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by toogie ( edited 18 Sep 2018 ) 18 Sep 2018

Good morning Cuties!

I have finally finished our anniversary quilt! As usual my fingers have been in many pies (doing several things at the same time) but I'm glad to say it is finished in time.
I ended up telling my DH when the kids were here because it was making me too stressed out to try to hide everything. He then got to put his 'stamp' on it, so to speak, by saying what he wanted. This is the result.
However, I have had to blur the photos, as the quilt has many dates/names and its a shame people ( not Cuties!) want to steal your identities.
After I made the top and got everything ready we put it in the quilting frame on a Sunday afternoon, to hand quilt. I had a quilting party on Tuesday. Four ladies and myself quilted that day and was able to roll each side one time. The rest was quilted mostly by my dh and me, although my girls came in and quilted a few lines and also the niece that I travel with. She also cooked a very good lunch for us, the day the ladies came.
The backing of the quilt is printed inspirational quotes. All the snowball blocks on the top are machine embroidered. I ended up not only putting our marriage, our kids, and their marriages and kids, but also our siblings (mine took one block while his took 4-lol), our parents and grand parents. I still had to fill in snowball blocks so I started putting sayings about our life together. Like when and where we married, 1st apartment, army service, how we spent our summer and winter vacations while raising the kids, our work/retirements, etc.
Our oldest grandson has seen it and has enjoyed reading the blocks.
Well, I hope you like it and again I'm sorry I had to intentionally blur it. Thanks for looking Toogie

ps-I want to thank Angie/crafter for all her encouragement, input and just putting up with me-lol
Also, Kim/dragonflyer for trying to help jump start me. I loved her snowmen/snowball quilt she made her parents.Thanks Cuties!

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by sewmom 07 Jan 2024

Amazing!!!

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by mrskiki 07 Jan 2024

What a wonderful journal of your life. I'm sure it will be treasured even long after you are gone. Beautiful work. Happy Anniversary. Hugs. Nan

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by awesome1 07 Jan 2024

Lovely quilt, labor of love, but an OLD post

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by dragonflyer 06 Jan 2024

Beautifully done, Toogie...what an heirloom you have created.

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by hightechgrammy 06 Jan 2024

Toogie! Do you have any idea how amazing you are?!!! You blow me away. Thanks for inspiring me to keep on trying. This is gorgeous!

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by lbrow 22 Sep 2018

Ahhhh! Toogie my dear, what a wondrous quilt you have wrought, I SEE LOVE in every little stitch. How blessed you all are.

1 comment
toogie by toogie 22 Sep 2018

Oh Ms Lillian, it's so good to read a comment from you. I think of you, in quite times, as I work.
I am thankful and blessed for sure. I too, see love in the stitches, even the 'not so pretty' ones. Hubby sure likes it and that is the main thing...Can you bearly see my angel you made me on the bed post? I treasure it, thank you again.

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by rachap 21 Sep 2018

Just think of all the love that went into this beautiful quilt, absolutely perfect for an anniversary quilt. Happy Anniversary to you both and wishes for many more.

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toogie by toogie 21 Sep 2018

Thank you very much. The kids are being secretive but I know they don't want me to 'worry' about helping get things done for the party....

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by pennifold 20 Sep 2018

WOW WOW WOW!!! This quilt has turned out so beautifully Toogie. No wonder you are so pleased with it. I'm so glad you got help from hubby too and how wonderful to have all your family on it too, and that backing fabric is just a perfect addition. A real heirloom for sure!!
Love, love, love it. Love Chris

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toogie by toogie 20 Sep 2018

Thank you Chris. I enjoyed thinking of the ones, as I stitched theirs out, but at this moment I am just glad to be through. I have been burning the candles at both ends so to speak and it has caught up with me. No energy today, at all, but still pushing...glad tomorrow is Friday.

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by dailylaundry 20 Sep 2018

Your Anniversary quilt is so perfect - Well done, Toogie! Only love can produce such a wonderful quilt!!! Love, love, love it! Hugs, Laura

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toogie by toogie 20 Sep 2018

Thank you Laura, you are so kind.

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by cfidl 20 Sep 2018

Oh my! This is so special and willl be apprecited for years to come. I have a 9 patch I started and this gives my inspiration to continue working on it. Thank for sharing it.

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toogie by toogie 20 Sep 2018

Christine let us see when you finish and thank you for your thoughts.

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by sebsews 20 Sep 2018

Your quilt is absolutely beautiful. It is a family treasure of love. Suzanna

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toogie by toogie 20 Sep 2018

Thank you Suzanna, it was made from love for sure.

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by lilylady 20 Sep 2018

Your Anniversary Quilt turned out beautiful. I love the material on the back. What a great idea. You don't even notice the crosses. I hope you and DH enjoy it for many years to come.

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toogie by toogie 20 Sep 2018

Thank you! He said something about we won't really use it and I said we are not going to be like his mom and find brand new things she 'saved' and never used and enjoyed....

