Finished 2012: Jack In The Box Quilt

I have my first finish of 2012 --The Jack In The Box Quilt!



This quilt has been a long time in the making. Literally years in the making.

I had started piecing this variation on the Jack-in-the-Box box about 2008. The only thing I remember about my process at that time was that I was dedicated to making it out of only fabrics in my stash and whatever muslin I had lying around. For some inexplicable reason when I was about 30 minutes from finishing the top, I put it in a box.

Then the box got put in a closet and was promptly forgotten.

Fast forward to 2011, I was in the midst of cleaning and organizing and moving furniture around while we put in new flooring and I came across the unfinished top and several finished blocks. 30 minutes after finding them I finished the actual top while constantly remarking to every one for the next two weeks who would listen that I had left a project go for years when the end was in sight.

Anyway...

Over Christmas, while I was visiting my parents, I had the opportunity to throw it on my momma's long-arm machine and quilt it after finding the backing in my stash as well.

Lots of hours over several days later, I had 'pebbled' the quilt.



And linked up with Fabric Tuesday over at Quilt Story.

PHD No More!

Actually I didn't just finish one PHD. I finished TWO. Today!

To quote my husband (in a very thick Cajun accent) -- "What had happened here was..."

I needed a box to pack a wedding gift (specifically this quilt) and the only box I could find in my entire house that was big enough held three PHD projects. One of them about a year old which I'm still working on.

One about...um...nine...um...years.



Which only ended up being crib size in the end. I can honestly say I learned a lot about strip piecing by attempting this project. Most importantly, I learned about how I should work in the end. Nothing will ever come of this top more than likely outside of something I can practice quilting on.

And one about..um...um...eleven...um...years.

Yes this project is almost a teenager. And it's not even quilted yet.



Funny thing about this quilt is it is one of the first ones I pieced using a machine. One of my sorority sisters has it's twin as it was her wedding present in 2001 (yes you read that right). My mum and I still argue to this day as to how I managed to follow a pattern and cut enough fabric for TWO queen size quilts. Regardless, it was the last time I ever pre-cut a quilt top. Typically, I cut as I go now. It may be slower, but since I don't use a design wall or pre-plan a quilt more than having a block design in mind, it works for me.