A box load of free (including postage!) Schumacher decorator fabrics and a play day at our art quilt group were the inspirations for this quilt. I picked several pieces that had either birds or flowers on them, fussy cut rectangles including the motifs and added some small squares out of sample fabric that came with one of the larger pieces. I did not piece the rectangles together thinking that would make for too much bulk. So the raw edges are covered by the red and green ribbons. I machine quilted around motifs and in the background of most of the blocks-none of which shows up in the photo. Two small blocks have hand stitching on them, and several have machine decorative stitches. To make life easier with all the stops and starts, I just quilted through the top and batting, then added a backing afterwards.Then I quilted several straight lines following the red ribbon.
After looking at it for a day,I felt it needed something to break up the straight lines, so I cut out motifs from extra fabric and appliqued them to create a “curved line”.
Since the narrow border was determined by the crib size batting I had used, I ended up making the binding match the fabric on the border to make it look larger. The quilt measures 45″ x 34″.
Some metallic quilting might have added to the quilt-but not now! Its done, I’m happy with the result and am moving on to the next project-a jacket using 5 panels of the same decorator fabric.
Nancy
The quilt turned out wonderfully! Creative and very well done.
I’m curious as to why Schumacher sent you a box of fabrics, free at that! Was it because of your past reputation in fiber arts, or did you solicit this gift?
I’ve been on the other end of Schumacher fabrics, that of a paying customer, so I can well appreciate the generosity of this gift.
I once bought a “ring” (samples attached to a metal ring) of Thai silk samples ($50) and went on to use those samples to make a gorgeous round table cloth. But free is better.
Love the idea of using appliques to move your eyes around the piece and break up the lines.
Wow, you should like the quilt. It’s beautiful
Be sure to have it dry cleaned if you must clean it. I made a throw size quilt with decorator cottons, that had a hand dyed, look several years ago. I just loved it, but the fabric started shredding in different areas (not the edges though) after a couple of washes in cold water, delicate cycle. I still have it and call it my “really old” look quilt. I used large rectangles of different sizes….after seeing some of your abstract quilts, I think I may have an idea of how I can make it into an art quilt, Uhmmm. Thanks.
This is a very beautiful quilt… how I wish I had the ability to create something so unique. This is the sort of quilt that becomes an heirloom or a much treasured work. It is simply gorgeous and I am very partial to birds and florals. I would never be able to mix and match like you have, even if all the fabrics were put in front of me. I wish I was able to!!! I think you have to have an artistic gift to create like this.