Thanks for stopping by for the weekly Quirky Question—where questions are just for fun, your answers are always welcome, and you could win an eBook for free!
(“Faith, Hope, and Love” (left) by Cheryl Almgren Taylor, from Inspirational Appliqué)
Winter blues? Cabin fever? Indoors driving you out of your mind? In many parts of the country, this time of year is tough to endure. It’s finally February…but we still count 44 days until spring. Until then—and without a plane ticket to paradise—dreaming of paradise will have to do! Those dreams lead to this week’s question:
If you designed a quilt depicting the best summer of your life so far, what would your quilt look like?
Post your answer in the comments before noon (PST) on Monday, February 11, for your chance to win. The winning comment will be posted on Wednesday, February 13, along with the next question. (Knitters and crocheters, tell us what you’d design too!)
Last week’s Quirky Question was, “What untapped talent do you feel you have—and what are your plans for developing it?” Here’s the winning response:
“I truly believe I have an untapped talent for being a billionaire’s wife. I see so many women in this role on The Real Housewives of… but none of them are getting it right! I would give a lot of my time over to soothing the ruffled feathers of this wife or that, by teaching them how to make quilts and how to donate those quilts to worthy charities. Instead of shopping for diamonds or designer handbags (and really, do we all need shoes with red soles?), I would dedicate myself to collecting really useful fabrics from all the important (quilting) designers. My plans for developing this talent? *Sigh* Sadly this is where my plan falls down—so few billionaires ever wander around my work place or knock on my front door.”
Last week’s winning comment was written by Kayt. Congratulations, Kayt—look for an email about how to get your free eBook.
I think the best summer would be the year we traveled to the mountains of NC. We road the train in Bryson City, went tubing down the coldest river, ate mile high ice cream cones, visited Cade’s Cove ( a lost settlement), painted our names on rocks, dipped out toes in the cold icy streams…… it was one of the best summers we spent together. I know we can’t go back, but sometimes I wish we could recapture those carefree days of summer.
—Jocelyn on February 6, 2013Aaaahh… The summer I spent as a research assistant at the Rocky Mountain Biological Research facility up in Gothic, Colorado. We were deep in the mountains doing our observational research at 9,000 – 10,500 feet. Beautiful valley meadows filled with wild lupines, Indian paintbrush, delphiniums, clover, and columbine growing riot, surrounded by sharp, snow-covered mountain peaks with a clear blue skies and crystal-bright sunshine. At higher elevations were the alpine meadows surrounded by the twisted pine trees that you can only see in those high and wild places. Not to mention the elk, porcupine, hummingbirds, and ravens all running free, and largely unafraid, all around me. I’m not a morning person, but even I looked forward to seeing the dew-laden world waking up, out in the field at 6:30 a.m.
—Meredith Miller on February 6, 2013It would depict me laying on the beach at Jamacia in the warm summer breezes with a drink in my hand. Needless to say, I was thinking about the next quilt I wanted to make when I got home. Sad, but the next creation is never far from my thoughts.
—Connie B on February 6, 2013Oh, my quilt of the best summer would be montage of baby sheep, barns, grain silos and tracters. There would be a water tank truck driven by my uncle in his ever-present cowboy hat and children running after chickens. There would be a gaggle of women sitting in the shade of a tree while the men and children lit fireworks. A grandmother would rock in a chair that squeaks and a single horse would graze with the cows. All the family trips to Montana would merge into one glorious song sung with a needle and thread!
—Beth Strand on February 6, 2013My Best Summer Quilt would be all about teenage summer fun! An image of my best friend and I cruising in my 1965 Mustang convertible would be front and center. Then I’d surround that with images of swimming pools, amusement parks, county fairs and small town life. yep, best summer ever!!
—Tammy from quilt-pictures.com on February 6, 2013Who says it has happened yet? Lots of traveling to do! But the summer quilt would have our trailer & some great scenery! Looking to do lots more quilting and traveling. First quilt I made was a memory quilt of trip to 4 corners & Grand Canyon.
—Cindy on February 6, 2013My best summer quilt would represent the summer I spent with my father just before his death. Warm breezes coming off the lake. Sun shining and sitting in a boat fishing with my dad. Hugs
—Cathy on February 6, 2013Mine would be a mix of the snails trail for the Indiana roots, pickle dish for the ones inherited from the relatives, a small Danish flag box in the lower left corner and an American flag block in the upper right hand corner. A heart for each child and intertwined hearts for my husband and I. I could go on, but it looks like I need to make a sampler quilt ofo small blocks as part of the snails trail or another pattern.
—Laurel Whitlock on February 6, 2013My best summer ever was when I went to Italy 2 summers ago. I was in Rome and got to tour the Scavi (where St. Peter REALLY is) under the Vatican. It’s an exceptional treat to get to visit the Scavi (people can inquire to visit months ahead but many do not even get a reply).
The Scavi is underneath the Vatican (and even under the grottoes) and as you walk around down there, you are walking in Rome as it was 2,000 years ago! That alone is pretty cool (total understatement). Add to that adventure getting to see the Colosseum and Roman Forums. The latter had a piece of beautiful tiled floor that they had uncovered from I forget how long ago. So, if I could quilt any of that, I totally would. A little mosaic tile quilting here and maybe even some of my pictures printed on fabric would make for one heck of a memory quilt.
—Heather on February 6, 2013My quilt would be sandy beaches, ancient ruins, sunshine. Warm nights, outdoor venues, afternoon naps, late night dinners.
