Sunday, January 11, 2009

HOME

Meet my new quilt. Conceived on August 29th, 2007 and born on January 9, 2009. Thank you Tonya! With your patience and guidance I have a quilt that says "ME"! My one and only, with all my delights and thoughts and quirks and fumblings and frustrations and (I'll say it proudly) talents! Fabrics from decades ago have found their way into this quilt as well as fabrics from nearby friends and blogging friends who have passed on parts of their treasures.

During the quilt's creation Lemi has gone to her forever home and Chip and Toi have joined our family. Velvet, Cleo and Patora have learned to accept family changes and Choco has learned to accept cats. Leiya has graduated from high school, Takumi has transferred to a new college. And Tetsu and I have continued to build a home of love and dreams. It has been a very good year and a half!

So what was my quilt theme? Tonya instructed us to focus on what we love. I played with wonky words and without much thinking HOME seemed to develop in my mind. Leiya was homesick at the time and I was trying to get her to realize that HOME wasn't a place and a building, it was a state of the heart; and therefore you could always be HOME when you had the people and things that you loved in your heart.

And so, what did I love? What did we love as a family? I didn't really expect this to become an animal quilt but as you know animals play a big part in my life and they are always on my heart. Even when Lemi passed on I could feel that she since she was still in my heart, she was still at HOME.

Just because my kids are far away, they are still HOME in our hearts, with Tetsu and me and all our furry friends!

I started making animal blocks but these aren't specific animals. Just dogs and cats in general. Tonya had suggested names of our family members (and animal members) but I decided I didn't want to limit this to just our "now" members. There have been past cats and dogs that I have loved, and probably others will wander in and out of our lives. For the same reason I didn't add people names either because I expect that someday there will be a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law that will then be part of our HOME.

I know some of these dogs look more like goats and the cats have silly faces but my animals aren't anything special either (except to me)! That one cat is trying to be a maneki neko, a Japanese welcoming cat, but I didn't realize until it was too late that maneki neko don't have tails. This is Tanya's welcoming neko!

The words were great fun to make. I made them very scrappy which is a bit hard to read but it will make people stop and think and wonder what I am trying to say. For obvious reasons I chose some of the phrases to express my thoughts. I have always loved this idea of homes being built of love.

And how could one have a HOME quilt without this phrase.

This one might leave some people questioning what I was thinking. It is a Bible verse but not normally used with the idea of home and family. Still I thought it expressed that we are all together when we love each other no matter our physical distances.


This is another Bible verse and for me, this is a fundamental in building a HOME. The Lord is with us and He has brought us all together in a circle of love.


Tonya threw out the challenge to see if I might be able to make words in Japanese and though I thought that a crazy idea I was so pleased with myself when I managed to make the Chinese characters for dog and cat! I am so happy they are in there! And of course the whole quilt got overrun with houses and hearts in accordance with the theme.

I have yet to make a label (now don't let me get away with not making one!) and I'll put the names of our of "now" family on that and the milestone dates I mentioned yesterday when making this quilt.

THANK YOU TONYA! I want to work with you again but my next quilt I'll aim to make a bit smaller!



42 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this quilt...the animals, their faces, the letters and words, the houses and hearts.
What a masterpiece!! I absolutely
love it.
I so enjoy your blog! Thanks for
sharing your stuff.
Julie in Iowa in the US

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely my favorite quilt that you've done. The cats and dogs are just precious, it all fits together like hand and glove. What a treasure!
Allie in MI

Laura said...

I love, love, love this quilt and the sentiments behind it. You've done a wonderful job.

R.H. said...

I think you out did yourself this time, it's a marvelous quilt and will sure to become a heirloom for you and your family. I just love it. I know it took time and patience and it is something to be very proud of. Now remember, it's not finished until the quilt label is sewn on! Hugs Rae Ann

Mary said...

What a special quilt this will always be - well worth the time and effort.

Margret said...

The quilt is the visual reflection of your words, Tanya. You are creative, beautiful, caring, positive ...... and you have common sense, something that seems to be rare in our days.

Lindah said...

Tanya, that is a wonderful quilt!

Beth said...

Tanya! Congratulations! What a wonderful unique Quilt! WTG!

Karen said...

Absolutely fabulous!! :)

The Calico Quilter said...

