Good Things Come to Those Who Wait (Part Three)

I finished a project this month that was a long time coming. For my son's 23rd birthday, I gave him what was supposed to be his high school graduation quilt. Better late than never, I guess. I blogged a bit about this quilt last fall, and if you'd like to know at least part of the reason this gift was so late, you can read the backstory in Part One and Part Two. In a nutshell, my round robin flew the coop, and this is round two...

I made the new (Blackford's Beauty) center block sometime last October:


Then, working from photos of the original quilt, I remade the first border, designed by my friend, Maura:


I was buying fabric for the next border when I learned that Hancock Fabrics was hiring. I started my new job the following Monday, and from there on, work on the quilt slowed considerably. I finished the appliqued music border sometime in February or March:


By April, I was scrambling to put together the 20 blocks that would make up the last border. I decided to repeat the center block, with a slight color change to brighten it up a bit:


Next came the embroidering of the lyrics (Rascall Flatts, "My Wish"):


One last detail, a guitar applique:


Loosely based on his actual guitar:


I finished the quilting on the last day of April (three days before the birthday), giving myself the weekend to get the binding on.


I added the label on the morning of his birthday, then washed, dried and gift-wrapped. Talk about last minute!


Here he is, getting his first good look at his quilt. I think he likes it. ;o)


And I love a happy ending...



I'm linking this post with Amylouwho's "Sew and Tell Friday" AND I just found out that Park City Girl Amy, from Amy's Creative Side, is again hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I don't know how I'll ever make all the rounds, but I'll do my best to see all the gorgeous quilts and projects!

(Just wish I didn't have to work this weekend!)