—Marguerite Namdar on February 6, 2013Oh my….my best summer was the time of my first summer love. I was only 14 but that first walk when he took my hand, touched my hair and I got my first kiss. Well, there is nothing like it! Guess my quilt would have to have lots of hearts, bluebirds singing on branches and endless sunshine. And now, if you will excuse me, I need to get a cold glass of water!!!!!!!!!!!
—Carol on February 6, 2013My best summer of my life quilt would have the images of my two youngest grandson. They were born exactly one month apart. It was a hectic summer with lots of babysitting of older sibling. But it was a wonderful summer filled with grandkid hugs,tickles,laughs and baby smiles. The quilt would be full of joy and childish fun.
—sharyn Mellors on February 6, 2013(This would keep with my quilting style because all of my quilts have images of children made of applique.You can’t look at my quilts without smiling)
It might be scrappy as nothing goes smoothly in my life with strange but intriguing designs and it might not even be square! ps, I live in paradise and it is cold here too. frost on the pumpkin even!
—diane on February 6, 2013I would design a quilt that reminds me of the beautiful landscape of the Pacific Northwest. It would include representations of the ocean, rain forests, snow topped mountains, wildflower meadows and beach towns. Sounds like a job for McKenna Ryan!
—Kathy on February 6, 2013Last summer was one of my best. We traveled to Israel for 2 wonderful weeks. I fell in love with all the textures in the landscape. From lush grape vineyards and blue seas to craggy rocks and deserts. I would use these colors and textures I in an Imoressionist landscape quilt from one of my pictures. Even tho I habpve never tried a landscape, I have been inspired by my trip m
—Judi Reiss on February 6, 2013My designed quilt would be raw-edge appliqué depicting summers of my childhood at our cabin in the mountains of Colorado. In the quilt would be a small trout stream and a child (me) sitting at the edge with my fishing pole. If you looked closely, you might see my face reflecting anticipation of a fine fish dinner later.
—Judy on February 6, 2013my quilt would most likely be a truly scrappy one with unique designs and fabric and nothing goes smoothly as I would like even when I try. ps, I do live in paradise and it is cold here! we have had frost on the pumpkin and 30′s in the am. It does keep me indoors and sewing wishing for summer when it is the opposite and I can’t wait for the cool!
—diane on February 6, 2013The best summer I remember is the summer of 1969 when my younger sister and I went to Hollywood CA to visit our mom. She was in cosmotology School at that time. She took us to Disneyland, Magic Mt., Knotts Berry Farm, Japennese Deer Park, to the horse races, to the beach, to Griffith Park Observatory and a millon other fantasic places. I still have a photo of my sister and I meeting Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. My mother has passed away since that long ago time, but I still remember everything we did as though it was yesterday.
—Rita McCart on February 6, 2013My husband and I were blessed with 4 boys. We have had many happy summers together. We wouldn’t trade them for anything. But the most special summer was when we welcomed in two daughters-in-law! So, my quilt would be framed/bordered in all things masculine, outdoors and rough-and-tumble (bold?) But the center, ah, yes…the center will be feminine. Amazing it is how all three of us ladies have a weakness for the aqua-turquoise shades of blue, and flowers, yes, flowers! I may have to get fabric out and get started today!
—Carol on February 6, 2013It would look like Mount Rainier in Washington state in July with all the wildflowers in bloom. By far our best vacation ever! Lisa in Texas
—Lisa in Texas on February 6, 2013It would be a quilt about the best moments of many summers not just one. The theme would definitely be the outdoors. There would be a very sunny block as well as a beautiful starry night. There would be a block about camping in the mountains, kayaking on a lake, walking along the beach; blocks about fishing, swimming, picnics and barbecues. I would probably include a thunderstorm because I always enjoyed them as a child even though they interrupted our outdoor activities. They are so rare here in Southern California. Summer is the season to be outdoors, even if it is just sitting on the porch reading or sewing.
—Diane on February 6, 2013Best summer — it WOULD have been year before last when we got to go to DC for the 4th of July, but my oldest of my 3 kids couldn’t join us until we were on our way home and stopped to visit family in North Carolina. So LAST year would have to be the best — we had a ton of fun at a Texas hill country water park, and all of my kids are grown, or almost grown, and able to fend for themselves, so it was very relaxing for me. My quilt would be full of waves (for the awesome wave pool) and spirals (for the terrific fun of the water slides) and many ‘bubbles’ because I was blowing a lot of those while getting dunked in the rapids of the not-always-so-lazy river. We’re doing it again this summer, but spending 4 days instead of 2. This time when we can vacation with mostly-adult children (24, 20, 16), and before we have to worry about grandchildren in the water, is truly awesome.
—Dana C on February 6, 2013It would have mustangs all over it, with drive in theaters, old Ford cars and lots of fun pictures with friends and happy times.
—Denise Heid on February 6, 2013The Best Summer of My Life Quilt would be a log cabin pattern. Visible in the design would be the trails that my best friend and I rode with our horses. The centers of each block would be a fussy done with photos of us, our horses, and favorite places. It would be done in the colors of summer – blue skies, lakes & streams, green forest life, browns for the fauna and, of course, a multitude of colors representing the numerous wildflowers & birds. I would probably give it to her daughter since I sadly lost her too young to cancer.
