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.
This quilt is beautiful! Nice job!
It’s a shame it’s not going to the fair, but on the flip side, it looks fantastic. It’s beautiful, all those colours are perfect together, beautiful on the bed – it’s definitely set for heirloom status. Well done!
Have a wonderful trip…but I’m so glad you posted before you left…i had been checking several times a day since the camera strap (LOVE orange!) because I’m a new reader and have come to really love your blog. But everyone needs a break, and you should relax and enjoy yours thoroughly. Cheers!
I’m sorry you didn’t get to enter it, but sometimes it’s just best to say “when”. It’s lovely though! And I’m proud you stuck with it. More inspiration for me to live up to. Enjoy your weekend away with your Hubby. BTW! I have a great hubby too!
Your string quilt is gorgeous- I love the colors and the outside border just makes it- Your back is really interesting and a great way to use and connect the fabrics together.
Keep on quilting-
Regards from a Western Canadian Quilter,
Anna
Great Guinness, Erin! This quilt is gorgeous!
As I was looking at your photos my 5 year old daughter walked by and stopped dead in her tracks, to say “Oh mom, I definitely DEFINITELY want that blanket.” I think that pretty much says it. Have a great week!
I see why you’re in love. It’s really beautiful! It’s great when you put your heart into something and it turns out to be something you really love in the end and not just okay. Congratulations!
You’re quilt is beautiful, and you have made me want to try and make one, too, when I get my new sewing machine.
Hey–I live in Portland–just since June–and I know you’ll have a blast.
Too bad it didn’t work out to have it in the fair. The quilt is GORGEOUS!! Love the colors and fabrics you chose. It is fun to see it all done.
I loved the quilt from the beginning and I think I might love it even more in it’s final form. Fabulous!! Hope life slows down a bit for you and the trip to Maine gives you a chance to blow off some steam. Thanks for sharing!
I think it turned out great!
I’m pretty much in love with this quilt, too! I just love the fabric and the backing…oh, the backing! I’m going to try to make the backing on the quilt I’m making right now not so…plain pink!
I love it so much! I’m sorry about the fair. Our fair deadline is this weekend also and I don’t think I’m going to be able to enter what I wanted either. It always sneaks up on me. Love your quilt though…so gorgeous!
the quilt looks amazing, erin! amazing. i am so glad you’re in love with it. because it is just amazing. hope all is ok – the curveball and all. enjoy, enjoy your adventure with fatty! i’ll be thinking of you being not-too-far-north of where i am right now. xo.
Another beautiful accomplishment!
It’s so lovely, Erin and I love love love it too. You have me ready to start mine now that I finished a couple of smaller projects. That back on yours is so perfect and so very you.
Have a great time in Maine – I’m very jealous that you’re going to one of my favorite places.
it is beautiful. it must feel like a rewarding accomplishment! cindy
It looks fantastic! I am also in love with it. Your hard work paid off, it looks amazing. Love the quilting details and the back patchwork.
Gorgeous gorgeous quilt! Showed it to my boyfriend, who hates color, and he said,”Wow, that’s pretty cool-looking.” High praise! Love it!
It’s just spectacular. Really. Perfect.
Please stop in to my most favorite restaurant of all in Portland, Fore Street (on Fore Street, of course). Niall and I ate there the first night of our honeymoon and also 15 years earlier when we were just kids. It was still as good.
Have a great trip.
a real beauty !!! you did an amazing job !
enjoy your get away !
It is spectacular. I am truly sorry that you didn’t get to share it with others at the Fair, but it will definitely be appreciated by your readers, and you, family, and guests. Congrats!
Erin it’s just lovely and vintagey and comfy and cosy! Gorgeous!
Beautiful! :0)
How do you get your quilting lines so straight Erin? Mine never do.
It looks superb on your bed.
