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12.04.2012

OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!




About 20 years ago, when I still lived in Virginia, a friend gave me a bag full of fabric strips, which she'd cut to make a log cabin quilt.


At that time, I had NO idea what to do with it...and told her so...but she insisted on cleaning out her stash...and I was the recipient. 



I think that bag of material was what made me attend my first Quilt Guild meeting (Peninsula Piecemakers) several years later. I really enjoyed the meetings but they helped me to realize that I didn't want to make bed quilts.



So, I never did anything with those fabric strips except carry them with me when we moved to Florida and then here to Colombia...and pull them out to admire every now and then. Thankfully, I kept them together. 



Well, as you all probably know, I don't love making traditional quilts but got involved with a really loving, wonderful group who does. I was so fortunate to find my Colombian quilt group shortly after moving here and in the year that it took me to unpack and organize my play room, I came across that bag of log cabin strips and decided to donate it to our group.



They had talked about a raffle quilt or a lottery of some sort...and I suggested that this be the fabric for it. Good quality fabric comes at a premium price in Colombia and they each have a heart the size of Texas...so they were all for making this a group project. 



The six of us (we're a small group) worked on it at our weekly meetings...with me doing the minimum...(most everything I did had to be taken out) and they loved planning the placement, cutting the strips to the correct length, and putting it together. A couple of the ladies did quite a bit at home with the construction just because it was easier.


Well, the piecing turned out GORGEOUS and was made to fit a king size bed. It was then sent to Bogota where some of the group know of a man who does the quilting. His prices are very reasonable apparently and include the batting and backing. It came back a couple weeks ago and these are the pictures of what it looks like.


It is gloriously beautiful. And...it's on 

MY bed!!! 



That's right. 



The girls decided that I should have it, gifted it to me last Wednesday - and told me that it would always be a remembrance of them and of the friend who gave me the fabric in the first place.


I sobbed big, sloppy tears alllllllll over it. 



Thanks SO very MUCH to Bertha, Carmen, Margie, Momy and Vivian. You are treasures.

Create your life,



annie!




linking to Time to Shine

34 comments:

  1. Oh, my, annie!...what a glorious surprise for you! That quilt is beautiful and the quilting is gorgeous! It's story, tho, is priceless!

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    1. I know! Even after a week, I still walk into the bedroom and my heart just swells up. Thank you Annie. xxooxx

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  2. What a wonderful gift! So many memories stitched into it! It will be a family heirloom for sure!

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    1. I'm really blown away. I've been replaying those many Wednesday afternoons in my mind and it's so very cool. And...this is one set of memories that I'm sure I won't forget.

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  3. Wow, beautiful! Looks like a LOT of time and effort went into it. Great for you to be able to use it now.

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    1. Thanks Jillian! It WAS a lot of time...beautiful memories...and effort. The funny thing is that here in Colombia, we live on the tropical Caribbean coast with no air conditioning (we don't even have hot water heaters) and quilts just aren't needed. BUT, because we've moved into an apartment that gets every bit of breeze available - it gets a little cool at night in the winter. But that's ok because I can just fold it down if we don't need it.

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  4. Quilters are such nice people aren't they!
    Gorgeous quilt!

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    1. You know...I have found...that they really are the BEST! Of course, I can say that for all of my artist friends. Thank you Deborah!

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  5. Stunning! I think I would have shed a tear or two on it too! ;-)

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    1. Thanks Caatje! It was such a wonderful thing for them to do!

      PS - I'm totally enjoying your ATC tutorials... Thanks XOXOXO

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  6. A beautiful quilt and a beautifully inspiring story. How lucky you are to have such a wonderful group of friends.

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  7. Such a piece, Anne. Every time you look at it, you can think about the people gave to you. It' a very precious thing, made with lot of love .

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    1. Oh yes. I feel love oozing out it every time I look at it!

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  8. Oh annie!, it is indeed Gorgeous. Unbelieveable the work that has gone into this and how on earth you all worked out the measurements I shall never know....it is truly Gorgeous and amazing. I'm so pleased you get to keep it annie! Good on you girls!

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    1. Thank you Ann. What an unexpected blessing. Thankfully, these women are whizzes at the measuring thing. They always amaze me!

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  9. You have made some wonderful friends to create this for you. Your heart must be shining. xox

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  10. Ooooh that is gorgeous! When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were about quilting. "The quilt story" which is about a little girl finding comfort in a found quilt which had comforted a little girl long ago. And my very favorite "Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt" which is about a farmer and a group of his friends go up against the women in town for a quilting competition... and the men win.

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    1. Isn't it though?!? :) I've never read either of those books...but you can be sure I'll look for them. Thanks for the info. :)

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  11. Annie, that is the most beautiful story! What a wonderful expression of love from your friends. Every time you look at it, you'll warmed inside and out! It is beautifully quilted!! Enjoy it, my friend. Hugs, Terri

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    1. Oh thanks Terri. You're so right. Warm inside and out. Glad you stopped by!

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    1. I couldn't believe it. It's even prettier than the pictures!

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  13. Beautiful quilt and a fabulous story to go with it. Enjoy :-)

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  14. That is truly a beautiful quilt! I love the design and colors on it..

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    1. Thanks so much. I love it too! Everything about it!

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  15. Annie - that's the sweetest story and the most beautiful quilt. You are so blessed to have friends like that. And, your art is so beautiful!
    I love it!

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    1. Thanks so much Jeannie-JB! I really am blessed and don't I know it!

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  16. I'm almost in tears over this. How wonderful for you! How beautiful! How special. Terah

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    1. Thank you so much for your beautiful comment...and your tender heart.

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  17. Wow...what a beautiful blessing!!!

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    1. I agree. :) It's been on the bed for 10 days now and still gives me a rush every time I see it.

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