—Sheila Craft on February 6, 2013My favorite summer quilt would be blue to depict the beautiful waters of lake Eufaula in Oklahoma because of the precious time that I spent with my children the four summers that I had off when I went back to college to complete my bachelors degree and begin my master’s degree. It would also include browns for the sand, greens for the trees and odd splashes of bright colors for the bathing suits. pail and shovel because my son tried to dig a hole to China and mermaids because my daughters spent to summer fighting over who played Ariel. Small fish because there were very small nibblers on fingers. and yellow to denote the relaxing warmth of the sun. Good times and precious memories
—Barbara on February 6, 2013My best summer yet will be this summer 2013 because I will finish radiation treatments soon and that will be the end of nearly a year of terrifying thoughts. Other than that, every summer is a good memory!
—Shannon on February 6, 2013My quilt has already been made. It was a story quilt about a racoon rescue with one of my oldest Friends at her family’s Farm where I was fortunate to spend part of a summer. I loved the farm and the fun we had.
—ELIZABETH CROSS on February 6, 2013Picture it — MaryLou Weidman style. My boyfriend (now husband) and I crewed on a private yacht from San Diego to Florida via the Panama Canal. Stops in Cabo San Lucas, Manzanillo, Acapulco, Costa Rica, Panama, and Cozumel. I was the cook but I didn’t have to clean up (owner’s daughter and nieces were my galley slaves) or shop while ashore. Seven weeks of sunshine, bare feet, dolphins alongside and fresh mahi mahi on the menu.
—Bert in Rice, WA on February 6, 2013The summer I lived in Lima, Peru as an exchange student! Talked in to the Andes to an Indian village and shopped. I saw colors and shapes and food I had never seen before!
—Mary Ann Harpe on February 6, 2013My quilt would have a front with childhood memories – all appliqued – bicycles, ice cream cones, kites, smiling faces of friends and cousins, baseballs, baby dolls and hearts to show all the love. The back would be memories of my first of many road trips across the US. All the states I’ve visited, the parks, mountains, rivers, and so forth would be captured in the colors and shapes.
—Vickie - Tucson on February 6, 2013As we brace for yet another snowstorm, possibly a Nor’easter, I’m enjoying the thoughts of many beautiful summer days at the nearby ocean right in my own backyard. I’m remembering a time when many of my relatives were still here with us, and we had wonderful times together.
—Karen on February 6, 2013Thanks for taking me back for just a minute…
My quilt depicting "my best summer ever" would show a variety of activities with the main theme being the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico where the water is so pristine you can see the fish, seaweed and seashells. The shells … shells tell a deeper story of my memories and my life. There would be a nautilus shell where you can see the perfect example of the Fibonacci sequence, a conch shell that has a recording of the tides inside, and a perfect sand dollar with the doves still locked in the little chambers. Then I would add the quaint little seaside villages where you can find the most incredible seafood restaurants! The carousel and Ferris wheel will be added to a corner to remind me of the fun we had with our grandchildren. The sprinkler, slip and slide, and community pool will be added to another corner because they are a large part of our summer at home. The playground near our home was built recently for creative play. The grandchildren can pretend it’s a castle, a pirate ship, a fort, a secret hiding place. Finally, I will decorate the quilt with small charms and trinkets we collected during the summer. There will be pictures of the children with all the fiberglass bulldogs dressed in ever silly way you can imagine! There’s a glamorous bulldog outside a boutique, a banker bulldog outside the credit union, a Caesar bulldog outside a pizza restaurant, and so on. We live in a very interesting college town and love it!
Any summer with our grandchildren is the best summer ever!
—VickiGene on February 6, 2013My quilt would depict a bright blue sky with a big tree beside a stream. There would be my husband playing in the stream with our granddaughter and mountains all around. This is a memory of a summer afternoon at Price Park near Blowing Rock, NC
—Linda Raker on February 6, 2013One of my best summers was when my husband and I drove down the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon. It was so relaxing and so beautiful. We saw things that we had never seen before. Everything was so green and fresh. The light houses and their histories were amazing. The people were great plus we found some wonderful quilt shops. I never did tell my husband how much I spent on fabrics and kits. He just laughed at me. I would go there again in a heart beat.
—Marsha Nelson on February 6, 2013The ‘best’ summer of my life has not happened yet, but if it did it would be the real version of my dream! A beach, a lake, my children and their spouses, and my grandchildren, would all be there. The quilt would depict my husband in his boat fishing on the lake. Our grandchildren frolicking in the water and their parents playing beach volley ball. I would be under a big colorful beach umbrella as the sun and I are no longer best friends.
Then the colors would change growing darker as the scene becomes nighttime with a starry sky, full moon shining down as my family gathers around the camp fire. Marshmallows roasting on sticks over the fire and little faces smeared with chocolate from the S’mores they’ve already eaten. The smallest curled up sleeping under a quilt in my husbands lap, a small smile on her face as she dreams about tomorrow.
The smiles I can see in my mind, of this future scene, brings warmth to me as I put my cold toes in warmer socks and curl up under a quilt to dream of other possible future dreams and quilts.
—Sandra on February 6, 2013The very best summer holiday was when my boyfriend,now husband, was missing me so much he sent his first I love you by telegram to me at the caravan park my family & I were staying at. I was about to have my fifteenth birthday, so best summer holiday & birthday in one. Memory lanes that was 41 years ago.
