Tuesday, July 03, 2007

The surprise

Well, I blew the surprise. But what a surprise!!! Yesterday I wandered into Leiya's bedroom asking her to help me look for something and my eye caught a jumble of a patchwork block stuffed under some clothes. Did the cat drag out one of my blocks again.? But I've never made a block in those colors... And I pulled it out. Leiya let out a groan!!

"You found it! You weren't supposed to find it until it was done!"

"Done? Done with what? Where did you get this?"

"I'm making it."

"Who? You? You're making a patchwork block?! How?"

How is right! How can my daughter who has never sewn anything be making a patchwork block? And look at this block! This is advanced stuff!

"How did you do this? With a book? Did someone teach you?"

"No. I just remembered you cutting pieces out of cardboard and tracing around them so I tried it myself."

"Where did you get the pattern? This is really difficult!"

"I just made up a design in my head. It's a lot harder than it looks. I was going to give it to you for your birthday but I didn't finish it in time."

Spoken like a true quilter!!!

You can imagine that by then my eyes were welling up with tears. Look at this labor of love with no help from anyone or anything. Pure effort and love.

It's not perfect. Look at that block with all the seams meeting in the middle. That is enough to drive an experienced quilter to frustration. I've been known to reject a block with too many interlocking seams. Look at the inset pieces at the corners. She was sewing and turning at the corners to get them to fit. Can you tell how small the pieces are? Do you realize how many different sizes of crazy shaped pieces she made?

It is absolutely perfect! She was also making another one in pink and the end is far from sight on this one too. How was she planning to put these blocks together? All the jags and corners and impossibly unmatching seam lines! It boggles my mind!

I don't know when Leiya will finish her blocks or if they will ever get finished. She wants to put on borders but isn't quite sure how. I'm not sure if I should advise and help or not. I want these up on my wall or on a table or something but I don't want to take over her project. Mom, the family professional quilter takes over! That's not right. Even undone they are beautiful and a work of art to me.

Anyway, I just wanted to share Leiya's step into her mother's world.


20 comments:

Mary said...

What interesting blocks - how nice to be fearless and just jump in and make things work.

I could see those pink blocks appliqued onto a background fabric - they look wonderful.

Connie said...

Leiya is an amazingly talented young woman. You deserve to be proud of her! Wonderful quilt blocks, Leiya. : )

Ulla said...

What a great desigenr your daughter Leyla is.
Very very wonderful.
What a happy surprise for you and for us all.
My best regards
Ulla

Linda said...

How sweet! What a precious treasure whether they get finished or not. Those are priceless moments.

May Britt said...

I guess your heart did a bompetiboomp when you realiced what she was working on. What a clever girl. And this is a beautiful she have made. Let her do the progress alone, but tell her you will be there if she needs any advice from you.

Lazy Gal Tonya said...

amazingly perfect and perfectly amazing. your daughter is wonderful and talented. I hope she keeps working at these - I bet the finished quilt will be dynamite.

Helen said...

What a great compliment to you. The fantastic thing about young, new quilters is that they don't know what they can't do, so they have no boundaries holding them back. Even if she never finishes the quilt or the blocks I would say that it is the best present!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I love this! She has granted you the highest compliment in tackling the seemingly impossible simply because she knows it's something you would love... they're stunning blocks.

QuiltingFitzy said...

Oh heck, I'm in tears for you, lol!!

My youngest dd is very creative too, I have one crazy patch coffee coaster that I just love, made by her when she had no idea what to do.

Kids are just the best!

dee said...

mark of a true artist-fearless in the face of the new! Appliqued or squared up and set-those are lovely and comlplicated blocks-WOW

teodo said...

BELLISSIMI.
These blocks are great and Leyla is a good quilter.
I imagine your face when you've find them out! What a surprise!
Ciao, ciao

Simonetta said...

Wow!!!Great and beautiful surprise!
Leyla is a talent quilter :)))

atet said...

OMG -- what a wonderful surprise! Her artistic talent is so impressive and the fact that she chose to make you a gift that is both a reflection you your talents and hers. Just wow. I wouldn't have been tearing up, I would have been crying out loud! Way to go Leiya!!!

Luna said...

Oh what a great surprise ! This block is so beautiful. I like the colours.
Leiya is a talent quilter just like her mom !
Have a nice day :-)

Fiona said...

Fantastic (and very complicated) blocks, she's obviously inherited your talents. She would breeze her way through a New York Beauty!

meggie said...

They are so beautiful! Love the colours too.
What a talented & beautiful daughter you have. But the apple doesnt fall far from the tree!

Patti said...

How marvelous - and what an eye for color and design. Obviously she was raised to believe she could do whatever she put her mind to. This is a wonderful compliment to the two of you who raised her.

Rose Marie said...

Unbelievable, for her first design and her first blocks! Leiya is a very talented individual and you and your husband must be so proud of her.

Bellydancingknitter said...

The fabric choices are amazing on the green blocks. they have a lot of depth.

Kim West said...

Those are wonderful!! They are amazing. I might have to try and work out her pattern for myself...