Oh, Erin, I’m sorry it’s not going to the fair- but it is gorgeous and modern and traditional and inspiring. And I’m with you on loving the back. I hope the rest of your week goes smoothly and you have a good break/trip.
wow! it’s beautiful! enjoy Portland. there is great shopping there. perfect time of year to visit.
this quilt would win a blue ribbon from me–it’s absolutely beautiful, erin!
i hope you have a wonderful and relaxing trip!
This is gorgeous! I love it too!
i’d say you won already, if you made something and love it, then that’s success. It’s beautiful – truly. But darn it, now you’ve made me want to dig out the quilt that I started last October that I wanted to complete before the year was out. I never understand those people who are bored, I have so much that I’d love to do and never enough time to do it all.
I am sorry to hear that you are detoured from entering that gorgeous thing in the fair. It would have certainly been a winner. 🙂
Have a lovely little trip!
oh, fair, schmair. there’s always next year! enjoy your trip!
The quilt is wonderful – an heirloom. Have a great trip!
Your quilt is beautiful.I love the colors against the white background.
Your quilt is beautiful.I especially love the colors against the white background.
erin– I started my big quilt after seeing yours. I knew I wanted to make one, but didn’t know what I wanted it to look like. til I saw yours. I used your basic tutorial and now it is all pieced and sandwiched, all that is left is the quilting and the binding. I was overwhelmed by the quilting and haven’t even started it yet, but again you have inspired me. now I can finish. thank you.
I love the back too!
I think it is beautiful. Your quilting is beautiful too. I never seem to be able to get my echo quilting straight. Your’s looks perfect!
It looks just beautiful! I love the design and the fabric choices… nice job! Enjoy the break!
lovely!
Goodness, that is such a lovely quilt! Any guest would *love* snuggling under that every evening.
That is a beautiful quilt. I am so glad you finished it.
Have a fantastic holiday!
Can you enter the quilt next year instead??
oh, erin….so sorry it didn’t get to go to the fair. however, you added more history to your quilts journey……
it is gorgeous. really really gorgeous.
have a wonderful time with fatty. i will miss you!
It is just lovely. As far as I am concerned it gets a blue ribbon for sure.
Go you for sticking with it!
Oh Erin, I think it’s perfect!
Enjoy your trip 😉
Gasp. It’s gorgeous, whether it makes it to the fair or not. At least it will stay nice and clean now, right?
I think a blog break sounds lovely, and a trip to Portland, Maine, sounds even better. Oh, the ladies you’ll meet! Have a wonderful time.
It is seriously GORGEOUS. (Hmmm… that appears to be the word of the day on this post…)
I love the way it looks on the bed.
I also LOVE your work!!! I especially love your camera straps, and I am thinking about trying my hand at making one. I do have a question tho – when you do the machine quilting (either in the camera strap, or the quilt!) how do you make sure that you don’t get the material bunched up, or out of kilter, if you know what I mean??? Do you start in the middle? Hand baste everything before hand? I am hoping it will be easy on the strap, but my daughter is also making a t-shirt quilt, and she will be ready to do that step soon! Would love it if you would have the time to email me!
Keep up the great blogging and crafts!
Hugs from Michigan – Diane
Oh, I just love the colors and fabric combinations you have here. I love the cream border before the smaller pieced border. It gives just the right amount of resting space for the eyes, and makes it look a bit old-fashioned, which I love. Enjoy!
Wowzer! That quilt is beautiful Erin! We don’t need no stinkin’ Fair!
Portland – huh, I’m in Maine! You’ll have a great time and hopefully this rain will stop at some point and not dampen (ha!) your time here. Be sure to check out Edith & Edna downtown!
Safe travels and much relaxation –
Happy lobster dining –
Jayne
Enjoy your break after a lot of work.
erin, fair or no fair, i think that it is absolutley the best! and i think that i may be a little bit in love with the back, also! have a fun get-away. 🙂
Holy moly, this is absolutely fabulous! I love the scrappy modern fabrics combined with a traditional pattern. Enjoy.
Wow! I love, love, love it. Stunning!
