5/27/18

Oh Happy Day!

Like a lion tamer, it took a whip and a chair, but the Quiltmaker's Garden is FINISHED!

TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DE-AY!

It fought me to the bitter end, though. I have to tell you this story of the final stitches because it cracked me up. I'll show it with pictures.

So I did the final "sky blocks" using a motif by Lori Kennedy I found in this book:


Interestingly, as I was studying the motif in the book, I discovered a misprint. (I'd take a picture and show you, but then there's the whole copyright thing, so you'll have to take my word for it.) Anyway...there's a part in the motif where you must change direction and go the other way to add the arms that extend out from the center. In the book, it has directional arrows, but they point in the wrong direction. I traced over it with my finger three times to convince myself there was an error. Anyway...here's how it looks.


I liked this motif because first, it's a flower. But also, these blocks are representational of the sky, and I could see the rays of a shining sun there too. Best of all...I could actually do it! Always a bonus! Here's how it looks from the back.


So here's where the quilt was up to its tricks. After stitching two of these, I ran out of bobbin thread...and no surprise there. So I wound a full "M" class bobbin and said to myself, "Self, that should be the last bobbin I have to wind for this quilt." Oh, Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.


So I go quilting along, and I get just a few stitches into the very last flower when the bobbin thread runs out again. And I say to myself, "Self, you were so silly thinking you could finish up the quilt without running out of (a) bobbin thread, or (b) top thread." (Here, I glanced at the top thread, just to reassure myself.)


But hey...I only have just a little way to go, and so I didn't want to wind a full big bobbin with that thread. So I wind what I think is plenty to get me through to the end, and what do you think happened? Oh my gosh...you're too smart for riddles, aren't you? Yes, when I was just inches from finishing the last motif, I ran out of bobbin thread AGAIN. And I said, "Quilt...you're not giving up easily are you?"

But I WON!!!!! That M-Effer is finished!!!!! I yanked it off the machine, took it downstairs, spread it on the floor and walked all over it with my sock feet.

So, Quilt, how does it feel to be VANQUISHED!?!?! Feel those feet? That's me walking all around and YOU ARE FINISHED!


Not that I get into arguments with sewing projects, or anything.

So, here...please allow me to show you approximately 5,006 pictures of the quilting front and back. Really...you do have all day, don't you?





Yeah...you there...top right of the quilt...You couldn't stop me with your bobbin-running-out-of-thread nonsense. No way, Jose!


Let's just take a look at your backside, shall we?






So, then, I sat down and tossed back a couple of shots of tequila. Not really, but I definitely thought about it. Instead, I took a little break, but then got going on the binding. Here, Smitty was a great help.

So...nice quilt you've got here. I suppose you'd like me to move so you can finish it, huh?



For this, you must pay one dish of catnip.



And that seemed like a small price, so I obliged the little nipper. Then I got to work and finished sewing the binding on. It has a two tone binding, green like grass around the bottom and up each side about halfway...blue like sky the rest of the way.


So there you have it. One finished quilt. Tuesday will be it's five year anniversary from the day I started it. Sadly, I still have one UFO that I've been working on even longer. Aside from that one, Quiltmaker's Garden wins the prize as the longest time from start to finish, bumping Mumm's the Word from first place.

As I mentioned in my last post, Erik, Mae, and I headed off to the Beaverton Farmer's Market yesterday. There I found the most lovely Oregon berries...nice big ones. Since I have to cut the seeds off the sides, I look for the biggest ones I can find.


Today I'm celebrating my quilting victory by making strawberry ice cream...and I'm not sharing any of it with the quilt.

As for the quilt...that binding isn't going to hand sew itself. It's waiting for me on the chair downstairs.


A journey of 332 inches starts with a single stitch, and I'm itching to get stitching.

31 comments:

Sandra W said...

Wow! Bravo! You did a beautiful job on that quilt. You are very determined.
I might have cut the whole thing up into potholders.

Debbie said...

Congrats on finishing and winning the fight! You did a great job on this one ! Don't know of many who would have gone thru the agony:)

QuiltShopGal said...

Let's light the fireworks, pop a cork on a bottle of wine and celebrate. And your strawberry ice cream sounds like yummy way to celebrate too!

Anonymous said...

Huge congratulations for a job well done! You are an inspiration for stick-to-it-ness. :-)

Vicki W said...

You deserve lots of strawberry ice cream for this big finish! It turned out great!

Calicojoan said...

You have to be jumping for joy!!! This is an absolutely gorgeous finish, that was topped off with spectacular quilting. Walk away with your sock feet my dear. It's well deserved!

Dorothy said...

