Pandemonium Finished

"Pandemonium" designed by Kim McLean
Stitched by Summer Truswell
Hand needleturn applique, machine pieced, freehand machine quilted
94" x 94"
Cotton fabrics, wool and cotton battings

Viewer's Choice - Quilter's Anonymous show in March 2016 (Monroe, Washington)
1st Place Large Solo Category - Quilter's Anonymous Show in March 2016 (Monroe, Washington)

Viewer's Choice - 2016 Quilt & Fiber Art Festival in October 2016 (La Conner, Washington)

"My Side, Your Side" by Summer Truswell

Reverse of Pandemonium

Detail of quilting.

Detail of applique and quilting.

More about Pandemonium - How I Organize Applique

A few people have asked me how I work my applique.  I travel with my needlework and thus prefer to use as few pins as possible, especially as I am often at swimming pools or parks with grass lawns.

For this example I am showing a few shots of Pandemonium, designed by Kim McLean.

Her patterns are printed on large sheets of paper.  They are somewhat sheer.  My first step is I number the creatures, or flower pots, trees, etc as needed.  I use a fine-line sharpie to avoid smudging.

I use a piece of freezer paper and trace the shape.  I label it with the same number as on the pattern.  I then decide what color I want it and label the piece with the color.

I've traced a few shapes here, maybe 10-15.  I've found it is good to not repeat the same motions over and over again.  Then they are rough cut out with paper scissors and organized into piles by color.

I pull scraps out of my scrap bin and press them flat with an iron.  I might starch at this point or use Best Press.  

Picking and choosing what bits of the fabric I want showing is my favorite part.  I iron the freezer paper patterns onto the fabric and then let cool.

Using fabric scissor or a rotary cutter, I cut out the applique pieces.  

Since the original pattern is somewhat sheer, I am able to lay down the background piece, place the applique piece, check with the pattern, and then pin down.  I like flower pins because they are long enough that I don't lose them on the ground and they are easy to pull out.  They have a fine shank too.

I usually pin several pieces at once.  

Next I use a 3 mm stitch on my machine and sew through the drawn lines on the freezer paper.  It can take a while.  I then remove the freezer paper, and my pieces are now basted onto the fabric with no pins.  I use a seam ripper and break about every 10 stitches on a piece and do my needleturn applique.  After that it is just a matter of practice for turning corners, knowing when to clip, etc.   I like to repress with an iron and might use Soak's Flatter spray or more starch.  

This was before my sewing room remodel.  I didn't have a good spot to lay out blocks so I would pin them to the walls so I could make sure I was being consistent in my color use from block to block.

My old Brother sewing machine was a great one.  

I actually made the back of the quilt before I started on the front.  Here is Clark demonstrating his love of quilts.  

Many of the blocks were both pieced and appliqued.  A lot of fun!  I like Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Ovals and Perfect Circles tools.  

Choosing fabric was a lot of fun - I used Aboriginal Prints, Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs fabrics, batiks, Liberty, Cotton & Steel, Tula Pink and many more.  I did have a lot of stash but I kept buying more.

Thanks for reading!

Pandemonium by Kim McLean quilt finished

Pandemonium

design by Kim McLean

92" x 92" cotton, cotton and wool battings

Hand-appliqued.  Hand and machine pieced.  Machine quilted.

Reverse

My Side, Your Side

design by Summer Truswell based on traditional barn raising pattern.

Machine pieced.

This is my vision of animals running amok at night.  I worked hand needleturn applique on the blocks - lots of time at swim practices!  I cleared through a lot of scraps making these two quilts.  Special thanks to Susan Webster at Gathering Fabrics for giving me the Cotton and Steel fabric gift.  

This quilt won first prize in the Large Solo (made by one maker) category.  It also won Viewer's Choice at the Quilter's Anonymous 35th Annual Show in Washington 2016.  

For some extra bits about Pandemonium see http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2016/04/more-about-pandemonium-how-i-organize.html

Garden Party Quilt

Garden Party

70" x 70" cotton

Hand and machine pieced.  Machine quilted.

Garden Party won Second Place in the
Original Bed Quilts Category at the La Conner 2015 Quilt & Fiber Arts Festival.  

I hand pieced the center grandmother's flower garden hexagons using English Paper Piecing.  The next border in the medallion quilt is made using Karen Stone's Lady Liberty paper piecing method.  I then added some more hexagons, Double Pinwheel blocks, and lots of Flying Geese.  I used a variety of prints and batik fabric.  

I loved quilting this - I used Aurifil and Superior Threads So Fine.

I photographed this at the Seattle Art Museum.

