First - I made this for my husband for our 10 year wedding anniversary! I thought of it, and started it in February and I feel really lucky that I finished it in time! So, here it is - I call it "If".
My husband's all time favorite poem is "If" by Rudyard Kipling. It is a wonderful poem, with a lot of personal significance to him. So, I got a rather hair-brained idea to applique the entire poem onto a quilt. So I did. And yes, I cut out every. single. letter. Yes - I am crazy. No, I do not recommend doing this! :)
There were a few moments when it nearly got thrown in the trash. During the second stanza, I was feeling particularly frustrated by how the letters kept NOT being straight. But then I realized something important. I was making this as a token of my love for the greatest man I know. My beloved. And HE would appreciate the effort that was put in, even if it wasn't perfect. And you know, when all was said and done, I was very proud of how it came out.
The other elements also have significance.
The tree
Well, trees have all sorts of symbolism - strength, firm foundation...etc. Take your pick. I put it on there because we love trees. Seriously. They're all over our walls. :) The funnest part of the tree is the quilting. I FMQed it to look like tree bark. I LOVE how it came out!
The bird.
For a love quilt - the obvious choice would have been a dove, right? Well... that's not how I roll! lol! This is a Falcon. I did a lot of research into the symbolism of birds and the Falcon really spoke to me. The Falcon symbolizes "A light Shining in the Darkness." Also, "The light that gives your life purpose." I love that. It really is exactly how I feel toward my husband. The Falcon also represents wisdom, rising above, Keen intellect, success, loyalty, and fierce guardianship. All describe my husband perfectly.
I am so pleased with the final outcome of this quilt. My husband was deeply touched by it, and I am so glad I had the patience (and the insanity) to make this for him!
I have been told by a few people to link this up to the Blogger's Quilt Festival, and I think I will!! :)
51 comments:
Oh, wow, Linz! This is amazing! I'm familiar with the poem and it happens to be one of my favorites. What a wonderful gift, my goodness. And I love the falcon, I think it's amazing. Happy anniversary!
you are a quilt goddess. I cannot believe you cut out and appliqued each letter. You are amazing! What a special gift.
What a wonderful expression of your love and how fanatastic that it was for somebody who would appreciate it all. Personally I think you're mad, what's wrong with a nice tool set, or maybe a meal out, with wine? Fantastic achievement and I'm so glad you put it in the festival so that we could all enjoy your work. I loved learning about the significance of the falcon as we live in Kestrel Cottage :)
Great job, Lindsay!
oh my goodness, you are insane! That is fantastic. What a beautiful labor of love! So wonderful and romantic. Did you give it to him yet?
I think maybe you're crazy ;) I can not imagine cutting out all those letters, and lining them up. Wow, you must be very patient.
The quilt is absolutely beautiful, and I love the quilt job you did on it!
WOW!!! (That's really all I can say)
What a special quilt!
I thought I did some crazy (teeny, tiny) things with appliqué, but this takes the cake. On first sight I thought this was printed on fabric. I usually embroider words, not appliqué them. I'm sure this was a real challenge. Congratulations on a really well done job!
What a beautiful piece of art! Very creative and simple. I love this, thanks for sharing - came by way of the Quilt Festival!
Wow, that is some serious patience! You have a very lucky husband.
Wow!!! What a gesture of love! I'm sure your husband is thrilled, and I cannot believe you cut out each letter!
Wow. Linz! This is amazing! An appliqued poem! A tree! A symbolic bird! Yep, amazing. "Great job" doesn't seem like enough to say here, but ... great job. : )
Are you serious? You appliqued each letter? I loved how it looked even without knowing that amazing fact!
Gorgeous! So lovingly done
What an awesome wife!! I cannot believe you did that--so sweet! He will treasure that forever. :)
This is a tremendous labour of love! I hope he loves it!
Every letter? Yowzers. But the quilt turned out wonderfully and what a wonderful labor of love.
Ooh! Look at all your comments! You know why? Because it's beautiful! Great job, my friend! Oh, and worth the wait!
This is so inspiring! Wow. I do appliqué but that is APPLIQUÉ! Superccongratulations and thanks so much for sharing and have a great day
Amazing Linds! Love it!
This is so beyond words that I fear no comment I could make could come close to the wonder of this quilt. The love you and your husband share must be so wonderful to encourage such a thoughtful and labor intensive quilt.
Sooooo beautiful and loving. Your husband is a very lucky man.
I love it! I love that you made this poem for him, I love that this is a poem he loves and you got to make it! What a wonderful project!
WOW. What a quilt; he was right to be very moved by this labor of love.
This is amazing! But said on a loving way... You Are NUTS! :)
It is a beautiful present, I am sure he loves it!!
how amazing and what a sweet gift, this is something you will both treasure for a lifetime. Thanks for sharing!
Wowsa! This is so Amazing, I take my hat off to you!
Are you kidding me, Linz? This is amazing! I need a close up of those letters. How big is it? Details, please!!!! So, so proud of you!
Oh my gosh I don't even know what to say. This is beyond fabulous. I cannot believe you appliqued every...single...letter....I wouldn't have any hair left! An absolutely stunner of a quilt, I'm so glad you entered the festival!
This is very special. What incredible patience you have to do so much work. Congratulations!
My goodness, you did a hell of a job but the result is worth it, fabulous!!!!
Oh gosh this is just totally amazing and I also enjoyed the story behind it. Very thoughtful! And happy anniversary again!!
Wonderful! and happy late anniversary! :)
Wonderful piece of work. What a treasure!
Everything about this quilt screams special. The appliqued lettering you go girl!!! The significance of the falcon is perfect for this!!
wowowowow...wow!!!
that's a lot of work and i love it!
i love applique ... i've done tons of it on shirts and stuff (for my etsy shop) but not like that on a quilt -- what a great idea!! you've inspired me ... way to think outside the box :)
and i see that we're both LDS :) (congrats on the anniversary!)
Speechless. It is lovely my friend. Happy Anniversary.
Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!
Amazingly beautiful. You made me teary-eyed. :)
Um ... WOW!! I can't believe the detail in this quilt and all the letters! I always feel that a quilt is a tangible expression of care and love and this one is especially so.... LOVE IT!
How flipping awesome!
Now that is just SUPER! Where did you get all those letters to applique? I love that poem too
but I'll bet embroidery or copying on to fabric from a printer would have been easier. What a labor of love!
Insanity indeed! I can't believe you persevered through this quilt, but I'm glad you did. It's awesome and I can see why your husband loved it!
What an amazing quilt. I'd have been so worried doing so much wording that I'd miss a whole line out and mess it up lol. No wonder your husband loved it so much!
What an awesome quilt and masterpiece you have created. We are all a little crazy when it comes to our family - Judy C love it
What a lot of work! It's a gorgeous quilt, what a great idea.
That is amazing! What an incredibly thoughtful gift. Just out of curiosity, how big were the letters?
Beautiful! Wonderful! Incredible. It is my husband's favorite, also--I thought of embroidering it, but this is so gorgeous. . . completely inspiring!
This is totally gorgeous. I gave my husband an IOU for our anniversary for a text quilt of our wedding song. (I'm not as organised as you!) he just needs to choose colours and a style. I love how you've added the tree and falcon, simply stunning. Can I ask how big the letters you used were and how big the quilt ended up?
Wow !! this is really amazing... Your husband must be feeling so proud of you :) wish you all the best and a great married life :) btw "If" is my favourite poem too :D
Post a Comment