And just in time!
Not in time for the wedding, of course (which was over a year and a half ago) – the movers were literally at our apartment packing up our belongings when I drove to the post office to put this in the mail.
(we moved across the country in November) (and then halfway back again over Christmas) (but more on all that another time).
All but a carload of our belongings were going directly into storage for about seven months – I couldn't spare the space in the car for this quilt-in-progress, but I also wasn't about to let it go into storage until the summer. There's nothing like a firm deadline to get you moving, isn't there?
(I suppose some might argue that the wedding itself is a firm deadline. I had, after all, started this before they got married. But once that passes, you get to invoke the “one year from the wedding” rule for gift-giving, and once that passes (because a year from their wedding you're getting married yourself), then you start making up your own rules – like the “handmade gift deadline extension” clause, which is what I invoked for this one)
This quilt was for a good friend of mine from college and his lovely wife Jeanette.
They got married July 2008 in an absolutely beautiful (and enormously fun) wedding – for which we were encouraged to wear Hats!
Pippajo says
Oh, the hats, the hats! How positively swoony! If only everyone still wore them, then I wouldn't get strange looks each time I do!The quilt is quite lovely, too! Congratulations on finishing it.
Leila says
I am ALL about the "handmade gift deadline extension"!! 😉
Anne R Triolo says
Oh Rosie! Nice work! The quilting showed up so nicely in the pictures. Also, I LOVE the hats…if only…I feel like I would look just right in dramatic hats. 😛 For now I'll just keep trying them on at Macy's.
Martine says
I love the hats as well! The quilt is beautiful and worth waiting for.
Sue says
Your quilt is beautiful! Great job.I am definitely filing away that "homemade gift deadline extension" for future use!
Crafty P says
beautiful quilt! lucky couple. I currently am employing an extremely late "handmade gift extension" that I coupled with a "I had twins extension"…. I will finish that gift THIS year!
Margo says
"handmade gift extension"?!! Brilliant. How did I not know about this??!That quilt is beautiful. I love the double blue outline especially.And "Gladden." I can't believe that's someone's real name – that is a lovely name.
Mary says
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL quilt Rosie! Is it all done by hand or machine? I love the color combinations. Just lovely! You inspire me to finish the one I started for my daughter TEN year ago. How's that for a gift deadline extension? Ha! Ha! She was seven when I started it for a Christmas gift. I hope to finish in time for this next Christmas. God willing and the creek don't rise!Blessings and Grace to you…
Loni says
What a lovely quilt! I'm very impressed. I've been working on the same quilt since I was pregnant with my second child. (Said child is turning 7 next month and has a little brother and sister, now.) I second Mary's question – did you hand quilt or machine-quilt?
Rosie says
Thank you for all the quilt (and hat) affirmation, everyone!Crafty P – goodness, the "I had twins extension" is a VERY valuable one. It's like a "get out of jail free" card as far as handmade-gift-giving deadlines go (except with more diapers).Mary and Loni – I pieced the quilt on the machine, and then quilted by hand. This is actually another reason it took me so long to finish – I started doing my Baptist Fans very close together and by the time I looked up and realized how big the quilt was, it was too late to change my mind. So it took approximately a million years, but to be honest, when it was all done I loved the way the dense quilting looked. You should absolutely keep at those quilts – the satisfaction of seeing them finished is definitely worth it!
Deirdre says
It's beautiful. I think it looks very "Jeannette" — simple but elegant with a sort of high society, garden tea feel.And fun to see those pictures from the wedding again. You all look awesome.
Alice says
It's only a problem when you start hoping for twins in order to get the craft extension.(No comment on the state of Sukie's graduation/birthday present…from last year.)
Alice says
(Oh, and Rosie… it's LOVELY, and even more so to hear from you again!)
patches of me says
Wonderful quilt and I thought it looked handquilted … that alone would surely buy a person any extensions necessary. Ahhh, lovely. Great selection in fabrics – really liked the larger flower print and then to use white and off white (or pastel yellow) together – looks wonderful!
Decadent Housewife says
Lovely quilt – soft, cozy look to it.
Jeanette says
Rosie, It is a beautiful quilt and one that will surely be passed down through the generations! Gladden and I love it and appreciate all the delicate and detailed stiching that truly makes this quilt unique! Thank you for the lovely wedding gift!