Oh, it looks fabulous! You did it! Congratulations! Sometimes those first quilts mean the most – even more than winning a ribbon at the fair – just because they are a major accomplishment. I love the scrappy back. It’s perfect!
Wait. When are you coming to Minneapolis again? 😉
Have fun in Portland. Make Jen & Meg take you thrifting with them. That’s what I’d do.
Wow! This one is a stunner, and a blue ribbon winner in my book! 🙂 It looks fantastic on the bed, and I can’t tell, but it looks like there is a little quilted throw pillow too? Looks precious with the quilt. I love using strips and scraps to give the backs of quilt character. I think it is fun and unexpected. Have a wonderful get away. I can hardly wait to see what you make next!
Well, I’m awarding you a giant rosette! Have a good week and return refreshed.
It’s beautiful! Congratulations on finishing it. It’s definitely a prize winner in my book!!
Beautiful quilt! I love the border, and the backing is so pretty too. Have a good break!
What a beautiful quilt!
Hope the getaway turns out to be everything you want and need.
Erin, it’s gorgeous! I do prefer the back to the front…maybe because of the randomness. Well done for seeing it through to the end. Happys time in Maine, ok!
Your creations are so inspiring. The quilt is so beautiful.
WOW! Beautiful!!!
Have a nice break and safe trip.
Oh my! I have the hugest case of quilt envy.
Seriously. That is just amazing- all those lines of quilting…..exquisite. Well done you. I award you the blue ribbon 🙂
Well, we’d give it a blue ribbon for sure. It looks great. See you when you get back.
So beautiful! Sorry it won’t be making it to the fair, but there’s still next year, right!
Things will be calmer when you get home. I promise!
And hey, maybe next year you can enter TWO quilts! HA! One for each girl. xoxox
It’s beautiful, Erin, I love it! And have a fantastic trip, you lucky–what a great destination!
The quilt is FAB! Love it. Make a quilt – that is on my list of things to do.
Congrats on the finish and have a great time on your get-a-way!
You could always enter it next year, right?
But who cares. It is beautiful and looks so happy on that guest bed.
Have fun in Maine.
Molly
What a beautiful quilt! I love the colors and the “character”. Perfect quilts make me nervous! Have fun on your adventure :o)
Hey erin!
If you want to meet one more blogger, come visit me at Alewives Fabrics in Damariscotta Mills (one hour north of Portland).
I love your blog and would love to meet you in person!
PS You TOTALLY have my admiration for machine quilting that thing yourself AND doing a great job at it: I admit to letting someone machine quilt mine for me.
this quilt needs to be your new image header – it’s beautiful – the colors are so cheerful!
Erin:
Your quilt is gorgeous! Ain’t Love Grand?
Holli
Well, I’m sorry that it won’t get to the fair, but it’s beeeeeautiful! I just love the pattern and colors and I’m with you…I think I might like the back even more! 🙂
Wow Erin. It’s so pretty. And it looks great on the guest bed. Sorry you didn’t get it to the fair, but at least you accomplished your goal! Enjoy your time away from internet land and your time with the hubby. Those memories are some of the best kind ; )
Really beautiful quilt. Using the scraps from the borders was genius. I need to get back to sewing. Enjoy your holiday.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear it’s not going to the fair. That’s a bummer. But it looks FAN. TAS.TIC. Seriously. Wow. I bet you just laid on top of it for awhile when you put it on the bed, didn’t you? That’s what I would have done. 🙂
Have a great time in Maine! I love New England. I can’t wait to hear about your travelin’ adventures.
it’s beautiful! the fair is missing out.
oh my, it is just lovely!
Oh, that must be a disappointment, but at least you get to keep the quilt! I can see why you are in love with it. It’s beautiful! I wish I could make a quilt like that. Maybe someday 🙂
Enjoy Portland – I visited there once about a decade ago and absolutely loved it.
Your quilt is beautiful. Very, very special.
totally not fair, i love your quilt and think it’s gorgeous.
