Happiness is - a long term quilt finished at last!

 November skipped by in a most pleasant way!  In the midst of cooking, cleaning and endless home projects I have finally finished my Farmer's Wife quilt!  My goal was to get it done and on my bed on Thanksgiving weekend, and I accomplished it.

I really can't express how gratifying it is to have this quilt finished!  I know I've been working on this since at least 2014, so it took me a long time to get through all of these blocks.  I altered the setting from the book, because I know that I tend to prefer a queen size quilt that is more square than rectangular.  This way I have enough width to cover the sides of the mattress without having a lot of extra fabric to tuck around the pillows.  I plan to make pillowcases out of my leftover backing fabric to match.

I struggled at times with this quilt.  About halfway through I doubted the wisdom of using all those busy Christmas fabrics, especially the background print from the 80's.  It all seemed too chaotic and busy to make a quilt that would ever look unified.  Some of the blocks made me want to pull my hair out - and dealing with templates...I have to say that I love the freedom of rotary cutting!

I kept at it, though.  Knowing that these fabrics, so many with sentimental memories of making dresses for my girls and fun holiday projects, weren't meant to be a work of art - they are a work from my heart.  A way of preserving the joy of Christmas past, preserving it for future remembrance of raising children and the joy of the holidays.  The blocks were made to enhance and challenge my piecing skills, giving me a sense of accomplishment.  

Isn't it wonderful how a quilt can warm you both physically and emotionally?  This quilt definitely checks all the boxes for me!  It makes me look forward to my next long term project, from enjoying the planning and dreaming, to the challenge in the making, and then the satisfaction of finishing!  I hope you have a project like this in progress.  If not, I would encourage you to find one!  Something that challenges your skills, and fills your senses, and brings you satisfaction.  It might make you feel frustrated and even afraid, and it could very well sit in the closet for a time.  But you will love it enough to go back to it, and you will always be glad you did!