Wow. I have no idea where the weekend went. It whizzed by and I didn’t get much done, unless you count socializing. So, I’ll have to fall back on work done last week!
TheFirstChild invited me to go with him to look for apartments last weekend, while SweetiePie was working. The drive was 1 1/2 hours each way, so I took along a quilt that’s been in the binding pile for a few years.
Pretty sad, huh? Usually I manage to get my quilts done if I get them that close to binding, but for some reason this quilt and one other one have been waiting for awhile. I finished the binding on our trip with time to spare and now the quilt is being skillfully modeled (well, except for that left side that she’s let flap around) by my pine tree model.
This quilt is from a friendship block exchange that the quilty peeps and I did in the 90’s. Every two months we would each make 4 copies of two blocks and meet to exchange them. Each block is a 4 inch square.
When we were exchanging our blocks, there was a group of women in Indianapolis that did the same thing, and my setting is similar to one that was done by a lady from that other group.
For the most part, the four of us quilty peeps all have the same blocks. I think I threw an extra “tester” block or two into my quilt. For example, I don’t think the other quilty peeps have this little beehive block that I tested. I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m partial to beehives, having been born in the beehive state.
But they do have the covered wagon block that I did as a nod to my pioneer g-g-grandparents. I think I’m the first quilty peep to finish my quilt, but in their defense, I sent my quilt out to be hand quilted. Because, I’m realistic, and I knew that if I were to quilt this, I’d be lucky to ever finish it.
Didn’t the quilter do a great job? I love how she quilted each block individually, to echo the pattern of the block.
I love this quilt — every time I look at it, I’m reminded how much fun I had with the quilty peeps when we would get together and exchange our blocks. Quilty Peeps — we need to do this again!
There’s so much work to do around here that finishing up old projects is the closest I can get to actually getting something done. I’ve seen so many beautiful quilts while reading all your blogs — it makes me hungry to start something new!
XOXO,
Anna
Wow, that quilt is amazing. It looks like it took lots of time even without quilting it yourself. The quilting is beautiful too. I have some quilt tops close to being finished and never seem to get to it. Usually by the time I get back to a project, I can’t remember what I was supposed to be doing. I keep promising myself I will schedule a time to quilt but something always seems to take presidence. Rats! Love your quilt though. Thanks for sharing it. Hugs and Kisses, Kim
What a beautiful quilt. And I gues you had great fun making the blocks and then receiving the blocks from the others.
Wow, that’s an impressive quilt, so much to look at but totally unified by the uniformity of your white and blue pieces. I love the house square and the beehive is just so beautiful.
Anna that quilt is incredible!!!!! I just love it! So did you make the blocks or are yours all in other people’s quilts? Lucy x
Can I say wow wow wow?! That is one amazing quilt, Anna. It’s gorgeous. And the handquilting is top notch, too. Each block is 4 inches? I’m still to attempt blocks smaller than 5 inches. I need to get over my fear of fiddly patchwork pieces. Anyhow, its beautiful. And what a great idea to do a block exchange! If you ever organise one via your blog, please count me in.
Oh my gosh Anna! It’s beautiful. Love the setting! I have forgotten how great it will look all put together. You’ve inspired me again….I’ll have to get mine out of the box and finish it. xoxo Junie
OMG that quilt is stunning! What a wonderful way to make a quilt with blocks exchanged! It deserved to be handquilted, which is done so beautiful! Thanks for sharing Anna!
Your quilt is breathtaking Anna! I love the setting. I am working on a Dear Jane and I think I will have to audition that setting once the blocks are done – not sure how it will look because all the backgrounds are different fabrics but I will have to keep it in mind for something!
Wow, the details are amazing!
Anna that is so funny! Friday I had just pulled out my box of blocks and was looking at them, think I should do something with them. Had a quilt day Sunday but didn’t take them. How many blocks are we to have? Don’t remember who did what???? How Funny! xoxo
Anna that quilt is just beautiful and what a treasure..full of all those quilty peeps memories. And oh my goodness the quilting is spectacular.
