I'm about to swoon....
....because it's finally finished! This quilt took 1/2 a year to finish!
I started it over the summer along with all the other Swoon 13'ers and I was so good about completing 1-2 blocks per week, pieced it in a timely manner, and even basted it all before school started back up. I promptly scheduled some rental time on the HQ Sweet 16 (45 min lesson required for first time renters) at one of my local sewing lounges, Urban Spools, but the day before my class/rental, I found out my dad was in the hospital and survived a heart attack.
So, I cancelled my rental time and the quilt just sat in my dining room waiting. About a month after my dad went home and I caught back up with life, I called Urban Spools back up and re-booked my class. When I finally made it to my class, my first thought was how adorable this sewing studio was and how welcoming and super excited the owner, Michelle, was teach me.
During the brief lesson, we got to talking and she discovered that I taught a sewing class at my library once a month. Her immediate reaction was to offer me a beginning sewing teaching position during the day while the girls were at school. I was so excited that I could barely focus on finishing the Swoon. I told her absolutely {!} and have already taught two classes this December and have 5 in January! Double swoon!
Sometimes, things happen for a reason and we never really know why. I'm just thankful that my dad recovered from his heart attack and open heart surgery and is doing better every day! I am also thankful that I cancelled that first lesson with Michelle, because who knows if that opportunity would have presented itself to me then. I am also thankful that Mr. Relish understands that I am not a breadwinner and if this job is solely to bring me additional joy (aside from being a mother) and to pay for fabric, then he is okay with that (especially the latter...hehe).
To read about my Swoon in the works, check out my previous blog posts here and here. :)
Thanks for stopping by to visit!
Melissa
Linking up with some of my favorite link parties to the right and Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF!
Gorgeous Swoon! I have pans in 2014 to finally make mine using Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow. Good news about your dad and wow how exciting for you teaching more classes! Well done :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Amy! It was fun to make but so nerve racking when cutting the fabrics since you use up every bit of the fq's. Hope you enjoy making it and look forward to seeing it in 2014! Thanks again! Happy New Year!
DeleteOh, it is beautiful! Love all the pillows too :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Fran! I actually started to take the pictures without any of the pillows but quickly realized it was boring. So I took all the pillows off the couch while the relishes and husband were sitting there (they probably thought I was batty) and put them on my bed. Thanks for stopping by...Happy New Year!
DeleteBeautiful quilt to finally make it's debut.. congrats on getting a gig you like! Happy stitching :) Kathi
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I am quite thrilled with it all! Hope you have a great New Year!
DeleteBeautiful quilt Melissa! Congratulations on all of the above, especially that your Dad is getting better every day!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Debbie! Im very happy about my dad's recovery. I am actually about to start a quilt for him. I've only bought the fabric and waiting for quilt pattern inspiration to hit. Thanks for stopping by...it's always great to hear from you! Happy New Year!
DeleteIt's beautiful and the quilting is stunning! Congrats on the new classes. That will be fun for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Christa! I am super excited to teach some more sewing classes. My favorite moments when teaching beginners are their first impression of the machine and how intimidating it looks and then when they leave with their handmade and realize it wasnt as hard as they thought it would be. Hope you have a great new year! Looking forward to what you have in store! xoxo
DeleteIt gorgeous and definitely worth swooning over :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Billie! Hope you have a great New Year!
DeleteJust beautiful!! I love the swoon pattern, but man, your's is amazing! Love everything about it!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks so much Christina! I am so happy with it...I just wish I had made three more blocks to make it king size. Maybe for next year! Happy New Year!
DeleteI love your Swoon Melissa! The quilting is perfect. And congrats on the new job... Very cool stuff! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Izzy! I'm looking forward to 2014...it's going to be a fun year! Hope you have a great New Year!
DeleteIt's gorgeous! I just bought the pattern a couple of weeks ago. Swooning is on my list for 2014! And congrats on the job. It sounds like a win/win situation (especially since it means *more fabric*!)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Paula! The swoon is a fun, challenging quilt for sure! Not hard, but lots of endurance...haha! I hope you enjoy it! And yes, yay for more fabric! I am also saving for a new sewing machine! yay!! Happy New Year!
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful! Your quilting looks amazing too!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the teaching position - how exciting!
Thanks so much Kristy! I am super excited about 2014! Hope you have a great New Year and cant wait to see what you have in store for 2014!
DeleteIt looks amazing. I really need to get started on mine. So many projects so little time. Congrats on the job opportunity I am sure you will enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jenniffier! I am so excited about it all! You'll love the swoon....I think the hardest part was not messing up on the cutting. Haha! Have a great new year!
DeleteCongrats on your beautiful finish (omgosh the swirrrrls!!!) and your new job. So exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks soooo much, Lisa! I am so happy that it's finished and the swirls looked so crinkly soft once I washed it! Thanks again and have a great new year!
Deletesuch a stunning quilt. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Deborah! It was a lot of fun to make! Hope you have an awesome new year!
