Last year, our Quilt Guild talked about how we would like to have this year’s Peach Days show be a Patriotic theme because of America 250. I got really excited. I bought the book Traditions with a Twist, by Blanche Young and her daughter Dalene Stone. I was really excited about it because, while she has passed, I cherish a special spot in my heart for Blanche. She was in the same guild as me for many years, and her amazing daughter Lynette Bingham is the mastermind behind the Piecemakers’ Peach Days Quilt Display. I digress. I bought the book, and I determined that I would make a Double Irish Chain for the Peach Days show.

I finished the quilt in late spring.

Then, in late summer, some heck broke loose in my personal life, and a large number of stressful events in a short period of time lead to my brain function not being up to its usual par. I missed a few quilt guild meetings, and texted Lynette to get the form to submit my quilt. In reading the photo of it on my phone, my brain mixed up Tuesday and Thursday. I got my quilt all ready to submit and my form pinned in place on Thursday morning. When I arrived at work I realized, “It is Thursday. Always in the past we have turned them in on Tuesday.” I called Lynette, and sure enough, it was too late.

So this quilt, which I specifically made for the Peach Days patriotic quilt display in honor of America 250, did not get to hang with her homies in the show. I was pretty bummed out, but I posted it on social media, and I will post it here before it goes to its final home which will be a great secret for a few more months.

So without further ado, I give you “Sweet Freedom,” my celebration of our country.

I tried a new technique called graffiti quilting on the borders. I have been following Karlee Porter and buying her books to help me learn. She is awesome! Check her out.

I did three passes of the quilt so that the threads would blend with their own colors, red, blue, and gold on the white, with a few spots of gold for contrast on the blue.

I feel like I learn new things with every quilt I make. With this one I learned, ALWAYS TURN YOUR QUILT IN ON TIME! Haha. I still enjoyed seeing all the wonderful quilts at the show immensely. There were many truly beautiful pieces there.