Friday, October 9, 2009

Quilt Festival

Welcome all Quilt Festival participants! I hope you are enjoying checking out everyones quilts as much as I am.

This is my first Quilt Festival so picking which quilt to show took some doing but I decided to show my most recent complete quilt. I made this for my hubby for his 31st birthday. One of the reasons it is my favorite is I was able to keep it completely secret from him. Now I don't lie well, in fact I'm a horrible liar, which was nearly the undoing to the surprise. When quilting this I left the pins out and hubby asked about them, all 400 something of them. My reply? I like pins. Seriously. That is what I said. Luckily something distracted him before he could interrogate me about it.
Another reason is this was a Patchwork Party kit and I really like doing things that can feel somewhat community based. So it was fun. I also loved this fabric line, Prairie Paisley by Minnick and Simpson.
Everything about this quilt worked for my husband. He's an American, from NC, and is proud of his Southern roots so both the overall design and the colours really worked for paying tribute to his home. I know it is at times hard for him living here in Canada, which in some ways is so different.

My photography skills leave something to be desired but here is DH's quilt.



I changed what was supposed to be star flowers into just stars, and made thirteen of them, to represent the thirteen states in both the Confederacy and the original 13 Colonies. Soldier's Walk is represented and the colours are pure Americana.

Click on the button below and go check out the AMAZING quilts of so many super talented others. I know I'll be up late looking around at all the GORGEOUS eye candy.




These two quilts were made from the scraps of the bigger quilt. One is Bennington, a Schnibbles pattern, by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co., and the smaller one on my door is of my own design, again from the scraps. I really like making a mini quilt from the scraps of any quilt, but especially one that gets given away, as a momento of the whole journey I take with every quilt.

47 comments:

Heather said...

That is really beautiful, and you put so much thought into making it special for him. Lucky hubby! I LoVE the idea of making a mini quilt from the scraps, too. What a great way to remember each quilt you've made! Thanks for sharing. :o)

Thelma said...

WOW, great quilt. I love the sentiment behind it! I also like how you make mini quilts using your leftovers. I'm usually so tired of looking at the fabric that I put my leftovers in a baggie and there they stay!

Ariane said...

Wow!!! The quilt you made your husband is amazing. I also love that you made two other beautiful quilts with the scraps. So lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Zonnah said...

I love the pattern and how it looks on the bed. It is beautiful!

Dolly said...

No, that's a wonderful photo of your hubby's quilt......I love to see them photographed where they're used !

Nice job........especially on keeping the secret !

Lynn E said...

I think that is a lovely present for hubby. I think the little quilts are a great stashbuster... better than tossing in the trash

Kathy said...

How wonderful your quilt looks. I see you used Prairie Paisley. I did not make anything too big with this, but I did use it in 2 runners. I am in awe of how stunning your quilt turned out with all the unique star variations. You've done a beautiful job, I'm sure your husband loves it! I am enjoying this special blog fest very much. I love seeing all the variety and reading each quilt's story.

Auntie Em said...

What a wonderful quilt you made for your husband. It looks quite complex.
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I had to come and see which of Beth Ferrier's quilts you are making. I see that it is Lillibet's Garden. It's beautiful. I like how she combines applique and piecing in one quilt.

Allie said...

I love the quilt! The Prairie Paisley fabric is one of my faves too. I have a stack of them that really need attention. I love the story behind the quilt too. Thanks for sharing!

imquilternity said...

How absolutely sweet of you! I love the story behind the quilt and the thoughtfulness and love that went into the making of it. I'll bet your husband was just stunned when you gave it to him. It's a beautiful quilt...gorgeous fabric choices and colors.

LJ said...

that is a spectacular quilt! I would not have the patience to put all that together and then quilt it! Big hugs to a fellow Canadian quilter! :)

Meg said...

Beautiful work!

marlene@ByTheSeam said...

Your quilt is really nice. I like the colors and how sweet of you to do that as a surprise for your hubby. I like the design of it very much.The mini quilt are super too.

marlene@ByTheSeam said...

Opps, and thanks for coming to my blog..come again

em's scrapbag said...

This is an amazing quilt. Very beautiful.

Beth said...

Your Prairie Paisley quilt is gorgeous! I have 2 layer cakes of that fabric waiting for my attention - soon I hope to make a lap sized quilt with them :)

Claudia said...

Love your quilt. I have this kit to make. I've made 6 of the blocks, but can't wait to get them all done. Keep up the great work

Lee D said...

