I have loved Lori's quilts for years - oohed and aahed over them. And I'm a regular stalker on her blog, Bee In My Bonnet, which is filled with her wonderful quilts and great tutorials. Several years ago I was in a quilt shop in Utah and I saw her Thanksgiving quilt, which was being done as a block of the month, on the wall in the shop. They were OUT of the pattern and I was so taken with it that I decided I would just take pictures of the blocks and make a few notes, when no one was looking, and then I'd whip it up myself. Yes, that's cheating. But they didn't have the pattern and I was a HUGE FAN and thought to myself, "Lori would WANT me to copy her work!" Thiefs have a way of rationalizing things. As it turned out I couldn't make heads or tails out of what I wrote and the pictures were too fuzzy to pick up the little details that Lori puts in all of her quilts...so I called the fabric shop and asked them to mail me the pattern when it was back in stock... it's STILL sitting on my TO MAKE pile...one day...
(You can click on the pics to see a larger version - which still won't do Lori's quilts justice!) Two weeks ago I read on Lori's blog that her quilts were all on display at American Quilting in Orem, Utah...all of them in ONE PLACE! Be still my heart! So last week, whilst I was in Utah...I made the trek to Orem (riding in the car, going anywhere with my dad, is a trek) to see Lori's quilts. American Quilting is a darling little shop - worth the trip - but especially worth it to see Lori's quilt!! They were all hanging up high in the classroom - one beautiful work of art after another! My mom and I went in and oogled every one...Mom loved the apron quilt the most (Dad stayed in the car, not really knowing what he was missing - which was fine, but have you ever tried to ENJOY something while your dad is in the car WAITING for you?!? Godfrey! It's like hearing the ticking of the clock in Peter Pan's Croc!)
Lori's quilts are whimsical, fanciful and will remind you of your childhood - or the childhood you WISHED you'd had! Just look at the detail in her Paper Doll quilt! Mind-boggling! I can't decide which one I like best because they all "spoke" to me - but if I had to choose, I'd pick her kitchen quilt...or the Thanksgiving quilt...or the Paper Doll...geeze...guess it's a good thing I don't HAVE to pick a fav!
Each of Lori's quilts tell a story and you'll know the stories, you'll recognize yourself in her quilts. You'll see the love that's stitched into every piece of fabric. You'll begin to get a glimpse of the kind of person Lori is - generous to a fault, loving and caring...faith, family and friends mean everything to her and you can see that in her work. She's the kind of neighbor we all wish we had...the kind of friend we want dropping by on a rainy afternoon because, and this is NO LIE, she's a walking, talking creative genius!
In my next life I'm going to be Lori Holt. Or her neighbor. Definitely her friend. Okay, I've decided, this is my favorite Lori Holt Quilt:
Can't you just smell that turkey?!? And the sweet potatoes?? And check out all the different pies! Oh my...it's a feast for the eyes! You can purchase all of Lori's patterns at Material Girls Quilt Shop, or go to her blog and check out the list of other quilt shops you can order from. All of Lori's quilt are hand-appliqued so if you are an applique-er (not sure if that's a word!) then you are going to love her easy to read patterns! Plus her quilts are scrappy-happy - what a great way to bust your stash!
Thanks to Lori and American Quilting, it was so fun to see those quilts! Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
