Friday, February 15, 2013

Hand Pieced Hexagon Star Quilt

Please let me start by telling you that this isn't my work.  Instead, this is a recently completed hand-pieced quilt made by my mother-in-law.

Hand-pieced Scrappy Hexagon Star Quilt
Finished Quilt measures 55 inches x 70 inches


The progress of this quilt has previously featured on my blog, right from the very first hand pieced stars blocks:
Machine Quilted by Karen from Quilts on Bastings
Three years and much hand-stitching later the quilt is finished (my MIL has also worked on several other hand pieced and applique quilts during this time).


All of the diamonds have been traced onto fabric using a single plastic template, positioning the template so as to fussy cut the desired fabric portion.   Fabric has been been cut by hand, a seam allowance marked with pencil and hand stitched with tiny and consistent stitches.  Truly inspiring.


Some of the fabrics used may look familiar as my MIL has free reign over my scrap bin and stash.  Other fabrics are from my MIL's fabric stash and swapped with sewing group friends.  The red/white polka dot backing fabric and red/white bias binding are a perfect finish touch to this colorful quilt.  


252 Hexagon Star Blocks
3000+ diamonds


My MIL's work is inspirational, and one day I hope to have the patience to piece with such precision.  Perhaps I'll start small, and an English Paper Piecing (stabilizing the fabric shapes with pre-cut paper templates) project may well be in my future.  


With thanks to my MIL for allowing me to photograph and share this amazing quilt.

Enjoy the picture overload,
Rita

EDITED TO ADD:
My MIL did not use a pattern to make this quilt, instead all that was used was this 60 degree plastic template.  The plastic template is placed on the fabric and a line traced around the template with pencil.  The fabric is then cut out with a small pair of scissors.  A 1/4 inch seam is marked on the fabric again using a pencil in preparation for hand stitching.


This template is from Victorian Textiles - a 60 degree 2.5 inch Hex.  Code VT917.

138 comments:

  1. Stunning quilt! Congratulations to your mother in law on an amazing beauty! Wonderful to see!

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  2. Amazingly beautiful! Such patience it takes. I know myself enough that I could never hand piece a quilt. I am always so impressed with those people who hand quilt a whole quilt. Kudos to MIL!

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  3. Absolutely stunning.Thanks for showing,very inspirational .
    Love Laura xxx

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  4. it's beautiful! and also nice of you to share. a talented family!!! :-)

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  5. SO inspirational!! Your MIL is extremely talented!! Such a beautiful/stunning quilt!

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  6. WOW! Thanks for sharing. This is one beautiful quilt. Wish I had the patience to do this. Your MIL is one talented lady. She needs a blog. LOL

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  7. I was just thinking about this quilt the other day & was going to ask if your MIL ever finished it... Timing!

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  8. Unbelievably beautiful! Would love to gaze at each individual block and admire it!
    I am so inspired! Kudos to your mother in law!!

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  9. This is one of the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen. I could stare at it for hours just looking at all the combos and fussy cutting. I would be tempted to enter this into a quilt show...but slightly scared it would be stolen! Tell your mother-in-law WELL DONE!

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  10. Magnificent...an heirloom for sure!! Congratulations on completing a labour of love! The binding is icing on the cake!!
    P

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  11. Carolina Cotton Company's Quilt of the Day! :)

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  12. Congratulations to your MIL for an amazing quilt! As I am just now working on my first EPP project, I am in awe of her commitment to hand piecing!

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  13. Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing the finished project. Truly a work of art!

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  14. Oh my goodness....this is truly truly stunning.....i ADORE it, wonderful piecing, gorgeous fabrics....I could look at it forever :)

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  15. So lovely and wow - all that work! Tell your MIL it's amazing!

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  16. Thank you for sharing this treasure made by your MIL! You two are a hard act to follow so I'll never try but just keep enjoying the inspiration and eye candy I find on your blog!

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  17. I'm in awe of this beautiful quilt your MIL made! So colorful! Wow!

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  18. It is absolutely beautiful and so awesome that there are people that still HAND PIECE!!! Incredible. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. That is amazing!! I love the fussy cutting, I didn't even recognize the kerchief girls at first.

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  20. That is one of the prettiest quilts I have ever seen. WOW. What a heritage.

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  21. This is absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for sharing. Inspirational indeed!

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  22. This is absolutely stunning. I have been looking at a lot of paper pieced quilts lately and I love the look of this quilt.

