Autumn Steals In

Some of you may remember this quilt:







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I made the top around August or September of last year, wanting something that whipped up quickly. It was based on a quilt pattern by Annie Unrein, which I followed for the most part, but of course, had to put my own spin on. *w* For once, it was made strictly of quilting cottons, but at the end, I had to give in to my baser instincts and add something shiny - a lusciously silky satin sashing and backing. I was really pleased with the results

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and then I promptly ruined it. *heh*

At that point, that was my...fourth quilt top - and my second attempt at quilting, and the results were extremely poor.

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*eek!* I decided not to go ahead with the quilting until I figured out what the problem was, as I didn't want to ruin the quilt.

On Tuesday, some family stuff came up in the shape of my brother-in-law. He was having emergency open heart surgery and the prognosis was not good. Beloved Spouse immediately made plans for us to travel to their city to spend time with sis on the day of the surgery. It being me, I immediately began planning what quilt I could make to keep him warm in his recovery period. I booked off a week of vacation, and that night, began to pick out the quilting I had already done on "Autmn Steals In".


















I was confident that I could do a bang-up job of the quilting this time, and as I carefully picked out my prior stitches from the unforgiving fabric, I planned a pattern of leaves on vines












and my odd little "curls" in the sashing.

I didn't have a lot of time to quilt (surgery was on Wednesday and he was expected to be awake by Thursday night); so I knew that careful planning was in order, as well as a good block of time. Wednesday during the day was spent in vigil at the hospital, thinking good thoughts and hoping for the best. Late in the afternoon we found out that he had made it though the surgery and was resting comfortably in intensive care. With nothing more to be done, a collective sigh of relief from the three of us, and back home we went, where I began quilting.

Later that night, another phone call informed us that he had gone back into surgery as he had a bleed. We all prayed in our own way as family members flew in from all sides of the country; and I, ever hopeful, continued to quilt, superstitiously believing that if I quilted it well, so would go his healing.

And so, since Wednesday night, I have been speaking quietly with The Universe, taking breaks for food and sketchy naps, and making periodic calls to the hosptial. I've gotten to know his nurses quite well over the telephone.

And I quilted.

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And quilted some more. I finished the quilting earlier this afternoon, and called the hosptial for an update. He is, according to nurse Sharon - "Doing super! Sitting up and drinking water."

That man just isn't ready to move along to whatever's next, thank you. *s*

Beloved Spouse and I got into bed and had a long nap - the first restful sleep we've had in days. I woke up and took pictures of the quilt (some in incadesecent light, which is never a good idea.)

We'll travel back tommorrow, and I'll have the finished quilt in hand. I'm going to try and take some better pictures before we go and re-post them later, but if I never get them done, you'll just have to believe me when I say that this is, hands down, the best quilting I've done to date.



I'm really pleased.

When I get back, it's back to work on the commission quilt.

No rest for the wicked. *w*

ETA:  BSP loved this quilt so much I wasn't allowed to turn it over!  *le sigh*  I'll make something else...

Anonymous

6 comments:

  1. Such beautiful work! I think sometimes you just need the right incentive. Hope the dear patient continues to improve, especially once he receives your extra special gift.

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  2. Yvonne16.5.09

    Gorgeous quilt - I really like your mix of fabrics, especially having the satin there. Great quilting. Hope it helps your brother in law in his recovery; I'm sure it will.

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  3. Oh, my lovely, what a stressful week you've had! I love that you stayed strong and healed through quilting. What a beautiful thing to give- so full of love. Best wishes for your BIL. xxx

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  4. Oh my goodness! That quilting is lovely and it'll also be such a nice gift for your brother-in-law. The superstitious quilting, the "if I can do this right, everything will go well"...that's definitely something I'd be thinking too. You did an amazing job!

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  5. Di, thanks for you comment and your good wishes for BIL.

    Yvonne, thank you very much - for both your comment and the recovery hopes!

    Sandra - yes indeed, it has been stressful. *blech!* Thank you for the wishes. xo

    Crystal - thanks so much! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels superstitious! :D

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  6. I'm absolutely astonished by some of your work! I've tried quilting, it just isn't for me. I truly respect those that are able to take this craft to new heights like you have.

    BTW: I don't mind if you called Melvin ugly. :P
    I think he's ugly, too.

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