*Tap...tap* Is This Thing On?

Welcome!

My name is Allyson. I am a quilter and I have no idea what I am doing starting a blog. This should be interesting.

I live in beautiful Southeast Alaska by way of California. I came here nearly thirteen years ago just to work for the summer....and stayed. My life has never been the same since.

This is where I live. Wouldn't you stay too?

We live in a cruise port. Every year, from May to September, we host anywhere from 2-6 cruise ships a day. During the summer, I work in tourism. During the winter, I quilt. Essentially, my life is divided into two distinct parts. Summer, where all I do is work, work, work. And Winter, where I do everything else I don't have time to do in the summer. More on both of those later.

I started quilting in 1999. I had a roomate named Billi Kay. She was a professional seamstress of other-wordly proportions. This woman was the MacGyver of the sewing world. You give her a popcicle stick and a ball of string, and she'd sew you a Braveheart costume. She could make anything out of anything, and it was an amazing process to watch. Among her many talents was quilting. She had a little black Featherweight that she would set up on a TV tray in her room and sew all night long. When I first met her, she was working on a scrappy Wedding Ring quilt using templates. I was terrified. I knew right then and there that I needed to learn how.

I don't remember how it came about exactly that she should teach me to quilt. All I know is that I had an affinity for stars and that would be the basis for any and all fabric I collected....until I knew better. I love stars (the shapes, not the planets) and my favorite colors are red and blue. I sat down and drew out my master plan. A giant flag. I was certain it had never been done before. (hah!) And with Master Plan in hand, off to the quilt shop we went. Hours later, I came home loaded down with every single red or blue star print we could find in the quilt shop. It never even occurred to me that I might have gone overboard on my "theme". And that summer, I learned to quilt. I believe I might have even pre-washed that fabric. That sounds like something Billi Kay would have made me do. I learned all about measuring twice and cutting once. I learned all about matching up seams and squaring up. It wasn't until years later that I learned that I had spent five months making the ugliest quilt in the world. Seriously, I cringe when I look at it. But I can't quite give it up. It was my first! Maybe we'll make it the picnic blanket or something. The emergancy blanket in the trunk of the car. I even TIED it! Does it get any better than that?

For fear of losing fans right off the bat, I won't leave you hanging with the World's Ugliest Quilt. I've come a long way since the Wide World of Squares, and I'll show you one of my later quilts to prove it. Ha ha. This is one of my favorite quilts of all time. I made it for a Brown Bag Challenge that our quilt group has every December and took First Place. That same winter, my dad commented on the fact that I have made quilts for so many people, but never one for him. So I decided to make this one for him, and very carefully stuck to colors that were bright and not at all girly. But when I had finished, I was so in love with the quilt, that I couldn't possibly give it away, even to someone in the family. So I selfishly kept it and gave my dad a tie or something for Christmas instead. (I never was in the running for Daughter of the Year.) My dad passed away shortly after and I never did get around to making him a quilt. I felt incredibly guilty for keeping it and resented it everytime I looked at it. It wasn't until a friend put it into a different perspective that I was able to fall back in love with it. While making this quilt, all my intentions were to give it to my dad. It wasn't until I saw the finished result that I got selfish and decided to keep it. But more importantly, I made it with love and extra special care, all along, intending it to be his. I MADE it for my dad. I just never actually gave it to him. And now, when we curl up with it on the couch, I remember how much care I put into it, wanting nothing but a perfect quilt for my dad. He would have loved it. He would have also understood me and why I kept it.

 

Thanks for visiting me on day one! I hope you enjoy your visits here at Fat Cat Quilts. Have a good week.

 

Comments

[Nicole]

Allyson, what an awesome inaugural post! Your writing style is wonderful and you leave me wanting to hear more and more about your quilting journey and your life in Alaska. Welcome to blogging!

[Susan Jarsulic]

Hello from Kansas (near Kansas City). I found your blog from reading twosisters blog. I'm not a blogger but a blog reader. You're right, that is one fat cat! looking forward to reading more.

[Cathy]

Allyson, what a beautiful quilt and a beautiful story. I found out about your blog from Nicole at Sister's Choice. Keep writing (and quilting). I'll be stopping by again for more.

[Thelma]

Allyson! What a wonderful first post. I'm fairly new at quilting and blogging. I've been a lurker for a good while and just recently started leaving comments. Nicole sent me over and I'm go glad she did.