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  23. Just so beautiful! I have been working on one of these for the last 18 months in all Liberty Tana Lawns - but the fabrics here make this one so incredible! I could stare at it forever.

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  24. What an amazing quilt... each block is a piece of art!

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  25. That is spectacular!!!! Wow... what an undertaking - and something to be so proud of. Congratulations to your mother-in-law!

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  26. Phenomenal--just stunning! A beautiful quilt! Lucky you to have such a talented MIL, and lucky her to have such a talented DIL! (and both stashes!) BTW, I finally decided on a sewing machine--appreciated your help and info on the 820--have decided to order a 780 Bernina, but now have to wait for it! :) Thanks for all the quilting inspiration today! And Happy Valentine's Day!

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  27. A humble bow to your MIL!!! What incredible, inspirational work! A great reminder that hand piecing can be done, and beautifully. Thank you both for sharing this incredible work. Now excuse me while I go off to hand piece the one little block I have cut out from the Patchwork 163 book. Hey, it's a start, right? Happy sewing to you both!

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  28. This is amazing! I am working on an EPP quilt myself for about a year and I have only one block done. LOL But I havne't been very dedicated to it and went into the project knowing it might take me 10 years to finish. But hopefully this year I will be more consistent at working on it when I am not at my machine. Thank you to your MIL for the inspiration

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  29. That is absolutely amazing!

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  30. Just gorgeous and so very inspiring! Please thank your MIL for sharing with us all!

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  31. That quilt is stunning. I can't even imagine the hours she put into it, but it's worth every one. Thanks for sharing it.

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  32. Wow, it's beautiful! I love the colours and the star-shapes. I'm making a quilt with normal hexagons, also by hand. The quilt of your morther in law is very very inspiring. I really want to give it a try someday.

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  33. What a labour of love! I can totally relate to your MIL. I love hand work. Tell her congrats on such an amazing accomplishment

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  34. A work of love. To work on a quilt for so long and you finaly see the end. What a great day for you and your MIL.

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  35. That is stunning. What a beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing!

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  36. This just takes my breath away. And those blue handkerchief girls--just the best!

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  37. That is amaaaazing. So much work, and it's so gorgeous!

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  38. Wow. I am speechless. This quilt is just.....
    AWESOME

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  39. WOW! It is absolutely beautiful! I love all the fussy cut pieces and the points are all so crisp and well, wow just wow! Thanks for sharing this quilt!

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  40. Your mother in law is amazing. Tell her it is absolutely stunning.

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  41. This quilt is so amazingly beautiful. All her fussy cuts took so much time it shows in this stunningly beautiful and inspirational quilt.

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  42. Fabulous and fantastic!!! Thanks for showing us this beauty! Now I am definitely trying to make onemyself (smaller though!)

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  43. Ohhh, just love this quilt. Thank you for keeping us updated on it. I think your mother-in-law is amazing (may I swap?!) I started one like this maybe 2 or is it 3 years ago, having seen this one here. I just take it on my annual holiday and still have fewer than 20 blocks. I do so admire the skill that has gone into this!
    Hen x

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  44. Ahhh,so now I see where you get your quilting talent from!!!! This is the best quilt I have ever seen-just amazing. Thanks for sharing!

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  45. I'm so pleased to see this finally come to fruition, it's absolutely phenomenal!

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  46. I can relate to so many comment. Amazing quilt and patience. Congratulations to your MIL !!!

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  47. Oh wow! THAT'S a Quilt with a capital Q!!

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  48. Rita, I have admired this quilt every time you've shown it - simply beautiful. This is the sort of quilt that becomes a family heirloom. Your MIL must be a very patient woman but that work is worth it for such a gorgeous quilt.

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  49. I am awe-struck! What an amazing quilt!! Congratulations to your MIL for creating such a masterpiece. And so kind of you to share your stash!! Thanks so much for sharing - I hope she enjoys reading all the favorable comments,

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  50. That is one amazingly beautiful quilt! Your MIL should be so proud of her finished quilt, with all that fussy cutting and careful colour placement, and I'm glad she has you to promote her work!

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  51. It really is so gorgeous! I absolutely love it. She did a fantastic job!

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  52. Gorgeous. Nothing else to say, really.

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  53. What a clever lady your MIL is! Fabulous sewing, sheer perfection. Love the fabrics, colours and fussy cutting. She must be an inspiration to you.