—Marion Bryant-Parsons on February 6, 2013My best summer ever was quite a while back – in fact it was more than forty years ago. I was eleven years old. I would spend days riding around my neighborhood on my bike with my best friends. The days were sunny, the laughs were in abundance and I did not have a care in the world. I have had many very nice summers since, traveling and enjoying many places, people and experiences. But nothing compares to the simplicity and pure joy of the best and most memorable summer in my life.
—Dee on February 6, 2013Several years ago i hosted summer sewing camp for my 3 neices.
—Margo Cengic on February 6, 2013One whole week…five days those girls were stuck to the machines
and we made pillows and shorts and jamies and stuffed animals and
pin cushions and dresses ect…9 in the morning til dinner and they
wanted to stay longer. My daughter helped. I had taught her and her sister (and her brother)sewing all their growing up years. since then I have spent more time teaching neighbor hood children, boy and girl. My quilt would show young faces eager to learn more. Sewing on the deck with blue skies and rain in the backgroun, with a happy me sharing what I love to do best.
The best summer of my life is the summer we went on a Disney crusie to teh Bahamas…It was a wonderful fun family vacation. My quilt wold have to depict the ocean in varying shades of blue and of course a big old mr. Sunshine face and a curise ship with the mouse ears and some dolphins jumping in the water. Since we did the swim with teh dolphins in The islands and of course a pirate for the Pirates f the carribena party we attended on board…Such fun…conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com
—Tammy on February 6, 2013The best of Summer would be quilt full of beautiful flowers.
—Linda C on February 6, 2013My best summer was spent at summer camp in northern Minnesota. I was just barely a teenager and was on my own for two weeks. The would would have lots of blues for the lakes, yellows for the sunshine and reds for the watermelon we ate. Lets add in a touch of brown for the log we sat on, the green pines and the bright creamy moon. I live in Texas now, but still remember the harsh winters, growing up in the north, and dreaming of that summer long ago.
—Jeanne Mahlke on February 6, 2013Sorry didn’t see the whole question.
—Rita McCart on February 6, 2013So I guess I would design my best summer memory quilt to include all the colors from the special places we had been and seen.
An applique quilt despicting It’s a Small World ride at Disney. It would remind me the most of all the fun things we did together that summer with my mom.
I think, no, I know, my quilt would have to be a pink ribbon made from the happiest fabric I could find, bordered by a fabric with fireworks or something equally festive. It would have to represent the summer (just a few ago) I finished radiation therapy after chemo treatments and surgery, when my doctors told me that my cancer was completely gone and, not only that, didn’t have one live cell in the remaining tumor that was removed during surgery. Happiest and brightest days of my life. Of course, it could also be a flower garden quilt, since every flower smelled sweeter that summer… God and life are good….
—Robin on February 6, 2013mY BEST SUMMER EVER, WAS THE SUMMER OF 1954 WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND OF 58 YEARS. mY QUILT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE PLENTY OF JOY, HAPPINESS, SWEETNESS, ADVENTURE AND JUST PLAIN FUN, AND HAS BEEN EVER SINCE. oUR FIRST DATE WE WENT TO THE SAGINAW BAY, SWIMMING AND THEN ONTO DINNER A AT, WHERE ELSE A DRIVE IN RESTUARANT FOLLOWED BY THE DRIVE IN MOVIE. hE HAD A HOT ROD FORD AND A TWO DOLLAR BILL (WHICH I STILL HAVE) HE TORE IT IN HALF AND GAVE ME HALF………HE KEPT THE OTHER. sO MOON FABRIC OR APPLIQUED MOON, TREES, LAKES, HEARTS…………
WE WILL CELEBRATE 59 YEARS THIS FALL, SO GUESS IT WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST SUMMER OF MY LIFE…………………
—pRUDY on February 6, 2013My best summer ever was a short vacation in Cape Cod, with my former husband and youngest son. We spent most of our time on the water. We divided our time with swimming in the ocean, which I love to do and fishing, which is my former husband’s favorite way to spend his time. I guess we both gave lots of love to each other by splitting the time as such. Therefore, I would make a storm at sea with lots of blue’s and incorporate hearts into the quilt to represent the love we gave.
—Grace on February 6, 2013Mine would depict the summer my only child was born. She was an August baby and the summer of 1974 was hot and beautiful in California. The wait for her birth was so exciting – I just couldn’t wait! I would include lots of yellow for the sunshine, gold because she is my Princess, and beautiful shades of blue for the water in our pool and the clear blue skies overhead.
—Sharon on February 6, 2013I have a sketch in my notebook of a moai of a quilt I’m going to make to remember the summer my husband and I went to Easter Island, Chili and Peru. This trip was a once in a lifetime excursion icluding ten airplanes in thirteen days, three climate zones and 17,000 miles. The moai are a charcoal gray set against an azure ski and brilliant green grass–a simple color combination, but captures the spirit of adventure my husband and I shared that summer.
—Carole Henell on February 6, 2013The best summer ever was the year I got married 1959.) and two+ years later I made a not very good for my first daughter. She even took it to college with her.
—Evelyn H on February 6, 2013In the summer of 1981, I found out that I was pregnant with my daughter. After 2 sons and a foster son, I was finally going to have my baby Bea! That summer, we vacationed with friends on the Outer Banks & were caught in a hurricane. While the winds blew, I huddled in a small shower stall with the children, feeling that I was also protecting my daughter. When I got home, I bought yards and yards of materials with tiny pink rosebuds. I gathered it up and covered a whole wall, made a bedskirt, sheets, and pillowcases for the tiny crib. My quilt to commemorate this summer would have swirls of blue and purple around the edges and rings of pink roses in the center.
