Hi everyone! I’m Deborah from Sunshine Through the Rain and I am so excited to be your host for Sew Cute Tuesday this week.
Having never sewn in my life (seriously, my husband was the one who had to sew on buttons and mend holes in clothes!) I made a new friend 4 years ago who offered to teach me how to quilt. Honestly, I only took up the offer because I was lonely (my family had moved to Indonesia two years previously and it was taking me a while to find my place and feel settled). But it was one of the best things that has happened to me! My friend taught me how to cut out fabric pieces from cardboard templates, hand piece them together and then hand quilt the pieced top. And here is the first cushion/pillow that I made (look at all those tiny stitches – I was taught well)!
After that there was no looking back. I searched the internet, found some lovely blogs (including Blossom Heart Quilts!) and taught myself about modern quilting. I was given a sewing machine three years ago, and that opened up new possibilities for me, although I do still love the hand work, especially embroidery and hand quilting.
Most of what I make is as gifts for friends and relatives, and I enjoy so much choosing a design and fabric that I think they will love.
I also love the fact that this new hobby of mine allows me to learn new skills, set myself goals and work hard to achieve them.
Quilting my Bright Sky quilt
Last year I started the journey of learning to free motion quilt. This year I have learned how to sew curves.
Being part of the on-line modern quilting community has been a joy, especially when I am so far away from home.
Pantone challenge quilt
I have learned so much from you guys and made friends across the miles. Last year one of the highlights was taking part in four mini-quilt swaps. They were lots of work, but well worth the effort!
Now let’s link up your latest sewing post! It could be a finished quilt, or your latest quilting bee blocks, or a cushion, or anything else quilty related. And did you know you can link directly to an Instagram pic too?! So if you want to link from there, you can do that too – link up as normal, and use #sewcutetuesday and @blossomheartquilts plus @deborahgun on IG to help us find you from there too.
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Terri Ann says
Nice to meet you Deborah! I love your work, thanks so much for sharing all those beautiful photos. I like that you shared your goals for each year for learning FMQ and curves, those are two areas I’m still learning the ropes on and it’s encouraging to know other people are too!
DeborahGun says
Thanks so much Terri Ann. I’ve found that setting myself personal sewing goals each year has really helped me to look back and be proud of what I’ve achieved. Next on the list is garment sewing!
Catherine says
Its really nice to learn a bit more about you Deborah. What great progress you have made in such a short time.
DeborahGun says
Thanks so much for the encouragement Catherine 🙂
Shelley Folkerts says
Thanks for hosting this week, Deborah. You are making amazing quilts at only being a quilter for 4 years. I love your hand embroidered alphabet blocks quilt. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
DeborahGun says
Thanks so much Shelley! The embroidered alphabet quilt took me a year to make, but was a special present for my niece so was completely worth it!
Ruth Bourke says
Such a beautiful collection of lovely quilts!Curves projects look brill!
DeborahGun says
Aw thanks Ruth. I need to get back to those curves otherwise I am going to completely forget how to sew them!
Suz says
Wow! You have really only been sewing for four years?! You have achieved SO much Deborah! And I love that you learnt to hand sew first- just like I did when I was a child!!! Here’s to many more beautiful creations AND clothes! ( I wish I could get the linky to work, but i think it has something to do with the internet at the school where I live…)
DeborahGun says
Thanks so much Suz. It has been a steep, but such a fun, learning curve!