Thursday, August 8, 2013

Teacher's Retirement Book Quilt & a Giveaway

When we heard that our high school principal of 20 year (plus or minus) was retiring, Eric wanted to do something nice with the other teachers for him.  I was already making a black and gold hexies quilt for the bike-a-thon and had plenty of fabric, so we decided a quilt in school colors would be a good send off for the principal.

Then when the quilt was finished, we heard he was sharing the district retirement party with another teacher...but not just any teacher...Katie's current teacher.  It just didn't feel right to not have something special there for her when she's been so good to Katie all year.  I almost just dropped it because there was so little time, but after talking to a few mutual friends, I just knew this quilt had to be made...and that it should be something representative of her...and I only had a couple days to get it done.

After talking to some of her good friends, I found out Katie's teacher loved to read and she liked green, so we figured a book quilt would be perfect.  (I used the tutorial from Melissa at Happy Quilting.)  Then as I was sewing it together, I had a last minute stroke of inspiration and added some appliques to add interest and personalize it. 

I already knew she loved music.  I was originally going to try to applique a grand piano, but I was worried that it wouldn't be recognizable in fabric.  The harp was just easier, and even though Katie's teacher doesn't play the harp (at least as far as I know) it symbolizes her love of music.  I should have saved templates of the appliques...but I was in such a hurry that I didn't...I just searched "harp silhouette" into google image search and found one I liked.  I quilted the strings in with marching thread and I think that made all the difference with the harp.

I also knew that her LDS faith is a big part of her life.  I'd also heard parents of other faiths express their appreciation for her quiet example of faith, so I used an outline of the temple to symbolize that.

And the apple is, of course for being a teacher.

I finished it up just in time to sneak into her kids' PE class (seriously...I think I had about 5 minutes to spare) and have them sign it before the retirement party.  Then after talking to the principal, I found out that the elementary school was having a second party for her themselves...so the quilt was a week early for that party which gave the teachers and other staff at the school time to sign it as well.

I'd been in such a rush to get it to the school that I didn't take pictures of it ahead of time...but we know her well enough that I called her after school was out and asked if we could come photograph it.

All of the fabric came from my stash, except a neighbor made a run to the fabric store and was able to find the perfect brown print for the shelf part.  (I'm never sure whether I should be proud or embarrassed that I can make entire quilts from my stash without making much of a dent in it.)  Most of the greens came from a fat quarter bundle I ordered a while ago from Patty of You Keep Me in Stitches.   (One of my new sponsors.)
At the time she was running a special where you got something like 15 "surprise" high quality fat quarters for $20.  You just told her what colors you were most interested in and she chose some for you.  I loved them so much that I couldn't use them for the project I'd originally planned, and I'm so glad I had them for this one.  I almost didn't include the red and gold flower print because I was worried it would stick out too much...but I'm so glad I did.  It ended up being the perfect tie-in for the apple and harp.

Patty has also been incredibly generous in sending fabric for me to make I-Spy quilts for Seattle Children's through Katie's Comforters.  I've really got to get busy with those!  (And watch in the next couple weeks for our next I-Spy swap.)

Patty is also sponsoring a giveaway right now on her blog for a prize pack of fabric from her shop, You Keep Me in Stitches!  The giveaway is jointly listed both on this blog and her blog, The Simple Stitch.  Patty says if there are more than 100 entries, she'll choose a second winner as well, so be sure to share with all your friends.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Please show my sponsors some love...
Spring House/Queen Anne fabric from You Keep Me in Stitches
Sew Stitchy Charm Pack from You Keep Me in Stitches
Goodnight Moon fabric from You Keep Me in Stitches

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34 comments:

  1. Beautiful quilt! I think I want to make one and I dont even have any kids in school (I guess I could get a head start for my granddaughter's teachers in a few years, ha!)

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  2. Objects that would be on my bookshelf: A knitting project bag with needles peeking out! A photo frame with a picture of my sweet puppy :) And a mug of chai.

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  3. Awesome quilt! IF I had one I think ON mine would be books, some kind of chemistry molecule, a sewing machine, and something related to cooking! OH and a cup of coffee

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  5. What a fitting gift for a retiring teacher. Mine would have a symbol that has something to do with fostering and I'm not sure what else.

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  6. What a wonderful, meaningful quilt! My bookshelf would have fabric and thread or a sewing machine.

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  7. Always up for a mystery fabric giveaway.

