Baltimore Christmas

Baltimore Christmas

This quilt was appliqued by a good customer who does just phenomenal work! It was a joy to quilt, each block was so much fun. When I get a quilt like this it really stretches me to do my best and come up with new and unique quilting. This is not a quilt that you can put the same quilting on each block, as they are all so different. I know that a lot of the Baltimore style quilts have crosshatching in each block, but looking at the blocks I thought it might look very uneven. So each block has a  free flow design  with feathers and swirls and in several of the blocks the centers have different fills.

With this kind of background quilting, I  just doodle my way around the motifs , making the design fit each block. Adding feathers, swirls,or curls . Having fun as I go. I do use similar elements to tie it together across the quilt.

The big Santa needed more detail on the applique. Not only to secure the applique from poofing out, but , as he is the focal point, he needed to be special.

Some outlining, curved lines and swirly fill on his pants. I had fun with the beard too !

Do you see that cute jingle bell border in the red inner border? it is perfect for this quilt! I just love how this design stitched out.

These are awesome blocks! Well executed  by Mary O'Driscoll. She has a great talent for using the right fabric and her embroidery just finishes it so perfectly. There is ultra suede, and glitter fabric as well as a thermore type for the beard. And her applique is exquisite!
All designs were done freehand or with my Ronda Beyer cross hatch ruler. The only computerized designs were the feathers underneath the holly leaf border and the holly swirl in the corners of the Santa . So Fine thread in a soft cream  and some clear thread in some of the applique.
 The designer of this pattern is Pearl Pereira www.p3designs.com Please stop over and see all her beautiful patterns. She has some brand new ones, just loaded on her site.

Ooops, almost forgot,. the Jingle Bell border is a  digitized design by Anne Bright