I made this quilt for my DD, Laura and DSIL, Darren, to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Actually, the whole story is that my sister, Chris and I started making wedding quilts for our children, and nieces and nephews (and our youngest sister, too) but when we started, two of my children had already been married a number of years, so they got left out of the line-up. To be fair, I decided that I needed to make quilts for them too. So last year, I made a quilt for my oldest DS, Jimmy and DDIL, Joanie. This year my goal was to make a wedding/anniversary quilt for my DD and her DH. I had been looking for a pattern for awhile that would be just perfect for them. Laura loves butterflies and calla lilies, so that was what I kept in mind as I looked for the perfect pattern. I came across this pattern, The Country Lily Quilt, by Cheryl Benner and Rachel Pellman, and knew it was the right one. I was a little intimidated at first--there was so much applique! I do love doing applique, but I wanted this quilt to be as close to perfect as possible (aren't all of us quilters like that though?!!!). Well, I started this quilt in February, had it quilted (with butterflies) in September and got it done about the first week of October. I changed the binding to include prairie points instead of a zig-zag border. I just liked it better that way.
I had decided to enter it in the quilt show. When I picked up the quilt from the quilter, I told her I was going to enter it. Well, she just happened to be the chairman of the quilt show, and she told me that the deadline had passed--by one day! I was heart-sick! She told me to call the coordinator and see if they had reached the maximum # of quilts, which was 600. I called as soon as I got out to the car, and she gave me permission to enter late. I'm so glad I did.
I got third place in the category I entered it in, which was applique/machine quilted. I was so excited!
I just had major foot surgery on October 7th, and am on pretty strict bed rest until I see the doctor again on the 22nd. I wanted so badly to go to the quilt show and see my quilt there. Well, DH said he would do whatever I needed to be able to go. We dusted off my wheelchair and headed out. Laura and Darren and their two beautiful little girls, my DGD's met us there and I got pictures! I was a mess by the time I got back home, but it was worth it!
I'm proud of the job I did and am so pleased to be able to give this quilt to my DD and DSIL!

Here are more photos--I just HAD to post some with my DGD's in the picture!

That is stunning!!
And I love the story to go with it.
Congratulations on your win!!! You deserved it!

That is one fabulous, incredible quilt! Wow! If that beauty got third place, I'd love to see what the first and second place winners were! Congratulations!

Beautiful quilt. Congratulations on the ribbon!!! :D :D :D

Really nice, I love it!

Absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous!!! Love the family photos also!! Great job!!!!!!!!!!! :-) :-) :-)

You should be proud...it's a beautiful quilt. And what a lot of work!! You deserved to win.

Your family look lovely too, especially your granddaughters.

ranger

Oh my.. that is one of the prettiest quilts I've ever seen..... anyone ever tell you that your DGD's have their gramma's smile?? what cuties... and a beautiful story... congratulations.

That is a Beautiful quilt. I'm glad that You and your family were able to go to the show. I hope that you are feeling better soon.

Oh, and that DH is a keeper. How sweet of him to make sure you got to see your quilt and ribbon.

woweeee! Nellie! That's beautiful! Think it should have gotten even more than third place, but what an accomplishment on first try!
Congratulations to all! :D

Congratulations Nelle!!!!! Your quilt is absolutely stunning!!!!! I can not imagine the hours you put into it, but they were well worth it!!!!
:D :D

Nelle,
Your quilt, for your daughter, is
gorgeous!! :D I can just imagine
how proud she must be of you &
her new quilt!! Definately Ribbon
quality. Thank you for sharing.
:D :D :D :D :D

It's a beautiful quilt. Nice job. And if this masterpiece only took a 3rd place, I'd really like to see the blue ribbon quilt. :D :D

That so AWESOME.....you should be very proud of yourself...congratulations, I think the quilt is just stunning and love the story.
dee :)

What a beautiful quilt for a beautiful family. :)

Congrats on your ribbon!!! Well deserved on a beautiful quilt.

I hope your foot heals well and you are back on it soon.

:shock: Wow! What a beautiful quilt! Congratulations on your winning the thrid place.
Heal soon !!

Gosh there's no ONE word to describe it I'll just say them all....AWESOME, CONGRATS & WAY TO GO!! You should be very proud as it is so beautiful.

I know they really are proud of it and you too!

I saw that quilt, and I'm pretty sure I saw you, too!! Wasn't that a great show?! Congratulations!

I love the story and your quilt is such a gorgeous one! What a lovely family and your DD looks so happy with her quilt!!!

wow :thumbup: and hi foot u have to heel now :oops:

Wow -- what a fantastic quilt!! And only a third place? Were the judges using seeing eye dogs or what? :D

Beautiful quilt and beautiful family - especially those DGD's!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!

Wow the competion must have been out of this world if your quilt only got third. Congratulations.

A BEAUTIUFUL quilt! Congratulations!

That is a beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing the picture and the story. Great job.

I agree with quilycrazy this should of got a first place.It is verypretty an looks ASSUMMMMM!!!!!!!!!

Lovely...grandbabies and the quilt!

WOW, what a beauty! I love the design, and it looks perfect! Congratulations, and I hope you get back on your own two feet soon!

wow wonderful quilt. you did a great job and know it is truely loved. soooo pretty. thank you for posting a picture.
happy sewing
cindy

YOU DONE GOOD! I love the quilt! Thanks for sharing your story & pics.

Youl should have gotten first!

Nellie,

As far as I'm concerned, you deserved 1st Place. It is beautiful!!!

Pat

GORGEOUS!!!! I love the story too.....so do you keep the ribbon or does it go with the quilt??? :lol:

I love it!!!!!!!!!!! I also like the one in you avatar.

Just gorgeous!!! I love your color choice and placement. It makes it very unique and very modern. Lucky girl!!!

Good job! To get third place out of 600 quilts is an amazing accomplishment. CONGRATULATIONS!
Also ... do I see by your DSIL's haircut that we all owe him a big thank you for his service to our country?
SALUTE!

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful compliments! And to answer a few questions:
The ribbon stays with me--I talked to my daughter about it and she agreed that I should have the ribbon. However, there is a description that was typed up about the quilt, and she gets to keep that. Of course, some day when I am not around anymore, the ribbon will "find" it's way back to the quilt...
And yes, my DSIL is in the Army Guard, and absolutely, he does deserve our thanks for his service. He spent a year away from his family, serving in Saudi Arabia. He is a great son-in-law, a wonderful husband, and an awesome daddy!
About my third place ribbon--I won third place in the Applique/Machine Quilted division, not the whole quilt show.
The first and second place winners were beautiful too, and much more detailed than mine was. They definitely deserved their ribbons, too.
As far as my foot goes, I saw the doctor for my first post-op today. Things are going well. I got the staples removed, the big surgical cast taken off, xrays taken and a cool, new blue cast put on. I will be non-weight bearing for about 10 more weeks. I figure by the first of January, I should be able to walk again. Thank you for all the well-wishes and the prayers! They are much appreciated!