quilty stuff!

this “top” was beautiful to start with. VERY well pieced. and it came with extra STRESS as it was for a very special gift to the maker’s daughter and fiance’ for their wedding gift. no pressure. i always worry about ruining someone’s treasure. i gotta work on that. anyway……….the deets: we went with quilter’s dream WOOL batt. it is lovely and it quilted like butta! i used signature thread in a lavender like color (orchid maybe?). i started with a green and can you say YUCK?!!? did some stitch removal for that. sooo very glad i changed. what else…….oh, the all over feathering is a technique by Suzanne Earley called……meandering magic i think…..anyway, she’s got 2 great books out so shoot me an email or comment if you want more deets i’ll dig ‘em up for you. anyway, it’s a super technique that i think could be used equally well on a long or short arm or even a domestic machine. …..some ruler work, some pebbles, some freehanding, and some bead board in the border. deb levy’s video on MQR inspired me on the splitting of the pillow tuck border. okay, i think i’ve credited everyone. well, i’d also like to thank my mother on account that she birthed me and all…… i know, i hear you all saying “just get on with the pictures woman!” ok.

i know, my photos are not great. there was no sunshine to be had. trust me, even tho you can barely see it, this is QUILTED. it’s pretty good sized…..about 100×112

working from the outside in, the outside border on 3 sides is bead board followed by “barbara bush’s pearls” in the narrow lavender border. the next area of dark spikes and light spikes is a freehand feathered meander (ala suzanne). the 8 spike blocks have a variety of stuff in them (i’ll detail that in the close up), the “star” diamonds were CC (continuous curves) and the center star has pebbles, feathered wreath, and circles. the top border (which you can’t see) is larger (20″) to use as a pillow tuck. i split that border into 3 with beadboard on either side of an undulating feather.

(blah blah blah…..i can hear my sister saying that!)

here’s the pillow tuck.

this is the feather meander magic and a bit of “barbara bush’s pearls”

there are 8 of these blocks and they are all quilted the same. i started with pebbles behind the 1st spike (which has SID), the curved flying geese are feathered, again SID the spikes and then two 1/4inchish outlines, row of pebbles, 1/4 inchish again with a curly-q reaching out to the edge.

close up

close up (again)

the center. hard to see but the very center is a double circle filled with pebbles, a feathered wreath, double circles, SID, pebbles, SID

the most full shot of the back that i have. i played with the exposure and contrast in the photo so the color is completely off but you see the stitching better.

the back center

this shows the pillow tuck quilting (left side) pretty well

a bit “truer” color

and that’s a wrap! the quilt was picked up in the bag.  a few hours later i received a lovely phone call from deb and her hubby saying how much she liked the quilting.  made my day.

for those of you still with me, here’s a snack.

i also made 500 cream cheese mints for a dear friend’s son’s wedding tomorrow. the girls helped me one night so i got a good start and then i finished up the remaining 200 last night. scott did NOT help.  nor did he get up at 3 am to flip the mints.  you’re all surprised right?!?!?!