Friday, July 05, 2013

a charity quilt finish

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

I hope you all had a safe and great Independence Day! We celebrated with my entire family...17 of us! We hosted and found out that our house is set up very nicely for entertaining. Hurray! I turned 38 yesterday and my sister had a birthday, too. The weather was perfect and it was so nice to have all of us together. I'm so thankful for my own little family and my extended family as well. I'm thankful for another year and I'm looking forward to making it count.
Even amid the summer busyness, I managed to finish up a charity quilt this week. Heather pieced and quilted it and all I had to do was add the binding.
It may have taken me a few months. :) I decided to machine stitch it down on both sides so it would withstand a lot of washing.
I've fallen out of the habit of washing and drying a quilt right after I finish it. Probably because there is always plenty of laundry to do, so why add more to the pile? But, I washed and dried this one right away and the texture is pretty great! I may have wrapped up in it fresh out of the dryer, even though it's been warm here. :) I'm so happy to have finished a quilt to share today. I need to do that more often!

How about you? Do you have a finish to share? If so, please link up. Thank you for joining me for finish it up Friday!

43 comments:

Nicole said...

Happy belated birthday, Amanda Jean!
I love the colors in this quilt!

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful day yourself, and now someone else's will be a little brighter too thanks to this charity finish ;)

Amy said...

Happy Birthday! Sounds like you has a wonderful day! Love the quilt too!

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

P.S. I just tried to add a link and it's not showing up this week? Wasn't sure if it was just me...

Cathy said...

Lovely quilt! Wonder where the link up is?

the momma said...

The quilt looks so cozy!! Happy Birthday ~ glad you had a fun celebration :-)

Geta Grama said...

Happy Birthday! It's great to celebrate it with the whole family.

Anonymous said...

A lovely finish! Happy birthday!

nicole said...

Gorgeous quilt! And Happy Birthday, glad to hear it was a fun one!

lmno said...

What a pretty quilt. Shows how a simple plain set can be wonderfully appealing.

Bethe said...

I love taking a quilt out of the dryer as well - there's nothing better than seeing all those beautiful crinkles for the first time. Happy birthday!
www.texaslovely.com

Vicki said...

Happy birthday to you....happy birthday to you....
Where to link?

natalie christensen said...

Happy Birthday! That is so nice to enjoy a home you can all fit in. Beautiful finish.

beth said...

Happy Birthday! Great quilt!

Unknown said...

Happy birthday! Beautifully pieced,quilted,and bound.

Maja said...

Happy Birthday!
Love the crinkles!
Thanks for hosting!
Take care!

Ray and Jeanne said...

Happy Birthday! So glad you had a great celebration! The quilt is wonderful. ~Jeanne

Deborah said...

Happy Birthday! Mine is today and you are younger :) Made my first 2 slabs ever! Sending to Canada. Thanks for the post.
Deborah

Jocelyn said...

Happy Birthday to you and your sister!! Love the colors of the quilt.

Diane said...

Happy Birthday! ! (you youngster! :)
glad you had a great 4th!

Lynn said...

Love the quilt, thanks for sharing, you know, when you share a charity quilt, it makes me want to make one too! I have a stack of scraps from a baby quilt I'm almost finished, so maybe I will!

Mama Pea said...

That's a very nice quilt, AJ! Nicely done! Glad your house is great for entertaining!

Mama Pea said...

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Jacqueline said...

Beautiful quilt.

Happy birthday - are you a twin? or is your sister just born on the same date as you?

Trepmom said...

Happy birthday, Amandajean! I don't have a blog but I do have a finish! I finally finished a big pillow for my son's birthday...just a little late :). I posted photos in your Flickr account. So glad you are settling into your new home and you had a nice time with your family in it. Have a great weekend!

Smultronbo said...

Happy birthday a day late. I'm glad you had a nice birthday. Thanks for hosting the Friday finishes and a very nice quilt you finished too.

Chase said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Amanda Jean. My sister celebrated her birthday a few days ago... {smile}. I am so happy to join you with Finish it up Friday this week. The quilt is simple gorgeous and someone is going to love this quilt when he/she receives it! I like to wash quilts, but when we lived in ND it is always hard to wash fabric and quilts, since we done our laundry in a commercially run laundromat. xc

Jeneta said...

Oh happy birthday! I don't think I will ever cease to marvel at the wonderful effect that quilting brings to a quilt. I feel all warm and happy at the thought of your quilt going to charity; I can feel the love from here!

Katherine said...

Happy Birthday, sweet friend! Sending hugs and best wishes for an amazing year ahead.

Schulz Family said...

Happy birthday. It is great that you had a lovely day with your family around. Love the charity quilt

Karen said...

Happy Birthday! All the best people are born in July :o) Lovely quilt finish.

Charlotte Scott said...

Happy Birthday! and someone's going to be really lucky to receive that quilt :)

margaret said...

birthday wishes flying over form GB too, how I wish I was 38 again!
A lovely quilt such delicate colours.

quiltingbonnie said...

Happy Belated Birthday Amanda !!!
It is nice to have family around.

Vicki Lou said...

Hi Amanda,

Happy Birthday to a wonderful 38 year old with a heart of gold! I'm glad to hear that you are using and enjoying your new home.

Your charity quilt is terrific. How big is each block? I want to try one with blocks that size

Vicki

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I'm working on a charity quilt right now too! Wish someone else would quilt this one!

Suzanne said...

Happy birthday to you and your sis! I wish you both many many more!

xo

Debi said...

Beautiful quilt! Are those charm squares or layer cakes or some other size? Happy belated birthday!
debi
debi1953@sbcglobal.net

Thimbleanna said...

It's beautiful Ms. Crazy! I laughed when I read that you've fallen out of the habit of washing your quilts as soon as their finished. Clearly you need a cat or two -- cat hair is the reason my quilts must be wash upon completion. Yuck!

jane said...

Beautiful quilt!! Happy birthday too! How large are the squares? Think I will do the same if you will let me know.
THANKS!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful quilt and Happy Birthday! When you mentioned washing and drying your quilt it brought up a question. I was at a quilting class the other day and the presenter said, 'never, never, never put your quilt in the dryer'. Well, I always put my quilts in the dryer and they seem to be just fine. I would like to know your thoughts (or others thoughts) on drying a quilt in the dryer.

Amanda Jean said...

Vicki Lou and Jane,

The blocks finish at 7". So, 7.5" cut. Hope that helps!

AJ

Amanda Jean said...

Grandma Ruthie,

I think it's all personal preference. I like to dry my quilts in the dryer because it produces a lovely crinkled, broke in, loved and used look. That's why I make my quilts....to be used and loved.

I hope that helps!

AJ