A Quilter Is Born and A Giveaway

This is one of my most favorite stories ever.  It's about how David became a quilt builder and gained two quilting "moms."  I have been quilting now for at least 10 years off and on.  Over the years, David, my husband, had started to show an interest in my quilts by helping me pick out fabrics and even doodling around on graph paper.  I've been telling him for years now to give it a try and a few weeks ago he finally decided to jump right in.

It started during an impromptu lunch date.  Sandra (mmmquilts) had just finished her Blue Skies and Sunny Days quilts.

After showing him a picture of the quilts he remarked at how pretty they were and that he really loved her design.  He ask how hard it would be to make the quilt and I said probably not very hard.  It's mostly strip piecing.  I followed up with, "Why? Do you want to make it?"  To my surprise he said yes.  I quickly texted her and asked if he could pattern test it for her.  I truly think at first she thought I was pulling her leg, but said of course he could.

The next day I texted her this picture.

 He already had a color palette picked out in his head before we ever got to the store.  Quilting lesson #1 was picking fabrics and getting them cut.  Which he handled like a pro.

After sending Sandra these pictures, she went to work writing her pattern for him to sew.  We both knew he was serious.

Quilting lesson #2 would be prepping fabric and cutting it.

It is also where I learned the difference between "piecing" a quilt and "building" a quilt.

Quilting lesson #3 consisted of piecing the blue and orange strips with the background strips.

Quilting lesson #4 attaching strips together.

Here's where the story sort of takes a surprising turn.  Quilting lessons #5-some higher number he figured out on his own.  I took our daughter to a family Memorial Day get together and he opted to stay home and finish up some things around the house.  When he was done he decided to work on his quilt.  While I was gone I received the following text.

There may have been a moment of slight panic on my part.  I hadn't thought about him sewing while I was gone, or running out of bobbin or him trying to fix it.  But he did and got everything working once again.  It wasn't long after I got home he had all of his blocks together and was ready to figure out his layout.

After narrowing it down to two he liked best, he even asked for help on Facebook.

A decision was made, rows were pieced and David's first quilt flimsy was finished.

Presenting to you, David's version of Sunny Days he is calling Hawaiian Stepping Stones.

I'm pretty sure this is a look of, "Yup, I built a quilt.  Don't mess with me. I am a bad ass."

Now, how about that giveaway?  Sandra and I are just so dag gone proud of him!  Just as proud as two quilty parents could be.  So that you can join in and share in our excitement, Sandra has very graciously offered a copy of her pattern as a giveaway on my blog.  It's kind of like when dads hand out cigars when babies are born.  So today through June 10th you can win a pdf copy of Blue Skies and Sunny Days.  The pattern is available in her Craftsy store today as of today and will be on sale till June 10th.  You can check out her Craftsy Pattern store here.  Also if you win the give away but have already purchased the pattern, Sandra will refund your money.  Isn't she the best??  

You have two chances to enter:

1) Leave a comment any comment really.  Maybe tell me if you have ever taught someone to quilt and how it went.  Or maybe you have some quilting advice for Dave, the quilt builder.

2)  Tell me how you follow Tish's Adventures In Wonderland.

Make sure you leave a separate comment for each.  On Saturday, June 11th I will pick a winner using a random number generator and announce the winner.  If you are a no-reply blogger (or even think there is a chance you might be) please leave your email in your comment so that I can reach you.  I know I'm pretty excited...this is TishNWonderland's first give away!

How about one more picture before we go?

This is our budding new quilter worrying inspecting seams that he feared didn't quite match up.  If they were off it was by like 1/8" or less.  He strives for perfection and I love him for it.  Congrats on your first quilt, quilt builder!  I promise it will not become your first UFO :)

Today I'm linking up with Whoomp! There It Is, Finish It Up Friday,  TGIFF, and Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!