(Disclosure for new followers: This is free motion ruler work and non-computerized quilting.)
I'm so happy to finally be able to share this quilt with you. The is an original design by Dawn Gerber. She did an amazing job creating this fabulous quilt and her applique is perfect! It was a pleasure and a challenge to work on this quilt. Here is Dawn's own words on her original design:
"Yes, the quilt is an original
design. My Great Aunt Amy, a Pennsylvania Dutch farmers’s wife, had the
most extraordinary combination vegetable/ flower garden. A beautifully
arranged vase of flowers always graced her kitchen table from spring
through autumn. Unfortunately, I’m lacking the artistic ability to
translate my memories into realistic fabric flowers. Therefore, I tried
to make them the bright, happy splash of color I remember. Great Aunt
Amy, like her flowers, seemed to always be laughing. Hence, the Ralph
Waldo Emerson quote.
She
would place her surplus vegetables by the roadside to sell. She didn’t
have the time or inclination to just sit, so she would place some money
with her vegetables if change was needed. On a few occasions, the
money and vegetables would disappear. Great Aunt Amy’s response: “If
they’re hungry, they are welcome to it. If they are thieves, that’s
their problem, not mine. I wish them well.” A great life philosophy.
Thanks Dawn!
Now I can talk about my part of this beautiful quilt. This picture shows the quilting detail a little better. I loved that I basically had a blank canvas to play on. The quilting inspiration came as I was up close and personal with the quilt while it was on the frames. I did not plan anything ahead of the quilt, but I did have a picture of the quilt so I could reference the layout while it was on the frames.
I wanted to show you the "before" on the flower blocks. I used 2 layers of batting to help make the texture pop. In this case I used 100% cotton and 80/20 cotton/poly blend.
As you can see I did a lot of pebbling. This created the perfect textured background for the flower blocks. The background on the flower blocks was divided by 2 different fabrics and the seams were pressed open. The way I quilted this made it so I didn't have to stitch in the ditch, which is difficult when seams are pressed open. Going in between the appliqued flowers was time consuming, but worth the effort.
Each one of the blocks created a line that I could follow and divide to make a bit of a quilting sash detail. The on-point squares created the perfect setting for feathers motifs and worked well with the other feather motifs in the quilt top. I used my QuickMark ruler and my A1 ruler for my marking and straight stitching. I used my favorite disappearing purple marker for all the marked lines.
The detail is just so fun and amazing. I had so much fun connecting each one of the quilting elements together with each advance of the quilt.
I used Glide 60 wt thread for the top and bottom threads. I really like the 60 wt thread now, it's my new favorite weight of thread because it's the perfect thickness for detail, not too thin and not too thick. It hides well in the fabric too.
The corners as well as the outside border was so much fun. It definitely took the most time, but was totally worth it.
This shows the border design a little better as I was finishing off the quilt.
My goal for this quilt was to play in the background while enhancing the applique work. Everything about this quilt works together and I am so proud to have been a part of it.
Well, there you go! I hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures and enjoying my journey of this beautiful quilt. Every quilt that I quilt is another link on my creative journey, I give my absolute best to each one and I hope that the next quilt will be even better!
For my friends in Canada, I will be heading back to Sparrow Quilt Co. this October. All the info is at the link here.
15 comments:
Fabulous finish....beautiful quilt and quilting...😊👍
Whoa. You both are crazy talented! This is simply stunning! Thank you for sharing!
Your quilting is so A M A Z I N G that it just makes me cry. Outstanding!!
Stunning work, from both of you.
Wow beautiful!
Breath taking!!! Yep, you both are crazy talented!! Great job.
Your quilting is absolutely amazing. Stunning.
No wonder this quilt was on your frame so long. Exquisite!
This is very beautiful. So much talent and work went in to this to make it amazing.
That is truly one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen and your quilting is just perfect.
I am truly blown away by your talent. Your eye for enhancing each area of the quilt is incredible. It is quite mesmerizing. Thank you for sharing your talent thru pictures with us.
wow!
As always, your quilting amazes me! I love that you can see a blank canvas and envision the beautiful designs AND bring them to life!
As always your quilting is beyond breathtaking.
As always your quilting talent is phenomenal! So, so beautiful!
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