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  8. Sewing machine, hair cutting scissiors, books, stick figure family drawing. All those would be awesome on a book shelf quilt.
    Yours turned out awesome! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. A sewing machine, a cup of coffee, and a couple cats would be on my shelves. Beautiful quilt!

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  10. Hmm... A camera, running shoes, sewing machine and a Bible :) Love this quilt!

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  11. I have one teacher (who is my son's teacher) in mind that if he retired I would make a book quilt for. Instead of an apple I would have to put a butterfinger candy bar. He is always talking about how much he loves butterfinger. I would have to put a ruler, scissors and pencil on also. Thanks for the chance.

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  12. Some images that would go on a quilt for me would be a sewing machine for my love of sewing and creating, a mixing bowl for how much I love to cook, hmm... and something related to kids - I love being a mom more than anything else in the world!
    Love the book quilt, it's so beautiful and meaningful!

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  13. So cute! My bookshelf would have to contain a sewing machine...and definitely all the Harry Potter books!

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  14. Someone would have to figure out how to applique a sewing machine on my bookshelf quilt...along with some of my favorite historical fiction!

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  15. What a fantastic quilt! My bookshelves are all overflowing with books of all kinds. The shelf in my main hall is half full of books for my kids to pull out whenever they'd like :) How fun & what a treasured quilt!

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  16. My bookshelf quilt would have to have a couple of matchbox cars and a sewing machine music box because that is what is on my real bookshelf!

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  17. Wow, that turned out so nice! I'm sure she loved it. My bookshelf would have something to do with cooking, maybe a spatula...then perhaps a kid figurine, because much of my time is filled with caring for my two kiddos! ; )

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  18. What a beautiful, thoughtful quilt. I imagine that will be treasured for ages!

    I think on my bookshelves there would be music notes, maybe some kitchen accesories as I love to bake and cook, a sewing machine, maybe a laptop lol

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  19. Great quilt. My book shelf has mostly pictures of the grandchildren.

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  20. I love your quilt. I have been intrigued by bookshelf quilts after seeing some in the past. I really love yours. It's so colorful.

    I think on my bookshelf there would be small pictures of my three grandchildren. I'd probably need a small long haired cat statue, coffee cups because I am a huge coffee-holic and a little candy dish for treats. And, of course, tons of cookbooks and sewing/quilting books of course.

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  21. Oh my gosh! I absolutely adore the books!!! What a brilliant idea! Way to go! I also love that extra touch with the kids signing it. Also, hey, you're LDS, too! :) I've been reading your blog for a long time and never really thought about it one way or the other, but it makes sense! In any case, you should know that you are incredibly talented. This is obviously a labor of love and I'm sure it will be very special to her.

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  22. What a great teacher's quilt. Love the colors and just the simplicity of it, especially the gray background fabric. Nice work. yoyopattycakes@hotmail.com

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  23. I love your book quilt, it is the perfect quilt for a retiring teacher. Adding the appliques makes it really special, love the ideas you had with it. If someone were to make me a book quilt I could imagine there being a sewing machine, fabrics, and a kayak paddle on it. And if some of the books said math and physics things it would be totally me. :)

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  24. I would have quilting books, Bible, Children's Books, Living w/MS, US History, and all the picture books, I've made for my special family in the last 5 yrs.
    Thanks so much, great giveaway, I have always wanted a book shelf quilt, I need to do it!

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  25. I'd have some art supplies mixed in with the books :)

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  26. I love the quilt. I have no idea what I would put on a quilt for me.

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  27. Sewing related motifs - thread spool, pin cushion, scissors, seam ripper - to name a few ....

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  28. This is incredible! What a special gift for a retiring educator. I bet she was very touched to receive such a touching present!

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  29. I love your quilts! They are beautiful! I would love to win this, I've been itching to make a quilt recently. And I would love to make a bookcase one. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  30. What an amazing gift. I am sure she loved it.

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  31. What a wonderful gift, really beautiful. My bookshelf would have a plant or two, a photo and as many book as I could fit in.

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  32. GORGEOUS! What an awesome teacher gift. Love the special added touches you put on the bookshelf -- especially the harp to personalize it. A keepsake treasure for sure! The signatures on the back are awesome too. Must have been a very special teacher!

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  33. Candles, vases, kids artwork and kids books.

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  34. You did such an amazing job! My shelves would be full of fantasy books, craft supplies, and tons of fabric just like my real bookshelves!

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