Hi all! Is this the weirdest winter ever or what? I don't know about you, but the weather here has been really wild. So far, we've had only a trace of snow, lots of rain, and some extremely strange temperatures. Today it was 67 degrees! Which is great, but very odd in February. Do you think this means we'll have a snow storm in April? Gotta happen, right?
Today I'm showing off a finished quilt! Saints be praised, as my grandmother used to say. Here it is:
Totally not my usual thing, but I love it! This was a quilt I made in the depths of grief after my mother died. It's the Solstice Sampler, a sewalong organized by Alderwood Studio (patterns no longer available, sadly.) It brought me back and was comforting when I really needed it. I'm forever grateful.
It happens that I posted a picture on Instagram, and a friend fell in love. Could she buy it from me to give to her sister? Of course not! I told her she could have it when it was quilted. But could it be quilted quickly? Sure! Not by me, but sure!
I fully intended to rent time and quilt this myself, but there was just no time. I have a whole stack of tops that I'm ready to quilt, and I keep trying to find the time, but there is a lot on my plate right now. So I sent this off to Alycia, who did an amazing job with the direction I wanted to go, and even did it in record time. The main pattern is very swirly, with "rays" around the center star. It turned out so great!
The backing for this quilt is a very pale blue batik, and I bound it in the very last of the bright blue that is in the quilt blocks. I had to piece scraps together and even finagle a couple of things to get enough binding, but I made it with about an inch to spare.
The designer of the center star actually had a much more complex design, and I ended up making the block twice. Since I was sending this one off to my friend, I finished that block with the applique and quilted it up into a table mat and sent that along, too.
As an added bonus, I had changed my mind about the colors in one of the blocks, but of course I saved the corner pieces that I ripped out. Doesn't everyone? I quilted those up, too, and they became mug-size coasters. Of course those went in the box, too.
So hurray! This quilt gave me a lot of comfort when I needed it, and now my friend's sister has a warm and cozy comfort quilt to wrap up in when needed. Comfort times two, and awfully pretty to boot.
Hope everyone has a warm and cozy weekend. I think we're getting rain, which we all know will be wonderful for some flowers. I wonder if any are sprouting yet? I better go check, don't you think?
Sharing at Confessions
of a Fabric Addict, Brag About Your Beauties, Finished or not Friday,
and the Quilting, Patchwork, Applique linkup, too.
20 comments:
Congrats on a beautiful finish! What a great gift you've put together for your friend's sister.
Absolutely gorgeous Mari! Such a wonderful gift and I love the extra pieces you made.
pretty quilt. I so agree with you about this winter - so extremely cold in December that I fear it killed some of my really old plants, and since then rain and snow, temperatures from 20's to 60's and yesterday hit 74 now today to be about 46 - these constant swings of temperatures in winter - well I will take the warm days of course but know there is still more winter to come- one would think
Comfort times 2 - how wonderful. The quilt is stunning, and so is the quilting done on it. Sharing the quilts we make with others is definitely an act that heals the heart and soul.
Comfort times two - I love that! What a great testament to the healing power of quilts, and it goes both ways - the making and the using. That's a beautiful quilt, Mari, and I love all the extras that came from it, too!
What a beautiful finish - comfort matters during and after the making.
The quilt is beautiful and how kind you were to share it to someone else. I was driving through VA on my way to FL on Tuesday and saw daffodils blooming along I-95. It was a delightful surprise.
Pat
That’s a lovely quilt and table centre. Very nice work
Beautiful finish and special gift to comfort your friend's sister as well as the added special treats. Too bad the pattern is no longer available. It is interesting and unique.
This is one of my favorite quilts of yours Mari. It is stunning. What a generous gift for your friend. I am sure she is deeply touched by all of this.
I love how this quilt can comfort so many - its a legacy!!
and you did a beautiful job on it - love the photo shoot
What a beautiful quilt and wonderful that it was comforting and healing for you, and now will be for someone else. Love all the extra bits that you finished with it, too!
Nice quilt. Glad it will comfort a 2nd person after you.
Saints be praised, an expression used by one of my grandmothers as well along with Oh my bless-ed! I'll add my congrats too for such a remarkable quilt...a beauty.
Congrats on these beautiful finishes, Mari, The quilt itself is lovely. I am sure your friend will be thrilled.
Beautiful finish, this quilt is gorgeous. I love that you used all the blocks and pieces ;) This is such a great story for this quilt, full of memories and feelings. For sure it will be loved again.
Thank you for sharing such a beauty, and linking up!
Love the fact that you were comforted by making the quilt and now you are sending it off to comfort another. SEW sweet, Mari!!
Saints be praised, indeed. I am singing praises. Whatever I lack in tune, I make up in gusto :-D Love this sampler quilt. It is like a directory of possible blocks for future quilts. Use as is, mixed with alternate blocks, with sashing or on point. OK, I will stop now. I am still gushing with happiness from the fun time we had yesterday :-) Have an awesome week.Big squishy hugs.
That quilt turned your grief into s bit of joy. Isn't that what our hobby is supposed to be about anyhow? Great job.
I recall watching your progress on this quilt, and thinking I should've joined in, because your choices of fabrics for the quilt were so spot on. How nice that it not only comforted you, but that you passed it on to comfort another. Well done!
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