—Lynn on February 6, 2013It would be me in a bikini laying on an ocean beach reading a paperback book. If I did one of me now I would be covered by a very large caftan, and reading a large print book.
—eleanor on February 6, 2013My favorite summer quilt would depictone spent with my late grandmother sitting in her flower garden, spending time with my dad on our front porch watching fireflies, and playing with my children and grandchildren in the ocean waves and sandy beach, and camping with my husband and children. Several small vignettes of nature’s beauty, traveling over space and time, a showcase of my favorite season
—Mary gallant on February 6, 2013The summer I was 10 was amazing. I don’t remember too many specifics, but we had a pool in our backyard…one of those 3 feet deep round ones, and I remember lots of neighbor kids over to swim. Plus I was old enough to ride my bike wherever I wanted with my cousin, and didn’t yet have the angst of teenage years. My quilt would be the aqua blue of that pool, and greens and golds of leaves and sunshine. And somehow I would make it smell like new mown grass…
—Robin Maguire on February 6, 2013My quilt would look like Laguna beach in sunny Southern California.
—Mary Ann on February 6, 2013We lived in the suburbs of Southern California when our daughter was young,and everyday in the summer we would head to the beach. We used to pick oranges from an orange grove close to our home, and I would refrigerate them and take them to the beach and peel them while enjoying the sound of the surf and watching our daughter play in the sand. Now, that I live in Indiana, I can build Snowmen instead of Sand Castles. Those are 2 really good ideas for some new quilts. Snowmen and Sand Castles…I better head to the LQS for some new fabric.
It would be an applique riot of hands, traced from all those who’ve touched my life in the last year.
The doctors, surgeons & nurses. My sons, their girlfriends, my friends and workmates. Other women fighting breast cancer and showing me the way.
Each hand would be in jewel colours and appliqued onto a Sunshine Yellow background.
This Summer (I’m in Australia so Summer is now) has been the best of my life.
I’m here, my tests are clear, I can get used to it!!
—Kayt on February 6, 2013School had just let out for the summer an I walk across the yard to my neighbor house. We sat laughing an talking when she said I want to go to a new quilt shop. I got one its in Quitman, Tx so we thrower our clothes in overnight bag an left for Texas. We stopped in a little town can’t remember the name. An they asked if we were there for first Monday in Canton, Tx. Well we knew nothing about it but we had time so we went to check this huge flea market out. Well we didn’t stay long we wanted to get to the quilt shop. Well along the way there was a road side veggie stand. Wow new green onions with a large bulb on them . So we bought several bunches. We take off headed to our quilt shop. We found it an enjoyed several hours, looking at patterns an books an all the lovely material. I was driving so I went on to the van an opened it an got it started so it would cool off. I opened the door an OMG I got hit in the face with the aroma of onion. I started waving an laughing crying. An my dear friend Started laughing also she had thought I had windyed an she got hit with the onions. We still laugh about the onion trip even now. We laughed for 20 miles before we realize we forgot to eat in town. So we just kept on going.
—Emma McConnell on February 6, 2013My summers, since I was born, have always been spent at the beach in Rhode Island…such fond memories. I smile just now thinking of them. I am now 64 and live at the beach full time, loving every minute of it. My quilt will have waves, blue fabric of the sea…fishing boats, crabs, lobsters, clams, and many shells. Oh, how I love summer. The sun is shining, the people are happy, life is good!! That is what I want my quilt to look like. Oh, and of course some ice cream…everyone loves ice cream in the summer.
—Rosemary on February 6, 2013My best times would have to be Friday the 13th. My Mom and both of my daughters all turned 13 on a Friday the 13th. So the quilt would have family pictures mixed with ghosts (for the memories), fall leaves (for jumping in together), blue skies (happy memories), and then more pictures and memories.
—Lynne on February 6, 2013it would be a floral garden with sunshine streaming down and a happy place to hang out in. Of course I would be younger and thinner.
—Diane Lindberg on February 6, 2013The quilt would be about the summer when I was 4. My Father took the family to the Eastern shore – Millsboro, Delaware. The family stayed the whole summer, but Dad had to go back to work and could only join us during the weekend. When Dad was there he would attach a rope to his waist and a rope to an intertube plus another intertube roped to the first. Dad would be claming along the shore, the clams would go into the first intertube that a basket in it and I was being towed in the second intertube. We would spend hours like that- just tied together. It was Wonderful. I would applique that scene of Dad and I on the water together, him claming and me floating near/attached to him, the shore line and the point of the beach where there were 3 pine trees that only had branches at the very top of the tree and the cabin where the rest of the family were.
—Eilene Suddeth on February 6, 2013The quilt would portray the one summer we spent in DuCk Mountain ProvincialPark. I spent 6 weeks in the fall sitting outside sewing and quilting 3 full size quilt. I watched the birds at the feeders and the little red squirrels trying to get the bird seed. The leaves were starting to turn and it was simply beautiful. So my quilt would portray this totally serene setting.
—Fay holstein on February 6, 2013I love the beach so I would do a beach scene of the first year we spent Christmas as a family at the beach on a sandrail! Cold but beautiful and so much crazy fun!
