The Very Last Stitch!

There are some projects that nearly bring tears as you take the very last stitch.

15 years.  Where did they go?

It hits me even harder today I think with tomorrow’s birthday looming.

What has this quilt seen happen in my life over the past 15 years?

In 2003 we moved from Waxahachie, Texas to Irmo, South Carolina as the company that The Hubster Dave was working for expanded.

South Carolina was SO exciting and I loved every minute of the 5 years we lived there.

It was a time of transition for our family as Jason did not move with us – he already had a good full time job, an apartment, and was moving into a life of his own. 

Jeff was in Jr High, and our new house had the Jr High and High School right behind our house, easy access.  I was excited to meet quilters from the local Columbia, SC guilds and make a new life.

I started teaching a monthly Dear Jane workshop at a local shop, not for pay, just a gathering of ladies who wanted to tackle this project.  I had finished my “first one”  and was going to need sample blocks as demos, and I grabbed a set of chocolate Shweshwe fabrics I had picked up at Quilt Market while still living in Texas, and thought that I might do “A Wall Hanging.”  HA! 

And the years marched on as they tend to do. 

Sent in by Carrie yesterday:

I was downsizing magazines and wanted to save all the addicted to scraps columns. I got to looking and noticed all of your different profiles.

CarrieDelaware

With this birthday coming up, and my hair back past shoulder length, and the fact that I am FINALLY getting my “birthday” tooth today (OH YES!) perhaps it is time for a NEW profile – the “now past the 1/2 way mark in her 50’s” version.  WITH ALL TEETH "Present" (As in don't look a gift tooth in the mouth!) and accounted for!

Oh, Sadie!

Immediately after finishing the hand quilting on this very long-term 15-year project, I plunged it into the washing machine with warm water and Gain detergent - Island Fresh if you must know - and gave it a good washing.

15 years of hauling this thing around meant it was kind of grimy in places!

I laid it out in the living room in front of the gas fireplace to block and dry overnight.

All traces of the yellow chalk roller used to mark the fans with a stencil are gone!

The Shweshwe fabrics are wonderfully soft, and I love the look of the remaining background shirting print sandwiched in between two large lengths of Madras plaid as the back.

At home on the cabin guest bed.

As I sit here and think about what to type next, how to word things – just staring at my screen and turning phrases and sentences through my mind, I notice that my fingers are rubbing the callouses – the thumb of my right hand, the index “under” finger of my left – How many stitches have made these callouses a part of me? It’s an unconscious action, and I realize that these callouses speak volumes, and there are many life lessons in them as well.

Viewing the ridges beyond!

And so the next one begins!

Yesterday’s #quiltvilleoftheday

Wanderlust from the Addicted to Scraps Book!

I will be teaching Wanderlust at Asilomar, my very first time teaching for Empty Spools Seminars in just a few weeks! I'm excited to meet my students, and to spend a chunk of time in Pacific Grove. My dad lived there during my early married years, so it will be fun to go back! 

Signed copies of books are available in the Quiltville Store. 

Purchase the book from my store, and also get the Wanderlust table runner pattern as a free PDF! Which reminds me…I need to be sure to pack and take this to Asilomar with me as folks may just want to make a few extra Wanderlust blocks and make a runner as well as their quilt.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

And with that said…I’m about to go progress myself right into the shower and get this day going – the dentist awaits!

Bonnie's Birthday Bicuspid!  YAY!

Have a terrific Monday, everyone!