenever a challenge crops up, I think — “It would have been so much easier to go to the mall and buy something!” But once the project is complete, and I see the delight of the recipient, I know it was worth it. I like to make quilts for my nieces’ and nephews’ babies whose grandmas (my sisters) don’t quilt.
I enjoyed your story and your quilts. I have been quilting for over 30 years – I enjoy traditional quilts. I live in South Africa and we have some wonderful quilters. Unfortunately materiaal and quilt books are very pricy here…… the quilting is doing well regardless. It is great being a quilting addict, keep quilting and keep smiling.
Regards
Bobbi Swanepoel
i enjoyed the evolution of your art. i’m mid-50’s however i started collecting quilt books etc. back in the late 70’s when there was a resurgence in quilting. with a large family of 7 children, there wasn’t time for full size quilts however i did get some youth quilts made. the nice bonus has been that my kids have always seen me as a quilter and a seamstress and now my adult girls are beginning to produce quilts at a younger age then myself. i’m also a photographer which leads to the for me, natural progression of landscape and impressionistic quilting.
Love the funky trees … Only started quilting a few years ago … made baby quilts for all 4 of my grand children. All were lost due to a separation and 2,000 mile move. Very disheartening, but I’m starting to get over it and have plans to make another quilt for each of them.
Thanks for great, thoughtful, sincere article! Sad to think that there are fewer quilters now. However, I do know that there are more and more young people sewing clothing, handbags, hats, pajamas! That is some good news, and some speculators think it’s due to interest in Project Runway. Let’s all keep sewing, smiling, giving, and loving through our quilted and other projects. Sewing keeps us centered and gives us time to just do what we like, and that’s restorative! Happy Quilting!
Loved your blog – what a great way to find quilting time as a young mom. I didn’t start quilting till I was much older than you but certainly can see how you can inspire many others. Your funky trees is delightful – just the kind of thing I like!!
Love your work and your blog
I started teaching myself how to quilt back in the 70’s and then I quit. After a couple of kids and 20 years later I picked it up again and then I put it on hold. Now it has been about 10 years and I have started again by joining a quilt group – I am learning how to quilt properly.
Love your quilts; thanks for putting photo’s up too! Thanks for sharing your story!! Happy Quilting
I understand….I wanted to quilt when my boys were small….it was tough….did a few items, but now that they are all in college and out….I’m having fun doing projects. Just finished up a signature/message throw for my son that recently got married…..left squares out for everyone at the wedding to leave a message….some of the kids even drew pictures. What a delight to make something that is special to a loved one. Love to do charity quilts too.
I loved the blog. I am 32 ( I think, could be 33. I’m not keeping track :) ) I started my very first quilt this week. I actually cut my first squares and strips this week. Kinda following a pattern, but no really. I like to be a little artsy myself, so it’s not unlike me to jump into a project, not really knowing what I’m doing, and figuring it out as I go along. This experience, however, has been fun and mind boggling all at the same time. My head is swimming in the math, making sure everything will turn out perfect. I know it won’t, but that’s why I plan on doing this all again in another quilt. I love the fabrics, the imagination, the satisfaction of losing myself into cutting a piece of fabric or listening to the hum of my machine. I think this compares for me as video games do for boys or mowing the lawn does for my husband. Any ways, I’m satisfied and feel accomplished at the end of every evening I’ve done something and I haven’t even seen the fruits of my work yet!! I can see me being a quilter, and I, like you, enjoy being the “youngish” lady at Joanne’s!
I just discovered your site and it is awesome-very enjoyable. I will be sure to check the site frequently, thanks for the neat things—Mary
I am working on making a quilt for all of my 5 children for Christmas. That is a big project for me. Love the funky tree quilt.
Truly enjoyed your journey into quilting. I have been sewing for 40+ years, started at a very young age:) I have done all kinds of sewing from garments to bridal and everything in between. Quilting is what I love now. Still do some sewing for grandkids at Easter and Halloween. Have made ten quilts for all the grandkids and have one more to do before fall.
Your 20 minutes a day certainly produced something fantastic. That reminds me of the “Leaders and Enders” concept, in which Bonnie Hunter (I think) creates quilts out of what might otherwise be throwaway scraps.