—Heather H on February 6, 2013My best summer ever was the summer following my sophomore year in college. I married my wife in March and because we were both still in school we did not have any time for a honeymoon. So that best summer ever we were able to get away for a short vacation. A friend’s house was made available to us and you should have seen us — the two of us roughing it in the wilderness of an Indian reservation — miles from civilization. But just the two of us alone made it the best time ever!!
—Ray Barreras on February 6, 2013The best summer ever was when I was ten years old. My family and my paternal grandparents went fishing and camping in the Wallowa mountains. What made it perfect was that we had trailered our horses and we rode in to all the lakes. I had so much fun!!!!
—Terry K on February 6, 2013My best summers were between the ages of nine and fifteen spent with my grandmother. She would have two or three granddaughters stay at one time. Grandma had us up with the chickens which had to be fed, the house to clean and beds to be made all before breakfast. We worked in the garden until noon and then the fun would begin. On the kitchen table were printed flour sacks Grandma had saved all winter along with cardboard templates and #2 lead pencils. We would spend afternoons tracing templates onto to flour sacks and later cutting the squares, diamonds, hexagons and circles for quilts Grandma would make in the winter. Other afternoons she taught us to embroider and crochet as we sat on the side of the house. My quilt would have grandma’s house with four poplar trees (one for each of her children)with flower beds weaving in and out at the base of each and around the the border of grandpa’s carefully maintained lawn. The clothesline would hang low from the weight of a recently washed quilt and the drying flour sacks a neighbor dropped off and we had washed earlier that morning. There would be two girls holding hands and spinning round and round on the lawn wearing the flour sack skirt or shift grandma helped them sew the day before. Of course, it would have to show grandma sitting and watching as she embroidered a pillow case or crocheted the edge of it as she listened to a granddaughter read a psalm or two out loud. I missed those summers and I miss her.
—Tish on February 6, 2013My quilt would be of summer and camping at Echo Lake in beautiful British Columbia. My parents and my sister and brother spent a fun 10 days or so with family friends. The adults enjoyed it and the kids enjoyed it too. So many wonderful memories of summer camping and campfires and swimming in the lake. Even the skunk that visited near the outhouse was funny to us.
—Marion on February 6, 2013I graduated from high school, had my long hair cut extremely short, and took a 3 month vacation. I was a counselor at Camp Wesley, a children’s camp, ages 8 – 12 for 7 weeks, in Lithia Springs, GA. We had 3 weeks of boys camp, a week in between, and 3 weeks of girls camp. City kids learned how to survive the outdoors, making new friends, games, crafts, and Mother Nature’s animals and birds. They learned the songs of summer and how to do chores in a fun environment. The remainder of the summer, I spent camping and fishing on a lake, visiting friends, and traveling. I knew, until I retired, this would be my last 3 month vacation. I often referred to this summer as the summer of my youth.
My sampler quilt would be made up of maple leaves, stars, delectible mountains, shoo-fly, flying geese, doves in the window, and for the friendships made, the love, laughter, and joys we shared; Irish Chains to hold those memories together for the years to come.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on February 6, 2013It would be from the summer I turned 50. It would be a sampler with blocks from all the adventures we had. One would depict snorkeling in Cabo. One would show us sunbathing around the pool on the ship. There would be several for our many trips to San Francisco. And so on. It was a wonderful summer.
—Cheryl Simmons on February 6, 2013My best summer was the year 2000 my Mother came out for a visit and she helped me get started quilting, while she was working on a quilt she presold, my Daughter found a pattern she liked and I made it as a replacement for the quilt Mother was making if the couple didn’t like the one she made, it was a ruse, I gave it to my Daughter on her 18th Birthday. and was she ever surprised.
—Charlotte Heaton on February 6, 2013My best summer quilt would be a mountain scene, babbling brook flowing through it, Dad and his kids with their fishing poles in hand, a campfire burning brightly against the night sky, with the tent pitched nearby. Every weekend of the summer was always spent camping in the mountains, traipsing through the woods, catching fish for supper and watching the sky for falling stars at night. Doesn’t get any better than that. No money for fancy trips. We didn’t miss them. Didn’t know we were suppose to miss anything. We thought we the richest family around. We had each other.
—Cindy R. on February 6, 2013my best summer memory was when we lived in India. We would go to Kashmir and stay on a houseboat. The one we rented was called the Buckingham Palace. Believe me, there was no resemblance between the Buckingham Palace in Kashmir and the one in London, but the experience was probably more delightful because of the uniqueness of the experience.
We loved taking the little shakira boat (similar to a water taxi) to the swimming boat in the middle of the lake. Excursions by horseback to the glaciers was a lot of fun as well. I have often thought about the wallahs (merchants) who used small boats to take their wares from houseboat to houseboat. My favorite was the fruit wallah. We would buy wooden crates full of black cherries or plums … and enjoy every bite.
If I were to design a quilt to remind me of Kashmir in the 60′s it might be as simple as the lily pads and blossoms that floated on the lake surface. I might try to capture the wooden houseboat, our Buckingham Palace.
