Affairs of the Heart...I want this quilt!

Here is another gorgeous applique quilt. This one by Diana Frohn. She did this with embroidery and what a superb job she did. Her colors and fabrics are wonderful!

Affairs of the Heart

We decided not to quilt on the appliques because they were satin stitched down. Didn't want to risk the fabric splitting. I did all freehand designs around the motifs and in the centers where I could. All the black is fabric and that's where I quilted. 

It's not easy to get a picture that will show the quilting on black. hard to see when quilting too!

I turned off the lights and used the black light on my machine which worked most of the time.

Jamie Wallen has a YouTube  about making a sidelight for quilting and I think I need to make one.

Tried to get more light on the quilt, enjoy the views. These blocks are wonderful!

Sadly, I had to let it's owner take it home!

So Fine Black thread and Hobbs 80/20 batting

Happy Trails to You!

This beauty was pieced by one of my awesome customers : Mary O'Driscoll. She does fabulous applique and has a knack for finding the perfect fabric for the pieces. 

I have quilted several of this Baltimore Album type quilt, but this was a challenge. It is a formal style and setting, but with a Cowboy theme. I felt it needed quilting to bridge the gap between formal/casual.  So I chose a feather design for the border that had a bit more whimsy and added a  rope border to the center design to set it off . The center also has a McTavishing type of quilting  to make the beautiful boot and bouquet pop!

Close up of rope border

Lots of free hand design work!

Pebbling, I got a workout!

Center Boot

Close up of detail. All applique was outlined with invisible Whispertouch thread.

So Fine Thread for fills and designs.

Hobbs 80/20 Batting

Quilt pattern is a Pearl Pereira design

Another beauty by Mary O!!!!!

Graduation Quilt

Almost done with this large quilt for my client's son's graduation.

 He wanted it quilted with a religious theme.

We found a modern religious design that was perfect and quilted up beautifully.

I like how the crosses form the eyes of the symbol. Done in a blue grey, Steel Blue Omni thread and with a wool batt. I used Dream Wool and it lived up to it's name. I quilted like a dream! Soft and drapey, a joy to quilt.

Very nice design for a college bound quilt. I'm sure he will love it!

This Guitar Isn't Weeping!

No offense to George Harrison,(While My Guitar Gently Weeps),but this guitar quilt is happy to be all done!

Here's a close up of the fret and scrolls. Done with a blue Omni thread

 I wanted to make the guitars stand out a bit so did a simple meander in all the blue surrounding fabric. 

Very fun quilt to work on!

Another by the same client is a modern squares with beautiful fabric.

 Quilted with a medium grey Omni thread.

 Quilting pattern is Waterdrops

I love doing quilts for this lady as she always has some unique and beautiful quilts. She tends to favor the modern, which I am seeing more and more and really like !

Another beautiful Applique

Currently working on this gorgeous applique by the talented Mary O'. Outlining and special fills going in!

2 Fabric Bargello

Recently I went with a group of fellow quilters to a weekend retreat where we sewed all day! This is one of the projects I worked on. This 2 fabric bargello was fun to do. The hardest part was the cutting . You need to label every strip so you can keep it in order. This pattern uses a gradated fabric and a focus print. I used Gelato gradations, but Caryl Bryer Fallert Gradations work beautifully too.

You sew the focus fabric and the gradated into a tube and then cut your strips.

strips cut and labeled

All strips sewn together

This is the focus fabric that I used. It's by Robert Kaufman and has this cool border on  one edge. I fussy cut it and added it to the black outer border.

The quilting design is Modern Eccentric done in a yellow/orange thread.

This was so much fun. I warn you it is addictive! I had to do another.

Another finish from the retreat was this jelly roll quilt.

Cool Waterdrop quilt pattern.

Now I have several bindings to do, plus, I am already thinking of another bargello quilt!

Recently On the Frame

I am off to a retreat to sew all day!!! Here are a couple recent finishes:
A beautiful applique by Mary H.  I used a new Omni color , Maple, and it was just perfect!

Henrietta Whiskers by Mary H

Vive La France by Pat P. This is quilted with Fleur de Lis motifs in red thread and an Eiffel tower border in black. Inner border is in French Blue . Omni and So Fine thread.

Okay, I have to gather up projects for my retreat. I think I can find a few UFO's ! LOL

Diana's BOM

Diana pieced this large Block of the Month and we decided to give it the royal treatment!

Lots of feathers and detailed quilting. So Fine ecru thread for most of the backgrounds, Glide variegated in all the flowers and leaves.

This is a Pam Bono pattern and has a zillion pieces and some very odd shapes to fill with quilting.

The top and bottom green border has a scene of butterflies and bees playing in the grass.

This was a challenge, but a lot of fun to quilt!