With our travels recently for Dalen's speaking engagements and book signings, it has been brought to our attention over and over......Is there a quilt pattern to go along with the book? Do you have a quilt kit to sell too? Whoa.....I never even thought of this happening. But I'm starting to get the message. Yes, I've got a stubborn streak, and like my teenagers were, I seldom listen the first time. I thought....that's a nice idea, but no one would be interested in that. So I forgot about it. I was touched that someone would even think that, but I never thought of it as a possibility. This was Dalen's baby. I was thinking my only job would be as his cheerleader for a project he totally believed in and I was thrilled to see him make this dream come true.
Anyway, this past weekend I started to get the picture.....Maybe this really is something people would be interested in and I should think about it. So, while he was signing books, I was running around Mare's Bears picking out fabrics that looked like the quilt on the postcards he hands out with his books and then taking the Just A Quilt? book and seeing if I really liked the fabrics together and if they adequately portrayed the feel of the quilt in the book. Slowly, I started to get excited about this project. So we left there and I started sketching how I invisioned the quilt. I don't get real carsick, but I don't try to read, write or work on projects while riding. This was different. I had to get down my thoughts before they left my mind, possibly to never return.
Today I finished the quilt top. It's really neat and I think it stays true to the book. Now I have to consolidate all the information I wrote down as I worked to make sure it's a pattern that will really work, easy to follow for anyone. I don't want anyone frustrated by the pattern. I want them to love it as much as I loved doing it. I already have a friend who is willing to test my pattern and I will get input from my quilting group. Thanks for the encouragement I've received from everyone so far. Even if it goes no further than a keepsake for Dalen to honor his first book, it has been worth the journey. I'll try to post a picture of it soon.
