Christmas quilt, Final Recap

I finally got the binding on my Christmas quilt and ran it through the washer and dryer to give it that awesome crinkly goodness that I've come to love so much about quilts. It has happily been in use for the last week or so and I've loved every moment of snuggling up under it. 

It is actually missing the peppermint posie appliques that I feel will be the final flourish. Since my  holiday to-do list has definitely become longer than I can manage before Christmas, I decided that the quilt was usable and "good enough" for this year. I hope to add the appliques before I put it down for storage, but that can definitely wait until January.

It is the largest quilt I've made all year and definitely the largest one that has ever actually been "quilted". Up until this last spring, I always hand-tied my quilts which gives them a puffy smooth look. Since learning to actually quilt my blankets, I've become obsessed with the effect washing has on the overall feel of the blanket. 

My photography definitely fails me in trying to make this point, but I did my best:

Before Washing, smooth and clean:

After Washing, crinkly and broken in:

Even the drape of the quilt over your lap is more comforting after washing. It doesn't feel so stiff and new and perfect. This quilt turned out to be exactly the right size for Handyman Tim and I to snuggle up under together for watching movies, which is exactly how it got broken in for the first use. 

It's also not too big for one content person on the couch reading. But, perhaps one of my favorite uses will start next Christmas when I have both my little peanuts with me on the couch. It will be so fun to pull this out from storage all ready to go next November. 

Till then, I think it is deserving of a special label, don't you agree? Any suggestions for the inscription?