Sunday 5 August 2012

Festival Finish


I finished my Festival challenge quilt, but after so many requests I thought I'd let you know just what a monumental effort it was to finish it. It probably didn't help that I started piecing it on the Sunday of the delivery week! Ooops!

I had a customer quilt loaded that needed to be done by Wednesday, quilting group on the Monday afternoon (precious hanging sleeve stitching time for the other quilts), Tuesday I met up with Di at the LQS,and finished said quilting. so,it was realistically Wednesday before I really started the piecing. thankfully I did already have the paper plan on the wall and the fabrics pretty much chosen, numbered, so it really was just getting down to it!

By late,Thursday morning I had finished the piecing - phew! quilting should be a doddle right? It was all going swimmingly, until I was half way through the quilting and discovered a piecing error - bugger! You know that sinking feeling, the one where you think there is no way out of this? Hmm, I wasn't going to be beaten by this, so formulated a plan, that involved more freezer paper, and some silk thread and set to with needle and trusty thimble. It took longer than I had hoped but, got myself back on course. However, I didn't finish quilting it until 1am in the morning. I really couldn't stay up any longer, I could barely see, let alone sew binding and a hanging sleeve on. So off I toddled for some much needed sleep. Except I woke up at 5.30 am! and couldn't get back to sleep! Aaaaaah! resigned to,the fact, kettle on, I grabbed my cuppa and headed out to the studio to do battle with that damn quilt.

so it's now Friday, the last day for delivery in Birmingham, and I'm running on 4 hours of sleep, several cups of tea, and some very encouraging emails from the only person outside my family that had actually seen it, of sorts. the last stitch was put in at 10.30 am, but there was still labels and packaging of all three to sort out. I'm in the car and setting off down the road to Birmingham by 11.40. Not bad, but still up to 2 hours there, and then I have to drive all the way home again! well, knackered no longer describes how I felt, and with a quick stop to avail myself of the facilities at the drop off place and grab some lunch at the Tamworth Services I was home again by 4pm. completely spent.

was it worth it? Yes, I think so, only time will tell ... So whilst you're at Festival of Quilts, please,look out for my Carolina Christmas quilt in the Traditional section, Made in Cherry in the Contemporary quilts ... And my vision of Britain ... what it means to me ...



this quilt really is very personal to me, if you are heading to Festival, please let me know what you think, I shall be lurking and eavesdropping to see how it affects the onlookers - I'm very curious as to,how people will view it. I'm also interested to see how it sits with all the other entries.

So not content with the trip to Birmingham on the Friday, we went on a little road trip Saturday ... This was the view coming home ...




Home Monday night, and then off to Leeds and back to drop off a different quilt with a friend for her talk. and I got to see her quilting robot working too! I was hoping to go back to work for a rest, but it didn't work out that way either!

needless to,say I've had a very relaxing weekend, I hope you're not too exhausted reading about my madness. and to think I may even have managed to blog from my iPad (hopefully!)

there's plenty more madness to come!

12 comments:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Yay for getting it done! Say hi to Alice, my neice, if you see her! :-)

Judith, Belfast said...

Phew! I definitely need to lie down just after reading all that! What a week you've had T! So sorry I won't be at FoQ to see your amazing quilts. I'm sure they will be stunning! Can't wait to see the pics. Well done on not completely cracking up (now I know where the jelly tots come in!). Jxo

Leanne said...

I love how you never gave up, but you must have been exhausted in the end.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Bloody hell Trudi I need a sit down now!
Make sure you get loads of pics to show us xxx

QuiltSue said...

I am part of the reason for Trudi's crazy week, as I am the friend in Leeds she came too just to let me borrow one of her quilts for a talk. I am sorry to have added to all the stress, but thank you.

I am sure all your quilts will be successful, but the challenge one is really something special.

Sarah said...

Trudi that was mental! Please dont do that again... Wish I could come see the quilts, but I wont be able to. Fingers crossed you're going to take lots of photos for us!! best of luck xxx

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

What a week! Were you visiting the Metro Centre?! I can't wait to see more of your challenge quilt - the sneak peek looks wonderful! Now, go and get some rest xx

Catherine said...

Wow, I am exhausted just reading about it! I can't get to the festival, but I am sure your quilts will be a huge hit and I look forward to the big reveal

Cindy said...

Oh my goodness. I can't wait to see it all! Have a great trip, nap a bit in there and tell us all when you can :)

Canadian Abroad said...

I cannot wait to see them all!!!

Katy Cameron said...

Quilting robot? WTH?! Looking forward to seeing the end results of the sleepless nights :o)

Nicky said...

I'm going to see them I'm going to see them!

Yeah hope to see you too Trudy! Good luck and glad you got it all done!