—Mary Ann Hardee on February 7, 2013One of the most memorable summers of my life was the year 1996. I began learning on my own how to quilt for the past 3 yrs and this year my daughter (age 3) was always on my heels at that time worse than usual (and it gave her Daddy some breathing room, she was and still is His Angel) wanted to know what I was doing and why. She also wanted to know why I had to play with all my toys (my quilting tools) to make a quilt. Then came the sewing machine and quilt questions lol She loved to go with me to buy more "toys" and fabrics. She and I would picked out fabrics for her a quilt and fabric to make myself a quilt. She was a smart little cookie and by the time she had to start Elementary School, I think she knew more than I did! LOL After starting school she lost interest and now at age 19 yrs she’s starting to come around and learn again! I’m praying for the day we’re sitting in the same room piecing and quilting! How I would put this in a quilt is beyond me! But that first summer with her was so much fun and the bond we made then is still unbreakable.
—Maria Carroll on February 7, 2013It would be of Ann Arbor and a big red house
. I had a lot of friends and we would hang outside for most of the summer just talking. My best friend lived in the red house for a few years before he moved to NY.
—Karrie Smith on February 7, 2013Hmmmm…..I find this question hard to answer. Sitting here thinking I think of bits of many summers past. The first summer after my daughter was born. The summer after my son was born. Days at the beach with them as they have grown.
—Bobbie Joe Klebe on February 7, 2013My quilt would have to have the rosy pink of a new born, The green of the grass, the deep blue of the lake, the warm tan of the beach.
I would do a quilt with water & lighthouse; or a map of parts of Nova Scotia. That was the greatest summer for me. We toured sites like the War sites; lighthouses; galeries; museums & antquie shops! Family gatherings played a big part of that summer Too!!
—Linda on February 7, 2013The best summer was 2012 when mom and I created quilts (large and small) and learned how to sell on ebay. We were in a tail spin as we planned our projects over many cups of tea and conversations. Then we put the pedal to the metal as we stitched like two crazy women finishing our quilts. Not only did we use a lot of fabric from our stash we made some spending money too. Therefore, my quilt would depict a collage of sampler blocks using those fabrics we turned into creative quilt projects.
—Rosalind Gutierrez on February 7, 2013A qulit to reflect the sunny playful days of summer as a child swinging (singing), playing softball with my Dad also the "coach". Playful days of summer with my children, and now grandchildren. Swimming, boating, and LAUGHING! Bright colorful days, peaceful and restful colors combined into a happy place to snuggle in for one more hug, kiss, and contened joy.
—Sherry Dye on February 7, 2013My best summer was a summer traveling with my family. It would show different landmarks across the U.S. Arch in St. Louis, Grand Ole Opery in Nashville, DisneyWorld in Florida, Ocean shore, and so on.
—Joan Mansfield on February 7, 2013I’ve had many good summers, but the all-around best would have to have been 1979. That’s the summer we traveled West for 9 weeks. We had been saving up for the trip for years, and had spent a year customizing our Chevy fan for the trip. We did all the work ourselves, except for when it came to cutting openings for the teardrop windows in the back. We visited many national parks and just enjoyed the freedom of making plans as the spirit moved us. So my quilt would have to have a applique of a brown van, and lots of wildlife and scenic fabric, in brilliant emerald colors and various hues of browns and greens. Definitely some Route 66 fabric and maps. We also visited many Native American sites, so some appliques, beads,and other embellishments would be an important aspect of the design. Finally, on our way home in August, we find out I was pregnant with our first child, so I’m thinking that one corner should have some nursery/baby fabrics and/or embellishments to complete the story. Boy, you just made me excited about putting togther such a quilt! Fabric stores, here I come! Another great summer was when we took our daughter West to re-create the trip. Hmmmmmm,looks like I’ll be designing a second quilt, for her…..
—Wicwas3 on February 7, 2013The best summer of my life is going to be the summer of 2013 and my quilt will be a portrait of my husband. Two days ago, he had a heart attack, but I am the lucky one, because of our great medical facilities here and talented cardiologists, he survived and is going to thrive. This summer, and for a long, long time to come, I will celebrate him being in my life. The cardiologist assured me with have a long life ahead of us. What a treasure!
—Cathy Kind on February 7, 2013The quilt should be about my first summer in Alameda. Best place I every was station in the military!
—MaryRose on February 7, 2013I know exactly what I would do! My best summer was the year my husband graduated from law school in Alberta. It was a big achievement for us, as we already had a family, and it was a huge financial sacrifice. My quilt would be a reflection of the Mighty Fraser River and its deep canyon as we headed back to the west coast and family.
—Gail on February 7, 2013My quilt would be filled with sun and tree climbing and smiles and closeness. Thunderstorms, when we got to light candles and walk through the house as though we were in a haunted mansion. Greens and blues, wet feet, warm faces. It would be filled with flowers and best friends and imaginations. It would be a little bit out of control, a little bit dreamy, but it would follow you everywhere, and be present in the little things, when you saw the first ray of spring sunlight and the warm pavement.
—Sarah on February 7, 2013I would print pictures on fabric of all the places we visited on our cruise last year, as they are places I have always wanted to visit. Then, they would be assembled in a memory quilt.
—Susan on February 7, 2013A quilt of my favorite summer, would be a quilt depicting, warm summer nights spent cruising down Central Avenue with my friends in their hot rods, swimming at the local pool, and riding horses on the Mesa’s of Albuquerque, and finally the roasting of chille peppers as summer ends, and finally the State fair ending the summer. Oh the memorys of days gone bye!
—Darla on February 7, 2013The best quilt I could make for the best times I had during summers would be one designed around all the wonderful and spiritual times I had at campmeeting. It would be a picture quilt of all the cabins and the wonderful people who stayed in them, with a big one in the middle of the tabernacle. Wonderful days I’ll ever forget because they are still happening ever summer with my family.
