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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Cotheals at Home

As promised, here are some photos of Phebe now that she's quilted! Unfortunately, the photos from my camera didn't turn out very well so most of these photos were taken with my cell phone. The colors are a little brighter and there is some distortion too. Also, I'm not sure if the beautiful quilting will show up very well so I'm going to link to the machine quilter's blog at the end of this post. Please click on the individual photos for a better look. Enjoy!


Whenever I get stressed out, I find myself starting a new quilting project. Quilting is my stress reliever!

I began working on Phebe in April of 2013. My husband's mother had passed away in February and my daughter's wedding in March had really stressed me out. We finally became empty nesters and I needed something to pour myself into.


In June, my mother's health began to deteriorate and I spent many hours sitting with her in her room at the nursing home and during her hospital stays. Phebe was always with me.


In August, hospice was called in to care for my mother and a few days later, she passed away. Planning the funeral, cleaning out her room, taking care of details took time. Feeling like quilting again took even more time but I began to enjoy working on Phebe again. I decided to finish this quilt in memory of both my mother and mother-in-law. Neither of them were quilters but both encouraged me to keep quilting! 



I can't remember at which step I was in September. My two years as our guild's Membership Chair were over which freed more time for me to work on Phebe. However, I felt like I was working in slow motion and not accomplishing much. It is so easy to get bogged down when working on a big quilt so my advice is to find a few quilters to hold you accountable and spur you on!


In fact, I did cheat and start a few UFOs just to help me fight the boredom of working on the same project over and over. At the end of 2013, I realized I hadn't finished a single project during the last twelve months! I couldn't believe it.


Di Ford's pattern for Phebe is her version of a wedding coverlet made for Phebe Warner in approximately 1803. This pattern is in her book, "Primarily Quilts". When I made my quilt, I purposely made Phebe and her husband, Henry Cotheal, appear mature as if they had been married several years versus the younger couple on the wedding coverlet. Even though I will always call my quilt "Phebe", her official name is "The Cotheals at Home". 


Here's a link to information about the Phebe Warner wedding coverlet:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/38.59
More information about the maker of the wedding coverlet and quilts inspired by it:
http://quilt1812warandpiecing.blogspot.com/2012/05/sarah-furman-warner-williams.html

Blogger is driving me crazy today. I can't go back and redo things, can't center the text either. Just a pet peeve of mine but that's really driving me nuts. I'm sure not much of my ramblings are making sense so please just enjoy the pictures, LOL!

I do want to especially thank Jan, the machine quilter. Here's a link: http://thesecretlifeofmrsmeatloaf.blogspot.com/2014/02/phebe-mayleens-masterpiece.html to her blog where she plans to post much better close up photos of Phebe. She's done a wonderful job especially stitching in the ditch, making the Ohio Star blocks appear square and just generally covering up a lot of my not the best piecing!

This photo was taken with my camera and the colors seem very blah. I'll be looking for a new camera soon, one for the technology challenged user! Did you know that I'm a Luddite?

More about my other projects coming soon!
Mayleen

21 comments:

Barb said...

congratulations! stunning! You must feel so proud and happy.

Nedra said...

Mayleen, what a sweet story you have told to accompany your Phebe. I know your mother and mother in law would be so pleased with your tribute quilt. Make sure to write this all down. It's a story that needs to be preserved with the quilt.

Frog Quilter said...

It's BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Love it. Relieve that stress with a needle and thread. Works every time. Hugs.

Kimme said...

Just gorgeous! Your extra touches of embroidery just add so much more to the finished quilt. Congratulations.

Vicki W said...

It's breathtaking!

audrey said...

This quilt is so very gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this with us! Your work on this is just incredible.:)

Heather said...

Simply stunning Mayleen. I feel privileged to have followed you on this journey. What a wonderful accomplishment. Your mother and MIL would be so proud!

Karen said...

I am so happy for you, I can only imagine the memories you have when you look at this. One of the many reasons I love to quilt. It is truly a masterpiece.

Carole~Quilter on the hill said...

Congratulations!! Your Phebe is so beautiful, what a wonderful tribute for both your mother in law and mother. Jan has done an outstanding job of the quilting -you must be thrilled! I love the echo quilting and the feathers and the surrounds to the Ohio stars. Looking forward to seeing your next project.

Ruth said...

Your quilt is just awesome! I went to Jan's blog to see the quilting better and it highlights your beautiful workmanship.

Elaine said...

Congratulations on a stunning finish!

Nancy said...

What a great accomplishment your Phoebe quilt is and a loving tribute to your Mother and mother in law.
I am starting this one soon as a BOM and really looking forward to it after seeing yours.

Every Stitch said...

Wow - it is an amazing quillt - an heirloom! The colours are gorgeous - especially the centre! Am off to check the quilting link...
Hilda

Sue Jennings said...

Phoebe is absolutely beautiful and I can see it was made with love from the heart. What a beautiful heirloom quilt.

Angie in SoCal said...

What a treasure! Phebe is many quilts in one masterpiece. Your mother and mother-in-law are smiling in Heaven for your making it in honor of them.

Lynette said...

Well done! Applause, Applause, Applause!!!! Breathtaking!! I've been following all you've gone through for "Phebe" and I must say while it gave you many angst, your final product is an heirloom. What a treasure and an achievement! I'm so very happy for you! I'm going to have to make a special effort to see this when you place it in a quilt show!!!!

JulieAnn said...

Just beautiful. I love it and your story. I have special memories for my dad encouraging me with some of my quilts. I even use to make him do the reverse sewing if he was around when it was needed. lol. That way he felt a bit involved and I have memories woven in the quilt too.

The Quilted Finish said...

I love this quilt! Your Phebe is so beautiful! I love that Phebe and her husband have been married a while on your quilt, lovely idea. Quilts are often a visual reminder of what was happening in our lives at the time we made them and often a way to lose ourselves in times of stress, beats therapy!! The quilting looks gorgeous as well. Congratulations on a really lovely finish.

FlourishingPalms said...

What a great story to go with this quilt! It's a labor of love and worry, isn't it? I'm sure you meant that it all began in 2013, right? Such a pretty quilt. You MUST enter it in a judged quilt show!

Angie in SoCal said...

What a spectacular quilt. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

judith lockhart said...

Your Phebe quilt is just beautiful!! Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your ribbon at Paducah! The personalization and story really adds to the beauty. I also find it difficult to stay with a really large quilt that is so complex, but eventually like to get them completed.