Monday, February 10, 2014

almost there!

I've been working on my "oh my stars!" quilt with intention lately. I started it way back in April of 2011. I am so excited that I am on the home stretch! Finally! I have 5 stars left to join to the main piece. Only 5! And 4 of those are already pieced.
I have talked to other quilters and it seems to be a common thing to go through a phase of dislike for each quilt at some point during the making process. I've been through several bouts of dislike for this quilt already. Hopefully I've got that all out of my system now.
I've got a brilliant plan for the border (thanks to Mary) and I'm excited to show you how that comes together. I think it's going to be fabulous!

One funny story associated to this quilt. The other day I told my husband that I hadn't had a chance to sew all day long......get this.......as I was hand-stitching a block together. He just looked at me with the strangest expression on his face. I think I'm about ready for my room at the looney bin. But to his credit, he didn't start packing my bags. :) I'm blaming my memory loss on this looooong cold winter. (I can do that, right?)

Happy Monday to you!

42 comments:

Paralegal Mentor said...

This is beautiful! What is the total number of stars? I'm anxious to see the border. Thanks for sharing.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

It is going to be so fabulous - you will meet your goal! Very few of us will ever finish a hand pieced quilt with THAT many pieces so you are already a winner in my book!

Pink Petal Quilts said...

It's so pretty! Can't wait to see it finsihed!

Brenda said...

looks great. how are you planning on quilting it?

Daytona Damsel said...

I love it. Can't imagine not liking it at any time.

I do have a quilt I am making for my husband that I have a love hate relationship with. I do need to finish it as here in Florida Winter is fleeing fast.

Can't wait to see your quilt quilted and bound.

Anonymous said...

It looks amazing. I have a handful of stars completed and seeing quilts like yours almost completed gives me inspiration and motivation. Thank You.

SeeMaryQuilt said...

It's wild that you're almost finished! I was inspired (read: desperate for sewing I could do with an infant on my lap) by your first post and started one of my own.

After all this time, I'm still only up to about 60 stars, and that's after bringing it on vacations (and getting yelled at by the Costa Rican TSA for trying to bring my tiny scissors through security). Maybe this summer I'll make it my outside project.

Locket Pocket said...

It looks fantastic! How big is it?

Yorkshire Quilter said...

Lovely! I've had one of those on the go forever too - I keep getting sidetracked and then can't find either the spare fabric, the diamond templates or the quilt to sew them to - must get my act together!
I can't wait to see yours finished!

Rita@PinPrickedFingers.com said...

This will be a beautiful quilt! I know what you mean about disliking a quilt mid way through. I just fell back in love with a quilt now that it's nearly done. It felt like work for too long, now it's fun again. Hope you fall in love with yours again!

charlotte said...

Congratulations. This is going to be stunning!!

Fran said...

This is such a pretty quilt, love it!

Granny Maud's Girl said...

And the longer it takes us to make, the more time we have to go through several periods of dislike or fall out of love with the fabrics.
I think because the process is so long, when you finally do finish a hand-pieced quilt (anything less than a decade is good, in my book), the warm glow of accomplishment is also much longer. Enjoy the finish line.
It is looking great!

Janet M said...

It is beautiful and will stand the test of time. Classic.

Clair said...

Yipee! It is always nice when you get close to the end of a project. I like the stars but have no intention of making my own quilt like that-yet.

Nini said...

Thanks for the laugh about your funny moment, guess we all have them!! Nice to know we're not alone, right?! Your quilt is stunning, can't wait to see how you're going to finish it. Thanks for sharing. :-)

KWILEY said...

this is beautiful! Love your photo angle too! Can't wait to see the final project! So how many stars.....??

Susana Neiger said...

Beautiful! I've recently picked back up on my hand-stitched stars, too. Nice to be back to it, and it IS a nice thing to work on when there's not time for sewing-machine-sewing!

Susana Neiger said...

By the way, have you seen Jessica's "Monday Morning Star Count" link up (LifeUnderQuilts)? It's helping me stay motivated to make progress on my English Paper Piecing!

Lana said...

hahahahaha! That is funny! I go through moments when I am ready to just be finished and I think...why??? Your quilt is going to be beautiful...

