Did you hear my sigh of relief?

I finally finished my top. 

Thought it was done yesterday, but needed a little extra applique on a couple of the ends to make it reach.  This has been a long, but enjoyable 29 or so months. 

I don't have the patience like some of you, so my quilt top is scheduled to be quilted by the quilter on June 1. 

Now....what am I going to do with  myself?



Completed Top

Having a little celebration over here.  I finished my top.  I haven't decided what I am going to do about
the quilting but am happy to have the top completed and to be able to put all the fabrics away..

Mine is finally ready to start quilting,  I am going to hand quilt it and add the motifs that were found on the orgional quilt. 

Quilting Commences!

I got my quilt back from the long armer who was basting it for me. Since the size was more then I could even photograph I wasn't sure how I would baste it properly. I asked her to do a good job because it might be 10 -15 years being quilted! lol

Do I have a plan? Not really. I took the top pattern off my pile and made cardboard templates for the motifs and will start there. I am using my pilot pen that disappears with the iron. I'll stitch the motifs, then on the same block stitch around the applique.

Here's my start! I'm so excited!!

#3 is added....

I attached my third border today leaving the stems loose where it would be attached since I thought they were supposed to flow from one side to the next.

They were way off, so I started looking back at photos and realized they aren't supposed to meet up. Now mind you....this really bothers me.....but in keeping with the antique "reproduction", I stitched those two vines down where they were supposed to be.  Although, I do feel that mine were a little farther apart than they should be.  So to help fill the void (that bothered me, too), I added another cherry.  No one is going to notice.

If anything, people are going to wonder why these vines don't flow ALL THE WAY around this quilt.  Hope they read the little commentary that will be written about this quilt when it is done. 

I am still thinking that more than one person worked on this quilt  and that would explain why these borders are made the way they are. 

I would have given you a bigger picture, but this quilt is BIG and there was no one home to help

 me with it, so you are just getting  the important parts today. 

Now on to side #4. 

Have a Happy Easter everyone. 

Progressing....

Side two is on....

Side three is well on it's way.

I will be trimming after all the borders are on.  Right now I am just glad that two are sewn to the center. 

I'll keep you posted. 



Block 25 aka The Happy Dance

Yes, I'm finished the applique on all the center blocks. 25 done, 0 to go! What a great feeling.

I'm just too whipped to get excited. Once I get the cherry stems stitched, I'll trim down the blocks and sew them all together. I shall post a picture when I get to that stage.
Thanks for cheering me on, sharing all your struggles and accomplishments, it has truly made a difference to me. It's kept me motivated and I've learned so much along this journey. I'm sure it will be another 18 months before this is finished, (I'm hoping is will be done in that time) but one never knows. We need to enjoy the trip, not just the destination.