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  54. It's beautiful - and how lucky are you to be able to share your interest (and your stash) with someone so important in your life.

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  55. Wow! I am overwhelmed by the beauty of this quilt and the work that has gone into it. I can see she has been influenced by your stash and love of stripey binding though :-)

    I'm sure this will be popping up all over Pininterest.

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  56. Just gorgeous - such a lot of work has gone into this and the results are so beautiful.

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  57. this is so beautiful - I adore it

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  58. This quilt is amazing! Love it.

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  59. Absolutely amazing, inspiring & beautiful work. I love the fabrics individually & how they all work together. Am now imagining how my own stash would look in this lovely quilt. Can't wait to get started.

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  60. Your MIL does beautiful work.

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  61. Oh thank you for sharing! What a wonder. I know stars cover the quilt, but to me, they look like snowflakes seen through....the northern lights, or through a rainbow. It seems that the fabric with the little girls and mermaids was destined to be cut and placed in a circle. Wondrous to behold. I will be looking with kaleidoscope eyes at fabric for a few days I'm sure.

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  62. Thanks so much for sharing!! What a blessing to have a MIL who loves to quilt!

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  63. Absolutely gorgeous! I particularly like the clever use of fussy cutting and the combination of bright, modern colours with such a traditional technique.
    Your mother-in-law should be very proud of her handiwork.

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  64. Wow! That is just amazing, I can't actually think of brilliant compliments so I'll leave it at that.

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  65. This is truly amazing work! How nice to have sewing in the family.

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  66. What a magnificent quilt! I adore it. Huge congratulations to your MIL on creating such a beauty.

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  67. Thank you for sharing--what a beautiful work of art! And lovely pictures to document it! Congratulations on a job well done!

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  68. Oh, wow - it's gorgeous! I remember those first posts about the hexes and her beautiful fussy cuts. It's so great to see it finished!

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  69. This is truly inspiring. Most of my work has been hand piecing and hand quilting but I have been starting to think recently that I should keep up with the trend and do more machine work. This is persuding me to keep doing what I love! Please thank your MIL!

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  70. Amazing! Now I'm just wondering who had the quilting bug first? Was it you and your MIL? Or was it that one started and inspired the other?

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  71. Oh my gosh.. this is just breathtaking! what a labour of love. You both must just smile when you look at it!
    I have started a mini-quilt using the same techniques but it is so time consuming. But you have given me the itch to continue!
    Beautiful work.

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  72. Absolutely breathtaking. I can't even imagine the hours that went into its creation. Thanks for sharing.

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  73. This is absolutely amazing. Please thank your MIL for allowing you to share it with us. Wow.

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  74. WOW, such a beautiful amazing quilt, thanks to your MIL for sharing with us all. It must have been such a labor of love.

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  75. Amazing and gorgeous quilt! I could stare in admiration at this beauty for days... so many favourite fabrics. Many thanks to your MIL for allowing you to share this work of art with us.

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  76. What a beautiful quilt! The blocks are beautiful - like little kaleidoscope vignettes. Many congratulations to her! And many thanks for sharing.

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  77. Wow, this is stunningly beautiful.

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  78. You know, I have been waiting in suspense to see this particular quilt finished. It is indeed stunning. Kindly congratulate your MIL. Cheers!

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  79. It was all worth it! I love the fussy cutting I love the fabrics is this just from scraps that she had or did she use up some of her stash! really it is amazing. and where is that pattern are we still able to access it at what mag or site she got it from this is just a fabulous challenge

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  80. Wow, a true heirloom! And your MIL is now the envy of all of us haha

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  81. Wow, this is just so lovely. Please thank your MIL for sharing it with us all!

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  82. Amazing! What a great way to start my morning with the pics of this beautiful quilt! I just want to sit and look at each star and all the fussy cutting! What an heirloom. Thank you for sharing this wonderful quilt!

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  83. That is absolutely stunning and so inspirational. WOW!

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  84. Oh my gosh ~ your MIL has so much patience and is really one talented lady!

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  85. Amazing!!! All that fussy cutting!!

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  86. This quilt is absolutely wonderful!!! I love the scrappy look, the back and the binding, hmmm guess I just love the whole quilt....Very special, thanks for posting the pictures and telling us about it...

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  87. What an inspiration your MIL is. That is a beautiful quilt! Please do thank her for sharing it.