I'm so jealous that you were able to get your blog put together and looking so good so quickly. I'm wanting to join the blogging nation but am really struggling with it! I hope someday you'll be able to read my posts.

I'll come back, I hope you have time to post regularly, even if it IS summer!

[cockermom]

Allyson, excellent first post! I have not started a blog (yet)I am just a lurker, but as I read all of the great blogs, including this one, I feel I want to jump right into the deep waters and give it a shot! I have already added you to my list of wonderfully fun stuff to read!

[Char]

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. I enjoy blogging in the winter when I am doing more sewing than in the summer. Hope to see lots of pictures of your quilts and scenery in Alaska.

[di]

Greetings from Southern Louisiana! Congrats on the new blog - enjoyed your story and love the quilts - there is a special place in our hearts for the first quilt! Keep up the good work!

[Lisa D.]

What a great blog, Allyson. I look forward to reading more from you - I like your writing style and can't wait to see more of your quilts!

[Chris@catsonmyquilts]

Hi Allyson, Greetings from New Hampshire. I arrived to your blog through Nicole's so welcome to blog world. I look forward to reading about your quilts and life in Alaska.

[Kelly Ann]

Hi From Virginia....welcome to blogland.

[Libby]

Welcome to Blogland!

Don't be too harsh about your first quilt - it has served you well . . . . and look how far you've come *s*

[Elaine]

Congrats on your new blog. I am just a blog reader and totally enjoy following all the quilting blogs. Sister's Choice being my all time favorite. What a wonderful place you live. So hello from TN

[Lee]

welcome to blog land. I am a newbie as well. I loved your first post and stories of your quilts. I think all quilts have stories attached to them...if they could only talk. sister's choice sent me your way. don't work too hard this summer.

[Gretchen]

Congratulations on joining blogland! Nicole from Sister's Choice sent me over here and I can't wait for more posts (no pressure or anything:) I'll be following your blog from Georgia.

[Karen Beigh]

I read about your new blog on Sister's Choice and decided to pay you a visit. Your post is certainly interesting. The story of your first quilt especially. You have come a long way in your quilting adventures!

[Tricia T.]

Wow! What a gorgeous quilt. And what a fun first quilt. It's a treasure and you're right to keep it. TFS!!

[Pam Edblom]

Greetings from Las Vegas! I just read about your blog on Sister's Choice and decided to stop by and say "hi". I don't have a blog (yet), but enjoy reading all the other quilting blogs and will add yours to my "list". Have fun with it and I look forward to reading more about you and your quilting experiences.

[Jean]

Allyson: Welcome aboard to blogging. Your red quilt is just amazing. You indeed have come far. I'm looking forward to hearing all about Alaska and quilting up north.

[MJinMichigan]

Allyson I found your blog through Sister's Choice. Yes I would live in Alaska given the chance. Our daughter had a one-year job in Fairbanks and I visited 5 times and tried to convince her to stay. I also tried to convince my husband to move there but no luck. I'm looking forward to reading all about your job and your quilts.

[Kathleen]

Hello, Allyson! I'll be following your blog from Washington state...found you via Nicole at Sister's Choice. Bravo to you for deciding to blog...I know you're going to find a lot of new friends. Enjoyed your post...look forward to more!

[Robin Booth]

I loved your first post. I also loved your honesty. I happen to like your first quilt. You can't go wrong making a flag quilt.

Robin

[Marian]

Hi Allyson - greetings from Toronto, Canada where some days we have almost as much snow as you do! I came over from Nicole's blog as well. I loved the story about your "Dad's" quilt - how lucky you are to have a friend give you that perspective. I'm looking forward to many more wonderful stories.

[Lizzie Swinney]

Welcome to the world of blogging. Interesting, fun and kinda like a journal for others to read and comment. Have fun with it and I will come back often to see what is new.

[Cindy]

Nicole also sent me your way. Welcome to the blog world. You'll find lots of new virtual friends!

[Christine Thomas]

Well, Hi Allyson. Nicole is the sender, for sure. I'm here because of her recommendation. Southest Alaska...I have a good friend who lives in SE Alaska, too. Maybe you know her? (kidding)
You wrote a very nice first blog. I'm glad you did keep your dad's quilt even though you felt so badly about it after he died. And you have a nice friend who helped you understand it from a new perspective. I'm sure that quilt will always be one of your favorite treasures.
You're bookmarked now.