Courtney's Quilt

Courtney is my dear, sweet college roommate.

I really do love that girl.

First, she was my suite-mate in the dorm.

Then we joined the same sorority.

Then we joined Campus Crusade.

And we went to the same church.

Then she hooked me up with my husband.

And I had my first margarita with her when I turned 21.

Then we shared a bedroom in a very shady old house in Bryan, Tx.

And we started throwing killer Christmas parties.

And then we had a nice apartment back in town.

And we shared lots of good and bad times and prayed together and cried together and all the great things great friends do.

And I really miss her.

She sent me an email a year and a half ago telling me that she really liked this fabric.

Really?  Why was she looking at fabric?  Huh.

It happened to be Lantern Bloom.

So I bought a fat quarter set.

Because by golly, she would get a quilt made from it!

I don't get to see Courtney but once a year when she comes home on furlough.

She has been serving as a missionary in a far away land.

A "lantern", herself, if you will.

I made sure this was ready for her when she came home this Christmas : )

So why diamonds?  I've loved looking at the quilt Jane Austen made, and I've always wanted to make something like that, being a lover of all things "Jane".  I bought a template at Joann's and just went for it with the sashing.  I learned a few lessons the hard way when it comes to lining up (or not lining up) corners when working with diamonds, but it all came out right in the end, and I can say I learned something new.  Oh, yeah and that whole bias thing.  Yeah, I've had enough of that for a while!

Jane's Quilt

It's a big quilt for me, about a twin size (60+/80+).  I used Kona White for the sashing, border and backing. And I threw in a few shots of Kona solids for a little added interest. And I stippled it.  I hadn't stippled in a loooong time, but it all came back to me as I watched a season of The Office.  I quilted it with thread from Connecting Threads, which I've been using for a while now and really liking.  Especially since it's inexpensive and my machine is ok with that. I just got a spool of their new thread for machine quilting and can't wait to try it.

So, it's been a long time coming, but I'm so excited to give this quilt to her.  I really hope that the amount of time it has taken me to get this done was enough to throw her completely off track and she will have no idea what's coming.  

Edit: She loved it.  But I'm the one that cried!  I love her so much!

I decided to enter this quilt into Gen X Quilters' Love Nest Quilt Contest, so I'm adding the button here!

I've never considered entering a contest, but Anne Marie was sweet to make me aware of it and my post here already had all the details they wanted! Fun!  Wish me luck!