Vera said...

Looking good!

Concha de Aromadetela said...

Me encanta, como piensas acolcharla?
Besos

Louise B said...

Lol that's exactly the kind of thing I would say so I should pack my bags too and join you in the looney bin. I love this quilt and my ever growing list of quilts I want to make just grew. Can't wait to see it when it's finished. The borders sound intriguing. Louise xx.

Michelle said...

Cant wait to see the borders the quilt is looking great. I get that quilt doubt about 3/4 of the way through a quilt, never looks like I'd imagined and then it somehow comes together in the end.

Linda said...

After the winter we have had, you can absolutely blame a bit of insanity on it!!! SOOOOO ready for spring!!!!

Your quilt is gorgeous! I can't wait to see it finished! I started a hexi quilt a while back. I think I must be crazy too.... :)

Kay said...

Can't wait to see it finished, I love hand sewing but it does take a while!

SarahZ said...

an understanding husband is a wonderful thing! and your quilt top looks daunting, to say the very least...it will be a beauty for sure!

Annemiek said...

Gorgeous ánd on my wishlist. Can I ask what size your diamonds are??

Kimberley said...

Beautiful! I'm working on my first hand-stitched hexagon quilt. It's coming together very slowly. I only have hundreds -- I think I need thousands. My motto changed from Little Nemo: "Just keep sewing. Just keep sewing. Just keep sewing." Loved your funny moment with your husband! =)

Anonymous said...

Hi Amanda, I have that memory thing happen to me on occasion too! But I can sympathetise with you about your weather that your having. Where I live we have just had our 12th day of this summer where the temperature has been greater than 40 degree's. Actually yesterday was 42 degrees celcius and today it's going to be 43+ Celcius. I'm just about fed up with it too. Give me snow any day now. Well the worse thing about my day today is I have to go out in it at the hotest part of the day. Despite the awful temperatures I have been busy quilting my blocks and making applique flower petals and leaves for a quilt that I'm almost finished. I would love to be able to be able to show you. If you would like you could email me your address or you can contact me at www.julie714@adam.com.au. Thanks for showing your beautiful star quilt can't wait to see it finished. Julie Beard St. Mary's Adelaide, Australia.

Jayne said...

I love it! It will be gorgeous when its all finished. (its gorgeous now too)

Barb Neiwert said...

Good to know it's okay to have a Love/Hate relationship with quilt projects. I'm in the midst of one right now. Love your quilt, though! And excited to see what border you develop. Hang in there, I see that spring is one the calendar and hasn't totally disappeared!

diane said...

I love your quilt! I've been paper piecing a hexagon quilt forever, it seems, and I go through the same hate thing with mine. You've motivated me to pick it back up again and go for the finish! And, I love your story about your moment of memory lapse...so funny! It's like me, running all over the house looking for my brush, because I can't find it anywhere, only to realize it's in my hand! Ha!

Elena said...

It's going to be gorgeus! I love the colors you used!
I am working on a stars quilt as well, but I don't think mine will be so fantastic!
Besos desde España,
Elena

MaterialGirlQuilts said...

I love everything about this and can't wait to see what you have planned :)
Amanda

Joana said...

Congratulations! It looks amazing! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, you really ARE almost finished! It looks great, too.

Dawn said...

I started the same quilt with the smaller quilt pati's. It's going to turn into a couple of pillows! I then made another with the bigger quilt patis (can't remember the size). It is finished except for a border! Yeah! I love it but after almost two years I'm so glad to be done with it!

Nilya said...

haha, love your Little Story with your husband and I love your stars!!!! Curious to see the border.

Live a Colorful Life said...

Oh so pretty. Mary has lots of good ideas so I'm looking forward to seeing her plan.

Haha about the "not sewing all day long...."

Jessica Christensen said...

Oh, yes, I go through dislike for most quilts -- especially any of the ones involving handwork, because they take so much more time. I have a quilt like yours that is nearly finished being handquilted. It has been in the same state for at least three years. I haven't even looked at it. I love the quilt. And I hate it. Can't look at it yet. Maybe I'm getting close though. And you are SO close! That is awesome!

alejandra said...

I love this six point stars, this quilt will look great!!