—benda lea on February 8, 2013The summer I worked from home with the kids and my husband who was activate duty at the time got to take the vaction. I would have many of stops on the quilt to include Disney and the lovely state of Kansas and being able to spend time riding that summer. We spent 3 weeks on vacation and had never done that before or since. It was a great time had by all.
—Dana Womack on February 8, 2013My quilt would have my North Louisiana home with a winding road to state 4-H camp and then to Baton Rouge with the state capitol and LSU campus with 4-H clovers and high school yearbooks. I was always on the road that summer to Baton Rouge or 4-H camp for leadership/4-H activities. Made lots of wonderful friends and wonderful memories. Forever young.
—Georgia on February 8, 2013I have had several really wonderful summers. One special memory is the time we met my in-laws in Colorado and spent a week camping and hiking in the mountains. At the end of the week we all rode a narrow-gauge railroad from Durango up to Silver City (?). Our railroad car was from the late 1880′s. The scenery was wonderful, so my quilt would show a steam engine train crossing a wooden bridge in the mountains on a sunny day with the shadow of the train and bridge below.
—Nancy Angerer on February 8, 2013My quilt would be greens depicting grass, blues depicting water and sky, yellow depicting sunlight, tans depicting rocks in the water which create a waterfall, made by a blue fabric with random streak of white. Off to the left, in the bottom half would be some pink triangles and blocks, made roughly in the shape of a young man and young woman. The quilt would depict the summer I first fell in love! What could be better than that?
—Diana on February 8, 2013My summer memory quilt would be from 1957. Several friends and I all had boy friends who were lifeguards at a Lake Michigan beach. We girls weren’t old enough to have jobs yet, so were able to spend the days at the beach–best tan I’ve ever had! The guards had frequent after-hours parties with bon fires, hot dogs and marshmallow roasts, dancing to music from our portable radios. It was the last carefree summer for us. The guys graduated from high school the following year and got better (read higher paying jobs) and we girls were old enough to get jobs.
—Joanne S. on February 8, 2013Another memory from that whole year is of a friend and me walking our baby brothers in their strollers all across the neighborhood. We all walked miles that year between the strollers and daily walks to the beach.
I think my quilt would have to be a collage. I have had so many wonderful summers. Each summer my family tries to see another beautiful section of our wonderful country. From north to south and east to west I have seen to many amazing things to pick just one!
—Elizabeth Reese on February 8, 2013The quilt of my best summer would be the last summer on our family ranch, 1969. It would contain the beautiful mountains which surrounded our high mountain valley, with a small stream running behind the house,and lots of cats playing around the back door. It would contain the Belgian work horses pulling the hay rake and raising the overshot hay stacker pitching the freshly mown hay onto the stack. It would depict a father and a grandfather working with and teaching three children the ranch way of life. There would be a pond where everyone cooled off after a hard day’s work, sheep and cattle grazing on tall cool deep green grass and milk cows being herded to the barn for milking. It would depict a mother hanging wash on the clothesline and finally, the 3 generations of the family sitting in the early evening light on the front porch
—Judy Cowen-Hodges on February 8, 2013My summer quilt would be more about feelings and sensations of childhood summers – the best summers for me were full of thistle down in the air, the scent of fresh mown grass, the clink of ice cubes in the drinks, cicadas sawing all day and crickets at night, clear nights out lying under the stars, sun- warmed ripe fruit straight off the trees, and sleeping on top of the bed without covers, and of course they lasted for the longest time.
—Carol G on February 8, 2013My best summer quilt would be all about Alaska. My DH is from there and we went and I got all kinds of pictures. I need to make a quilt with all the beautiful pictures I have. The quilt would be full of Whites from all the snow-caps, blues from all the water, lots of browns form the moose and lots and lots of greens. So So beautiful. Now if my quilt comes out as nice I will be elated!
—Donna Rae on February 9, 2013I truly have many "best" vacations ever so I’d have to do a collage quilt. One scene would depict the Fourth of July at Mount Rushmore, 2000. For 12 hours thousands of people celebrated our nation with amazing stage entertainment followed by 45 minutes of totally fabulous fireworks choreographed to music. Another scene would be a week spent in Williamsburg,VA where at moments we felt we had been transported back to the early days of our country’s development. Another scene would take us along the Blueridge Parkway and the little jaunts we took off the parkway to visit incredible artists’ enclaves. And another scene would recount my memories of two weeks spent in North Carolina attending an art school followed by tracing some of the Civil War battle routes. I couldn’t leave out a scene of the innumerable sights in Paris and England, or the area around Bend Or that culminated in a visit to Sisters, OR for the quilt show. Scenes of Dor County, WI, Hoover Dam, San Diego and a few other places would have to find a place in my quilt too. That’s going to be one big quilt. I’ll call,it the Quilt Of Many Happy Memories.
—Sally Neckvatal on February 9, 2013Mine would have a back drop of vegas. A wedding chapel with the bride and groom out front kissing and fmq’d with wedding rings.
—Emily C on February 10, 2013I don’t know what it would be like because next summer is always going to be the best one yet!!! There have only been a few that disappointed. Between camping and memorable family happenings, and wonderful sometimes exotic or off-road excursions to different places to take photo’s it would be hard to decide on one. I would definitely have to do a series of them. HHHHMMM? Why not? Off to my design board!
—Linda Pyke on February 10, 2013