Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Finished

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quilt-back

Done.

I finished hand stitching the binding late on Saturday, after working on it all afternoon while watching the Red Sox. I don’t hand stitch very often and I’m not very confident about my skill, so it’s slow going for me. But it’s done!

This quilt has been four years in the making. I originally pieced it in 2009 when I was working far away from home in San Diego for 6 months. After I brought it home, I did nothing with it for 3 years. It wasn’t until I got a bee in my bonnet at the end of 2012 that I started to put the quilt sandwich together, pin basted the sucker, and then started the hand quilting process while, this time, Don was away in San Diego.

I was determined to finish it before I leave town for Hartford. And I did.

I’ve been playing with it upstairs:

quilt1

Oh, you queen sized behemoth, you were very hard to maneuver in my small sewing space! This just might be a good reason to never get a king sized bed.

Before you say, “But Claudia, you have one pattern on the headboard and then all those patterns in the quilt,” remember that I like a lot of pattern. You’ve seen the rest of my house, haven’t you? I have no problem mixing patterns – maybe it’s my British heritage. I like all those cozy British cottage living rooms with an abundance of pattern. I promise not to go crazy with the pattern love.

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quilt2

You look pretty at the end of the bed.

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quilt5

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I love you.

Pretty in the bedroom, isn’t it? Well, it’s only there temporarily because it’s traveling with me to Hartford! Yep. Why, you ask? Two reasons. One: Don, though he loves and appreciates it, won’t love it like I do and I don’t want to leave for Hartford and not be able to see it for 6 weeks. Two: Duvets, duvets. Remember my post about them? I don’t like duvets. This trip I am staying at the hotel for 2 weeks, then I’m moving to the company apartments for the rest of my stay. Both places have duvets on the beds. Do. Not. Like. So this time, instead of throwing the too heavy duvet off the bed and then shivering because a sheet isn’t quite enough, I will have the quilt. See? Doesn’t that make sense?

And I can look at my pretty quilt. And it will make my temporary lodgings more home-like.

Don and I were going to try to take a photo of it outside, but it’s too gosh darned windy and cold and gray out today. Spring? Are you there? Will you please come for a few days before I have to leave on Thursday?

firstdaffodil

Some comfort: our first daffodil has opened up. It’s right on the edge of the woods. Such a beauty!

Quilt details: Design inspired by the Snowball Quilt in Kaffe Fassett’s book, Museum Quilts. Many, many of the fabrics are Kaffe Fassett designs, along with some from my stash, border fabric is by Jinny Beyers.

Happy Monday.

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Comments

  1. Claudia, that is absolutely gorgeous…and the turquoise, [oh you can call it aqua if you prefer] is stunning…

    I am trying not to gush, really, but oh…I do love what you have done with it.

    And too much pattern? No way, just perfect.

    I could see this is a mag.

    Jen

    • Thank you so much, Jen. When I first saw the design in the book, I fell in love with it. It just struck me as so lush and gorgeous.

  2. Beautiful fabrics, fabulous hand-quilting, and gorgeous quilt. I can see why you’d want to take it with you everywhere! Hope you have a great week.
    xoxo
    Donna

    • Oh, dear Donna, your compliments make my heart sing, as I know you to be the most incredible quilter. My skills are puny compared to yours, but I’m working on them!

  4. O’ my – the colors and the hand stitching – love your quilt! I think the quilt looks wonderful on your bed – the rose-reds in the quilt matches the roses on your headboard; and, it makes your bedroom look so cozy. Great job and I look forward to seeing your next quilting project.

  5. So lovely! Congratulations on a major project. And very smart of you to take it with you to Hartford.

    • I seem to take a lot of things along to Hartford: quilts, featherweights, Scout, fabric, projects…..

  9. Oh, Claudia…it is beautiful! Is that the backing in the first pic? I can see why you want to take it with you…just lovely! Oh, btw, I put in a call to spring….she didn’t pick up! ;)

  10. That is beautiful! Great job!! Going the distance with a making a quilt is quite a big deal in my world. I love the colors you have–they seem very “you”.
    I agree with you, I love to mix patterns. I like the layered, cozy effect. Who can pick just one??
    Hey, was Scout in any of these pictures? Did I miss her? I am going back to check to see if I can find here. (sort of like Where’s Waldo…)

    • No – she wasn’t in any of them because I took them upstairs and she doesn’t go upstairs anymore.

      • Oh, that’s right. I forgot about that, probably because I live in a single story. Knowing her amazing ability to photo bomb I kept looking for her.

  12. Claudia it is so very pretty! I just finished a baby quilt last Thursday for our new grandbaby. She was born on Tuesday night so I was a little late.
    Suzan

  15. Your quilt is beautiful. I love it on your bed and it truly does remind me of an English cottage. I would take it along to Hartford too.

  16. Such a gorgeous quilt. Doesn’t it feel good to have it done? I don’t blame you for bringing it with you. I hate duvets, too. And so much prettier than hotel bedspreads or duvets – yuck.

  17. Oh Claudia, I love this quilt. I love it across the whole bed. I would be taking it with me just for the comfort as well. At least this this time Don will be home with the doggie.

  18. Beautiful Claudia! I love the idea that you will take it with you to Hartford – what a wonderful way of having a piece of home along with you. Ann

  19. Claudia! (Pretend as if I said your name with an accent on each syllable.). I am in love with your quilt!!! It Is gorgeous.

