The Internet can be a place of great joy. I have discovered that real friendship can be found there. Years ago, when I first was discovering book blogs and reading challenges, I stumbled across a blog that immediately resonated with me. The blogger, a woman named Laura who lived a good 3000 miles away from me, was loving the books that I loved (and disliking the books I disliked). She was to very quickly become my “bookie soul-mate” – a reader whose thoughts about books paralleled my own. We later went on to become a member of a private Library Thing group where I learned more about my new found friend. And just a couple of years ago, a group of us got together in New England and there was Laura. I was not surprised that our sense of humor meshed perfectly, and our connection was deeper than just our shared love of literature. I have been thinking of making a quilt for Laura for some time…and then it came to me to make a pair of quilts – one for her and one for me, similar but different, a shared quilt of sorts that when used would make us think of each other, even though the miles separate us. Today I am showing you Laura’s quilt – mine is not quite done yet (my unexpected trip back to New Hampshire in April set me back just a bit).
I love Denise Schmidt’s fabrics…and I thought stars would be the perfect way to enhance the beauty of Schmidt’s latest collection Hope Valley.
I made each star block approximately 6.75″ square (finished), sashed them with Kona white, and placed cornerstones of the main fabric in the horizontal sashing. I decided to give the quilt a scrappy feel by doing a pieced border. The finished size of this quilt is 50″ X 51″.
For the back, I used some extra star blocks (one in each colorway) and pieced them together into a large stripe. I then used big pieces of one of the main fabrics and attached them to the top and bottom of the stripe. I crafted a label and fixed it to the bottom corner of the back.
The hardest part of every quilt for me is the actual quilting. I always wrestle with what color thread to use and what design to quilt. For this quilt, I decided to go with white thread since there is a large amount of white in the quilt. And then I took a deep breath and decided to finally try a free-motion meandering stipple design which I had never done before. The result was a pleasant surprise!
The binding on this quilt uses a striped fabric from the same line.
I hope Laura will enjoy this quilt as much as I enjoyed making it!
**All photos in this post are “clickable” to enjoy a larger view
Stay tuned for the companion piece to this quilt – I hope to have it done before summer fades to fall!!
= Excellent
= Good/Very Good
= Okay read
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= Ugh! Don't waste your time.
Anyone who was there in the Berkshires could see the connection the two of you had! Lucky Laura!
I think this is one of your best quilts, Wendy! And the idea of a pair of quilts is lovely!
Lois: *smiles* Thank you!! I really fell in love with this one as it came together
I’m positive Laura is going to love that quilt! It’s going to remind her of you all the time.
bermudaonion (Kathy) recently posted..Review- Same Kind of Different as Me
This is a real beaut, Wendy. I know she will love it!
Thanks Kathy and Tui!
What a great story! I agree with the others: who could not love such a beautiful quilt and such a gift from the heart?
rhapsodyinbooks recently posted..Review of “If I Stay” and “Where She Went” by Gayle Forman
That is such a touching story! the friendship stars are the perfect star pattern for a friendship quilt. I am in awe of your talent! Just think of all the books that will be read under that beautiful quilt!
Beth(bookaholicmom) recently posted..Happy Fathers Day
Wow, what a great story! The quilt is just fantastic. How lovely!
Pam (@iwriteinbooks) recently posted..Following Polly Karen Bergreen
I agree that this is one of my favorites of all the quilts you’ve shown us. I just love it. I know that your friend will love it too and such a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it with us, Wendy!
Kay recently posted..Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson
The quilt is beautiful! I’m sure she will love it!
Anna recently posted..Review- The Storm at the Door by Stefan Merrill Block
It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
pburt recently posted..Sunday Caught My Interest
You two sure are a pair! And I love the idea of companion quilts. Beautiful work, Wendy. Three cheers for friendship, however it comes about!
This quilt is absolutely gorgeous and I loved that connection story!!
Staci recently posted..Mailbox Monday and Its MondayWhat Are You Reading
What a sweet post about friendship in blogging and such a beautiful quilt!
Amused recently posted..Book Review- Faith
That is just beautiful! I also have made a lot of great friends on the internet through book blogging, and feel that my life is enriched by the people I have met through my hobby. Glad you found someone like Laura!
zibilee recently posted..Bitter Melon by Cara Chow — 320 pgs
Jill (Rhapsody): Thank you so much
Beth: I agree that stars are great for a friendship quilt – and I just love the way they look (although they are very labor intensive to make!). Thank you!
Pam: Thank you so much
Kay: It is one of my favorites so far too – and because of the story behind it, it was one of my favorites to make. Thank you!
Anna: Thanks!
pBurt: Thank you for the kind words!
Linda: LOL – I agree – three cheers for friendship!!
Staci: Thanks for your kind words!
Amused: I thought it was a story worth sharing
Thank you!
Heather: I agree – there are some wonderful connections out there – bonds which enrich our lives. I’m glad I found Laura too
Beautiful quilt! Did you quilt it using a long arm machine or sewing machine? I stopped making anything larger than lap-size a few years ago because hand-quilting takes too long, and wrestling with the quilt on my machine is just too difficult. I have some unquilted tops, though, and am thinking that I really must go back and finish them somehow!
I’m sure Laura is definitely going to enjoy this quilt for many years to come.
Valerie recently posted..Some Bookish Tidbits
Thank you, Valerie! I quilted this one on my machine and used free motion…which is still a bit of a challenge for me, but I am getting better at it. I take my large quilts to a lady near me who has a long-arm machine because I find it very cumbersome to quilt the really big quilts on my Janome. Good luck with your unfinished quilts – sometimes just making up your mind and going for it is the best decision
What a great post about friendship! The quilt is beautiful!
this is lovely! I am in the midst of a star quilt right now for a friend and I love the little extra squares you’ve put in the sashing … I had been thinking of using sashing, with little squares, but smaller, like a mini-9 patch and now I think I have a much better idea! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa recently posted..Envelope Quilt v3
Beth: Thank you so much!
Lisa: I have become addicted to putting cornerstones in sashing lately! Glad you like the effect
And thank you for your kind words (hope you’ll come back with a link to your quilt when you’re done!!)
A very late comment, but I had to write and say that I absolutely love this quilt! The colors and design are magnificent. What a lovely gift of love and friendship. Laura is truly blessed, as are all of us, to have such a good friend!
Les in NE recently posted..An Incomplete Revenge
Thank you, Les!!!! I feel very blessed too
*hugs*