Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Beyond the Cherry Trees quilt: finished, done, complete

I looked up the synonyms for finished and found there really aren't any that mean what I want to say.   Finished, done, and complete don't really express just what I'm feeling.  I've never spent two years making a quilt before.  I've started them in the winter and then quilted them the following fall, with time out in the summer for weather that was too warm to curl up under the quilt, a necessary step the way I hand quilt.  That was the longest before this.  But now, Beyond the Cherry Trees is finishedYay!!!  Honestly, I feel a sense of relief.  Looking at the marked and basted quilt, waiting to take that first quilting stitch, I felt overwhelmed.  What was I doing?  Would it ever be done?  There were so many lines and they were so long.  I had other projects to get to.  Did I really have to finish this first?  Well, yes, because otherwise, it might never get finished.  But once I started, it took either nine or ten days to hand quilt.  I honestly don't remember if I started quilting on a Friday evening or the next morning.  And now it's completed and on my great-great-grandmother's bed.

I've read others' favorite steps on blogs and have to add mine - picking the fabrics and sewing down the binding.  I must be one of those goal oriented people.  I enjoy the process or I'd never start a project but I really enjoy finishing it and picking out the next one (which I've often already done).  When a project of any kind takes too long, I get bored with it or decide I don't like something about it.  There were several times when I almost didn't make the next block on this quilt.  But I'd spent so much time on it that I decided that was just dumb so I made the next one and the next one and ... now it's complete.  It was fun looking at the fabrics I chose as I stitched through them.  There's only one block where I wish I'd picked something else.  But out of 25 blocks and four long borders, that's not bad!

Here are a few of the pictures ---

on the bed

from the side
toward the foot of the bed
close up of only motif - flower in left third and bird in upper right

Most of the quilting is straight line in a chevron pattern. I like straight line quilting and didn't want the motifs to compete with the applique which is, to me, the focus of this quilt.  At least it's my focus. This particular block needed something in the middle, though, because there was a really large blank area in the center of it.  I don't at all mind the blank areas between the blocks or in the borders.  

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone else's finished Cherry Tree quilts.

24 comments:

  1. A super big huge and hearty congratulations Mary!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's so lovely! It must feel so good to have it done and see it lay do beautifully on the bed.
    Bravo! ...and enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yummy. Wonderful workmanship.... Woo Woot!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. How perfect that your wonderful Cherry Tree quilt is now displayed on such a special family bed.
    I was wondering how everyone would fill the background in addition to doing the many unique quilting designs that were on the original...so great to see your photos of how you went about completing it.
    Three cheers for finishing this - treasure it forever!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Woohoo Mary! Congratulations on finishing, it looks fantastic :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow Mary...I am impressed. Not only have you finished the top but it is HAND quilted! Wow! I can't wait to get to this point. I won't be handquilting it because I think it would take me longer to do than the top took. I will just be glad to have a completed top and get it off to the quilter. I only have three more side borders to do and I will be a happy camper. Great job! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations Mary. That is one beautiful quilt. You are a finisher, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, the finished quilt looks wonderful! Amazing that you were able to quilt it so fast. This is a family heirloom for sure. Did you include a quilt label with the details?

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is beautiful. You used more color than most I have seen in progress.

    I just realized that the quilt in your header is the one I am working on this evening.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You did an amazing job - the quilt is gorgeous, a true heirloom. Well worth the two years' work.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Huge congratulations on the finish Mary, it's gorgeous. I think you must be a pretty fast quilter even if it is cross hatching. It waas certainly worth persisting with this one.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mary Wow! what a wonderful finish, you should be very proud of your quilt, it really is something!!!! All those hours of effort has really paid off, definitely an heirloom! Congratulations on a job very well done!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have not been making the BTCT quilt but have been following the progress because someday I would like to make one. I am so impressed with your finish! Good for you for sticking with it and getting it done. It's wonderful!
    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrtas!!!!!!!! It looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am totally amazed and impressed. You have completed a masterpiece! I suspected you were whizzing along on the quilting because your blog has been "quiet', but to have completed the quilting and binding on such a large quilt so quickly is a huge surprise. My hat is off to you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am in shock, you just started quilting this a week or so ago. I'm on a 1 yr timeline for the quilting! It looks amazing, congrats on the beautiful job and it's on the perfect bed. Big round of applause for you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. OH Mary, this is a treasure! Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  18. So beautiful! Thanks for sharing your journey and the finished heirloom. You keep me inspired and motivated!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Pat yourself on the back for such a beautiful quilt all finished. And I'm patting your back through cyberspace to congratulate you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a beautiful, beautiful quilt! The hand quilting is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lovely quilt and your quilting is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congratulations on finishing your quilt. It's absolutely beautiful..you just must be thrilled. And congratulations on all that hand quilting as well. I'm a huge HQ fan, and just love seeing that it isn't entirely lost in this fast paced world we live it.
    Annette in Central Alberta

    ReplyDelete
  23. from austin- congratulations on a very beautiful quilt and lots of patience...I printed the monthly patterns and am slowly working and you are a true inspiration !! tooooooooooo beautiful!! Mary

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such a stunning quilt! Love this so much. I'm in awe!

    ReplyDelete

I love to receive comments. If you have a question, please be sure I can get back to you!