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Monday, August 20, 2012

After 12 years a labour of love is finished!!

It is 12 years since I first started my hexagon quilt - Nell's Garden.  Finally it is finished and on my bed!
Nell's Garden
 I've called it 'Nell's Garden' in memory of a dear Aunt who taught me to sew, knit and embroider when I was a little girl.  She loved her garden and she also loved making hexagons.  Auntie Nell had them all over her house - even the curtains in her spare bedroom were made from hexagons!  Most special of all I was allowed to take the papers out!!  How good was that?  When she knew her time was coming she gave me her cardboard shapes - a whole shoe box full - my uncle who worked for a Greeting Card company had them specifically cut on the guillotines at work using some of the excess greeting card paper.  They measure 7/8", not sure why they are this size.

When I started to cut out the material I chose to fussy cut the centres of the flowers to represent something that is found outside or in the garden.  You can see from the following two pictures some of the centres.

 For the border I chose a brick red to 'fence' her garden and make it safe for all the kids who used to play there.  You can also see that I quilted (by hand) around each hexagon.  That is why it has taken so long to finish.


It truly was a labour of love.

11 comments:

Laren said...

It might have taken a long time but it looks fabulous!! Well done. I hope mine looks as nice, I am just starting to cut my hexies out!!

Frances Leate said...

This is a stunning quilt Joy and definitely falls into the category of a "journey" quilt. It will always special meaning for you so enjoy this wonderful quilt. Take care.

jacaranda said...

What a stunning quilt Joy. A true labour of love. It look great on your bed.

Tesla said...

Beautiful!

Radka said...

Congratulations!!! It is beautiful!

Michelle said...

Oh it's fantastic Joy! Such a labour of love. Beautiful. Congratulations!

Martha Ginn said...

Working on something for many years means you created lots of memories during the process. And this traditional flower garden quilt really deserves the hand quilting you gave it. Congratulations on finishing it; it looks great on your bed.

Kate North said...

I don't have the patience for hexagons myself, but I do enjoy looking at other people's. Your quilt is lovely!

Dorothy said...

your quilt is AWESOME! I am working on one and it is taking forever but I hope it turns out as great as yours.
Dorothy in IL
www.pawsforstitching.blogspot.com

Helen said...

Your hexie flowers are wonderful. I love how you used a focus item for the center and then similar fabrics for the petals. Lovely!

Helen in the UK said...

WOW, beautiful! Truly a family heirloom :)