Final Thoughts on Jubilee Tribute

Over the last two years that I've spent working on Jubilee Tribute, there have been many changes in my life. During the last few months as I spent hours each day hand quilting, I have had time to reflect and I started a list.  This is a post to help me remember the journey I've been on.  It all  started with this picture -

from this book.

Then deciding to use this book from my Mom for the border treatment.

Hours were spent trying to create templates for all the little pieces.

I had to learn reverse applique (huge learning curve for this part!!)

Trying to pick fabrics and audition backgrounds.  Finding reds and the perfect pink.

Trying to find the right green and the right cheddar.

With all 16 coxcomb flowers finally done I was ready to start making a block.  Figuring the math out for this part took a while.  I paper pieced the center and hand appliqued this whole thing down.

And then there were 4!  This was a happy day.  The background fabric was perfect and there was some highlight to the center - it looked exactly the way I had hoped it would.

Next came the vines and leaves.  This is always my favorite part - just organically letting the vines go where they want. And there were LOTS of little berries.

And then the day came that the center was done- every flower, every leaf, every berry.  I still had not decided how to handle the center part that would join the vines.

Now it was finally time to start the border.  Trying to decide on the number of petals and the size and shape of the petals took way too long for me.  I got really frustrated during this part.

But then the day came that there were 4 of these!  After they were all done, I realized they did not look right. So after a few more days of pondering, each scallop went from having 9 petals to having 11.  It's a good thing making the petals was fun.

I couldn't wait to lay out the borders and try to get an idea of what it would look like.  It was at this point, I realized that I needed something in between each scallop.  This took quite a while to figure out, and I got really frustrated during this part too.

Especially when I realized that it needed another reverse applique coxcomb and that I would have to draft more templates!  But as I saw it on my design wall the first time, I knew it was perfect.  Something still seemed lacking, so I added berries to finish the space between the scallops.  There were times that I felt it would never be done.

But seeing the glimpse of what it would look like was enough to help me push through. And then, I drafted yet another template for the coxcomb circle and had to do more reverse applique for the very center.  This time red on pink instead of pink on red.

But the day finally came when the quilt was done and it was ready to baste.

  And on May 15, 2013 I started the hand quilting.

After I had outlined all the flowers, vines, leaves and berries, it was time to start the cross hatching.  I started by marking and quilting an overall 6" grid.  Then I did an overall 3" grid.  Then I went to a 1 1/2" grid.

Each step gave me a better glimpse of what it would look like.  So total, I quilted an overall grid pattern over the entire quilt 5 times!

Finally it was time to start the 1/2" grid.  It was at this point that I had hours and hours to reflect on many things.  People have asked me  how long it took.  I didn't keep track because I didn't want to know.  A labor of love should not be measured.

But the day came that the last stitch of the binding was done and the quilt was hanging at our quilt show.

So in closing, here is a list of some of the things that have happened in my life since I started Jubilee Tribute (not in any particular order):

-I have been 3 different ages

-I celebrated my 40th wedding anniversary

-I had a new grandchild - #4

-I got a job and went back to work

-My son lost his job, but has started a new venture

-I agreed to be the Quilt Show Chair for our guild

-I led 1 retreat, 2 workshops, was a guest speaker 6 times and presented 3 programs for my guild

-I was the Grand Prize Winner in the NYC MGQ DWR Challenge

-I designed and help construct "Vintage Blooms" as well as produce a pattern

-I read the Bible through

-I watched the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 Winter Olympics

-I was asked to judge my first quilt show

-I got the Shingles

-I've been hot and cold, frustrated and satisfied, sad and happy, calm and upset

-I read at least 63 books (didn't keep track of all)

-I made and finished 14 baby quilts, 2 large t-shirt quilts, 14 regular sized quilts, 25 mug rugs, 8 wallhangings and of course "Organic Pink Pickles"

-I pieced 5 quilt tops including 2 of Bonnie Hunter's mysteries - Easy Street and Celtic Solstice 

-I finished and quilted Orca Bay

Plus there were many miscellaneous random UFO's in various stages of done-ness.

It's really interesting to try and catalog your life over a two year span. For a lot of 2012 I was without a job and got to spend happy hours each day creating.

I will probably never spend 2 years of my life on a quilt again, I've done it.  But it was totally worth it and when I look at Jubilee Tribute, it brings such joy.

In the end, that's really the secret of quilting - the joy.

Happy stitching,

Karen 

My Jubilee is Wearing Blue

Our Quilt Show opened today and we had over 700 people! Can I say as Show Chair I am completely exhausted.  But I wanted to share my good news about my Jubilee quilt. As you can see, it won a blue ribbon.

At 4:45, I realized I hadn't taken a single picture. So I grabbed a friend and she took these pictures.

The quilt looks great but I think I look pretty tired - but oh, so happy.  I'm going to share some thoughts about my Jubilee journey soon, but right now I am just so happy to share these pictures and enjoy the thrill of seeing my quilt hang in the show.  By joining The Jubilee Quilt Project, I was committed to making a quilt for me, by me to celebrate me.  I think this is my most favorite quilt of all the ones I have ever made.  

I am beyond thrilled. 

Tired, but thrilled.

Karen

All the Little Stitches

I have finally finished the 1 1/2" grid of my jubilee quilt. Yay!!!  So, if I were to be finished at this point, I would say that there are a ton of stitches.  But the fact that the grid quilting is only about half way done is a little mind boggling.

The rows were a little hard to keep straight so I'm really glad I've finished this step.

Now it's on to quilting 1/2" lines.  What a huge difference!  These rows can be marked in my lap as I get to them.  It's a big time savings plus I'm done with the pins.  I've noticed that this part of the quilting is going much faster.

