I'm so excited that
Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival is here again! I love this event and the crazy amounts of inspiration to be found. This fall I wanted to share my favorite quilt I made this year. Some of you have seen this before. It was my summer project: the red, white, and blue flag quilt.
Here's where it started. As a young adult I lived in the UK a couple of times: once as a student and a year later as a volunteer with my church. When I came home, I left a big piece of my heart behind. I went back for the first time two years ago with my husband, and yup- there was that piece of me still there. Last winter I started working on Union Jacks for a quilt. (Because, in addition to my UK obsession, I just think the Union Jack is cool.)
Well, this summer one of my favorite flat-mates during my time in England was coming to visit me here in the States. She is from Oslo, Norway and I think we are long lost cousins because she is a kindred spirit. (I have a Norwegian great-great Grandfather so it's genetically possible!) We will go for years without seeing each other and then when we do, we just pick-up where we left off like no time has passed. I love those kind of friends.
So, I decided it was time to make her a quilt. And I used the flags from our two countries - to which we both have ties - and the flag for the country where we met each other. It's extra great that their colors all coordinate so nicely.
The best part: all of the fabric was from the stash. Except one. I needed something perfect for the binding and I found just the right thing. I love this quilt so much - I really need to make a matching quilt for myself. In the mean time, maybe I need to go to Oslo to check on the quilt in it's new home. Oh to dream . . .
To see oodles of lovely quilt inspiration, check out the Blogger's Quilt Festival
Past Quilt Blogger Festival entries:
 |
| Peas and Carrots |
Posts
I so love your flags quilt. Your fabrics are just perfect.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! What a great quilt!
ReplyDeletexo -El
I love this quilt Amy you are so talented this and your Peas and Carrots quilt are so lovely!!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and your Flickr photostream. Thanks for sharing !
Beautiful I love flags used in quilts especially Union Flags. But then I am English so a little biased on that score!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt!!! Loved it and its story from the first!!
ReplyDeleteLove this quilt and the sweet story!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt and even better story!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Amy! And I agree, those are the best kind of friends!
ReplyDelete~ Meagan
I love that quilt, and the story that goes with it too!
ReplyDeleteThose friends are the best type!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite quilts, and the Union Jack is one of my favorite blocks. And such a great story. Love it, Amy!
ReplyDeleteI just love your flag quilts! What lucky friends you are! (Both of you!)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!! I just love that you chose this one! I'm getting my post ready.
ReplyDeletesuch a fun quilt. I think flag quilts have universal appeal no matter what the flag because they are such striking designs. I myself created an all american flag quilt for a little boy who was being adopted by an american family from Guatemala. A little welcome!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of this quilt and already have it faved on Flickr - I'm a big fan of flags and especially UJs in quilts and I love the story behind this one!
ReplyDeletevery creative!
ReplyDeletewhat a faboulous quilt to give to your friend! you did a great job.
ReplyDeletethanks for visiting me and your comment!
Kristina
www.priscillacraft.blogspot.com
I just love this quilt! Union Jacks are cool and you have such a neat story behind the quilt.
ReplyDeleteJennifer :)
Beautiful Quilt! I love the colors and it's story. How blessed your friend must be.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt - and the story behind it. The colours are really striking together.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice story! I love union jacks, they rock!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt and story. I like the way you made the flag design simple for the US flag. Beautiful fabrics!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt. I love how you simplified the flags and still kept them recognizable.
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous, Amy! I'm so glad you posted about this one - I loved it the first time and I'm glad to see it again!
ReplyDeletelove those flags!!!!
ReplyDeleteit must be fun work in it!
Very cool! I love it! I made one once for my husband, a big union jack, and I never quilted it!! it's stuffed in a cupboard somewhere... you've inspired me to get it out!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely quilt you are certainly flying the flag for us here in the UK
ReplyDeleteHugs Janice
I really like that quilt. That is such an original idea!
ReplyDeletethis quilt is amazing. your flags looks so cool. amazing job.
