Friday, May 21, 2010

Blogger’s Quilt Festival

Today is the start of the Blogger’s Quilt Festival over at Amy’s blog.  I participated in it last time and had a wonderful time looking at all the quilts entered. 

I thought about what to post this time and finally decided on my Gone With the Wind quilt.  I made it early this year, for the Greater Atlanta Shop Hop in March.  The theme of the shop hop was “As American  As” and the shop I work at choose “As American As Popcorn and a Movie”.  Since we are in Atlanta, Gone With the Wind was a natural choice.

This quilt was made from a beautiful line of fabric but unfortunately the pattern was not easy to follow.  After making all the blocks, I tried to put it together and it just didn’t go.  I had to take every other block completely apart and resew all the seams.  Then I had to tug and pull and finally got seams to match.  It was worth it in the end but miserable during the process.  Addition:  I forgot to mention earlier that I named this quilt “Frankly My Dear” for obvious reasons.

Here in Atlanta, there is a strong Gone With the Wind fan base, even after 60+ years.  I got to meet several of them once they discovered we had the fabric.  They even wanted the  empty bolts because they said Gone With the Wind on them.  One of the women who came to the shop asked me if I would make her one – the answer was simple---NO!!!!

I volunteered to make this quilt as a tribute to my Mother.  While I was growing up, Gone With the Wind came to the theatres every seven years and we always went to see it.  She loved Gone With the Wind.  She had most of the Gone With the Wind plates on her wall and they are now hanging on my stairs.

The quilt is still in the shop and several people have asked me to sell it to them but I think I will keep it – it does remind me of Mother.

Melinda

25 comments:

  1. I probably mentioned this the last time you posted this quilt, but I have never seen the whole movie. (Never even cracked open the book.) It came on two VCR Tapes (back in the day) & I have only ever seen the first tape.

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  2. This is amazing! I love that film so much! Well done for perservering, it is a gorgeous quilt!

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  3. WOW...I'm from Marietta, living in Canada now. Saw you at the quilt festival and LOVE this tribute to a FABULOUS piece of Southern history. Your quilt is amazing, makes me miss the south. But I'm going home to visit in a couple of months, so that makes it better!

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  4. I also don't know if I've ever seen the whole movie and I haven't read the book. However "gone with the wind" is certainly part of the lore of the south and of early Hollywood. I would never make this quilt because it doesn't speak to me, but you did a beautiful job.

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  5. Love the connection with your Mother and her Gone with the Wind plates. I, too, remember watching the movie with my Mother when it came on TV. I actually read the book in high school, but only one time. Too funny that they wanted the GWTW fabric bolts. Take care!

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  6. I remember seeing your quilt earlier ... it's so wonderful. Love the movie.

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  7. Gone with the Wind is one of my all time favorite movies. Love your quilt.

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  8. Wonderful beautiful work !

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  9. Sooo much hard work, but the resutl is beautiful. Whenever there's a poll that asks "What's your favorite movie?" my answer is always Gone With the Wind. I'm a transplanted northerner now living in Tennessee and I firmly believe I was a Southern Belle in another life!

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  10. OH MY! One lovely quilt! A fan of Gone With the Wind--read it every time I was pregnant I think--and I saw the movie I don't know how many times--my second son is even named Rhett! I really love that quilt!!!!

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  11. Wow, so much work! its a shame when they don't go together like they should. Well done for finishing it! I probably would have put it aside for a little bit...

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  12. This is awesome. One of my favorite books. One of my favorite movies. You should consider putting a pattern together and selling it!

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  13. I saw that fabric and wondered just what someone would do with it and you did Spectacular! Makes me want to see the movie again. Wonderful

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  14. I'm such a sucker for old movies, and GWTW has always been one of my favorites. I remember staying up with Mom to watch it when it came on TV once every few years. Seeing your quilt brings back such happy memories! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. I love "Frankly My Dear", it's beautiful, I hope you do keep it after all that work and it's special memories-enjoy!

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  16. Gosh that must have been so frustrating. If I had been making it I probabbly would have put it in the 'naughty corner' for a very, very long time. Glad after all the grief you can now show it off. It looks lovely.

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  17. Fantastic quilt! My Mom also loved Gone With the Wind and not only did we see the movie together several times but she gave me the book to read when I was about 14...I did the same with my daughter. :)

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  19. A beautiful quilt and lovely story to go with it!

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  20. I love the book. I love the film. I LOVE the quilt.

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  21. Awesome! Love that movie and the quilt.
    Randi
    http://DivaBuzz.designing-diva.com

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  22. Wow what an awesome quilt! Very lovely and creative.

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  23. Wow, what an impressive showcase of the GWTW fabric. Thanks for sharing.
    Come see my antique quilt entries
    http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
    http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com

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  24. fascinating quilt. fun to have that fabric and the blocks are wonderful--can understand they'd be difficult to do and then sew together. thanks for sharing

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  25. What a neat memory of your Mother----I wouldn't part with it either. Your perseverance paid off!

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