Deletefirst of all it is so good to read that your Dad is doing so well. The quilt is beautiful and congrats on the teaching you have got at the shop, when I read it I thought I bet not much of her wage goes home with her I can see it all going on material and see I was right!!! enjoy and happy spending.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Margaret! Yes, if anything, I am saving my husband from giving me a fabric allowance. Oh, and I am saving up for a new sewing machine. Now I wont feel bad about the price tag...hehe! Hope you have a great new year!
DeleteI am sew excited for you!!!!! Thanks for sharing all the great and wonderful news! Your swoon is just gorgeous and you did a fantastic job on the quilting. Love those little labels, too. Congrats on all and glad to hear your dad is recovering well. Happy Quilty New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lorna! I am happy to share with you guys because only a quilter/sewist would see how great it is to spread the quilting/sewing bug! Thanks also for your sweet words about my Swoon, labels and my dad! 2014 is going to be great! Happy New Year!
DeleteBeautiful quilt with luscious colors! And your story and the end result is amazing! Congrats! Thanks for sharing about making your labels.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Karen! You are so very welcome...let me know if you try it out or need any help. I was quite brief on my explanation but figured there were so many tutorials out there I didn't need to beat a dead horse, so to speak. lol Thanks so much for visiting and Happy New Year!
DeleteThat quilt is amazing!!! I wish I had a sewing lounge...that just sounds cool:) seriously this is a gorgeous quilt and fantastic accomplishment( that thing is big). Love how all your bedding goes together.
ReplyDeleteHey Paula! Doesnt a sewing louge sound fun! I probably would get a thing done if there were others sewing with me (probably how QuiltBliss will go)! Man, the swoon is big and heavy! Funny though, I wish I had made it a king size! I just didn't have three more blocks in me...they take about 2-3 hours per block to cut and piece. Anyway, hope you have a great New Year and excited to see what 2014 brings you! xoxo
Deletewow, you are right, things do happen for a reason, it was meant to be!! Lucky you for scoring a teaching job that you love, and are able to fund your quilt hobby!! You swoon looks great too by the way! I have been toying with the idea of renting time with the long arm at my local quilt shop too....
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Conni! Thanks so much about the teaching and swoon! It will be a fun 2014 for sure! I hope you do rent some time on a long arm at your LQS. I don't regret it one bit and kind of wish I had known about it sooner. Hope you have a great New Year and look forward to hearing from you in 2014!
DeleteThis is a beautiful finish. I quilted swirls on a quilt just this morning. :) They are perfect on your swoon. I love your labels. Do you know how they look after washing?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on you Swoon finish and new position as sewing teacher extraordinaire! I have my swoon done, just need to get it on the frame and quilted. I think you've inspired me to get that done :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sue! I hope you get a chance to finish your swoon. It really is a fantastic quilt! Hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteLove your swoon quilt! Your quilting really is beautiful!! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lindsey! Thanks so much for visiting and have a great weekend!
DeleteYour swoon quilt is one of the prettiest I have seen! Just beautiful. I love your name label too! Thanks so much for sharing how you made it., I want to make some too!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww, that is the sweetest thing ever! Thank you so much for saying that! Oh, you must make the labels...they only took about an hour to do. Hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteThis is so friendly and lovely! And the story was really sweet today. I'm glad your dad is okay!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Audrey! I am glad he is getting better, too! Hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteGorgeous quilt!!! Your blocks and fabrics are super pretty! Love looking at it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much Linda! Such a sweet comment! Hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteI love your Swoon quilt. Just gorgeous. I have a Swoon quilt on my bucket list...some day.
ReplyDeleteThank so much, Michele! I loved making this quilt but hated cutting...so nerve racking since you use every bit of a fat quarter and if you mess up you have to use another fat quarter. I have a pile of Madhuri squares because of this! I was planning on making a scrappy Swoon pillow with them but kind of took a Swoon break. lol Hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteFantastic! The finish is superb, the teaching position sounds perfect, your husband sounds magic and so glad your dad is recovering.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah! I couldn't agree more, Mr. Relish is quite magical! I wont tell him that, though. LOL Happy Saturday!
DeleteYour lovely quilt has such an ethereal look with the spiral quilting. I love how you do your labels, too. So glad your father is recovering. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome! Thanks for visiting and leaving a sweet comment! Hope you have a great weekend!
DeleteI'm glad to hear that your dad is okay, and glad to hear that even though finishing up the quilt didn't happen as you expected, the result was great. I absolutely love the Swoon pattern, and yours is so pretty. It looks great on the bed!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!
:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Thanks Kelly! I am too! Happy to share as always and thanks for hosting!
DeleteSo so pretty! Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Alyce! It should be a busy but fun year!
DeleteWhat a lovely swoon quilt, I love the soft relaxing colours, and the backing colour is a great choice! Great job.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, Karen! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting on my Swoon! Hope you a wonderful weekend!
DeleteLove it. I finally, finally, started a Swoon quilt! My blocks are done and it's on to sashing now. You did a lovely job quilting it. And congrats on the teaching job!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! A beautiful quilt, a beautiful story to go with it, and I love your label! That little tag is so cute!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust chiming in to say how much I've been admiring your SWOON quilt! It's SO beautiful and looks fantastic on your bed! I'm so glad you're Dad is okay and that you have a fun, new venture that allows you to share your particular talents. Oh, so lucky to have such a supportive husband!
ReplyDelete