Monday, September 3, 2012

Birthday Quilt Revealed

10 wonderful days have passed by - my very best childhood friend Johnny stayed with us - and it is time to reveal the quilt I made for his 50th birthday (later this year).
When I started working on the quilt earlier this year, the plan was to make blocks representing our happy childhood. After making two blocks only, the idea to do a NYB block for the center piece popped up...   
 
 
 
It took time to decide how to proceed, but I ended up with 'flying geese' blocks.
I had some yards of black solid and decided to frame each block. I wanted to add a black solid border before the binding, but I didn't have enough fabric and only a few days to finish it, so it ended up with the black binding only.
I have free-motion quilted each block making loops, except the NYB center piece and the flying geese, which is stitched-in-the-ditch.
All fabrics are from my stash, except the four blocks with the boy and the girl... When I first saw it, I knew I HAD to purchase it for this quilt!
 
 
Elks, carrying home a spruce for Christmas, just being friends, chocolates, trees and of course; Sunbonnet Sue... :)
 
 
...just being friends, boat, cats, sweets, snowmen, ducks...
 
 
... the red cup, more ducks, gone skiing, more cups...
 
 
...elks, house, friends, card trick, trees, Overall Sam...
 
 
...and here he is - the BD-baby! :)
 
 
Johnny left for Norway last night. I'm missing him tremendous already - but that's life!
Today I'll have to do some housework and later on start quilting the 'stitchery quilt'. I managed putting it together and finished thread basting it just a couple of days after Johnny arrived. Had to tidy up the dining table, you know - lol!  This - and a few other projects will keep me busy the next four weeks, before another dear friend lands here! :)
 


12 comments:

Bev C said...

Hello Astrid,

Just amazing, Johnny's quilt has much love sewn into it. A wonderful quilt full of memories.

Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Rosemary Dickinson said...

What a lovely quilt, Astrid! It looks so big and full of so many things you shared with Johnny. I'm sure he will always treasure it. What a lovely gift that came not only from your sewing machine but from your heart as well!

Anonymous said...

Wow...it is BEAUTIFUL!!! A real master piece! ♥♥♥

Karen said...

96spciditThis has turned into an amazing quilt. You have put so much work into it with many ideas and different blocks. Well done.
Your quilt looks fantastic!

Fleurette said...

Absolutely beautiful!!

Unknown said...

En herlig quilt med masse minner samlet. Dette kommer til å gi glede i maaange år.
Du har jobbet masse med dette fine teppe.

busymum100 said...

I agree with Bev C (wanted to push the "Like" button but realised this is not Facebook).

Wonderful quilt, definitely!!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

what a wonderful original design!! you did such a great job such a gift. I bet he was thrilled with it.

Margaret wong said...

Gorgeous! This is the time I wish I am Johnny!!! You are a great friend, Astrid, to come up with such a lovely present from the heart!

Anonymous said...

That is a lovely quilt! I´m sure your friend must be happy :)
Gun, Sweden

Janet C said...

The quilt is AWESOME! Well done!

InGa said...

Så nydelig teppe du har sydd. Fantastiske blokk, og masse minner sikkert, for dere begge to. Heldig den som har slike venner.