Row by Row Experience Quilt Completed

Row by Row Quilt

Row by Row is a large quilt shop hop where you visit shops and get a free row pattern.  The pictures are on the facebook pages so you can pick rows you like, visit the shops and stitch away!  If you are the first one to show and tell your quilt at a shop, you get a prize of 25 fat quarters.  If you used the shop's row in your quilt, you get a bonus prize!

Last year, I tried but only was able to collect about five rows.  This year, because of the increased visibility from last year, there were a lot more shops participating.  I collected my eight patterns on Monday and Tuesday of this week and have pretty much been non-stop sewing since then.   Plus watering plants because we are having incredibly hot weather right now and about 1/4 of my plants are not established yet.  

I sewed the blocks and then decided because they were fairly narrow and long, I wanted a border of flying geese on each side.  I also wanted to set off the blocks a bit so I used white sashing in between.  As I was stitching the sashing I decided that would be a perfect place to quilt a poem, so there is a poem there and the rest of the quilting is done in an all-over freehand water/wave pattern.  I'm really, really happy with how it turned out.

I turned in my quilt at my local quilt shop, Gathering Fabric in Woodinville, Washington and Susan awarded me the 25 Dimples fat quarters and also a very generous gift card.  She is going to display it for a bit too.  :)

I hope you participate in Row By Row!  It's a lot of fun.  I visited three new shops and enjoyed putting it together.  Rows made: Quilting Mayhem in Snohomish, Keepsake Cottage in Bothell, Circa 15 in Kirkland, Pacific Fabrics in Bellevue, Pacific Fabrics in Seattle SODO, Gathering Fabric in Woodinville, Undercover Quilts in Seattle Pike Place Market, and Pacific Fabrics in Seattle Northgate.

Poem on Sashing:

Winter Sea by Clinton Scollard
Landward the breakers roll and run,
The gray-white ospreys near and flee,
Beneath the long slant winter sun
Beside the winter sea.

With chilly gleam the shingle shines;
The sand with icy umber glows;
Back from the beach the stunted pines
Stand somber in the snows.

The horizon shows a steely glint,--
A line of pickets white patrolled;
The empty zenith holds the hint
Of cruelty and cold.

The north-wind clarions; 'tis a dirge,
A requiem, a threnody,
Keyed to the sad sound of the surge
Beside the winter sea.

from http://www.blackcatpoems.com/s/the_winter_sea.html

Some of the comments from the Washington Row by Row page:

Denise Larson Love it! Summer do you think you could post where all your rows are from?

Cindy Coffey Such a beautiful quilt! Love the colors.

Marlene Edwards I need to get out and get my patterns so I an make them. I love these blocks.

Dolores Smith The Quilter's in Washington have done an outstanding job. I haven't seen one quilt I didn't like, well, there were a couple I did love!

Janissa Brambila Yes! I see some Pacific Fabrics rows in there! Awesome!

Julie Strauss-Ming That is a really lovely quilt. You made the rows come together nicely.

Maria Marty Kemper So pretty

Mary DeEmo Nice job, Summer!

Grace Schievink-Assink Beautiful job!

Wendy Patrick Great job, love the flying geese border...!

Deanna Bushman Wow, its gorgeous! Congrats!!!

Cheryl Taylor This is beautiful!!!

Kyla Overson Fast !! Awesome !!

Sharon Coots Wow that was fast. Nice quilt.

Trudi Kolk like the white background, it pulls it all together.

Kelley Bova Congratulations! That's beautiful!

Deanna Lynn Stills Cole Beautiful colors!

Justin Renshaw Nice work! I love the light background choice, too!

Sherri Delaney Keil Beautiful! You were busy!

Deborah J. Rutledge I love the sides of you quilt also, that was a LOT of work...

Karen Rose Wow that was fast!

Linda Love Very pretty. Great job!

Cathy Lytle Ackerman I love it.The ocean/ beach scenes are my favorite!

Lori Langell Wow beautiful

Jody McClain Jean Rogers, check this out! Beautiful setting!!

Eric Kennard Beautiful job, Summer. I love the cool, fresh look of your quilt. Kudos to you for making all of those flying geese! Wow! Very nice!

Angie Butterworth This is gorgeous! Congratulations to Summer who did a great job in creating a fantastic quilt.

Cindy Baker McKee Beautiful!

Kimono Needlepoint Quilt Finished...

Kimono Needlepoint Quilt 

38" wide x 32" tall

Silk, wool, cotton, synthetic

This quilt won the Creative Fiber Award at 2015 La Conner Quilt & Fiber Art Festival.