It is wonderful!! The quilting really makes it pop…so much work for both you and the quilter…congrats on getting it done.
This is beautiful! I have never made a friendship quilt, but it sounds like a great idea. Really, I haven’t made a quilt in forever and should get back to it—I love doing it!
It is gorgeous. Love that beehive block. Beehives are everywhere right now, have you seen the June Martha?
Absolutly fantastic quilt! Just stunning and beautifully quilted. Thanks for sharing!
Your quilt is beautiful! I love how the blue chains bring everything together. It is so wonderful you have all these quilty friends to share blocks with!
Always in Stitches is fabulous, by the way. I loved it!
Wow, what a quilt. I really love the square with the bee skept. Clarice
The is just beautiful! I love the little pioneer wagon best!
Vivian Love
i left a msg. yesterday! i asked if i could have your quilty peeps, and then i realized i have one already. me and my peep. my peep and i. i feel a song coming on…
GORGEOUS quilt! i grew up with bees, and of course… have pioneer ancestors as well, so it could just as easily be MY quilt.
i’m especially impressed with your pine tree model. she should be commended for how swanky she is.
great job. you’re going to love that quilt for your whole life anna.
brigette
Oh my goodness, now THAT is a treasure. Absolutely beautiful!!
That quilt is absolutely gorgeous! I know you must be thrilled to have it finished. It makes me want to get some of my quilted projects finished.
I love it. What a neat reminder of your times with the quilty peeps! I wish I had quilty peeps…how cool is that?
What a awesome quilt and so many memories stitched in there. Where are you going to put this beauty?
That IS a beautiful quilt! Hmmmmm…..Do you think if I actually worked on mine instead of looking at how pretty everyone else’s quilt is, I might actually get it finished? :) :)
That German Potato Salad looks mighty good, too. I’ll have to try it.
WOWZERS there Ms Anna – this quilt is a stunner and full of sweet memories with special peeps. Does it get any better than that.
hugs – Karen
Totally a work of art. So good you had it hand quilted. It needed that. It is drop dead deliciously wondeful. I love when a quilt evokes feeling and memories.
That is such a lovely quilt! I love the fresh settings. I am not a fan of repro civil war dingey colours. There I have committed a crime, I know! LOL.
Oh. My. Goodness. Anna, that quilt is beautiful. Well done! XO
anna,
that quilt is amazing!!! the blue setting blocks and the white background really frame the other blocks beautifully. you must be ecstatic to have it completed finally.
Wow I love the quilt. It is amazing!! You should be very proud of it as I’m sure you are.
Love the blue & white look.
Are those miniature-sized blocks?
Really adorable.
Jody
Your quilt is simply spectacular! I can understand why you are happy every time you look at it. I found your blog from Freda’s Hive. Sure enjoyed it. thanks Nerm
so my friend and i took a hand quilting class tonight at thimblecreek. it was fun. we’ll be pros before you know it! i asked the teacher if she ever hand quilts for people, for hire, and the maniacal laughter clued me in to the fact that she probably doesn’t. so would it cost a kidney to get a quilt hand done? i can’t even imagine!! i think i’m going to plagiarize your covered wagon. it’s your Dear Anna quilt!! now you don’t ever have to do a dear jane.
ttfn.
b.
Anna it’s beautiful. How long did it take for the handquilter to do it – what an impressive job. Well done on finishing such a gorgeous project.
OMG ANNA…. your quilt is amazing!!! I could never ever imagine doing something like that. Your talent amazes me.
Wow, wow, wow, Anna – what an amazing keepsake! Truly beautiful.
Oh my HEAVENS!!!!! That is an absolutely wonderful quilt and I would love to see it in person so that I could admire each and every block and the quilting on it. What a treasure! I think I may have to see if I can find a group to do this with me!!!
