Red & Aqua String Block Quilt - It's Done!

It's finished! Just over a year after I started it. After making quilts for more than 2 years this is the very first one that I have made for myself and I can tell you that I'm pretty chuffed with it.

I joined my first quilt block bee in February 2012. I was first up in February and this is the block that I chose. The string block. Tutorial at Film In The Fridge. I chose red and aqua for my colour scheme. 

I received so many lovely blocks from my fellow bees but I also had to make a lot myself as it was only a small 8" block. Initially I intended it to be a 60" x 60" lap quilt but I just couldn't bring myself to make any more blocks so it ended up 45" x 60". Which is still a good size for me.

The back was pieced using Nesting Chairs in Celebration by Laurie Wisbrun, Lotus by Amy Butler and some gorgeous red Timeless Treasures fabric I had in my stash. I went with a grey binding as it was a bit softer than black and it blended beautifully with the greys in the Nesting Chairs and Lotus fabrics.

The quilting was done by the owner of my local quilt shop, Finch's Nest. I have so many WIP's at the moment that I just wanted to get it out the way and I knew that my straight line quilting just wasn't going to do this one any justice. I made the right decision.

Master 3 and I went to the HMAS Sydney II memorial in town and took these photos. It was a typical windy Geraldton day.

The best thing about this quilt is that it's full of all the wonderful blocks from my friends in QCA Bee 2. It makes it really special having blocks in it that people have made just for you. For that reason I'm so glad that this is the first quilt that I have completed for myself. I will treasure it.

Linking up with Sew, Love, Live for TGIFF (for the first time in ages!)