Happy Day!

 Today I am celebrating! My mother turns 90 years old today. Plus, I actually got her birthday quilt done before the actual day...happy!

Here's a peek at the quilt top before it was quilted. I don't have a good place for display in this tiny apartment so my apologies for that. It is finished now and looks great...and is now wrapped up in lovely silver/gold foil paper ready for gifting.

Originally, these hens/roosters were from a Block of the Month titled "A Country Journal". These patterns included an additional header of blackberries.

In fact, this was the only pattern that I had purchased...in some quilt shop back in 1998. I wanted it only for the berries thinking that it could be made into a nice bell pull. However, it never got done...or frankly, even attempted. Having "found" it again in my stash some months ago...and realizing that it was part of a BOM...I went on the hunt for the full quilt. 

Here is a photo that I found:

I was surprised to see that in included hens/roosters! WHAT! so, of course I then had to go on a search to see if any patterns were still circulating. Yes, there was a full set on Ebay...BUT, there was also a full set of mostly completed applique blocks there as well (someone's UFO)...so, I of course went that way and purchased all of the blocks.

Now, purchasing partially finished projects without the pattern (although a photo of the quilt design was included) also means that you are getting someone else's "style/expertise" as well. Luckily, most of the completed blocks were in really good shape and nicely stitched. The header not so much, so thinking that those tiny berries were just a bit advanced for the stitcher (and they are very troublesome). Also, the center block was not completed...only having a couple of the morning glories/honeysuckles in place. 

Therefore, a new layout had to be designed to enlarge it to a more bed size and to compensate for the loss of those florals. Here is a closer look at some of the hens/roosters. 

We celebrate Mom's birthday on Saturday with a huge family event (allowing those in other states to travel on a weekend). She will get her present then...and I think she will be very pleased.