What a wonderful quilt Anna, the detail is beautiful. I’m glad I’m not the only one with projects hanging around for a couple of years! I’ve also found out what the beehive state is too, what an educational visit!
Kimx
It is absolutely gorgeous! Anything else I could say would be anticlimatic. I love it!
Wow, wow, wow!!! Just gorgeous!! And with blocks made by all your quilty friends to make it even more special. I am so glad you got it bound and shared it with us :)
Anna,
what a treasure!!! I absolutely love the diversity of this quilt. Great job gettin er done!
I should send a copy of this blog to all my quilty friends and make them guilty friends. I don’t know if we could ever get our act together to embark on such an enterprise. Lucky you! I’m so glad that you said you had sent it out to be quilted – otherwise, you would be too amazing for words! This is second only to a Dear Jane quilt for charm – and who has time for that?!?
Talk about gorgeous!
I love this!
I’m sure it brings you such joy!!!
Thanks for the sweet comments on my blog!
Laurie~
What a beautiful quilt. I love all the little blocks with the cream background. The hand quilting looks fantastic too. You must be very pleased to have it finished. Are we going to see the other quilt in your binding pile and is it as gorgeous as this one?
WOW!!! What can I say that hasen’t already been said? W-O-W!!!
you should post several times a day so when i’m blogsurfing, i don’t have to comment on the same post numerous times. it’s embarrassing! i’m looking at some of those blocks, with a million tiny pieces, and i don’t understand how you made the block and left a seam allowance with the type of block it was. i think i need one of those ‘quilting for dummies” books. perhaps you could draft all the blocks and sell patterns! haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
okay, i’m tired. you can tell i’m tired because i’m delirious.
we went over to a friend’s house tonight. the mom was trying to set my oldest son up with her daughter. seriously. i haven’t figured out yet if my son thought she was cool, or he’s terribly polite. i’ll fill you in later. this is the same mom, that when he was deployed, gave me a five year old pic. of her to send to him and i was supposed to tell him to date her when he got home.
oh no, i’m rambling.
cute quilt.
very cute.
i’m green with envy.
my peep (singular) was coming up with ideas that didn’t look like your quilt at all. i may need some peep persuasion technique classes. oh, and a few more peeps.
I am in awe. Pure awe, Anna. Honest to goodness, I’m still waiting to exhale. My mind is like a beehive with zillions of words just swirling about it, but all that I can muster is BEAUTIFUL – because I’m still trying to catch my breath. BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL! Beautiful on so many levels.
Wow. Lovely quilt. Well worth binding! LOL
Wowww. What a wonderful quilt. It’s fantastic. ( It’s difficult to explain my feelings in english ;-) )
Wonderful. Wooooonderful.
Sabine
wow…such fine detail, I could never do such fine and intricate work!
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! Finishing up old projects is a very worthy and satisfying pursuit! I’m in the middle of hand quilting one of my own—it’s a lot smaller than yours though, and I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying the process. Shh! Don’t tell…it’s for Rise’s birthday on June 21 st. Having a deadline always helps motivate me!
OMG Anna I love your friendship quilt and of course I love your quilty peeps. They are the best!!!! I wanna be one of your quilty peeps when I move to IN!!!!
Haven’t read your site since Cami changed her “links” list (my favorites are so long it takes hours to get to the end – lazy me). I had to be reminded about “alias”. Now on to the good stuff…fantastic quilt – you know that, but I had to let you know that I know it too. Any trips planned “down south” coming up? We might be jinxed for awhile with this flooding…would like to see you again if we can plan ahead and you could spend a few hours or so. Always, Robin
What a gorgeous quilt with lots of memories!
Beautiful quilting!
My goodness, Anna, that is a real beauty! What a speical rememberance of your dear friends.
Oh me, oh my, Anna! What an absolutely gorgeous work of art and heart! I have to keep going back and stare at each photo again and again. The quilting is beautiful, too! Thank you so much for sharing this treasure with us.
Oh my goodness what a great quilt. It’s gorgeous.