Blue doll quilt

I made this blue doll quilt last week, after years of meaning to do it, it's a small quilt for Hatty made from some vintage fabric. I had the squares cut and squirreled away somewhere, and remembered about my plans to make the quilt after seeing Hillary's beautiful quilts for her dolls. I was actually very busy with an illustration deadline and yet I found myself fixated on finishing this quilt. I was sewing until late in the evening, and kind of determined to finish it lest it never get done. Then I suddenly realized that it was an odd thing to be doing, making a doll quilt isn't exactly a necessary thing to do, doesn't really need to be a priority or rush, I don't even have children! I wasn't even that crazy about it when it was finished. (I think I may add some stitching for more texture? Plus this is my first machine quilt, the only one I've ever made before was done all by hand and it was much neater).

Then I realized this isn't a stupid thing at all, it's about making things for the pure joy of it. Lately I've had so many creative ideas it's been hard to be practical and get my work done first. So I find that the reason I'm really loving making my ATCs is that they're not necessary at all, just a small beautiful thing, to share with other people, a way of sending out little messages into the world. Sorry if I'm starting to sound too sentimental, I just read Blair's kind words at wise craft and I'm feeling very happy to have found others who also love beautiful things for their own sake!