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by sewdeb 19 Sep 2018

Congratulations on this wonderful work of love! Sure to be cherished by your hubby but, also by future generations! Bravo! Hugs*, Deb

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toogie by toogie 19 Sep 2018

Thanks Deb, I am glad you can appreciate the quilt. Yes, this has family history that, if it holds up well, future generations will be able to share.

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by mrskiki 19 Sep 2018

I am blown away! How long have you been working on this? And how do you choose who to hand it down to?!! Hugs Nan W

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toogie by toogie 19 Sep 2018

I finally started late while also doing a kitchen and dining room remodel and its not my worry who gets it. I'll be g-o-n-e!-lol

toogie by toogie 19 Sep 2018

I just looked back, by clicking on my name, then in my Projects. It looks like I did the first block June 26. Between then and now, I went on a 9 day trip to Canada and have been working on a remodel for the last 5 weeks. So off and on I would cut out, piece and embroider, from June 26th until finished hand quilting Sept 15th. I reckon it was almost 2 months.
I told Angie before I started hand quilting I sanded kitchen cabinets, until I felt like my fingerprints were sanded off. Then when I would prick my finger from quilting ..ouch!
I can use a thimble for my right hand on top the quilt but for some reason I have to 'feel' the needle is through underneath so I don't wear a thimble for my left hand.

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by shirley124 18 Sep 2018

Great work. Well done. Glad Hubby liked it and helped quilt it. Treasure it. Hugs

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

I will treasure it, thank you Shirley. I appreciate your looking.

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by vkggal 18 Sep 2018

What a wonderful idea and surely a family heirloom!

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked this.

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by crafter2243 Moderator 18 Sep 2018

Yeah!!. It is done and what a work of art it is. That backing is absolutely perfect for your family history quilt. I believe that everyone is reading the blocks when they come to visit. It will be talked about a lot. Super job.

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

I know you are as happy as I am that it is finished-😉😀 you have been so supportive and been there when I needed you- thank you again ever so much.
Now I am waiting to read your story you should post....

crafter2243 by crafter2243 edited 18 Sep 2018

Ha, ha. Ok done

toogie by toogie 19 Sep 2018

I did read and thanks for posting-such a hilarious story! It could only happen to someone like you and me-lol

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by heleninca 18 Sep 2018

You might have blurred the names & dates, but the color & love show through.

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

I am happy, thank you.

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by kustomkuddle 18 Sep 2018

What a lovely quilt. Truly a treasure for years to come! I'm assuming one of those snowballs includes the name of the creator (you) the date and the occasion for which it was made and of course the name of the quilt! I've been told that each quilt now should have a name-not that any of mine have been named. lol. You have done such a beautiful job, Toogie. The backing is awesome. Where ever did you find such an appropriate backing?

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

The backing I found at Walmart. I know it was intended to be cut into blocks, hence the crosshairs, but we both liked the sayings so dh said it was the 'cross' not crosshairs.
The quilt has the 50th anniversary snowball with dates October 14, 1968-2018, doesn't say I made it tho...

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by graceandham 18 Sep 2018

Congratulations on a beautiful quilt and a memorable anniversary. Love the colors and the back. Now, did you find or print that backing fabric?

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

The backing fabric came from Walmart Betsey. We had gone to eat out one night and on the way home I wanted to run in and check for a backing. Of course at night there is no one to cut fabric but I told my dh about it when we were going home. The next morning he wanted to go back and get it while they had enough. It was then I noticed the 'crosses'.

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by dee 18 Sep 2018

Beautiful quilt. A family treasure for sure.

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

Thank you Dee, DH really likes it and that's what counts.

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by dalebugbowl 18 Sep 2018

Beautiful!!!

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

Thank you!

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by sewtired 18 Sep 2018

Wow, such a work of love and art!

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

True love for sure!-One lady told me another lady's stitches were not that good. She said I may want to take them out and re-stitch them. I do like perfection in sewing (I'm sorry it's a fault I have and readily admit it) however, I would not re-stitch them because she stitched them with love for us. I can live with that. I don't think I could live with hurting her feelings by taking them out....
Thank you so much for your comment .

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by airyfairy 18 Sep 2018

Toogie, this is absolutely amazing.

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

I am happy with the result. I like color and I tried to find pretty scraps. Angie said it looks like a 'happy quilt' with all the many colors. That's me!

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by pennyhal2 18 Sep 2018

Whoever looks at this will know how much you love your family! What a wonderful heirloom you have created!

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

My family have been checking the progress, when they come. Caleb loved reading the blocks and finding out about us and his great grandparents. Like he was born on my grandmother's birthday, only many years later.

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by dragonflyer 18 Sep 2018

Truly an heirloom that will be treasured for generations to come...

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

I think so too Kim. The kids will take care of it, I'm sure. It means a lot to them now and it's 'ours' for now-lol

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by sharonleekesner 18 Sep 2018

That is truly a work of art. Beautiful

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toogie by toogie 18 Sep 2018

I don't know if it's beautiful, but the love that went into it is. I love my family and thank God for them. We have been richly blessed for sure.

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