Wedding gift for John (Hunter’s Star)

I started this quilt last year to give to my husband on our wedding day. I was first introduced to quilting by his mother who pasted away 2 years before we were married. We were married in June. Needless to say, it wasn’t finished on time. The other thing I should tell you is, he and I were marrying for the second time. We were reacquainted via Facebook in 2012 after no communication for almost 30 years. The next year, I lost both my sons under separate circumstances. John and I were together when they were children. Our splitting was my doing, but I could not forget him. My children’s deaths just intensified my feelings for him. After a grieving period and many, many notes and posts, I finally declared my feelings in 2016 on Christmas Eve. Moments after hitting the send button, he made it clear that he felt the same way. We met up in January. Our circumstances that prevented us from being together are complicated. That being said, we were only able to be together 6 or 7 times a year. During our second reunion in February, he asked me to marry him. We were planning our new lives, when in March, his mother passed away. I need to add that during this same period, I was reacquainted with my ex-mother-in-law. She and I talked for hours. I think I missed his family as much as I did him. She told me she knew John still loved me and she was so happy we had plans to be together again. Due to said complications, John knew nothing of the subject of our extensive talks. His mother’s death sent him reeling. We were not to see each other until June of 2017. After many emotional ups and downs and logistic obstacles, we were finally engaged on Christmas Eve 2018. I started this quilt in June 2018, determined to make the quilt, as I told his mother I would. I found the fabrics at Joanne Fabrics and cut the fabrics all by hand (no precuts). Honestly, I didn’t know any better, but I don’t think I could have found this theme in precuts, so I guess ignorance is bliss. Our last year has been a whirlwind. Between moving and buying a house together and planning our wedding, the quilt got put on hold. I was not sure how to proceed. Finally able to take a breath, I finally had time to explore Missouri Star Quilt co. I am so glad I did. The tutorials have been a real eye opener. Now I have the knowledge to make this quilt so much better than I originally planned. Along with the patching in the first picture, I plan to add a black inner border, another border of small arrow shapes, a second inner border and a 6 inch outer border and a contrasting binding. The backing is on back order but I won’t need it for a little while. We have a queen size bed but we are both blanket hogs. This thing is going to be huge!