Monday, January 9, 2012

When a quilt top talks....and your husband understands what it is saying...

I'm glad my husband is a visual person. He designs kitchens and his design expertise comes in handy when it comes to quilts as well.
I've been working on this quilt that will be auctioned off a a charity quilt auction in April. Sixteen large blocks. The blocks were completed on Friday night and it was time for the sashing. Done. (Please excuse the table--this thing is huge and I have no place for proper photography...). I love the "breathing room" that the Kona snow gives the blocks but it needed something to frame in all that snow around the outside of the blocks. And something that wouldn't take a lot of time.

I make one of these donation quilts every other year, and reach a point about this time that a couple of things happen.

Elation: "I can't believe I have made all these gorgeous blocks. I love this quilt!"

Impatience: "I'm so ready to be done and move on to another project."

Complacency: "It's a charitable donation. It's already 'good enough.'"

Self-admonishment: "This is for a cause near and dear to my heart. This needs to be my very best effort."

So Mark and I discussed border options. My first thought was to make a border using strips of the colors in the 12 outside blocks, making the strips a little longer than the block and just butting them up against each other. Mark's idea was to continue the Kona snow sashing in the border as well.

I'm so glad he made that suggestion. And that I listened to him.
 Funny guy. He took this picture of me while I was trying to take pictures of the quilt.
All these little threads were trimmed from the back of the quilt, so they won't show through on the front. I could have kept trimming. I finally stopped... Today it goes in the mail to Mark's cousin, Ione, who will work magic with her machine quilting.
My sewing room looks like this.
 
But it's time to say I'm done.

And amen!



43 comments:

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Lynne (Lily's Quilts) said... #

Oh I love that quilt, and I love the border treatment, it's genius.

Becky (My Fabric Obsession) said... #

It looks fantastic! Love the colors you chose. And the border treatment is perfect! That's so great hubby could help you. Mine would have shrugged at me, hee hee.

Pat said... #

Love the quilt and love the border...just right to accent the quilt.

Susanne said... #

It looks awesome! And your husband was right. This border is very special and perfect! I like to ask my boyfriend for advise too. He just sees the design. I am too much in my sewing brain ;)
Susanne

verykerryberry said... #

Mark is a great designer, keeping those spaces on gives the quilt a feeling expanse and potential at the edges instead of being closed is, wonderful!

Anonymous said... #

That looks beautiful...I think I would have a hard time giving it away! Those chairs in your sewing room are awesome looking, are they old movie theater chairs?

Amy Friend said... #

Those Marks, they are just the best aren't they? :) Your quilt is wonderful.

Katy Cameron said... #

Love the colours in this, and fab idea for the border!

Grandma G said... #

Congratulations! on the FINISH!! It's gorgeous! And nice goin' on the border, Mark... it's perfect!

WOW!!

Elizabeth Dackson said... #

Oh my gosh, Mark was SO right, I love the added touch the border gives this quilt, it's fabulous!! I so love this quilt, I think it's wonderful and the border makes me love it even more!!

Rene' said... #

Your donation quilt is fabulous! Love the colorful blocks and the border is the perfect touch! Great collaborative effort ;-) How great that you have someone to do the quilting on this large one.

Riel Nason said... #

That quilt is just gorgeous. Love the colour and the large blocks. I bet you raise $$$$$$$$ for the charity with it.

Cindy Sharp said... #

It is perfect!

randi--i have to say said... #

i do love the border! perfect~

and the pic of you taking a pic is fun. :)

beaquilter said... #

that is GORGEOUS! love the border choices. what's the cause?

Jen said... #

Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE the border! it's so perfect with the top! It really "makes" the whole thing! This will be a wonderful quilt! I'm sure it will raise A LOT of money like all your others have!

Angie said... #

I love the border you chose! I would have never thought of that and it's just beautiful. So impressed! The quilt is gorgeous.

Angie said... #

I love the border you chose! I would have never thought of that and it's just beautiful. So impressed! The quilt is gorgeous.

Melanie said... #

It's gorgeous! I'm sure it will raise a ton of money for the charity!

Needled Mom said... #

It is gorgeous and the border is perfect.

Rachel said... #

Absolutely stunning!! LOVE it, can't wait to do mine!!

Sequana said... #

Absolutely beautiful all the way around! I'm trying to imagine how you will bind it now.

Jeane said... #

I love the border, just perfect, so unique. What a great project you have completed.

Jeane said... #

I love the border, just perfect, so unique. What a great project you have completed.

Doris said... #

I told you when you started this quilt that I had saved the same blocks from the same old magazine...your quilt is just perfect and truly inspires me to make mine! Too many ahead of it on the "to-do" list!

M-R Charbonneau said... #

The quilt is gorgeous, Cindy! Wow! And I love the border finish! Mark was right. :)

Letterpress said... #

Terrific border idea, and terrific that it's done! What a milestone, and good for you.

E.

Linda said... #

I love color, so this quilt really appeals to me. I also love what you've done with the border!

Lucy | Charm About You said... #

Absolutely gorgeous!! The blocks are gorgeous and look fantastic against the snow. I'm completely in love with the border, it's so modern and totally shows off the blocks. Clever hubbie!

Alisa said... #

Very, very beautiful! I love the conversation you had with yourself. I have those too :-) The border is fabulous and gives it a nice finish that coincides very well with the rest. I'm sure you are looking forward to what it will look like with the quilting.

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

Perfect border for a wonderful quilt! I can't wait to see how Mark's cousin will quilt it!

Jill Chapman said... #

The whole thing is gorgeous and the border is really unusual. I love it!

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Absolutely wonderful x

Vio said... #

It's gorgeous!! Pat on the back well deserved. :o)

Shocking Hocking said... #

beautiful, beautiful quilt and beautifully executed...i would have had a very difficult time of letting that one go

kinter said... #

Love it! Love it! Get on board, because it is happening!!

Carla said... #

Boy o boy! You should keep that Mark guy around...he's got great ideas..course, you have the talent to make it happen! It is truly lovely, my friend. I know you are happy to have it finished...pat yourself on the back!

felicity said... #

Super genius idea for the border - I can't wait to see this all quilted up!!

Poppyprint said... #

Well done, you!!! I LOVE the border. Those blocks are huge and so much work. You're extremely generous - I hope the quilt is a great success!!

Susana Neiger said... #

Beautiful work. Gorgeous! I'm in awe, and I love it!

Terriaw said... #

It's an amazing quilt! I didn't realize how big each block is when you were posting your progress. I love the addition of the sashing, and the outer borders are awesome! Just the right way to frame this work of art. Really love that picture of you taking a picture!

FlourishingPalms said... #

It's stunning! Your husband gives great advice. That border is so clever and perfectly sets off the bright colors in the quilt center. This will surely bring in heaps of money at auction... and whew, aren't you glad you don't have to quilt it yourself!?

Mama Pea said... #

I love what you did with the color in the borders, too. I go through the same feelings as you do when I finish a quilt. Often, I also say, "I don't want to give this quilt away!"