Monday, August 27, 2012

Design Wall Monday #32 - Journey of a Quilter

I have a big reveal today to share...
drum roll please...tada! 
These are all my finished blocks for my "Journey Of A Quilter" project! The extremely well written pattern for this quilt is by Leanne Beasley.
The stitching on the first block commenced in July 2007, so it took 5 years to finished the 9 blocks! There are a lot of stitches and many memories in this quilt! And I am happy to say that I still love this project today as much as I have since the day I started it...and that doesn't always happen on long term projects (just ask any one of the UFO's in my closet!!)
You can read the long stitching journey documented on my blog by clicking here. I just counted and there were over 181 comments of encouragement and advice left on those blogposts over the last 5 years, and I thank you for every word shared!
I will sew the blocks together when my sewing machine returns from the "spa". 
And then the next part of the journey starts - the quilting. I have been debating about the quilting decision, but have decided that the stitching has taken so long with the embroidery being done by hand, so what is another year or two extra to do the quilting by hand also?!?
To see more design walls, hop over to Patchwork Times.
And you still have time to enter my Bowls with Borders draw - click here. These are the bowl link ups for today:

August 27th

35 comments:

Teresa said...

I love it and would love to have the pattern if it is still available. Just beautiful.

~Kris~ said...

Congratulations on a beautiful finish. The fabrics are lovely and the pattern is so sweet. I really love it. Time to bask in your accomplishment!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy,

Love your Journey of a Quilter.
I have been working on this project too, but had put it aside.
Your completion has encouraged me to keep working.

It may take another year or too, but I will keep going.

Enjoy your week.
Dianne

Denise :) said...

Wow, this is a stunner! Very beautiful! I'd love to have this pattern, too. I'll have to check it out! :)

Brenda said...

Lovely work.

Gari in AL said...

This is absolutly beautiful!

Judy D in WA said...

Standing Ovation!!!
It's just stunning! And has been quite the journey. Thanks for taking us along with you.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Wow! Well worth the time you put into this one!

Ruth said...


This is just the cutest quilt! What an inspiration!

Bonnie said...

Encore, encore. Wonderful. I look forward to seeing the finished quilt in the next few years.

Cathy said...

Congratulations! it is really lovely!

Cathy said...

That is GORGEOUS!!! And I think you are right.... after all that hand embroidery, it needs to be hand quilted. After 5 years, what's a couple more? LOL!

Pokey said...

It is a grand accomplishment, Kathy! Just look what a bit of dedication to sewing can do. Very well done! Here's hoping the hand quilting goes a bit faster, lol
:-}pokey

Darlene said...

applause, applause! It's beautiful, Kathy. I think I was here for every stitch. :-)

Do you know that I have yet to quilt mine? That's just ridiculous - shame on me. I need to pull it out and think about quilting it. :-)

Missie of Traditional Primitives said...

Oh! I love this quilt...you did a great job! LOTS of blocks in that baby!

Stitched With Prayer said...

OH My Gosh!!! Your "Journey" quilt is so beautiful!!! I wanted so badly to do this one while I was recovering from surgery in 2009, then again in 2010, but when I located a set of the patterns at a shop withing driving distance for me, it was well over $100 for the set and we just didn't have it. BUT, I still drool and dream every time I see a finish of this quilt posted and hope that one day, before the pattern has disappeared, I will be able to get it. Gorgeous, just gorgeous. I love your fabrics too. Any ideas on how you want it quilted yet? Big Hugs...

Cathy Tomm said...

I great project. I think it is worth your hand quilting too. Hope you get that machine back soon. so you can keep going on it.

straythreads said...

That is absolutely beautiful!! Love the colors and all the stitching.
Ann

Dresden Quilter said...

It is so beautiful.

audrey said...

i love this quilt! very beautifully done.:)

cspoonquilt said...

Fantastic quilt! and all that fine hand work! And pink and green is always a wining color combo! Really great quilt top! cheers, Claire W.

Cyndi loves to stitch said...

It's Beautiful Kathy........after watching you do this here and there and now all of it up on the wall...........I think I am going to have to go buy this pattern. I'll take me a while too,
(mostly because I have 42 other projects going on at all times). But I want to get it before it's gone.. Maybe in 5-10 years you can come by and see mine. Beautiful colors and stitch work!!

scraphappy said...

Congratulations! It is not often that a project goes on for so long and still calls to us when it is done. It is a beauty to be sure and well worth the time of hand quilting. Hope you can get the blocks together soon so that you don't have to put it away and get it all back together again when your machine is back.

Teresa in Music City said...

OMG!!! Congratulations Kathy!!!! That is just SO beautiful!!! You must be doing the Happy Dance in circles :*) I've gone to Leanne's website to get this pattern, but I think she only sells it as a block-of-the-month and only through a quilt store. It's a special quilt you will treasure forever! =^..^=

Janet O. said...

What an accomplishment, Kathy! It really has been a journey, and the destination is in sight. Must be a great feeling. It is beautiful!!

Amy said...

WOW! Five years worth lead to one BEAUTIFUL quilt! It's amazing!

Yvette said...

I love it! You did a great job.
I am so jealous, I have this kit sitting in a box.

Mary said...

5 years on a quilt does seem long. I think of how many years it will take to quilt and you've really got a Journey. A happy One though! It's going to be even more beautiful.

Sherill said...

Think of the memories in your Journey! What a beauty! Congratulations!

Rose Marie said...

Oh, lovely and so worth every single stitch!

Carli The Quilter said...

Five years is a good length of time to see this lovely, very special quilt. Thanks for popping in on my 'Sashiko Sockeye Bowls' its been really fun to participate in a blog tour.
Carli

Sew Create It - Jane said...

What beautiful work! You should be so pleased!

Kate said...

Wow! Congrats on getting the blocks done. It's gorgeous!

Teaquilts said...

Love your quilt in progress you posted today. The colors/prints go so well together and I love the scrappy, unplanned look to the quilt.

Teaquilts said...

I said "today". I'm behind in reading blogs. LOL