Around 2008 I began taking quilting classes. I wanted to learn all the techniques — paper piecing, applique, Y-seams and so on. My first class was machine applique and the quilt pattern was Thirties Treasure using Thirties fabric:

I then took a class beginning in October 2009 using the book, Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler, by Jennifer Chiaverini, where I learned a different technique each month over a nine-month period:

I followed that up with the Christmas Greetings Sampler by the same author:

I also took a class in 2011 where we made the quilt Vintage Moments. I’m still hand quilting it:

I consider these quilts “traditional.”

I’ve made a few baby quilts. I have a photo of only one of them. I designed this one:

Last year I wanted to use my “scraps” from these quilts and found the quilt book, Sunday Morning Quilts. One of the authors has a wonderful blog: crazymomquilts.blogspot.com My first project was fabulous:

Without these other quilts, I could not have made this quilt.

I recently joined a group at Blue Crab Quilt Co. The group initially used the book, Liberated Quiltmaking by Gwen Marston. I took fabrics left over from Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler and made these liberated blocks:

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with these, but it was nice experimenting with liberated quilting.

While looking for a pattern for a gift for my sister, I saw this quilt pattern called Aerial by Carolyn Friedlander. This is a modern quilt. I’m about half way through making the “plots”:

By the way, on the right in the photo are a few of the Quilted Storage Boxes I made using directions from Sunday Morning Quilts:

These boxes have been essential in organizing all those “scraps.” They make it more likely that I will continue to make more liberated and/or modern quilts.

I did make that gift for my sister:

I can’t escape the fact that this turtle is very traditional and I liked it so much I made one for myself:

I’m trying to decide which of these design styles I like and how can I incorporate them into my life. I wonder if there’s a market for a modern liberated traditionalist quilt pattern and what would that pattern look like?