Well, I did it. Strawberry Garden is now finished, thank heavens. This quilt was a lot. So many pieces, scads of blocks, and fussy piecing. It is a real accomplishment to have made it, but it was an effort! I think it will be a while before I dive into another mega Fig Tree project such as this. The quilt was meant to be a block-of-the-month project, and I suppose it would have been more workable if I had done it that way.
I was late to the game, however, and by the time I decided I wanted to make this quilt, the sew-along was long over. However, Joanna Figuerora put out a book called Strawberry Garden so I decided I was in. She also released a new strawberry themed fabric collection that was perfect for the project, so I was totally on board.
It took me about a year to finish, I believe. I kind of lost track of time when Dennis was ill, so I'm not sure. I know I worked on it more consistently in the last six months or so. It was quite an undertaking and I am pleased with the result.
What is up with dogs wanting to lie on a quilt when you lay it on the floor to take a picture? Archie just plopped right in the middle and looked at me as if to ask, "What's next?"
Woo hoo, look who's at the grocery store! It is the first time in a year or more that he has been in a store. The doctors told us it could take a year for his recovery, and they were pretty much right. Dennis may never experience his previous level of fitness and mobility but he is so much improved, and we are incredibly grateful for that. He looks pretty pleased with himself, doesn't he?
Oh! Sara and I have a new book review podcast up on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. We talk about Kindle Unlimited and the books we have enjoyed lately. Check it out!
24 Responses
What a happy post! An amazing finished quilt, Archie cute as a button, but my favorite has to be Dennis. Sending hugs to all.
Great way to start the week, all good!!
Everything (quilt, dog, husband) is lovely. Thanks for the great photos.
This is a great way to start a Monday! Your quilt is lovely, Dennis looks fit and healthy, and Archie is adorable!! My dogs do the same thing – assuming I laid the quilt down for their enjoyment!
Love Dennis smile. Congratulations on his recovery. Your quilt is amazing!!
Amazing quilt, quite the accomplishment and apparently Archie agrees! 😊 Dennis looks great after all that he has been through, enjoying the task of grocery shopping. Happy Monday!
Way to go Dennis!!! And your new finish is so beautiful! The finishes that take the most time and commitment are the most rewarding! Do you have a scrap system for your leftover fabric or what do you do with all of your scraps??
Yes! Our crazy Foxie came home as a pup almost 5 years ago and loves to be on quilts from the get go. Dennis looks so proud of himself, as he should be! So lovely to see accomplishments. Your Strawberry Garden quilt is amazing. I’ll be curious to see how your quilter quilts it. So happy for you for a joyous week!
Well, that quilt may have been a lot of work but it is absolutely gorgeous. You should be very proud of yourself for making it to the finish line! It’s so nice to see Dennis out and about! Who would have thought, back in the throes of his illness that he would make such astounding progress! I’m so happy for both of you!
Lovely quilt. Great to see your husband moving around — and smiling!
Dennis looks so happy to be able to go to the grocery store once again! The things we take for granted, right? Dogs have a rule about photobombing quilt pictures! Great finish & you should be so proud of Strawberry Garden!🍓🍓🍓
Strawberry Garden is amazing and you should be well proud of yourself for making it! Will you add a border or two?
It’s good to see Archie because it is his job to be where you want him to be!
Joy!!!!!!!!! Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine, Dennis has made a wonderful recovery and there is much to be thankful for! Love that smile.
Happy hugs!
Nicole,
It has been a long time since I have commented on your blog (Life really got in the way). I played catch up for awhile and I am so happy for you two that your husband has made such wonderful progress.
Your Strawberry Garden quilt is beautiful. Those Fig Tree quilt patterns are a challenge and you did a fantastic job.
Hooray for Dennis!!!!!! Back among the living…..at the grocery store! The place we all have to be on a regular basis! I know you are happy to have the strawberry quilt done….what a job!!! I love that little dog posing in the middle of the quilt!!!!!! You should make him a regular part of your quilt photos….he is so precious!
Awesome quilt Nicole. Huge congrats on completing it. Archie is too cute!!
Hurrah for Dennis and the progress he has made!
Great achievements for both of you! I think your Strawberry is beautiful, but not for me!
So much to be grateful for and congratulate you on!! Way to go Dennis!! Personally I do like grocery shopping, so I would have missed that. And cute little Archie. They always want to be where your attention is going don’t they!? The quilt top is wonderful – an amazing accomplishment that you always pull of with aplomb!! Hurray!!!!
I’ll echo what everyone else is saying, that my favorite part of your post is seeing Dennis looking so healthy and proud to be shopping!
Archie is cute as a button and your quilt top is beautiful, too.
Wonderful news about your husband!
The quilt is beautiful. I generally wait until I have all the kits for blocks of the month before putting them together. I think it makes better use of the fabric sent and I can tweak it if there is a fabric that I don’t really like. And sometimes there are errors in the instructions.
Dennis looks pleased too. What a relief to be feeling better and moving better! Your “Strawberry Garden” looks fantastic.
Dennis looks great! So glad his health has improved and he’s able to do
these every day tasks that we take for granted until we can’t do them anymore. The quilt is lovely. Archie wants to be in on the action.
Such happy news about Dennis’s progress and a great picture. As always Archie is squeezable and your Strawberry Garden is beautiful! Hope you had a large glass of wine and admired it!
Hurrah Dennis!
yay for Dennis going shopping with you. it’s good for him mentally every time he steps out.
that quilt is just gorgeous. spend some $ and get that baby quilted! I have 5 quilts(I think) that need quilting. I need to find a 2nd long arm quilter. the woman I use is good but she is just too slow.