It is not going to the fair.

Which is so not fair.  But that is life.

But, the string-x quilt is finally finished.  I wish I could get it to the fair, but life threw me a curve ball this week and I just don't have the time to put the sleeve on the back.  That's OK, though.  I am pretty much in love with it anyhow.

I pieced and quilted it with my machine, but sewed the binding on by hand.  It measures 81.5" square - a bit smaller than I had planned, but it still fits the guest room bed just fine.

These two photos were the best I got - I was going to take some more today, but I ran out of time.  And then it rained.  Oh well.  Here are a few more - the color is a bit off, but you get the idea.

I might like the back better than the front.  I used the leftover strips from the borders to make the center part.  The rest I just kind of made up as I went.  The large floral will be the curtains in the guest room so I wanted some of it on the back, too.  I just had a lot of the stripe so why not?  After all, the majority of this quilt came from my stash.

I love love love the way the quilting looks on the back.  Love.

I didn't have any aspirations that this would win a ribbon at the fair.  There are small bits that - ahem - give this quilt character.  But I wasn't striving for perfection.  I wanted to make a quilt this year and I did it.  It took a long time, but I stuck with it.  I have only made 4 small throw size quilts before, all done after I started this one.  This is the quilt I wanted to make, though.  This is the one that I won't give away.  It's mine and, yes, I'm pretty much in love.

I'm also feeling a bit stretched thin - a lot to do and not much time.  I think I am going to step away from the blog for a week or so.  Fatty and I have a grand adventure planned - we're off to Portland, Maine for a little getaway.  There is food to eat, drinks to consume and bloggers to meet.  More on that when I get back.

Take care, friends.  See you soon.