(something else not fair? the fact that your guest room is nicer than my bedroom. don’t be surprised if i end up on your doorstep demanding to move in.)
Thank you for your beautiful posts! I have been drooling over some of your projects as I bounce around in the craft blogosphere in search of inspiration. This is a beautiful quilt and is inspiring me to get working on my own neglected quilt projects. You are very talented! Cheers.
I see what you mean about the back – lovely and mismatched like that – love it! Both sides are gorgeous though.
Tanya
erin – you are so talented! it looks amazing!!!!
This quilt turned out to be quite stunning! The colors are mouth-watering. Come over and see what I finally did with my Heather Bailey fabrics. With a little help from Kaffe, Martha, and Philip.
It is so beautiful. I’d just want to spend all my time in the guest room.
in my book you took home the biggest ribbon of all!! i think it’s gorgeous! have a fabulous vacation!!
Great job Erin I think that you would have won!!
The quilt is beau-ti-ful! You SHOULD love it. It’s too bad it’s not going to the fair but I do suppose that the important part is what you’ve accomplished. Have a great trip!
Great job on the quilt, it looks absolutely beautiful!
I can see why you are in love with it — it is gorgeous!! And it looks beautiful on the bed.
erin,
I love the quilt, witht he pillow! it is beautiful, even if it didn’t make it to the fair!
Have a great time in Maine, i just may run into you!
What a beautiful quilt… I’m glad you’re in love and keeping it! Have a wonderful trip to Maine!
The quilt is absolutely gorgeous!! And that room – can I come be your guest? Those walls are just a great color and the whole room is just so cozy now!
Sometimes it’s just the crossing of the finish line that matters most. And the quilt is so flippin cute, it’s too bad that it won’t be shared. But, your house guests are going to love it.
PS – check out my daughter’s dress using your tutorial, she loves it. Thanks for sharing the goodness! You can see it here:
http://bigeandlittles.blogspot.com
it is gorgeous!! have a GREAT time in maine … you must go to lobster shack in cape elizabeth – you’ll pass by our old “shack” on two lights terrace to the left just before lobster shack. omg. just to think about sitting at one of those picnic tables out on the cliff with the atlantic ocean. right. there. makes me a little teary. i really miss east coast sometimes. have fun. old port is wonderful. take lots of pictures …
The quilt is just wonderful, I understand why you love it so much! Good for you for sticking with it and have a great blog holiday and vacation.
oh Erin its GORGEOUS! i love the front and the back is sooo cool!
i have to say im really glad youre keeping it…
have a good trip! how wonderful it will be to come home to a finished quilt!
amazing quilt, erin. amazing. know that you’re getting many blue ribbons right here, without even going to the fair.
enjoy maine. it’s a special place, especially this time of the year…
This is so pretty! Fair or no fair – it is a winner!
Oh, what a beautiful quilt! I’m inspired by it. It would have won a blue ribbon for sure!
Oh, what a beautiful quilt! I’m inspired by it. It would have won a blue ribbon for sure!
Oh, what a beautiful quilt! I’m inspired by it. It would have won a blue ribbon for sure!
it’s so beautiful, erin! you should be proud of your accomplishment. I have eagerly watched your progress on this one and the finished product is wonderful!
have a good trip!
That’s a blue ribbon winner to me. Any guest will love to sleep on your welcoming bed made with luff:-).
Where do you get such cute fabric?
I love it.
Gorgeous! I love it!
sorry about the fair…looks like an exhibit right there in the guest room…love it. beautiful job and what a lovely feeling to have it finished and to love it!
Your quilt looks fantastic on the bed! I love it. Good job sticking to it. Thanks for inspiring!
it’s beautiful, i’d so vote for your quilt if i saw it at a fair!
This post is inspiring. I think I’ll get my scraps out!
http://www.homelyanimal.blogspot.com
erin, its perfect. hope all is alright over there. the colors are just killin me.
erin it looks fabulous. way to stick with it through to the end–something I always have trouble with. have a wonderful time in portland…i can only imagine the wonderful bloggers you’ll meet. hope your curve ball isn’t something major, but just a bump in the road….
have a wonderful time..
xo.
