Leaf Quilt

This quilt is perfect for a fall day!  Pieced by Julie B., she used a decorative stitch to emphasize the veins on each leaf.  Click on a photo for a close up look.

She wanted a windy day look.  I quilted swirls in the background, straight lines in the orange border and large swirls in the green outer border.

Red Work

Another beautiful quilt from Lynn N.  This one is a red work embroidery of birds.  Click on a photo for a close up look.  Such a simple quilt to make; four patches with the red work block.  An edge-to-edge pattern called Asian Leaves was quilted.   

 

Hand Embroidery

Here is a quilt top from Lynn N.  She enjoys hand embroidery and it looks great paired with pieced blocks made from Japanese fabrics.  I like the mix of colors - so soothing. 

Click on Photo to see close up.

 I quilted a simple sashiko pattern from edge to edge, going through the embroidery.  This keeps everything evenly quilted and flat.  I matched the thread color to the background fabric, so it doesn't take away from the embroidery. 

Wool Applique

 

This quilt top was pieced by Lynn N. which she will display at a upcoming quilt show.  

It is a great quilt with wool applique.  It really pops.

I did echo quilting around the applique.  SID in all the blocks and piecing and a nice design, mimicking the Fleur De Lis applique, in the alternate blocks and triangle blocks.  I quilted a "Piano Key" (line quilting) in the border.

First Place Midwest Heritage Quilt Show

Debra Janik won a first place ribbon for her Star Wedding Ring Quilt!  It was displayed at the Midwest Heritage Quilt Show in Danville, IL.  The quilts were on display for the month of July at Vermilion County Museum.  She won ribbons for First Place, Wall Hangings-Large and the People's Choice award.  Congratulations Debra!

Her quilt was on my blog May 4, 2010.  Click on the Title Post above and it will take you there. 

Block One

I really want to hand applique.  I love quilts with applique on them - in the borders, a touch of applique in blocks or those baltimore albums.  I joined a block of the month club for needle-turn applique.  I thought by the time I'm finished with the last block, I'll be so much better and will have really learned a lot about this method.  I can only get better - right?  I worked diligently on block one.  It looks..... okay, and I expected it to be a little wobbly.  Block one is still unfinished and then I get block two in the mail.  Then block three - panic sets in - I'm not even finished with block one yet!  Then I started to feel anxious and frustrated every time I picked up block one.  When I worked on it - it became a job I had to finish!  I wasn't enjoying the process.  I dreaded getting the next block in the mail!  I don't want this to become another project I won't finish - oh no!  I tried and I tried, but I just cannot learn to love it.  What's wrong with me? 

Why can't I get the hang of hand applique too?  I have books on different methods.  I took a class on hand applique (David Taylor) - and that project is unfinished too.

So here's the update.  I have stopped the BOM club.  It was a great relief.  I put away block one and all the others.  Maybe I can try it again after a while.  I need a break.

I still like hand projects.  But simpler, like hand embroidery or knitting dish rags.

I'll let you know when I pick up block one again.