Wedding Quilt

My daughter, Teresa, got married in June.  Ten years ago when my oldest daughter, Katherine, got married, I made a quilt for the bride and groom.  I know how to sew, but I do not think of myself as a quilter.  Katherine's quilt was the only large guilt I ever made.  When Teresa told me she was getting married, I knew I wanted to make a quilt for her, too.  I didn't have a lot of time to complete the quilt before the wedding and found myself sewing like a crazy person for days on end.  I had my doubts along the way if this quilt was going to look ok.  I am relieved and happy with the final result, and Teresa seemed happy, too, when she received the quilt.

Now that I have made 2 large quilts, I think I will retire from the big quilt making process and focus on smaller projects.

Here is the finished quilt for Teresa:

 The pattern is made up of two 9 patch blocks.  Teresa's favorite color is yellow, and mine is blue.  The other fabrics were chose to complement the two main colors.

After struggling with the ladder in the yard in an attempt to hang the quilt to photograph it, I decided to get off the ladder and take the quilt inside to photograph on my bed. It isn't as big as a standard size queen quilt (dimensions of the quilt are close to 82 inches on each side).  I think it is big enough, though, that it will look ok on a double or queen size bed.  It is a nice size for a picnic blanket or couch blanket for late night movies, too.  Teresa can decide how she wants to use it.

I finished piecing the quilt top a couple weeks before the wedding.  I didn't know if I could get it tied and the binding completed in time for the wedding, but I was determined to try.  I posted a photo of the top in a forum on Ravelry.com.  To my utter astonishment and incredible joy, Linda, of the long arm quilting business, Corner to Corner, in Racine, WI contacted me and offered to do the quilting for me.  I have never met Linda in person.  I count her among my friends in the German Shepherd Lover's group on Ravelry.   I never expected such a generous and kind offer.  I will be deeply grateful to Linda for many years to come.  I mailed her the quilt , she did a beautiful all over heart pattern on the quilt and rushed it back to me in the mail.  It arrived 3 days before the wedding.   I chose to bind the quilt with the blue fabric.  Here is a picture of the back showing the beautiful work Linda did.

It still amazes me every time I look at the quilt.  It is full of joy and kindness;  a perfect wish for a bride and groom in a wedding gift.