Autumn one side, rainbow the other

Rainbow side first, sunny and crinkly!

Whew, finally wrapped up the last of this cozy! And I'm SO PLEASED with it, I wish it was mine, LOL. Instead it's going to not the original recipient, but someone else much beloved. Still, I do wish it was staying at my house.

Next is autumn in shade. Most of these prints are from Stephanie Sliwinski's Foraged, Found, & Hand Me Down collection by Moda. 

What does that mean, aching to gift a quilt while desiring its presence close? I guess it means I really like it, both for the fabrics and weight, for the size and stitches inserted, for all it has meant to me since early this year. It's meant: Throw fabrics on the design wall because blank space is boring, then fall in love with what you see, super-excited to hand-sew it together. Use it to make a tutorial, then find the extra layer of batting, consisting of a worn-out flannel sheet, actually makes the hand-quilting a little on the tricky side, but you persevere despite a tired shoulder/neck issue as well as shingles at the very end.

Rainbow in shade, mostly. Happy day!

Huh, that's a lot of elements....

However, sometimes that's the life of a quilter. Giving away what truly isn't required no matter how hard it tugs on one's heart. Because someone else needs it more. Because love given away becomes bigger and brighter and better. Because in all honesty I could remake this quilt, perhaps not exactly, but certainly close enough, and maybe one day I will.

Autumn in sun; these squares were from a layer cake because this collection is a large one, and while I adore them all, my stash said, "You know, you already have PLENTY of fall prints." LOL!

In the meantime.... There's another quilt top/back on the wall calling for three more seams to complete it, there's a 60th birthday (AHEM) approaching, there's world crises over which to pray and familial heartache also in need of intercession. There is always something pulling at me, because don't forget that novel in progress, over 70K in the word count and a matching story line wrapping up to boot. It's always nice when THE END appears on the horizon as the word count increases, much like this morning's bright sunrise peeking over the treeline, chickens fed, and a moment to blather here.

Rainbow half and half; the wind was swirling yesterday when I snapped these, but I love this shot.

Rambling about quilts I love that came about easier than how they were finished, endearing them to my soul, but that's cool because the recipient of this cozy is dear to me. Love asks us to give more than receive, to bless instead of curse, to forgive instead of.... Deep breath taken because forgiveness is at times difficult no matter how pretty the quilt or how nearly finished is the novel or any other notion. Forgive instead of resenting. Be merciful, not merciless. Let kindness rule as the less stellar fades into the background.

Right before I completed the final square; round and round went the hand-stitching, but such beauty to emerge.

And remember, rainbows are precious, autumn days are too. May this spring Friday bring peace, joy, and much love from me to you.