Finishing this quilt was especially satisfying

I finally finished my version of the Pick-A-Petal quilt, the 2024 Block of the Month (BOM), designed by Jen Kingwell of Australia, brought to us by The Quilt Show. I do love Aussie quilters, and I especially respect Kingwell, since she designs and sews her quilts by hand.

 

Initially, I wanted to do that too, but soon changed my mind. After piecing the middle star in the center by hand, I decided I'd prefer to save my aging, arthritic hands for hand quilting, applique, and now embroidery, all of which I love. So, the rest of this quilt was machine pieced. 

I have already detailed in previous posts what a challenge this was for me. I am surprised that it turned out as well as it did. In fact, I really like it now that it is finished and I am anxious to start on the next project.

This was supposed to be completed at the end of December. There were times that I just wasn't into it. I will admit that it wasn't my favorite. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it wasn't the quilt at all because in mid-November, I had a near-fatal heart attack, for which I am now trying to recover.

I knew my condition was improving several weeks ago when I decided I wanted to get back to my quilting. For a time, I wasn't interested in anything. And then I knew I was on the mend when I decided to finish this project.

I'm not sure why I was not enamored with this quilt. I love all the colors; love using up scraps of fabric, many of which I picked out for other projects or purchased just because I love them. I even like this design, especially the whimsical applique and embroidery in the light middle squares.

I haven't done embroidery in years. I do love all kinds of hand work. So when I set out to quilt this quilt, that will be enjoyable as well. I'm not sure when that will be though, since my quilt tops are starting to pile up. I hope I might live long enough to finish them, or at least make a dent in them. At any rate, the road to feeling normal again has been rough and isn't over yet. But, hopefully my quilting life will be normal as ever.

As I look at this quilt on my design wall, I am reminded that it almost didn't get done. It may have never gotten done. I was almost no longer here to finish it, or to get one year older, or to enjoy the start of a new year, or so many other things. My friend Nancy always says that every quilt I finish is always my favorite. She is right. This one now holds that place of esteem for me. It is rather symbolic. It will always represent a second chance, one for which I am very grateful.