I've written about this quilt a couple of times lately but not since it's been finished.
Yes, it's finished!!
Back in 2010 a group of friends and I spent a year 'round robining'... we each made the start of a row-by-row quilt, then didn't see it until the end of the year when it was returned to us at a grand revealing. We had a lot of fun, meeting monthly to exchange bags; each being banished from the room as our own quilt was brought out and discussed before being passed onto the next person to work on it.
I was so in awe of mine when it returned home that it sat awaiting attention until this year, when I finally pulled it out and worked on it for April's One Monthly Goal challenge. It took me a long time to work up the confidence to work on it myself!
But first, I will get sidetracked... about the same time that we were doing this Round Robin, Dad was quite ill and I was spending regular time at my parents' helping to care for him. One of his interests became fashioning walking sticks out of wood from his vast and intensive orchard. He'd find interesting shaped prunings and spend hours sanding and oiling them.
As he was collecting quite a little pile of these, I thought it would be nice if he had a change of scenery and instead fashion me a hanger for this quilt.
Finally, after too many years, I am hanging my quilt from 'Dad's hanger'.
Sadly we got a bit muddled early on as to which tree the branch came from; he made a bundle but this is the only one I ended up with.
I made this first row as a representation of our journey to our current (and final!) farm.
Mary very cleverly and seamlessly added to my block, extending the river, adding in the native bush, adding 3-D riverstones and trees.
Aurely's row included Mr Piggy and a spilt bucket of milk :-)
To complete the quilt, Jenny decided it needed the MOML and I, to (quoting her) "represent the partnership that got us here".
I love how everyone worked in their own style but that the quilt flows so well. And it covers so many aspects of our farming life. There's so much detail I cant show here, like wire fences with stapled posts.
I quilted it relatively simply, outlining various aspects, doing a bit of filler where it was a 'bit baggy' in places. It was a lot of fun to quilt as there was lots of detail to smile at! It now has pride of place in our hallway where it is easily seen by us all :-)
{And of course for me, Dad's hanger is the icing on the cake.}
I hope you've enjoyed my indulgence with sharing this quilt - it really is a 'one of a kind' piece!
Yes, it's finished!!
Back in 2010 a group of friends and I spent a year 'round robining'... we each made the start of a row-by-row quilt, then didn't see it until the end of the year when it was returned to us at a grand revealing. We had a lot of fun, meeting monthly to exchange bags; each being banished from the room as our own quilt was brought out and discussed before being passed onto the next person to work on it.
I was so in awe of mine when it returned home that it sat awaiting attention until this year, when I finally pulled it out and worked on it for April's One Monthly Goal challenge. It took me a long time to work up the confidence to work on it myself!
But first, I will get sidetracked... about the same time that we were doing this Round Robin, Dad was quite ill and I was spending regular time at my parents' helping to care for him. One of his interests became fashioning walking sticks out of wood from his vast and intensive orchard. He'd find interesting shaped prunings and spend hours sanding and oiling them.
Some of Dad's collection of walking sticks he made. He found the stag antler at a Treecrops field day. |
Finally, after too many years, I am hanging my quilt from 'Dad's hanger'.
Sadly we got a bit muddled early on as to which tree the branch came from; he made a bundle but this is the only one I ended up with.
And so I present my finished quilt :-)
Previously, I have promised a few more close ups of it.I made this first row as a representation of our journey to our current (and final!) farm.
Mary very cleverly and seamlessly added to my block, extending the river, adding in the native bush, adding 3-D riverstones and trees.
Leeanne continued on with that theme/idea, adding in the horses - one galloping madly on the riverbacnk, and another being ridden by one of the girls in the arena. (See above and below photos, there's some overlap between the pictures).
After Leeanne came Patsy. She added in the appliqued family members - our three kids and some pets.
Kerry added the row with the chickens, cute detail in hers with grains of wheat for them to peck at.
When Jacki did her row of the herd of cows grazing she told a delightful story of shopping with her husband (an ex-dairy farmer). He found the cow fabric and declared it was perfect for her row.
Next was Ans who supplied us with some sheds and a tractor..... plus a quilt hanging on the line.
Janis and Megan shared the next row (as the quilt was becoming longer than I had wanted it).
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Janis went back to the bush and horsey theme. |
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Megan added 'our' house with lots of pretty detail. |
To complete the quilt, Jenny decided it needed the MOML and I, to (quoting her) "represent the partnership that got us here".
I love how everyone worked in their own style but that the quilt flows so well. And it covers so many aspects of our farming life. There's so much detail I cant show here, like wire fences with stapled posts.
I quilted it relatively simply, outlining various aspects, doing a bit of filler where it was a 'bit baggy' in places. It was a lot of fun to quilt as there was lots of detail to smile at! It now has pride of place in our hallway where it is easily seen by us all :-)
{And of course for me, Dad's hanger is the icing on the cake.}
I hope you've enjoyed my indulgence with sharing this quilt - it really is a 'one of a kind' piece!
Happy stitches,
42 comments:
when you think of many hands making this quilt it flows very well - you must be pleased with it and with the work of your father - so nice to have something he made - I know I feel the same about a few things I have that my father and my grandfather made that was passed down to me.
Just beautiful Raewyn and well done on another finish!! And special for you also that you got to use a hanger made by your Dad/ Hugs xxxx
This is delightful!