I'm quilting up to the little red leaves in the border.  My plan will be to finish these lines then move on to the border.

You can see in the top left corner where there are still some 1 1/2" areas, what a big difference the 1/2" quilting makes to the design.  I guess I'm close to being almost a quarter of the way done.  Trying to do a little every day and trying not to think about how much is left.  I'm really glad the quilt show is more than five months from now.  Hopefully my hands will hold out!!

Happy stitching,

Karen

Jubilee Tribute - One Stitch at a Time

I thought it was time for a Jubilee Quilt update.  Just wanted you to know that in between all the Pickle Dish blocks, I am still working on this.  After weeks and weeks of marking, hand quilting, ripping out, re-marking and then hand quilting again, I think I'm finally on the right path.  I think my quilt was not quite square to begin with and that was where my problems were coming from.

I started out by first outline quilting all the vines, leaves and berries.

Next I outline quilted the coxcomb flowers and their leaves.  Then I was finally ready for the cross hatching.  I started out by using my 6" x 24" ruler, drawing lines 6" apart.

Then I came back and drew in 3" lines.  When those were finished, I started quilting the 1 1/2" lines. Here (in the picture above) you can see the pins I use to stabilize the quilting area (as I don't quilt in a hoop).  It's actually going pretty fast now.  And it's starting to give me a glimpse of what's going to happen very, very soon :).

The rectangle areas are where I've quilted across in 1 1/2" rows but there are still 3" rows going the other way.  It's a good thing I REALLY enjoy hand quilting otherwise I think I would be in serious trouble about now.

This is a picture of where I was last weekend.  My sister and I flew from Florida to Albany, NY and then drove from there to a cabin at Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Mountains.  We met childhood friends and spent a very special time re-connecting.  This was taken as we were walking across the new lake bridge on a glorious fall day.  Priceless memories...

As I've said before, I am blessed.

Karen

I Just Couldn't Wait...

I found this picture and realized I had forgotten to put it in the last post.  This was the stage where I had ripped out 8 scallops and 56 petals. :(   At least the hand applique came out easily.

Here's the finished top waiting to be basted (not my favorite part).

It took a total of almost 4 hours, watched a cute movie "Leap Year".  Not riveting my any means, but entertaining.

Almost finished - yea!

And here's the first few stitches.  I know it should seem overwhelming to hand quilt a large quilt like this, especially when it will have LOTS of quilting.  But it is so exciting to me.  I know what's waiting to come out.  I'll outline all the vines and flowers and then start the background.  That will be a ways off.

I won't bore you with lots of updates, but had to share that "Jubilee Tribute" in officially on its way.

Karen

Jubilee Quilt Update

This quilt has taken me on quite a journey.  Today I finished hand appliqing the last little piece (at least I hope so).  Last year I feel like I spent weeks staring at the borders trying to figure out what to do, I finally made a plan.  A big thank you to Janet from Quiltsalott.  I sent her pictures and asked for her opinions.  What she told me it needed was exactly what I had thought, but I needed someone else to say it.  So thanks Janet.

The first plan was 4 scallops with 9 petals on each scallop.  That grew to 5 scallops on each side with 11 petals.  Then came the flowers, a variation of the the center flowers complete with those fussy little leaves.  Then what to do at the bottom of the stem.  A decision to make 2 berries for each flower - seemed to be perfect........ until I sewed the borders to the center.  I didn't really know what I was doing, so I didn't measure very well.  I ended up needing to rip out 8 of the 20 scallops - 2 of them completely.  Then I had to rip out petals - a total of 56!!!!!  Oh well, live and learn.  But I am proud to say, it is done!!!!

It is so hard to remember a year ago when it started out looking like this.

I found this piece about 6  months ago and knew if was perfect for the back, it is absolutely beautiful.

Thank you Jo :).  So I'm ready to baste and then start the hand quilting.  It needs to be done in time for our quilt show next April.

I sometimes thought this day would never come.  I know it's not done, but it's a whole lot more done than it was 6 months ago.  I'll share quilting updates from time to time.  I still love everything about this quilt :)!

Karen

One, two, three, four!

I am back from Retreat and had a fabulous time :).  I remembered absolutely everything except the camera :(.  So I'm waiting on some pictures to share.  In the meantime, drumroll please.......  all 4 borders of the Jubilee quilt have the scallops and red petals!!

I was so excited to see each one grow.

It was wonderful to have a hand project to work on as my DH and I watched the Olympics almost every night.

As each one was finished I began to try and viusalize what I need to put in between each scallop.

The one thing I know for sure is that I need to make more red petals!!   I thought 9 would be enough, but once they were all done, I realized that each scallop needed an extra petal on the ends so I need 11.  So it was back to cutting and prepping the little petals.  But in the end, I know it will be worth the extra effort.  Aren't they pretty??

Until next time,

-Karen

Jubilee Update

I'm pretty sure I've shared my Jubilee quilt when I got it to this stage - which was several months ago.

I spent about 6 weeks making flowers, leaves, berries and vines and many happy hours hand appliquing them down.

I was so happy with what had happened so far.  And then I got to the border.  Nothing..... and I mean nothing!!  I knew what I wanted to do, but I just couldn't get it from my head to the fabric. 

After almost 2 months of staring at the borders, I finally figured out what was wrong.  I made these petals smaller and added more of them. And suddenly it looked right to me.

I still had a huge problem of what was going in between these motifs, but that's for another post.  And it's a great story. But for now, I've been busy with 24 of these scallops and almost 200 little petals!  It's a good thing the Olympics have been on - I'm over halfway done!

And here's the little punkin.  She's doing so well. She learned to crawl up the scratching post and seemed so proud of herself.  My friend and I are still looking for a good home.

Have a great Saturday.

Karen