    And, I am a pattern mixer, too.

  20. It’s a beautiful quilt! Amazing how the simplest designs result in the best quilts. I love the fabrics you’ve used, and the gorgeous pale blue edging.
    How luxurious and comforting to travel with your new quilt – real home from home!
    Just gorgeous!
    Gill xx

  21. It is as lovely as can be! I love both sides of it and that beautiful blue binding and border. I hope it helps you to sleep like a baby when you travel with it and have only good dreams.

  22. Your quilt is beautiful! You must get a lot of satisfaction from looking at the result of so many hours of work. It’s sure to help you feel more comfortable while you’re away from home. I don’t like duvet’s either. My sister had one on the bed in her guest room once and I didn’t like it at all. Everytime I spent the night with her I took it off and put in on the bench because it was just too bulky and hot. Hope Spring comes calling before you have to leave.

  23. Amazing Dear Claudia..How I wish I had the patience to quilt..I do believe it is not “in style” to match everything at this time which suits me fine as I never did..I decorate with what I love and never worry about what is “in style”..My Daffodils at the edge of the woods have also bloomed..I have thought about bringing some in but I also love seeing them when I walk out the door..I must ask you one thing about Don’s post yesterday..The first picture at the top..was that Don in costume or Charles Norris..I looked up more pictures after reading his post but I am still not sure about that picture..I think it just amazing and maybe a little spooky how much Don looks like Charles..

  25. I love the way it turned out, Claudia, and I’m crazy about the mix of patterns. More is better, and I love the English cottage look, too. I think you did this rapidly (and I’m talking about finishing it) because it would take me TEN years to do the same thing. LOL And I don’t sew with a machine so it would probably be even longer yet. Those colors in it are perfect, and I understand exactly why you want to take it with you. It’s so cheery and pretty, and that turquoise would make me very, very happy.

    Is Don home? I think I must have missed that somehow. I went back and scanned through some posts, but I thought he might still be in Europe. Hope he gets home soon if he already isn’t.

    Love the daffodils, too!

    XO,

    Sheila

  27. I like the two patterns (your headboard and quilt) together. It’s very whimsical and pretty. I too have taken a quilt to a hotel. I like to bring “cozy” warmth with me.
    Brenda

  28. This is just beautiful and I’m so happy for you that you finished it! YAY for taking it with you to Hartford. I don’t like heave covers either but a quilt is just right!!!!

    hugs, Linda

  30. I knew I like that quilt, I love Kaffe Fassett, I have knitted many of his patterns. It is beautiful Claudia. It really give the bedroom a totolly new look. So nice to see the daffodils finally being able to pop up.

  31. Hi Claudia – I LOVE your quilt. It is so beautiful and I would definitely take it with me too. I take my pillow with me everywhere like a little kid ;). I love the mix of patterns, maybe it is the British heritage. I’m going to mix a lot of patterns in my bedroom and living room. I think it looks cozy. J

  33. How timely. I was just given a wonderful stack of older quilting magazines and immediately pounced on a snowball quilt pattern. I plan on making it my next project. Hopefully it won’t take me as long to finish it as yours!

  34. It’s beautiful – love all the patterns together – wish I was so bold. Quilting always amazes me — all those patterns and they don’t seem to go together (in my mind all together) but then when the fabric is cut into shapes and pieced together – it’s so lovely.

  35. I don’t know why I have been having problems leaving comments lately on your blog. It used to have my /name/address on memory and then after I would write sometning and post it to your blog it would come up with an error window, by that time I didn’t want to go back and rewrite everything. Anyway, I love the patterns mixed together! Very pretty and I don’t blame you for bringing a little something from home…it is your ‘blankie” after all! ~Hugs, Patti

  36. Oh so wonderful on your bed. It looks like you get to crawl into a bed of flowers. A hand stitched quilt is something of a rarity now a days. I live close to some Amish and Mennonite and the chance to see their quilts is like going to an art museum. I didn’t remember you saying it was a queen size, but have always liked your “comfy” sewing area…WOW. I think I would have had a lot of goodies knocked off onto the floor. I think you should have Don take the quilt and while holding it up, wrap his arms around you, and then each night you are away Don will be wrapping his arms around you when you get into bed. You have done wonderful Claudia

  37. Your quilt is lovely congratulations on finishing It. I now how much hard work it can be I’ve been working on two for a couple of years it hard to find the time to get them finish.

  39. Know you have to be excited to have your quilt completed and on the bed!! Love the colors and I know it’ll be enjoy for several generations to come!! (You did sign it on the back!!) Quilts ARE a work of art!!

  41. I’m a bit late coming by but I’m sure glad I didn’t totally miss out on seeing this – the quilt is gorgeous and of course priceless having been slaved over piece by piece. It’ll be lovely to snuggle up with while you’re away.

  44. It’s beautiful. I just love it. And I love the way the quilt works in the room with the headboard and the paintings and everything. My kind of mix!!

    I just realized that you had to match up all the little corner squares (triangles) before you put it together so the squares would be the same color. Did you lay the whole thing out before you started doing the corners? OR did you just do them as you went and hoped for the best?

    ~Angela~

    • It’s been a while since I pieced it, Angela, but I remember laying out two rows at a time, carefully picking up each block-to-be and sewing it, then carefully placing it back in its place. Always checking to make sure I had enough of the corners in each color to make the whole thing work!

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