It took me about four years to hand-stitch the center panel of this canvaswork needlepoint design using a variety of silk, wool, and synthetic fibers.  I love to stitch and enjoyed picking the different threads and stitches to add texture and depth to the design.  It is hand-appliqued with vintage kimono fabrics.  Quilting is free motion or hand.

 Center needlepoint canvas from The Collection UK.  I drafted the kimono based on traditional kimonos. Back: Bordered Diamonds Kaffe Fassett.

I like to quilt black with a dark grey thread.

Neon Rays for the flowers- my favorite thread!

I posted this in my facebook needlepoint group - posting the comments below so I don't lose them:

Elizabeth Hurd Spectacular!!! This should win every needlepoint prize ever given:)

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Cheryl Roler Timko Exquisite!

December 30, 2014 at 1:32pm • Like • 2

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Caroline Donovan WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!

December 30, 2014 at 1:34pm • Like • 1

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Kirstin Thompson Needlepoint Stunning! And I agree with Elizabeth Hurd!Summer Truswell - will this be exhibited locally at some point?

December 30, 2014 at 1:34pm • Like • 1

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Robin King Brilliant!

December 30, 2014 at 1:39pm • Like • 1

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Kelly Doyle Gorgeous!!

December 30, 2014 at 1:39pm • Like • 1

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Kathy Williams Coxwell Gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 1:41pm • Like • 1

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Shari Bruckstein Agree with Elizabeth Hurd. This is spectacular!

December 30, 2014 at 1:47pm • Like • 1

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Jane Waldman Just gorgeous. Do you remember where you got it. I assume in the USA.

December 30, 2014 at 1:49pm • Like • 1

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Cindy Caprice Goldblatt You win. Amazing

December 30, 2014 at 1:50pm • Like • 1

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Izzi Carmen Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 1:56pm • Like • 1

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Kathryn Farrago what a fabulous piece! I agree with all that this would blow away any competition anywhere!

December 30, 2014 at 1:56pm • Like • 1

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Robin Klein Herfield I want it! I want it! I want it!!! PLEASE!!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like

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Alyson Taylor Unimaginably intricate and lovely!

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like • 1

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Linda Pawlusiow Mosch What an amazing accomplishment. Just gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 2:02pm • Like • 1

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Marcia Moir love your mix of disciplines...truly magnificent...!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:03pm • Like • 2

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Debra J. Wallerstein Gorgeous!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:04pm • Like • 1

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Patty Steger Absolutly beautiful!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:12pm • Like • 1

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Sue Spencer What are the dimensions ?

December 30, 2014 at 2:14pm • Like • 1

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Sue Spencer Absolutely beautiful. What an achievement

December 30, 2014 at 2:14pm • Like • 1

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Rosalie Pope Simply remarkable And another example of raising our craft to art. Beautiful.

December 30, 2014 at 2:16pm • Like • 1

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Joanne Colandrea So beautiful, Summer 

December 30, 2014 at 2:17pm • Like • 1

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Lietzie Hawkinson Belford Beautiful, beautiful!

December 30, 2014 at 2:18pm • Like • 1

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Melissa Armstrong She's beautiful! I have a canvas similar - Hope to finish one day!

December 30, 2014 at 2:25pm • Like • 1

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Kate Dickerson Amazing!

December 30, 2014 at 2:26pm • Like • 1

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Mary Walker Exquisite work!

December 30, 2014 at 2:26pm • Like • 1

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Susan Reed This is beautiful, Summer!

December 30, 2014 at 2:27pm • Like • 1

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Sherry Ellwood Feagans OK, this is beyond any adjective I could ever think of to describe this work of yours. What a tour de force!!!!!! You have accomplished a masterpiece!

December 30, 2014 at 2:28pm • Like • 1

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Sheila Coldiron I love this piece of work. It is so beautiful.

December 30, 2014 at 2:28pm • Like • 1

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Laurel Wheeler So stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 2:29pm • Like • 1

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Norma Blum Breathtaking!!! You have indeed taken this far beyond needlepoint boundaries into a multimedia artwork heirloom. I am in awe!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 2:30pm • Like • 1

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Pat Miller Congratulations on a beautiful piece!

December 30, 2014 at 2:30pm • Like • 1

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Norma Blum Can you post some more up close photos ?

December 30, 2014 at 2:31pm • Like • 1

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Marlyn Dolgonos Blumenthal lovely!

December 30, 2014 at 2:42pm • Like • 1

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Anne Haney Remarkable talent

December 30, 2014 at 2:57pm • Like • 1

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Patricia Snyder That is beyond gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:08pm • Like

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Mary D Smith Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 3:12pm • Like • 1

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Susan Reedman Fabulous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:26pm • Like • 1

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Star Ringhillard Omg this is sooo beautiful wow.I did one in blues. Love them so much. Now gave one with blacks n reds. I LOVE THEM.