I love reading the comment of Dawn, above, whose head is swimming with the math as a new quilter, but who is clearly enamored of the process. That reminds me of me when I first started quilting. I was constantly thinking of quilt patterns or dimensions or how much fabric something would take. That hasn’t changed in the past decade…
I just happened along this site. Getting married at 18 and having my first child, living in a very tiny apartment, I would set my machine on the small kitchen table we had back then. My son would play in his playpen where i could see him. Fabric was every where including the playpen with Bobby. Desinging and sewing in the kitchen were the best ideas came to mind. The 3 years in that tiny apartment was the best quilting ive ever done. I made all kinds of quilts one for each member of my family. Going out and barter for the materials i needed was exciting. The only materials purchased was my thread and batting. And sometimes when funds were low i would use blankets or matress pads for the filling. As I was making these quilt on the machine, also had on going that i did just for my dad. it was a dresden design. It took 5 years to make. All by hand. Its the only one I made by hand. Today 40 years later im still quilting. The grandchildren all have been made very happy not only with there baby quilts, but now with there full size quilts. My greatest joy in quilting are the quilts That i give to our returning men and women in the service. It started out just for the injured ones, but you know they all come home with many troubles on there minds. And at the present the quilts Im making are for the homeles veterns in our area. Its amazing to see the looks and gratatude these men and women show when given a quilt. Many come to tears. Also i think the best thing ive done in my life with the quilting is teaching my oldest granddaughter how to quilt, and now were going teach my other grandchildren so that they can give one to Tres’ one of my grandsons as he’s in boot camp for the National Guards. So you see quilting is a big part of my life. It comes and goes with me all the time.
Thank you for listening.
I love “Syncopated Ribbons” can I buy that pattern. I am constantly buying fabris and patterns but have only finished a few quilts. I often find whats in my “stash” doesn’t suit the patterns I buy. Do others have the same problem? I have only been quilting about 4 years and find I enjoy the piecing much more than the quilting have yet to send anything out to be quilted by someone else though LOl.
Thanks for sharing I love reading about other quilters.
I started quilting in the 70’s……without a rotary cutter and using templates to piece by hand! I dabbled in it until about 10 years ago and then went full steam ahead. There have been so many wonderful inventions and new techniques that make quilting a hobby anyone could enjoy. Quilts that once took months to make can now be finished in less than a week.
I like your idea of 20 minutes a day to do a project. Many times I have tried to encourage women to spend 15 minute a day
to do something for them selves. I recently taught a class on facebook
“Making a quilt in 15 minutes a day” It turned on at least four people to quilting and produced some lovely first quilts
Love the Funky Tree design. Quilting since the 1960’s. Made a Lone Star Quilt for my home project my senior year of high school.
woo hoo I’m a youngster! (30!) I have a young family so definitely have to snatch a few minutes a day, the whirring of the machine is so calming. I have only recently become a quilter and i think i am still finding my style, but at the moment i like modern bold quilts in solid colours, or if i’m feeling lazy and want instant gratification I grab a jelly roll! Oddly enough it makes me feel a bit guilty using a jelly roll, as though someone has done half the work for me!
I started quilting about 30 years ago. Even though I really loved it, I stopped for many years. When I came back to quilting, it was like a brand new universe! New cutting tools, new measuring systems, new everything. I loved learning all over again, and I loved the creativity that I’d somehow developed. Used to be that I made something exactly according to the pattern, with templates. Not any more!
Absolutely love the colours in your quilts and the use of child labour to advertise. I dabbled in every art and craft idea for years , falling into quilting by accident about 12 years ago. I am still regarding myself as a beginner in many ways, but am obsessed with patterns and colour, can never get enough magazines to drool over, and those extra bits of lovely fabric for my stash. Working full time is my main bane as I do not get the enjoyment of sitting, stitching, creating that I often dream about. Well done you for the balance you have achieved.
Love this post! Yes I think we all start out as traditional quilters and develop over time. I started quilting fairly young (not as young as you) and also needed to share my resources for fabric. My journey started because I wanted to make wedding quilts for close family friends whose daughter and son were getting married within 3 months of each other. My first 2 quilts were wedding gifts.
A lovely story about your quilting life and the time sharing. I have been quilting for about 8-9years, but i have always been making things and have tried a lot of tecnics of art and craft. When the children were small, i decided to make them new trousers, Redesigned from my old jeans. They were never finished – i did not have time enough. I finished a pair last year – for my “grandson” -he is two and my boys are 25 and 27. Now i have time, and can go directly to my hobby room when i come Home from work. There i stay until my husband calls me up for dinner. (sorry for the mistakes, i can’t figure out to correct them.it is my first try on an iPad)
I actually JUST started quilting. I’m in the middle of my first, a twin size for my son. I never had any interest in quilts or sewing until I became a mother and now it is a much loved hobby. Quilting is becoming and obsession and I am constantly checking blogs and searching for patterns and fabric!
