Finished--Finally!

In the midst of our do-nothing weekend, I did do something...I cut out the binding for M's quilt...

and sewed it on! (Thanks to Rachel for the suggestion to machine-sew the binding on, or it would probably be another ten years before I finished!)

I first envisioned this quilt nine or ten years ago, back when M was in preschool and wanted to be an astronaut. I bought the fabric about six years ago. I started planning and cutting nearly four years ago (thinking I'd have it done by his birthday that May--ha!). I pieced the big stars over the next two years (talk about tedium) until I had all the squares complete. A little more than a year later, I had the corner stars done and the top put together. A month or so after that, I had managed to apply borders. And in time for M's birthday this past May, I had it long-arm quilted.

Needless to say, at thirteen M's career aspirations are a bit different than they were at three. Astronaut is no longer in the cards. But I did hear him once mention aerospace engineer, and I'm holding out hope for rock star, so I think the quilt's theme is still appropriate.

This is the quilt M had on his bed up until Saturday. I made it when I was pregnant with him, out of the little fabric squares we had tied up bird seed in for our wedding. I stuffed it with two layers of polyester batting so it would make a nice cushy spot for him to lie on on the floor. It's gotten pretty well-worn over the years. Yet, after I put the new quilt on his bed, he said he still wanted to hang onto the green one. Can I tell you how much I adore this kid for not caring, nor ever once mentioning, that his quilt was covered in flowers? 

This is the green quilt when it was new, and M when he was new.