My evolution in quilting
Since I am working on a few projects but I can’t post about them yet…here are a few pictures that illustrated my way in quilting, started eight years ago.
At that time, I did not know anything about quilting, did not have quilting friends, did not have Internet on my computer!
After a few months I bought my first quilting book but I didn’t understand too much at first ! So, here it is my adventure in quilting,
from this quilt ………………….. to this !
The quilt below is the first quilt I ever made. It is 20″ x 20″ and is made of 400 squares of 1″. I used scissors to cut all the patches. I didn’t know that I could stack multiple layers of fabric so I drew every single square on fabric.
It has no batting (at that time adding batting between the two layers of fabric was a strange thing for me and for Romanians; the only thing with batting in it was the duvet!).
It was made using polyester fabrics. Every patch was becoming smaller after every touch of the iron so it was a nightmare matching them.
But I was very proud of my design drawn on paper with colored pencils !
The second experience was a little better – I used a heavy cotton canvas ! But I pieced diamonds ! No batting again!
How about these “Y” seams ? I tried them, too ! And I sewn every seam at least three times (using my sewing machine, I am a machine quilter ) until I was content with the result! 
I was in heaven when I made my first order at a quilting store in USA. What a challenge to choose from hundreds of fabrics !
Special fabrics need a special pattern so I made a Mariner’s Compass ! I used templates (from a Fons and Porter book). And I added batting, but I heavily ironed the final quilt, to make it as flat as possible! What a mistake ! But the quilt was OK !
It was a pleasure to make this Christmas quilt, with different stars ! Here it is a picture before quilting ! At that time I was thinking I have to bind the quilt before quilting !
This one below is the only quilt I quilted by hand. It’ s only 40″ square but I quilted on it for one long week. Then I understood that hand quilting is not for me!
In the first months of my quilting adventure, I spent a lot of time working together with all my three sisters. They all helped me with piecing. Not because that I needed help, because they loved it! What a wonderful time! We would have stitched day and night ! Here are a few of those quilts:
And this one below is the first bed quilt I made. I used scissors to cut all the 1300 pieces. Pieces were sewn and unsewn because the center of the stars didn’t lay flat (due to over-ironing). I did all the ironing on a glass table. The glass was so thick so I thought there will be no problem 🙂 But finally I broke it !
4 people worked for 4 hours to make the sandwich for quilting! No clamps, no adhesive spray, no floor space, no knowledge! Just a small table! I think this is the hardest work my family did for my quilting! And now I can’t understand how I did not give up to quilting on that day!
Now, after eight years of quilting, I didn’t have enough patience to make another Mariner’s Compass or to sew “Y” seams ! I like to make simple things and quick and easy quilts !
But I still have patience to make my shadow trapunto quilts. I will never be bored of making them.This is the most challenging quilt I have ever made.
This is the quilt I love the most.
One of the thing I love at shadow trapunto technique is the contrast between the white of the batting and the background color. This is one of my first shadow trapunto quilts.
I don’t know where I will be after other eight years, but I hope I will still make quilts !
Edited to add: 2018, August
Yes, 9 years later, I am still making quilts!
you have come a long way baby!
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
Thanks for posting all the great pics of your quilting history. I like all of them!
You progressed really rapidly I think. Your first quilts are lovely.
Lynn
Wow! What an amazing journey you’ve been on. Thanks for sharing all your beautiful quilts.
Ce drum ai parcurs tu,Geta !Ar trebui sa publici o carte cu lucrarile tale !
A fost o adevarata ascensiune!Pasiunea ta si-a spus cuvantul!Munca si studiul tau individual sunt extraordinare, locuind in Romania!
Ela
Wow! You’ve made a lot of progress. I love your tarpunto quilts.
Thank you for posting pictures of your journey! Your quilts are all beautiful, but your shadow-trapunto quilts are absolutely breath-taking!
These are all great quilts in their own way. There is certainly lots of progress! What is the name of the pattern for the one you handquilted?
