Thursday, January 30, 2014

ALYof F Jan: Story Quilt Finish

As described here  I set out to quilt, bind and embellish my Anniv. Story Quilt for my Jan. ALYofF goal. Here it is, finished & hung in it's new home on a wall in our Master Bedroom.
(PS: Click HERE for my Grow Your Blog Give-Away.)
I was kinda unsure how to quilt an applique top. Yet, since I chose that this is going to be the year that I quiet my inner critic and play more with my quilt projects, I just started. I learned two major things while quilting this project: 1. I have  A LOT to learn. 2. Quilting is pretty forgiving! I was inspired to create a collage while visiting Karen's Blog: Laugh Yourself Into Stitches. of a few close-ups that show how I was able to use quilting to personalize and add whimsy to this finish:
  1. These are original wedding rings. We both love that they are a part of the quilt. 
  2. I had so much quilting this "action swirl" of me metaphorically "throwing my books out the window". See I was in my last semester of school before student teacher, and well, we used the $500.00 I would have bought my textbooks with to buy our wedding rings. (Let's just say I spent many hours at the library using their class copy...oh life before the internet!) 
  3. "Our Song" is Together Forever by Rick Astley. I had fun quilting all those little music notes. I used Purple Chimp Print & Iron Cotton Fabric Sheets and literally copied our original cassette tape! I was able to just iron the "cassette tape" right onto the quilt. I used iron-on letters for the words.
  4. Having grown up in Arizona, we loved our sunset picnics. I had fun quilting swirls in a variegated thread on the the sun.
  5. Our picnic basket, filled with champagne, port-wine cheese, and those ol' big jugs of cheap wine was a staple item in my husband's Nissan King Cab. I quilted "Bubby", "Wine" and "Picnic" on these. I also like the "floppy" red checkered tablecloth peeking out of the basket. (We still have this picnic basket and that is a champagne cork saved from one of our first dates!!)  I quilted the bed of the truck in hopes to add some density and dimension.
  6. The little "Mile Post" sign: I put heart eyelets on it  before quilting. I sewed the words using a lettering feature on my viking machine. I used a variegated brown thread to quilt a "woodgrain design" on the post. (I quilted the larger sign the same way. This "Road Sign" details all our weekend get-aways during our days of dating.)
  7. I couldn't resist quilted bubbles coming out of the champagne bottle. (I think you can see the "Bubbly" word a little better in this picture.)
  8. My favorite: quilted and button hearts dancing out of the tail pipe. I also quilted hearts on the bumper!
  9. The tires: I quilted a 1/4 inch spiral  and found these cute metal pieces in my "left-over" scrapbooking supplies! I love that they say: happiness and friendship.
Many thread changes later, this is definitely a "lovely finish" for me!
I love that it now hangs in our master bedroom, behind our favorite cozy chair that often finds me cuddled up, making hexagons, watching TV or quietly reading a book. 
And yes, my quilt finish pictures never seem complete without Jackson lately.
With smiles!
Val:)
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25 comments:

  1. Are you kidding????? I don't even know where to begin! Val, that is amazing, fun, clever, thoughtful, romantic, beautifully done! Wow. I love how you mixed textures, threads, fabrics, stories to make such a special piece of art. Well done.

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  2. Fantastic! A lovely finish, indeed. So personal and meaningful and fun.

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  3. LOL!!! WOW!!! You guys sure know how to make a girl feel great!!! THANK YOU!!!

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  4. this is such a cool hanging, Val! I love all of the amazing detail What a masterpiece!

    Thanks so much for linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  5. Beautiful car on the quilt!!

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  6. Wow, that is so amazing. I do not even know where to begin! It is so wonderful and full of details. This is a very special quilt full of special memories. Bravo!

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  7. I love where you placed the quilt!!! How does Jackson manage to get himself into a lot of pics??? lol!! Congrats on the finish...you guys will be celebrating your anniversary all month long :)

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  8. I love your quilt and what you put into it!

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  9. Fabulous quilt and an amazing amount of work! Congratulations on your finish!!

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  10. I love this quilt and the story behind it. What a great "memory" to have and see each day.
    Colorful and happy ;)
    Oh, and Jackson is just way too cute...I can see mischief in his eyes !
    Rose

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  11. Good morning Val, I think your photos would be incomplete without Jackson-he makes me smile when I see him-he must love the camera too lol
    Your quilting looks great! always so good to get a finish-
    Enjoy the super bowl Kathy

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  12. Val it's totes fabulous! The cork! So personal. I like it hanging where it is, and the pic of your pup guarding it!
    Love a fun quilt with lots of texture, meaning, and fun.
    LeeAnna Paylor
    lapaylor.blogspot.com

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  13. I love the story behind this quilt. Thanks for sharing all the little details that make it so special.

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  14. What a masterpiece of you and your hubby's beautiful life together!!!

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  15. Oh Val...I think this is purely romantic! What an awesome quilt to be hung in your bedroom. Love it!

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  16. Great finish Val...lots of love in that quilt!

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  17. What a fabulous finish Val and that is definitely a memory quilt!! Times before the internet...I remember that!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  18. that is an incredible quilt! Not only does it look fabulous, but it's packed full of meaning.

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  19. That is the best thing ever - a quilt that means the world to you!

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  20. Omg, you are *incredibly* creative!!! And superb at quilting. I can't tell you how much I love this piece. Thanks for a real upper.

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  21. OMG, can you get any more creative??? Amazing. Alright where's the label? I sure hope this story is written down somewhere and pinned to the back of this quilt. Generations to come are going to gaze at this in amazement and the younger ones will hope they can find a love as sweet as yours. Brilliant!!

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  22. It's just lovely! Thanks so much for sharing and linking up :)

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  23. Stunning work! Thank you for sharing!

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  24. Neat. I like quilts with meanings behind. Well done.

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I have to admit, your comments make me smile! Thanks for sharing and for letting me know you stopped by. I Hope your day is awesome!

Val:)

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