I got a chuckle from "Barge On Inn". So clever!
Every row has so much to see. Everyone was very creative. And how special to hang it from something made by your Dad.
Loved this, Raewyn!
How lovely to have such a special piece made by friends who understand your life. I love the little stories each row tells. Very special to be able to hang with a piece made by your dad too, a real heirloom quilt now.
What a special treasure!
Wow! What amazing quilt! The rows are fitting so perfectly, that's so lovely!
Greetings, Rike
sorry to read Dad had been ill do hope all is well now, he certainly has a gift for crafting with wood. Loving the quilt hanger maybe more to come.
Your quilt is amazing such a talented group of stitchers each and every row had me wowing you must be thrilled with it well done girls.
WOW!! What a fabulous epic finish! We did have many laughs making these quilts! Your Dad's walking stick makes the perfect hanger and something extra special.
Well done on the finish. It is amazing how much detail is in each section of the quilt and how much meaning each holds.
And I love that it now hangs on a special hanger made by your dad.
Dear Raewyn, Lovely to see this quilt again, a real trip down memory lane! Well done on finishing it and lovely to have finished it with 'a bit of your Dad'. Love Aurely x
I just loved your post. So many beautiful and personal contributions from lovely friends. Hearing about your Dads special contribution caused a dab with te hankie! A very special quilt xxx
Oh Raewyn! How beautiful. It is so full of personalized detail. Even the quilt hanger is special. What a lovely quilt. I completely understand why you are so thrilled with it.
It is fantastic. It is one of those quilts that you could look at for hours while checking out each little detail.
So lovely that your friends created this for you. A wonderful quilt made all the more special with your Dad's branch.
So very cool! When Round Robins go well, they can be truely spectacular.
This is a round robin at its finest. The theme, rows, and assembly tell a beautiful story. --Andrea
Oh wow!!!!! What a beautiful story and quilt --I love everything about it--
you are one lucky gal and then to get to hang it from a pole your Dad made is even more special--
enjoy the moments,, di
hi Raewyn,
I love your row robin with all those funny details and the clever quilt hanger :-)
happy quilting
Angelika
Thank you for sharing the story of your quilt. Lovely to read and great to see close ups of so many parts of the quilt. Haven't seen Row Round Robins before, but it's a super idea rather than the medallion style ones. It makes a lovely feature for your entrance wall, and your Dad's fashioned hanging branch is the icing on the cake. A quilt to tell your farming story. Brilliant!
Wow, Raewyn, what a wonderful Round Robin quilt! Every quilter made such nice work and everything looks as if one person made it! I love it!!! Thanks for sharing! Hugs
Stunning Raewyn! Absolutely stunning. For me, the cows stand out but there is so much detail there it is amazing. What an heirloom and a lovely memory of all your friends too. xx
What an absolutely gorgeous quilt--and a terrific story..this will be a real memory quilt for you...i love this round robin Idea--especially like the two sunbonnet gals holding the hearts...thanks for sharing hugs Julierose
This is quite wonderful. I love how everyone added to the project.
Raewyn it's gorgeous! What wonderful friends you have to make such a special keepsake.
Beautiful post, I enjoyed reading all about the round robin. An amazing memory quilt, the detail is delighful!
That is the most gorgeous memory quilt I have seen in a long time, and to have it made mostly by your friends, is just fabulous Raewyn. You are a very lucky girl to have so many kind and thoughtful friends.
That is one special quilt. Just fabulous. You have some wonderful friends! :-)
What a beautiful quilt Raewyn, I love how all aspects of your farming life have been included, especially Miss Piggy!!! Wonderful to have a hanger your Dad made for you..I kmagine every time you walk past it, you will have a smile and many happy memories.
What a smashing quilt and thank you for sharing the stories behind the making of this one. I love your first row will all your previous farms noted, gosh, what a memory quilt this is!
It really is a testament to how well your group of friends know you... lots of little details that have meaning to you and your family. I can see why you were hesitant to "tackle" the finishing of such a project, but you have done well. And it will be great to have it hanging finally!
What an amazing unique quilt make with sew many stitching friends... it tells a great story and how nice to be able to use something of your Dads to hung it....
A sweet quilt and a unique quilt hanger. A memory for sure.
Lovely memories for you Raewyn, and fun times for us all, so great to finish it all off by your Dad. Nice to walk past it every day.
So beautiful - lots of lovely memories of good friends in this quilt. And set off with your special hanger, made by your Dad.
This is wonderful. Your round robin partners know you very well.
So much beautiful thought & work gone into your quilt from each lady, Raewyn... so much detail to take in & cherish!
And how wonderful for you to have the hanger from your Dad , to top it off so well.
It's gorgeous , well done x
Such a lovely quilt. I love all the details. It's really something to cherish. You are lucky to have it hanging in your home, and to have such friends.
Love the stories behind this quilt...very special x
Wow, Raewyn! Are the all this fabulous? What a clever idea to use your dad's walking stick as a hanger! XO
Oh my goodness--the detail on this quilt is amazing! This will be a family treasure, for sure!
WOW!! That is so lovely, and I love the hanger.
They are just beautiful! Hi Raewyn, I am in the South Island and have just found your lovely blog. I am enjoying reading it and will return often. All the best for a great week ahead, Wendy
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