Happy Dance... Cactus Rose is a finished top!!

 I'm in celebration mode! Can you hear me cheering?!?!... this quilt is finally finished. I have been working on this pattern, called Cactus Rose, a design from Judy Neimeyer, for at least five years. I first wrote about it on the blog here, back in February of 2010. I would work on it for a while, get overwhelmed and call for the men in the white coats to come and get me, and then put it away for a while. It was on my finish it list for last year, and didn't get touched. I was determined that this was going to be the year, and here it is! Yippee!! Woohoo!! Whoop whoop!!

 Here's a closer view of one of the corners. This whole thing, as in all Judy Neimeyer designs, was paper pieced, and then hand appliqued. The background was done using four of the very light shades of the Fossil Ferns fabrics. I think the original used a batik.







And here's a close up of one of the center blocks.
There has been so much nail biting, smothered bad words, and all kinds of stressful wondering why on earth I ever thought I could do this moments while working on this quilt. And it was all worth it! This one is moving to the very top of my to-be-quilted-next pile. I'm going to link up to some celebratory linky parties with this one. Finish it Friday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop and Link a Finish Friday. I'll also link up this post to  The Lovely Year of Finishes Party at the end of the month. I entered this as #75 in the goal setting party. The next time I write about this quilt will be when the quilting is started on the long arm.. I'm so HAPPY!!