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  88. That quilt is truly inspirational! I cannot imagine how much work went into making something that beautiful! You have one talented MIL! I have been stalking this blog for quite a while without making very many comments but your work is just as inspirational! I LOVE it! I have a couple of your patterns and can't wait to try them! Thank you for the continued inspiration!

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  89. Its gorgeous and I aspire to complete one, I am in a EPP group now to speed things up and love love doing it.

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  90. This is gorgeous and amazing! Hand piecing is very relaxing - more than I expected. I enjoy doing it while watching tv.

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  91. Blows my mind, just amazing. She is an inspiration, can't imagine doing that. Wonderful. XXX

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  92. ::MIND BLOWN:: One of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen!!!

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  93. This is an amazing quilt, and makes me wonder if I should approach the craft of quilting completely differently! What if instead of a million projects at once I put all of my efforts into one quilt like this instead!

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  94. It`s absolutely wonderful.Congratulations to your mother in law and thanks for sharing!!

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  95. Absolutely STUNNING quilt!!! What artistic craftsmanship. Your MIL should be very proud of this quilt. It deserves a First Place Ribbon or Best of Show - for it truly is the best...one of a kind.

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  96. A work of art and a study in patience.

    Dianne

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  97. Am sitting looking at my own diamond EPP work in progress...very plain in comparison. Congratulations MIL. I love your fussy cutting!

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  98. far out Rita, it is just extraordinary - the precision of your MIL's fussy cutting and piecing just blows me away. There are so many details I love - the kei kerchief girls, the little birds, little dogs, deer, the precision of lines meeting up - you must just love sitting with it, poring over every star.

    thank you SO much to you and your MIL for sharing the progress pics with us, and now the pics of the finished quilt. I absolutely love it. Cat x

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  99. Words don't do this justice. I am in awe.

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  100. This just goes to show that patience is a beautiful virtue. Thank you for sharing this incredible piece of artwork!

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  101. Breathtakingly beautiful. A work of art

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  102. Oh! It is truly lovely. I am in the middle of a hand pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt top. I never thought I would have the patience for it, but I'm finding it very relaxing. And I'm making much better progress than I thought I would - I've really only been working on it since the New Year, and so far have 7 of 10 rows done (although I had the ladies in several Flickr bees help with the flowers!)

    Congratulations to your MIL. She is an inspiration, and gives me hope that maybe I can actually finish this thing. Viva the hand-pieced quilt!

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  103. Absolutely fabulous! Lovely to have a MIL to share your love of quilting.

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  104. Absolutely stunning! I love the fussy cut pieces that create a kaliedescope type pattern. Thanks for sharing with us!

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  105. Wow wow wow - your MIL is truly inspirational - the quilt is amazing and the fussy cutting just perfect. Thank you for sharing.... I may be off to look for diamond paper pieces...

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  106. Absolutely amazingly fantastic. Your MIL's quilt and her fussy cutting is hugely inspirational to me. Definitely something to aspire to! Thanks for sharing.

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  107. Truly inspirational! Your MIL's patience is remarkable! A beautiful quilt and one to cherish forever!!

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  108. Beautiful, patience is indeed a virtue that your MIL has... and what's the rush anyhow. Very pretty, quality craftsmanship. I'll bet she enjoyed making this.

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  109. Absolutely amazing. I've been staring and staring at this quilt for the past two days. Getting more and more inspired every time.The color choises are perfect. They work for one block, as well for the entire quilt. Am very jealous at the ability of your MIL to make such perfect color combinations.

    I know I'm not the first one to ask, but I would love, love, love to know the sizes of the template she used. Or the name where I could by it.

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  110. I love this. Your mother-in-law has inspired me to start one of mine own. I hope I can hang with it as long as she did. I will be using english paper piecing. Tell your mother-in-law she has inspired me..and I'm very jealous she has your stash to raid!

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  111. It's gorgeous!! I love it. So much time and love. The colours and fussy cutting are awesome too.

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  112. What a stunning quilt. Congratulations to your MIL! Love the fussy cutting. Truly gorgeous!!

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  113. I'm completely speechless! This quilt is extraordinary - quite frankly, I'm looking at these pics with my mouth hung wide open! Perseverance and dedication to this quilt is unprecedented - simply beautiful.

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  114. GORGEOUS! I pinned this on Pinterest in my English Paper Piecing wall. So inspirational!

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  115. this is incredible. Just amazing!

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  116. Wow that's absolutely beautiful!

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