There is nothing more satisfying than stitching a quilt to be gifted for someone special.
This quilt is from the pattern {Trees!} by Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts
and intended for my lovely friend, Rachel. You can find Rachel at Family Ever After
Rachel and I met through a mutual friend, although I knew who she was, I just hadn't formally met her. I was fortunate to be part of a small group of friends who got together every now and then to quilt and chat. For about 2 years now we all meet to work on quilts, blocks or individual projects.
Rachel will be leaving Ohio next summer and just the thought of it makes me so, so sad. I know she will love having her family closer to her mom and dad, so I can't be too sad. Family is a good thing!
As for the quilt....the color palette needed to be simple....I love red and white quilts. Red and White for Christmas. I used a variety of red prints. A Japanese dot, a gingham, apples, and a vintage large red and white check. Then I added a touch of grey...a text print called Dictionary by Tim Holtz. The grey binding and splashes of the same text in the blocks, is a nod to our OSU Buckeyes.
In the lower right hand border, I added a pieced heart...for Ohio! Ohio is shaped like a heart and our state slogan is Ohio, the heart of it all!
Here and there, I fussy cut a heart for the top of the tree from a Maze and Vale panel. A sweet little heart because Rachel and her family have touched my heart.
I added a great red check from the new collection by Molly Hatch...and the backing fabric is also a Molly Hatch fabric...
And, finally, I hand quilted this with a color I LOVE! Valdani size 8 perle cotton in Orangey Red. Stitched with love.
Of course, pieced using Aurifil cotton thread.
This is a small quilt...great for a wall hanging, over a chair or on a table. I can just imagine Rachel unpacking it every Christmas and remembering her group of friends in Ohio who will always love her dearly.
Love you, Rachel :)
One week to go!
happy thursday!
xo mary
What a great gift. A real treasure! Love how you lovingly thought out all those special details.
ReplyDeleteThis is a quilt to treasure forever! Gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteMary - I love your design and can just feel the love in this quilt! I'm going to have to take a hand quilting class from you one of these days!
ReplyDeleteI made a mug rug from Amanda Jean's tree block this weekend. They were so much fun to make! Your quilt is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThis is the sweetest! So much thoughtfulness in every detail - just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI love love love what you did with Amanda Jean's pattern. I'm going to make that next year for our daughter-in-law. You are sew creative, thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt's the most wonderful Christmas quilt of all!!!! I just love absolutely everything about it. Such a precious gift, just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOhh, what a wonderful little quilt and a spectacular gift!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sweet Christmas quilt! LOVE it!.:)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt Mary I do love it so! Your friend is very lucky and I'm sorry you will miss her but she will have a fabulous quilt to remember you by!
ReplyDeleteSew thoughtful of you to send her off with a quilt. I loved it the minute I saw the first tree picture. Probably because I have this pattern and knew right away it was Amanda Jean's. I love that you made it red and white. If I were moving and someone gave me this quilt I would cry like a baby. There is so much love in this quilt. Rachel will feel it instantly. I have moved several times and know that friendships like this last forever. Bless you. Janita
ReplyDeleteRachel is awfully lucky to have you for a friend.
ReplyDeleteThis is my type of Christmas quilt- simple and understated! And you are the best friend anyone could have- thoughtful, loving and giving!
ReplyDeleteRachel is going to be thrilled with this quilt and al lovely reminder of the time she spent with you stitching and chating, thanks to the internet you will be able to keep in contact too
ReplyDeleteThat is so wonderful, a very special quilt for your special friend. I love it, the colours and fabrics are fabulous and it really has your touch.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, thoughtful gift. I am sure it will feel as though you are there with Rachel.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet Mary! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift! I love your choice of fabrics. Also love the quilt that is behind your new one.
ReplyDeleteIt's briliant! I commend you for your creativity and how you use pattern to make it your own. What a nice gift!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! Sure to be a treasured gift.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suz - I love the understated simplicity and the thought behind this Christmassy friendship quilt.
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is modern meeting country, a/k/a country chic.
ReplyDeleteMary, I just read this whole post and all the comments, and great big alligator teardrops have swelled up in my eyes. I don't know how I got so lucky to meet you and become friends with you, but I am grateful every single day for your friendship. You are one of the people in my life that I will treasure forever! This quilt is one of my prized possessions. If my house was ever burning down, it is one of the first things I would grab on my way out the door, after the kids of course! Thank you for all the thought and love you put into making this. It is just so meaningful and I love every stitch of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a really lovely gift! I think the colours really do say Christmas, I love simple red and white together. I hope you had a great time over the festive period and that you and yours have a fabulous and happy New Year!! Bethx
ReplyDelete