Wedding Embroidery

 

In October I was busy stitching this little embroidery hoop to commemorate a special young lady's wedding day.  I used silver essex linen, white dmc embroidery floss and a 4" hoop.  Although the wedding was to be on 3rd November, Covid impacts meant it was necessary to change the date to 2nd.  That poor bride and groom had so many changes through the course of the months of planning their big day.  In spite of it all though, they are now happy newlyweds.  The bride decided to keep the date as it should have been on the hoop as part of the story she has to tell of her wedding that wasn't, but was.

Oh Ruby!

Yep, that's the sound of a quilt that's breaking my heart.

On Friday afternoon the sun was shining gloriously so I popped out to take a better picture of the quilt top (though it was a little windy)

and also a picture of the back

I don't normally piece backs for my quilts but I did for this one.  And, at that stage Friday afternoon this quilt was breaking my heart because I wanted to keep it.  I loved every little piece of fabric and every great big splash of Ruby colour on that backing, and had a little sigh in acknowledgement that this quilt will not be mine.

Then, I took it off the line and drove myself crazy trying to baste the quilt so that the front and back would be aligned straight.  In the spirit of honesty, while I'd like to tell you I succeeded, I can't.  That back was on again and off again and I just really struggled to get it right.  It ended up being as good as I could get it and it's not too bad, but in my head I can't help thinking that it's not good enough.

Friday night and yesterday I had a go at quilting this baby and feel like I'm breaking my heart over it even more.  It just didn't go smoothly and I think that I have kind of wobbled under the pressure of having to have this finished.  There is barely a single straight line in this quilting and I really wonder at myself - don't I know better than this?  Can't I do better than this?  And why, when it matters so much, is this one of the worst quilting jobs I have ever done?

My one remaining hope is that after I get all those mosaic quilting ends taken care of and the binding on, a good wash and dry will disguise this ghastly quilting.  My report card on this one should definitely read "Could do better."

Oh Ruby, forgive me!

Oh My Pretties!

Ruby by Bonnie and Camille is the first fabric line I have absolutely fallen in love with.

You know what I mean.  The one you buy some of, fold it and put away, bringing it out to stroke it from time to time then put it back in the drawer waiting for the day you can make something special with it.  The one where you will commit to buying a pre-cut knowing that you won't have to remove 4 prints that don't really do it for you.

Ruby puts a smile on my face!

And now, I am about to cut into these pretties to make a very special quilt to give away!  

It might not have been part of the original plan, but at least I know they will be appreciated where they are going.  I'm going to attempt this pattern as a wedding quilt for my cousin.  So, my all time favourite fabrics and a special occasion quilt - no pressure then!