I enjoyed seeing your quilts. I can’t even imagine cuting out 1 inch squares with scissors. Each and every quilt is lovely and it makes it nice they all bring memories back to you.
thanks for Sharing
hugs
Susan
I am so glad I found your site. Your shadow trapunto quilts have inspired me to try making one. Do you have a book or tutorial that you recommend that I begin with. I’ve read your post on making the wreaths and glanced over the posts with the shadow trapunto quilts and saw in the one dated April 9 2008 that you are actually stitching the batting down then trimming it away. I look foward to learning more.
You have come a long way girl! 😎
Thanks for the lovely show of quilts!
Happy stitchings! 😎
hi geta, thanks for the comment in blog. I will start IT Skills with office administration. It just to get some NQ (National Qualification). I need some to go to university. I loved your post today. Have a nice week
You are amazing! Sounds like you are pretty much self taught. Congratulations on eight fantastic years of quilting.
Your quilts are very beautiful! 🙂
Those last three quilts simply take my breath away! They are absolutely gorgeous!
What a wonderful little mini quilt show….thanks!!!
What a charming story…a life time story….I was smiling at your first quilt and laughing reading about those “too well-known” mistakes I also done ;)and….I LOVE your first shadow trapunto quilt…. I mean “true-love” 😉
I commented this morning, don't know where it went so I'll try again.
I was thinking that most of us travel at a slow pace along the quilting journey. But you, with obvious natural talent beyond words, seem to have speed right to the head of the pack. Your work is superb and has been from the beginning. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
I just found your blog and I'm so glad I did! How encouraging to see your journey as a quilter! Your shadow trapunto quilts are amazing. I want to try to make one now!! Quilting is new to me too (less than a year), but art quilting or things that are less traditional are so appealing.
Keep up the good work on the blog, Greta. Can't wait to read more!
Your quilting is SO impressive – as is your English, which is really fine. You should be really proud of yourself and what you have accomplished.
I just found your blog and this post. You are AMAZING!!! Your quilts are absolutely gorgeous!!!
Geta I love how your quilts look like snowflakes. Beautiful. I am just starting out in quilting so I enjoyed reading about your starting. Peace
Kim
You are very inspirational and your work is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing your history. Karen
I love your work, have your book.
And hope one day to meet you and maybe have a class with you.
Thanks for been so generous with your patterns and tutorials.
Quilting hugs
Laura
I’m a the way from Laporte, Indiana. I live in a country town not far from Chicago. Your quilts are gorgeous!
Your quilts are stunning! You have the artist’s touch, and the techniques are exquisite. Thanks or sharing your journey of quilting! Inspirational!
The first trapunto quilts I ever saw were yours. I think I stared at them for hours – I had never seen anything so beautiful. And when I read your story, I was even more amazed. I have shared that story with others because I found it so inspiring. I simply love everything that you do – your talent and persistence are unmatchable!! Thank you for sharing with us!
Wow! You did an amazing job for someone new to quilting. You put your heart and soul into every project. The quilts you made were unbelievable for a beginner. I love your work.
Thank you, Judy. I remember those days, sewing like there was no tomorrow! Only for the love of sewing!
So proud to have made a few of your quilts and bags Geta as a tester for you. I love what you have done in the past and what the future holds for you —who knows but I hope it will be quilts quilts and yet more quilts. Love Jan
Thank you, Jan! I just reviewed these days, on Pinterest, the wonderful work you did: the quilts, the bags, the pockets! Thank you again, I miss you and your valuable help!
Geta, you do know that quilting is an addiction…and there is no cure…so enjoy yourself and pamper yourself with more fabric and patterns to ease the pain!!!
Yes, addiction, obsession..
Thank you Geta, for sharing your amazing work and for your generous heart. I appreciate your kindness in sending me your free downloads and I look forward to your newsletters.I have an enormous stash of fabric and I intend to start making your little flower boxes A.S.A.P.
Thank you Geta,you are amazing lady,so much talent.Thanks for sharing.
Sonia