ReplyDeleteI love your flags quilt!!! It has a wonderful story too. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour flag quilt is awesome! What a fun story, and lucky friend. :)
ReplyDeleteYour Union Jack quilt is one of my favorites Amy! I can't believe I don't even own a red, white and blue quilt, but I will remedy that next year for sure and your quilt will be part of the inspiration. Thanks for sharing and telling it's story. Hope a trip to Oslo is in your future.
ReplyDeleteA fun quilt and a great story to go with it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat is one cool looking quilt lassie :)
ReplyDeleteI have to make one cause I'm from Britain and hubby's grandparents were from Norway :)
oh amy, I could almost cry I love this blanket so much! you are so talented!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most unique quilts I have ever seen and I mean that as a compliment of the highest order.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea and what a striking quilt. Well done and gorgeously finished.
Thanks for choosing this one so we can all share it!
Amy, Hello again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crisp, clean, vibrant quilt and what a lucky friend. I played with union jacks a bit with a burgoyne surrounded quilt. Need to get back to it.
The store looks great, I was there last Saturday.
Come see both my entries but esp. my antique 1890 schoolhouse quilt.
I love this quilt! I have been wanting to make a flag quilt for a while with flags from me and my husband's heritage (Australia, Northern Ireland, Finland and Holland). Thanks for some wonderful inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous quilt and what a great idea. Union jacks seem to be everywhere. I have tea cosy planned for a dear friend who is English - of course now I'm tempted to go the whole way and finally make her a quilt! Thanks for the great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using flags as quilt blocks. I also love the red white and blue combo. Beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteOh Wow! This is super fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt. I love it - and no, it's not just cos I'm a Brit living in Britain!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a flag quilt! Thank you for sharing the story behind it.
ReplyDeleteSheilaC
Love it! I made some pillows using a paper-pieced Union Jack pattern I designed but I never thought to make a quilt with the flags. This is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis flag quilt is great! Fantastic entry for the quilt festival.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift!
I also love your Halloween quilt in the next post. Great colours!
This is a great quilt! I can't believe that you were able to utilize your stash for this quilt.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I both love your flags quilt. We are anglophiles, too, and my daughter is actually thinking of making one herself after having seen yours (she´s twelve). Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. I love seeing it again. I adore it. I just really want to make one. This is something I really MUST do. I want to put the slovak flag with mine for my dad and the denmark flag for my mom. I think they would be fantastic together. I MUST DO THIS! Thanks so much for inspiring me. Always.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fabulous quilt. I love all the thought you put into it for your friend.
ReplyDeleteAmazing quilt and gift for your friend. I love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a special and beautiful quilt! I love the story behind the making of it. It seems like it was meant to be made - since you had what you needed in your stash. Love that.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting design and great story- The binding is perfect for your friend's quilt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Enjoy the festival - there are so many wonderful pieces to see.
Regards,
Anna
Wow! Nifty quilt! I love how you interpreted the flags and put them all together. The story behind it is great too. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome quilt, I have admired it from afar on flickr. I just love the way you have combined the flags and it has such a great story attached to it. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - I especially love it as I was born in Norway, live in the UK, and have both my dad (Norwegian) and my step dad (British) living in America! If Julie doesn't love it, I can give it a good home LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteBenta@SLIKstitches.co.uk
A great quilt! And a great story. I think you need to go to Norway, just to check on it. Wink, wink.
ReplyDeleteLeslie S. in MN
esclante at comcast dot net
Dear Amy, I love your quilt, Sunniva is here and loves it too. I feel so lucky and blessed to be one of your special friends. You are always welcome over here =)
ReplyDeleteLove Julie
Beautifully done! :) I love it! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a keepsake for a friend! :)
such a nice quilt and such a fun story. love your quilt. the pictures are fantastic--love those utah mountains. have a great day and thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteLove it ...
ReplyDeleteand great looking Norwegian flags.
Thanks for honoring my country =)