It is beautiful. Isn't it a wonderful feeling to have it done? I really like the last motif you used. Enjoy that ice cream

Marcia Kennedy said...

Astonishing! Breath-taking! I salute you! I've been following your progress with an open-mouth! Can't wait till you get a dozen blue ribbons with this!

Quilting Babcia said...

Quilted into submission! But stay tuned, there's still the binding hand stitching and of course, wait for it .. the label! Plenty of opportunities for this little monster to rear it's quilted head one last time. Are you sending it to the state fair? Those strawberries sure look wonderful, I wish Oregon strawberries were available here. The chipmunks are waiting in line to attack ours even before they ripen.

Unknown said...

That is a truly beautiful quilt. I like it the best of all your quilts so far - always have ever since you first started it. The colors are wonderful and I love the "sky" portion. Glad you're almost finished.

Frog Quilter said...

My eyes thank you for the quilty goodness. It's fabulous. Is it for you?

AnnieO said...

There’s nothing wrong with a basquillion photos of a finish so long desired! Glad you persevered and walked all over it :)

Marlene said...

Wahoo!! Finished and it looks amazing. You did a wonderful job on the quilting Barbara. And straight onto thre binding-I would've gone for the Tequila shots and left the binding!! I have that book so will have to check out the design. Those strawberries look amazing and can just taste the ice cream.

Shirley said...

Absolutely beautiful!!! The two toned binding is so perfect! Hope you are planning to enter this is a show. It is just wonderful.

Shepherdess55 said...

Three cheers for sticking with it and finishing it on time for your OMG.

Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!
Hip hip hooray!

Cathy said...

You were pretty brave to stomp all over the quilt before the binding was on (not to mention potential problems in optional work like labels, hanging sleeve or The First Wash). But YAY for you! It’s a lovely quilt and your quilting is so inspiring. I’m wondering how you get Smitty and Sadie to eat catnip. My fur kids Alfie and Darla prefer to roll in in. Then nap.

Joyce Carter said...

A gorgeous finish indeed! I am glad you stuck with it and showed it who's boss. It is time to celebrate a beautiful ending. Loved seeing all the pictures. You did a great job.

crazy quilter said...

Beautiful finish! It was worth the time it spent in waiting. Congrats

Vroomans' Quilts said...

You went all out with the quilting on this one! It is gorgeous and good for you in getting this one out and done.

Muis said...

Your new title: 🌞Barbara, the Quilt Conqueror!👸 Congratulations!🏆 It is beautiful!👌

Quiltdivajulie said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Well done - enjoy those victory laps!!!

Lyndsey said...

I knew you'd show that little blighter what for. Your quilting looks fabulous and I love the different patterns for different areas. Great work.

piecefulwendy said...

Oh my, what a story this quilt has to tell! It is a grand finish, indeed! I have to say, and I don't say this much these days, that quilt has a nice lookin' backside too. Glad you found the big berries; enjoy the ice cream! Wish I could pet Smitty, since I'm missing cat snuggles.

Californianativedaughter said...

Congrats on finishing the quilt! I know the feeling of accomplishing something, but five years is remarkable. I have sewing projects that were started about more than twenty years ago for my daughters, but now finished for my granddaughter. I was working full time while raising them, so I didn't have as much time as I do now that I'm retired. I still have leftover fabric from the projects that I did finish and now are making some things out of them for Isabella. I'm sure that her mother won't remember the clothes that I made for her and her big sister, but Isabella loves new clothes and so I feel very satisfied when I complete something that fits her and she enjoys wearing.
Rosemary

Judy1522 said...

Congratulations on finishing Quiltmaker's Garden it it beautiful. Yes, I have done that too with winding bobbins and it is so annoying.

Auntiepatch said...

My Grandmother use to say, "I need to sew faster so I don't run out of thread." I think about that when I'm running short on the bobbin or top thread. She was such a card! I really miss her.

The quilt is beautiful! And the quilting is awesome, too. Nice job!

Kate said...

Congrats on a beautiful finish! I've always loved that quilt (not enough to make one, but I've enjoyed watching yours come together). The quilting turned out beautifully too. Is this one going on the wall or is it going to be a cuddle quilt?

Brown Family said...

Bravo! you tamed the quilt and came out on top! I hopw the Strawberry ice cream was as satisfying!

Barbara said...

Hi there...hoping to get a message from myself by leaving this comment.

quiltzyx said...

So THERE! Take that you quirky quilt! Barbara has BESTED you in the end - HAH!!

Congratulations on that finish - there is a LOT of wonderful work on it to be sure. :)

Michele said...

Huge congrats on finishing it. It turned out wonderful.