Tumbling Blocks
I started paper piecing a tumbling blocks quilt many years ago.
I find this traditional patchwork method wonderfully soothing and absorbing.
Recently, as my sewing machine and I spend every spare second noisily bustling away I’ve been looking at my paper pieced projects, wistfully remembering the evenings spent calmly sewing them.
Now, you may be wondering why you are looking at photos of a footstool and not a quilt.
Well, I eventually realised that unless I wanted my life’s work to be a tumbling blocks quilt I had better find something to do with the small piece I had finished.
I found the wooden base at the local dump for £1 and then spent a surprising amount of money on the foam needed for the top. My patchwork is just stretched and stapled onto it.
What I love about creating (and thrifting) is that in this day of mass produced everything, where you feel that everyone in the world has, or wants, exactly the same stuff you can have something truly unique.
I know there is not another footstool like it anywhere in the world. Money literally cannot buy it.
That to me is pure, true luxury.
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
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March 25th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Your footstool looks incredible! The blocks have stretched really beautifully – it really is a unique masterpiece!
March 25th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
excellent work janet. i love the 3d effect that the blocks make. it’s inspiring me to get a move on with my next quilt, yeah, just get the house move out the way first xx
March 25th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
So true…your unique footstool is wonderful!
I love the excact same thought whenever I sew something… :0)
What a week you had…How come all these kind of stupid things, always show up in only a matter of few days?
March 25th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
It’s beautiful, and the colours you have chosen for the pieces harmonize so well.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Brilliant idea to use the quilted piece for the footstool….though are you really going to let feet rest on it? Bottoms maybe? Bound to be a family heirloom that is treasured….Well done.
Susan
March 25th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Your stool looks glorious Janet (bet no-one has ever told you that before!).
March 25th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Yes I agree that you have created a family treasure there. Just beautiful.
And laughing at Ali!
March 26th, 2008 at 1:45 am
That’s great! I love the idea of furniture covered with patchwork.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
This is lovely! So darling with the tumbling blocks.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Paper piecing is wonderful isn’t it!
That looks awesome.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
this is soooo wonderful!!!
What a superb idea. Too nice to sit on it I think.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I agree with everything you said! That is a great way to finish those tumbling blocks into something small that has a BIG impact. Beautiful.
June 29th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
it looks great and well done for finally finishing! I know what you mean about unique, I make peg bags from recyled fabrics so as a result many of them are one off’s
Josie
January 9th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Wow, that’s really beautiful! Thanks for telling me about it, and now you’ve got me thinking of the possibilities… Cheers!
January 4th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I stumbled across this post from a Google search for quilt blocks. The last bit you wrote struck me so hard, I had to copy it down as a quote to add to my inspirational collection (with proper credit attributed, of course).
Thank you for putting that thought about creation into such beautiful words.
p.s. The footstool is awesome, too! 🙂
February 22nd, 2011 at 7:07 am
Hallo,
This is where I am looking for. I am from Belgium and long time ago I cutted 3 colors of tissue into stripes of 6 cm this is the idea what i can do with it. Can you please tell me how to do ?
Thank Jeannine