I left you a little something on my blog – you’ll have to go check it out!
Awesome quilt! If I was having a fair I would definitely give you a ribbon!
I love it!!!
You win 1st place in my book!!! Everything about it is amazing.
Enjoy your break, it is well deserved.
Very impressive! You are talented.
beautiful
Erin, the quilt is beautiful – well done! I pray that your time away is restorative and that you experience an abundance of refreshing. Peace…
I hope you have a wonderful time away. Your quilt is lovely and in a perfect world it would be in the fair. And the laundry would be done. And the kids would brush and floss their teeth twice a day. And dinner would have a green and orange vegetable. And there would be time. If only. But you love what you made and judging from the fact that I am comment number 121 or so, there are a few other people who think it’s a pretty swell quilt.
Your quilt is beautiful Erin! Have fun in Portland {my hometown}!!!
It is so so gorgeous. That quilting is just wonderful, I love it when the quilting lines are close together like that, it creates such a nice effect.
The fair deadline probably got this beauty made, perhaps it would have otherwise not been finished. To enjoy. As you will.
Enjoy your time away. xo
Your quilt came out beautiful! I’m so glad that you finished and that you are happy with it! 🙂
Too bad about the fair. I was hoping you would win a ribbon. I love that quilt…it is perfect.
Your quilt is stunning! It is truly one of the most beautiful quilts I’ve ever seen! It must be a combination of the colors, patterns and craftsmaship, but it is truly a work of art. It is a bummer that it didn’t make it to the fair, but I can’t imagine a blue ribbon would be much more thrilling than seeing that beauty in your home daily and knowing you stuck with it and finished it! What a treasure!!
The quilt is gorgeous. Have a great time in Maine
It looks great! I need to get to a larger size quilt too – thanks for the inspiration 🙂
I like your quilt too! It’s very inspiring — I think I will work on the quilt that I promised my son I would make for him — ahem — a few years ago…
It looks wonderful. So glad you finished it and have a great time on vacation!
it’s a gorgeous quilt and escape is always a good idea. enjoy the coast.
so so so beautiful!!! you would have killed at the fair. i wanna be your guest and sleep under that beauty!
I’ve seen it in person (hee!) and it is even more beautiful in real life. Congratulations on finishing it — I would be in love, too. It is so gorgeous! Also, in the state where I live, you can enter things in the state fair that have been completed within the last 2 years. So you might want to check into that, because maybe you could enter it for next year! It is so beautiful. I just can’t say that enough.
Also, have fun in Maine, dear friend. You deserve an email from me because I think you may be a bit in the dark about what is going on over at my place. Tomorrow.
xoxox
I love the colours and design. I’ve got making a quilt on my “to-do” list but I should really stop procrastinating and just start it. Thanks for the motivation.
Fair or no fair, this quilt is wonderful! Bravo, bravo!!!
I love this quilt! The colors are great!
w o w
Wow, this is just stunning. All those at the fair will be missing out.
holy toledo! this is stunning! I love all the white borders and your piecing and the colors you chose.
I just started my very first quilt but chickened out and bought jellyroll/charm pack to start…maybe I’ll graduate?
Anyway, your quilt is very inspiring, and love the back, too.
‘love the back…isn’t it nice to have a surprise there??
the quilt is so beautiful!
can you share the paint color in your bedroom? what about where you got the aqua colored lamp? thanks!
I love your quilt,it’s so beautiful.
I love your quilt,it’s so beautiful.
I’ve just seen your blog, & think this quilt is just amazing..love the fabric, colors & design used. Love both the back and front. I can see why you love it too! I hope are enjoying it!
Erin, this is a beautiful quilt, makes me want to make one too for my guest room bed. Don’t know where you find the time to do all that you do. Enjoy your time in Maine.
– Barbara