The Sweetest Things Sampler – the story behind the quilt
Updated: Jul 9, 2022
It’s very nearly complete, just quilting on the border, the binding and label to sew on.
I have really loved making this quilt, so many lovely stories bound up in it, both in terms of the things which inspired it, and the lovely friendships formed throughout the course of our year long quilt-along. I’ve especially loved seeing your Sweetest Things Sampler quilts grow 💛 and how sweet this past year has been! So many stories come to mind – where to begin!
Community
Key to this quilts story is the lovely sewing community which has grown round it, as without you, and you’re being part of it, there would’t be a quilt-along.Over the past year my heart has skipped several beats seeing the stunning Sweetest Things Sampler blocks and quilts online friends have been making in places I can only dream of visiting one day – Australia to Alaska, and lots of places in between!
Our shared #SweetestThingsSampler page fetches together the beautiful quilts we’ve been busy making – it’s a real pleasure to see your quilts growing, and friendships forming on the way – doesn’t the internet make the whole wide world a much more reachable place! As well as our lovely online friends, four legged and feathered friends are very much part of our Samplers too. Block 4 – Nest is inspired by our little feathered friends’ who put so much care and effort into nest building, weaving twigs, moss, and feathers together, just like the loving care which goes into making our quilts….
While the little hedgehog in Block 8 – Prairie Point Hedgehog is actually inspired by a lovely Instagram friends @JenthePiecemaker, and the beautiful photos of her visiting hedgehog.
Helping, inspiring, encouraging
One of the most precious parts of the Samplers story is how much makers have helped, inspired and encouraged each other. It’s been a very strong thread running throughout our year long quilt-along.
Both myself and Michelle at CreativeBlonde designed six Sampler blocks each, for the Sweetest Things Sampler. Having Michelle along to co-host, as well as design and prepare tutorials for six beautiful blocks made the world of difference to me, and our quilt-along – a huge, huge thanks to Michelle from CreativeBlonde blog 💛
I thoroughly enjoyed each of the blocks and Michelle’s January block, the 12th Sampler in our sew-along with it’s lovely little sewing machine, and cotton reels (that seem to me, to be doing a joyful jig) really is the essence of “sewing a little happiness.” 🙂
Little moments of wonder
Another theme which pops up time and time again throughout the Sampler blocks, is finding happiness in the simple things, those little moments of wonder, which happen when you’re least expecting them.
Like, in winter, when trees have shed their leaves, there’s something kind of wonderful in the big bunches of mistletoe, hugging the tree branches…
And how, even in the depths of winter, you can still find those little moments of wonder. It might be the bright winter sunshine, shimmering snow, the shy doe in the woods, or perhaps the little snow globe which shimmers when shaken….
While Michelle’s blocks “Basket of Strawberry Sweetness” and “Quench your thirst” reminds me of the nice warm, sunny days to look forward to….
Basket of Strawberry sweetness, designed by Michelle. Made by Dawn
Busy little bees
Going back to the very beginning, when the quilt-along was just a twinkle in the eye – a certain day in the height of summer, sitting quietly and listening to the little bees busily buzzing and thinking how lovely it would be to make a quilt, have a quilt-along.
It’s over a year and a half since that light-bulb moment – seeing the quilts makers have made, is for me the sweetest thing, seeing them pop up online is an absolute joy, brightening up the days. Thank you so much for following, it’s really truly lovely to have you along.
Sending a quilted hug to each and everyone.
From our little hive to yours,
Happy sewing
Dawn x X
Honeybee Cloths Sweetest Things Sampler
ps. You can still find our free templates and tutorials for each block on the Sweetest Things Sampler page of Honeybee Cloths.
Comments