Vestibule a.k.a Morning Star

Quilt History (or best as I can remember)

Fabric: In the last 1990's I purchased some fabric from Abram House Quilt Shop in Arlington, Texas. Two separate purchases. The first was a fat quarter collection of the entire line "Material Pleasures" by Barbara Brackman & Terri Clothier Thomsen. The second purchase was another fat quarter collection of the entire line "Floral Trails" by the same designers. I loved their 1800's reproduction fabrics. I had the foresight (and wisdom) at the time to purchase a large quantity of one fabrics in the line for use in borders, binding, etc. Unsure of how I would use at the time but better to have than have not. Quilter's Philosophy and justification to buy more fabric!

Backing Fabric: Alas, I did not have the foresight to purchase backing at the time. So I purchased a reproduction fabric backing that coordinated with the two lines. I also used leftover fat quarters to make a pieced backing.

Design: I loved the fabric in these two collections. Wonderful color and designs. I knew that I wanted to find a pattern that would showcase the fabric and use only these fabrics. I also wanted to use a pattern that was in the time era of the fabric. For years, I scanned magazines and patterns with these fabrics in mind. Possibilities but none felt right. Then when going through some "technique samples", I came across the Vestibule pattern that was used in a class that I took from Carol Staehle at Abram House Quilt Shop. Voila! THE pattern. (I had it all along!) Yes, this would be the pattern for these two beautiful lines of fabric.

The Occasion: My parents' 50th anniversary was approaching. I had made a quilt for their 35th anniversary but felt one was deserved for their 50th. These fabrics and this pattern would be perfect! So to begin....

Timeline: So I purchased the fabric in the late 1990's while living in Texas. I decided to make the quilt in 2008 while living in Florida. It takes a l-o-n-g time to cut all the fabric in this quilt! I began piecing while still cutting because I was so excited about the design. I knew I would not finish in time for their anniversary, but I thought I would be close and finish in the same year, 2008. The fall of 2008 had several events that caused me to set the quilt aside: the death of a friend's son and the critical illness of a dear friend. I had also adopted two extremely active and inquisitive kittens in 2007 so leaving a project out to work on intermittently was out of the question. I was able to work on it only when there was a full day or more to dedicate to it. Then in 2010, I moved back to Nebraska. It became my project for Loose Threads sew days and retreats. I finished the quilt top in 2011, had it quilted, and finished the binding in 2012.

Quilting: Quilted by Anna Osborn of HappyOQuilting. The pantagraph "Cotton Puff" was used.

Quilt Info: Queen size including pillow turn and extra hanging length, width ?? x length ??

Accessories: With the minimal leftover fabric and the bonus of a fabric find from the same line on the internet (after all these years!), my mom was able to make curtains, a pillow, and a table cover to go with the quilt.

Along the way: In 2008 while working on the quilt, a quilting friend from my Atlanta days came to visit. Ann J. brought a quilting project along so we could quilt over the weekend. Neither one of us had talked about what we were working on. She brought her Vestibule quilt to work on that same weekend! Kindred quilting thoughts!