Birthday Quilt for My Dude

I've made quite a few quilts since I started quilting about 6 years ago. I've made quilts for some pretty special people, but I hadn't made one for the most special person in my life - my husband, aka my dude. What's up with that? He has actually mentioned on more than one occasion that he might be interested in designing a quilt for himself, so I guess I was waiting for that to happen. I finally decided to just start one myself.  I started it in time to give to him for Valentine's Day this year. But I started way too late, just like I always do. Then I messed up horribly on my quilting and had to set it aside for awhile while I decided what to do next.  I spent the next few months, off and on, unpicking row after row after row of stitching, all while trying to keep this a secret.  I thought I might finish it in time for Father's Day, but had another quilt that I needed to finish. Then I thought I might finish it for our 31st anniversary on July 2nd. Geez! Couldn't make that deadline either! I didn't think I'd ever finish it!!  Well, his birthday was on July 10th, and I finished it just in time ...... at 10 PM the night before his birthday.  I not only missed all these special occasions this year, but for the last several years.  My husband is my rock.  He should've received my very first quilt, and most definitely should've received a quilt before now. 

I knew I had to make the XO quilt using the Canoe Ridge Creations tutorial because Eric and I have been signing our texts and emails with an XO for years.  But the XO quilt is pretty small, and Eric is 6'2" and needs more than just a width-of-fabric quilt (42-44" for all you nonquilters reading this). So I used the XO quilt pattern and just added to it. 

And I also wanted to add a heart, and found this really cute one here

I didn't think I would ever be done with it.  I'll never ever quilt like this again. Just look at all that stitching - about 1/2" apart.  I must be insane. 

I remembered a post that I had seen about matched binding and just knew it would be perfect for this! If you haven't seen this, check it out at A Quilter's Table

I used Modern Solids by Jason Yenter for In the Beginning Fabrics.  I purchased these at www.wintercreekcloth.com, and even earned some reward points while shopping ;) 

I used Dogma Red Ikat Plaid for the back, which by the way hides all kinds of mistakes, just FYI :)  You're welcome. I got this at Winter Creek Cloth, too - even more reward points! Woo hoo! 

I finished it off with a label.  I used Amanda Jean's label tutorial.  Eric and I have this plan to grow old together, something we've always planned to do but this really impacted us when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.  It was our "plan A" and there wasn't a plan B.  

And of course it has to be tested by Giacomo, as always.  Check out that tongue! I think he approves. 

Eric absolutely loved his quilt.  It's the perfect size.  When he's in his recliner, it actually hangs down to the floor.  I just realized as I'm posting this at 10:15 PM that I don't have a pic of him with his quilt, so I'll do a follow-up post because he's sleeping right now and I don't think he'd be very happy if I woke him up for a pic.