Sunday, January 8, 2012

A Quilt For Mama

Hi Everyone,
This post has been a long time coming, I started this project last January. You know how that goes, right? Some projects take a few hours, some take 11 months (mostly hibernating), but I digress.

Just before Thanksgiving this year, I pulled this out and got back to work, I wanted to get it finished and quilted for my mom for Christmas, and I still had a long, long way to go. Now, I've only made one other quilt, and it was just a bitty little thing, simple patch work and diagonal stitching, easy peasy. This one though, it was a horse of a different color, but such lovely colors they are.

A quilt for my mom. 

 Here's the quilt label I made, I incorporated it with a little bit of piecing (scraps from making the quilt top), right into the back of the quilt. The pattern I used was called "Turning Twenty Again". From what I understand this is a fairly well known quilt pattern, named because it's made of 20 blocks that can be turned any way you like that pleases the eye. The finished size of the quilt is 70"x84", big enough to lay over a queen size bed.
God willing, this quilt will outlast both my mother and I, and some day someone might wonder who made it, and why (I always wonder that when I find a quilt in an antique or thrift store), so I included that information on the label.

  Can you see this beautiful quilting?
 I had this quilt professionally quilted by the wonderful and talented, Shannon Freeman, I just found this morning that Shannon has set up a Facebook page for her business, This Chick Stitches. Shannon is awesome, and funny and kind and boy howdy, if you're lucky enough to have something quilted by her, you will be thrilled with the results!

Shannon quilted this quilt using a dense, edge to edge meandering daisy pattern... freehand!! I'm telling you, she's amazing, in the picture below you can get a better look at the overall quilting.
Ooof! I love it so much. This quilt would not be what it is without Shannon's considerable skill & talent, thank you Shannon!

Here's a better look at the entire back of the quilt.
(Oh, and see that guy on the mower back there? He thought it was funny to zoom past me on his mower while I was trying to get these pictures in my neighborhood park, and kick dust, dry leaves and broken acorn bits all over me and my quilt... why I oughta! *shakes fist*)


Hey look, binding!! I'm not afraid of it anymore, guys! And I have to say, I'm pretty proud of those corners! My skills at that particular task have definitely improved.
 I did all of the binding in one marathon day. Done in the traditional method, sewn to the front by machine and the back by hand... 11 hours, non-stop y'all!
Eeek, so proud about that darn binding!

Oh, these colors! I love all the jewel tones mixed with the neutrals.

One last shot of the quilt... hanging in a tree by the river.

Happy to report that mom loved her quilt, I gave it to her on Christmas Eve. It was a surprise, she had no clue this was what I had planned for her, yay surprises.

Now... will I make another one like this any time soon? I'd like to say not bloody likely! But you never know... I've already got two more quilts in the works, so we'll see how long these take to get finished. Joy!

Sew, what do you think, friends? Did any of you guys make/give quilts for Christmas? Please, do tell and point me to them, I want to see!
oxo,
Lisa

18 comments:

Unknown said...

It's so beautiful!! What a wonderful gift. I love the colors and the quilting is beautiful. I have never attempted a quilt myself (don't know if I have the patience) but I would love to try it out one day. Awesome job!!

Jill said...

Oh Lisa, I bet your mom was over the moon the moment she set eyes on her beautiful quilt!! It really is gorgeous and I know it was stitched with lots of love. Well done!
Hugs,
Jill

Kristi said...

Lisa, this is just too beautiful for words! ♥

keNi said...

WOW!!! i can't stop staring at it! i just keep drooling over the pictures! amazing, lisa!!!

my cup of tea said...

Oh Lisa! So beautiful! What a fabulous job you did! Such a truly thoughtful gift!
~donna~

Shirley said...

Oh Lisa, Your quilt was so pretty and I know that I would be over the moon if I received a quilt like that. I am sure your mom will treasure it because it was made by a very special person, you her daughter. Mom's love it when their daughter's make something special for them. Looking forward to seeing your next quilt. Take care. Your Missouri Friend.

suzitee said...

You should be so proud! It is beyond beautiful, and I bet your Mum felt very soiled and very special to receive such a gorgeous hand-crafted gift. You are multi-talented, my friend :)

Denise :) said...

Oh Lisa, this is a *beautiful* quilt!!! Your mom couldn't help but to LOVE it!! The colors are just gorgeous!! :)

Bonnie said...

I just love the colors and the design. You should be very proud of yourself! You did absolutely fantastic! Quilts are just so awesome and loving...I know your mom is really treasuring this handmade gift!

Angela McRae said...

Bravo, bravo (clapping wildly here)! I'm so impressed with this beautiful quilt! I'll bet your mom WAS thrilled! Those corners -- oh my, how sharp and crisp and utterly professional they look! (Jealous. But in a good way.) And that quilting job -- gorgeous! Looks like everything about this quilt is just top-notch. And you even recorded the details for posterity. You go girl!

beadgirl said...

Such a beautiful quilt -- I love the rich-but-muted colors.

Bumpkin Hill said...

it is so beautiful, your Mother will treasure that I am sure. So lovely to have come across your blog. Catherine x

Kim said...

This quilt is SO beautiful, a real heirloom. What a wonderful gift. Your binding is very impressive too!
Kim

Becky said...

Beautiful! Absolutely Beautiful!

parTea lady said...

The quilt you made for your Mom is fabulous. What great colors and pattern. The quilting is really pretty and yes, you did a super job on the binding. :-)

Kira - oopsicraftmypants.com said...

Lisa, this is just lovely lovely lovely! I adore it. The work you put in really paid off. It's beautiful!

Shannon said...

Hey Lisa,
I just got your message on my facebook page. Sorry hadn't checked it for a while but going to be doing some work on it. The quilt looks beautiful. Was your mom pleased? You can do binding for me any time :-). Been thinking about you lately. Trying to come up with time to maybe come up and do a tea thing for my friends. Will check with you when I decide when is a good time. Made any new quilts lately? Just love your pintrest page. I have one too. Check it out. Take care and hopefully see you soon.
Shannon

Shannon said...

Hey Lisa,
Just saw the message on my fb page that you posted pics of your mom's quilt. Great pics. Did she like it? Been thinking about having a tea thing up here for my friends. Trying to come up with a workable date. We contact you when I work something out to see if it works for you. I am following your pintrest. I have one to so check it out. Have you been doing any quilting? Hope to see you soon. Take care.
Shannon
P.S.
Thanks for the offer of posting my quilts.