Beautiful quilt. Lucky hubby. Can't imagine trying to keep it a secret. I went to university in NC but live in Calgary. Happy thanksgiving!!

Allie said...

What a wonderful quilt! I love your story too, and how you made the little quilts from the scraps. I may have to start doing that! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous quilt!

Marianne Penner said...

Great quilt and the mini quilts are darling too.

Stephanie Hughes said...

Cara, thanks for commenting on my quilt. I had to visit your blog and see what lovely things you had and to my amazement, this quilt is your first! I can't believe it. My first quilt was 4 squares and just a square. Granted I was only 11 years old, but still. I could have never taken on such a big project for my first or second quilt. I don't even like doing big quilts now because it hard to quilt them on my Bernina (want a long arm GOD!! hint hint) but really this is lovely. Thanks for sharing and good luck in the future with your projects. I don't forget to save every piece of leftover fabric...you may use it someday. Stephanie

Quilter Going Bananas said...

What a great quilt Cara! love it that it was a surprise for DH too. Excellent idea using up the scraps for a couple of little projects too!

West Michigan Quilter said...

I love your quilts. What a wonderful gift for your husband. Wonder what he really thought about all those pins? Love your scrap quilts too. Don't you just love making something from nothing?

Anonymous said...

I love the quilt that you did for your husband. That is gorgeous, and I love the changes you made to it. So neat that you were able to keep it a secret from him!

Thanks for sharing!

Carrie P. said...

Great quilt you made your husband and to keep it a secret is something else too. Great little quilts you made out of the scraps too. Thanks for sharing.

Anya said...

Lovely quilt! I really like the idea of the mini quilts from scraps!

Diane J. Evans said...

Great colors in your husband's quilt, Cara -- and what a lot of work! Made with great love!

Diane

Anonymous said...

I'm glad I didn't miss out on seeing these! That is a fantastic quilt and then mini's as a bonus for me to see! Loved it!

Unknown said...

How fun! I can't keep secrets either. I'd love to do a secret quilt as a gift for my husband, but I don't know how I could keep something like that hidden from him.

AnnieO said...

What a fantastic quilt! Your changes to the design and all the thought and love that went into it (and the lying, LOL!) are extra special "stitches" added to the quilt. Love the other quilt and mini you made too. Thanks for sharing your quilt's story.

Ann J said...

I love scrap quilts and this is really lovely as are the two minis! Thanks for sharing !....Luv AJ(France)

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

Gorgeous quilt! LOL .. you like pins. That's a good one. It's great that you were able to make it entirely in secret. I bet your husband was thrilled and touched when you unveiled his quilt. Perfect idea to make the minis using the scraps.

Cathi said...

The quilt for your husband is fabulous! Making a mini from leftovers is such a great idea. Sort of like a mini catalogue of all the quilts you have made!

Lisa D. said...

Your quilt is beautiful! What a great surprise for your husband, too!

Rose Marie said...

Your DH's quilt is gorgeous and so are the hangings. That fabric line is lovely.

dutchcomfort said...

Beautiful quilt! Lucky husband!

Thanks for your visit and kind comment!

*karendianne. said...

Oh gosh isn't this beautiful! You did a GREAT job here. How cute to read about the "pins" - I quite enjoyed that. Made me smile. The work you did on your Schnibbles is super, too. Love those but I have to say I really really specially love the work of your own design. So cute!

Juryizstillout said...

Very wonderful quilt!

Rene' said...

Beautiful quilt. I am sure your hubby just loves it. Thanks for sharing.

Suzanne said...

Very nice! I must say I like the schnibbles one even more :)
Thanks for the comment on my blog too!

Belva said...

Great quilt...and I love the idea of making a smaller quilt with the scraps when you're planning to give the quilt away. What a great idea. I started Lillabet's Garden a few years ago. Never finished. Perhaps your blog will inspire me to pull it out again. Thanks.

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful quilt! I love Prarie Paisley too. Thanks for sharing.

Jocelyn
http://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/

amy smart said...

Great quilts - and so sweet that you made it for your husband. I love the little scrap quilts too. Very nice.

Jane Macdermott said...

Great quilt, and it looks gorgeous on the bed :)

Trudi said...

The quilt is beautiful! What a wonderful gift too! Your husband must have been very pleased with it! I love the 2 little quilts you made from the scraps too, what a great way to use them up.

Dresden Quilter said...

What a gorgeous quilt and so thoughtful of you. Your husband is very lucky.

Casey said...

Wow! I love the pattern.