I made my first quilt as a Sophomore in High School many, many years ago. It was a machine applique baby quilt as part of an out class project. I still have it!
Great quilting story! I turned from fashion sewing to quilting when my son graduated high school and I wanted to make him a real quilt! And my daughter didn’t want anymore embroidered pinafore dresses! That was in 2002 and I haven’t regretted a minute!
As a rank beginner I fell in love with a peiced tea cup table runner and bought the pattern at a quilt show. There were a few pieces that didn’t fit, even though I’d cut according to the directions. I almost gave up, but then decided to make the pieces with paper and folded them all together and worked out the correct size to make the saucer fit properly. From then on I haven’t given up on anything because I know that with patience I can get it to work!
I caught the quilt bug from my mother early in life, yet didn’t actively start making quilts until in my 50s. She tells me that when I was about 5 or so, she was making a hand quilting a quilt on her bed. I wanted to do it too, so she gave me yarn and I made large stitches in the corner of her quilt. Well, I still make large stitches when handquilting – just with thread now!
I started sewing at 25, and quilting at 26; made nearly all my maternity clothes, baby clothes, kids clothes, curtains, drapes, etc etc. Halloween costumes were always my favorite. And quilts: I hand quilted them. Lots of baby quilts for friends and family having their babies. My first full sized quilt was an appliqued quilt for my son, it took me three years to make. Gave it to him for his 5th birthday. He’s 30 now, and a couple years ago I spent 8 weeks hand restoring his quilt, and gave it to him for a second time at Christmas 2009. You should have seen his face: priceless. That beat up old quilt looks brand new, it’s ready for another 30 years of love. It’s why we quilt. I quilted for 10 years then took a long hiatus – no time, no money, young family – but back with both feet now :^) Bought a new sewing machine a couple years ago, bought a long arm a couple months ago. I work on my quilts every day. Sometimes only 15 to 30 minutes, but I work on my current project every day. People say, OMG you’re so FAST! How do you make so MANY quilts, you’re so FAST. I’m not fast; at quilt retreats, I am average in speed. I’m not the lady taking home the finished quilt top. But I bet I’m the first lady to have the top quilted, bound, and labeled, because of those 30 minutes a day. Oh p.s. I’m 56 and making quilts for my grandchildren now.
I’m a young quilter, too – started quiting before I turned 30. My husband went on an overseas business trip, and I went to JoAnn’s. The rest, shall we say, is history! Right now I’m not only ‘below the mean’ of quilters, I’m teaching someone who totally skews the results – DD is 8 and 2/3 way through her first “big” quilt top…after years of doll quilts, pillowcases, and other creations.
I am completely and utterly overwhelmed by all these responses! I had to get up an hour early today just so I could have some quiet time to read through all of them, and it was so worth it. To know I have inspired so many of you to try my 20 minutes a day is amazing, and your stories have amazed and inspired me right back. Thank you all for reading and adding to the discussion!
Several of you have asked about where to find Syncopated Ribbons. Thank you for your interest – I LOVE LOVE LOVE that pattern! It may be available at your LQS (do ask – and I am always happy to work with quilt shops to get my patterns to you!) but failing that, I am happy to get it to you via an email to me (evapaigequilts@charter.net) and I’ll tell you your options for payment and get it out asap to you. As a third option, SR is available as a download from my page at Patternspot.com, http://www.patternspot.com/users/127.
Thanks again. I’ll have a smile on my face all day from all these comments, and will choose the winner of the kit tomorrow am!
Beth,
Boy do I wish I had seen your Syncopated Ribbons quilt last week, it is stunning!! I’m going to have to order it from your website! But this is about your Funky Tree Farm quilt and when I saw that, it took my breath away — I absolutely love it! If I don’t win it, I’ll have to order that too when it’s available for sale. I love your work and already have your page bookmarked on my computer so I can order what I want when I want it — I have NO self-control!!
Donna P.
I was so inspired by your words that I wrote about you!!
http://mamaseemamado.com/2011/06/10/finding-time-to-create-with-little-ones-around/
Thank you so much; I love hearing about other people’s journey as quilters and how I can do as much as I can for myself while also being a mom to 2 under 2. Gotta stay sane somehow!!