It is absolutely spectacular - that's all I can say.

Lazy Gal Tonya said...

oh, Tanya, you did such an amazing fabulous wonderful job. Congrats on finishing this masterpiece. I hope you have more confidence now in yourself and your talents - because your ARE talented and creative and incredible.

pam said...

I love your blog! You are so clever with your dog and cat quilt blocks. As I was catching up on your posts and came across the mention of Chinese New Year and the gift of a cow, the thought occurred to me that a quilt based on each of the animals represented in Chinese New Years would be a delightful work of art in you inventive hands.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

What a wonderful quilt...one that will give warmth in more than one way :o)

Callie said...

Your quilt is lovely! It is a true work of art and expression of your loves. Just beautiful!

martine said...

I can't stop looking and admiring.
It's wonderful and unique.

T said...

That is amazing! Great job!

Amanda said...

What a triumph Tanya, you must be feeling so proud and pleased with yourself - and rightly so. Your quilt is quirky, unique, personal and finished!

Janet C said...

Fabulous! Congratulations on the finishing.

Joyce said...

You have done an absolutely wonderful job on this one. I love all the different animals and the way you have the hearts going up like smoke. The borders are also absolutely perfect. I love it!!!

Nancy said...

It's nothing short of stunning, Tanya. I'm dazzled. Totally.

jovaliquilts said...

What a fabulous quilt! It's awesome, just wonderful. Truly a treasure. Your cats and dogs are inspired!

mamaspark said...

This quilt is truly an heirloom! You should be proud of it and that you kept after it until you got it finished!!

June said...

Your quilt is wonderful, and such a great family keepsake! Congrats on finishing it, a real triumph! It is very beautiful!

Mary said...

my favorite post of the week, fabulous job

Rose Marie said...

A quilt from the heart .... it's just simiply BEAUTIFUL! :o)

Millie said...

Tanya,

This quilt is nothing short of spectacular! It is absolutely gorgeous. I love every single thing about it, from your animals to the hearts coming out of the chimney.

Congratulations, you should be very very proud if this. It is a knockout!

Lynne

Dianne said...

What a wonderful quilt, Tanya! It is the happiest, liveliest, most satisfying quilt I've seen in a long time. Good on ya!

Richard Lammers said...

WOW! Where does one go in creating after such a masterpiece?

andsewitis Holly said...

Oh Tanya, this turned out amazing! The animals are wonderful and I love all the sentiments. Fantastic job. I love it.

Carol E. said...

This quilt is so fabulous that I am about to cry! I LOVE it!!!

Clare said...

Just adding my name to the list of admirers. It is truly wonderful. Congrats on such a marvellous finish.

yiyu(^^)v said...

すてき〜〜〜!!!
私もいつかこんな素敵なキルトを作りたいです(^^ )ルン♪これからもいろいろ教えて下さい。
見ているだけでワクワクしてきますね。

Kazuyo(^^)v

comicbooklady said...

It turned out stunning! You did a great job on quilting it too! It's a happy quilt!

Chocolate Cat said...

Wow, what a family heirloom you have created! a quilt that tells a story of you and your family, it is just beautiful. You should be very proud of yourself and your talents!

Elaine Adair said...

The animals are a treasure and delightful, but the QUILT, that QUILT is over-the-top spectacular. It is so happy, cheerful, colorful - anyone would KNOW the maker had a beautiful heart! Congratulations!

KathieB said...

Congratulations on a terrific quilt. It's very sparkly with all the scraps and happy elements. FABULOUS!

Kathy Wagner said...

It is spectacular Tanya! You did a wonderful job and made a "one of a kind" masterpiece! What an amazing accomplishment!

Anonymous said...

Tanya, will you make me a quilt just like yours?

No?

Well, is there a pattern or instructions on how to make Wonky Words? and those adorable hearts?

This quilt is SO cute!

v
Gilbert, Arizona

Anonymous said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it too!!!! good job mom!

Hedgehog said...

This is just an amazing accomplishment!! Wow-wee!!

Ravenhill said...

I truly love this quilt. The animal blocks are just amazing - so sweet every one! And all those letters and words. You have certainly made a masterpeice!
~Emily

The Calico Cat said...

Thanks for sharing the close ups of your kitty blocks.

Congrats on persevering!