December 30, 2014 at 3:28pm • Like • 1

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Margaret Payne Gorgeous. I am with Elizabeth Hurd.

December 30, 2014 at 3:29pm • Like • 1

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Paula Delaney Very impressive work!

December 30, 2014 at 3:31pm • Like • 1

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Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes This is a stunning piece and so inspiring!

December 30, 2014 at 3:35pm • Like • 1

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Marianne Milazzo Teubner Wow!!!!

December 30, 2014 at 3:46pm • Like • 1

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Jayme Makowski Hey Summer. Absolutely stunning.

December 30, 2014 at 3:55pm • Unlike • 2

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Lynn Hayward Awesome!

December 30, 2014 at 4:03pm • Like • 1

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Jud Hemker Wow!! I love it.

December 30, 2014 at 4:25pm • Like • 1

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Kim Porrazzo Gorgeous

December 30, 2014 at 4:25pm • Like • 1

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Theresa Goon Waldo Beautiful!

December 30, 2014 at 4:32pm • Like • 1

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Dawn Perry Bagnetto Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 4:48pm • Like

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Natalia Frank Gorgeous work!

December 30, 2014 at 4:53pm • Like

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Ann Whitaker-Sauls Gorgeous and impressive. Congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:57pm • Like

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Becky O'Keefe Amazing and creative work...congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:58pm • Like

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Donna Thode Fralick Gunter This is beyond beautiful. You should be so proud.

December 30, 2014 at 5:21pm • Like • 1

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Nancy Lloyd Lusk I love all things Asian. But you've truly created a masterpiece. I only wish I could see it in person.

December 30, 2014 at 6:01pm • Like • 1

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Laura Templer Zuk This is out-of-this world beautiful and unique! An imaginatively artistic creation - breathtaking in scope and execution! You are to be congratulated on your achievement!!!

December 30, 2014 at 6:02pm • Like • 3

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MaryAnn Misenhimer Yes, what everyone has already said!!

December 30, 2014 at 7:23pm • Like • 1

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Christine Hands Absolutely stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 7:40pm • Like

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Jane Makowka This belongs in a museum. You are an artistic genius.

December 30, 2014 at 8:43pm • Like • 1

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Christine Yost Mirabelli Summer- you should be very happy with yourself! You did an absolutely beautiful artistic piece of fiber work. On the gold section of the needlepoint to the right of the geisha- it looks like you first did needlepoint and then did quilting stitches over it - am I right? If so , did you use a sewing machine or hand stitch? I love how you've corporates quilting techniques onto the needlepoint section

December 30, 2014 at 9:57pm • Like • 1

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Summer Truswell Yes, the entire needlepoint is quilted as well. Pretty much the only unquilted area is her face but the head is outlined. All the quilting is on my sewing machine Christine. 

December 30, 2014 at 11:06pm • Like • 3

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Jen Funk Weber I love the marriage of techniques here. What a fun project!

December 31, 2014 at 12:20am • Like

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Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

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Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

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Melissa Miles This is a masterpiece.

December 31, 2014 at 2:34am • Like • 1

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Carlene Harwick Wow, is that beautiful. I could make a place on my wall for it???

December 31, 2014 at 2:58am • Like • 1

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Marcy Marley wow ... lovely work

December 31, 2014 at 3:50am • Like

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Carolyn Hedge Baird Magnificent!

December 31, 2014 at 4:13am • Like • 1

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Barbara Levy This is unbelievably beautiful. You must be so proud. What a masterpiece!

December 31, 2014 at 4:15am • Like

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Valerie Vivas Stunning! Congratulations!

December 31, 2014 at 4:19am • Like

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Carrie Ray Wow, so beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 4:36am • Like

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Dea Chesnutt Great idea for kimono sleeves. Stunning

December 31, 2014 at 4:45am • Like • 1

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Judy K. Russell Beautiful and very clever!

December 31, 2014 at 4:55am • Like

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Mary Powell Beautiful. .

December 31, 2014 at 6:02am • Like

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Mary Ann Saurino This is just extraordinary! You are very talented.

December 31, 2014 at 6:21am • Like

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Barbara Norris GORGEOUS!!!

December 31, 2014 at 6:23am • Like

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Derek Price Just beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 7:16am • Like

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Jane Wood As always, you did great. I love the mix of needlepoint and quilting!

December 31, 2014 at 8:29am • Like • 2

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Kirstin Thompson Needlepoint Summer Truswell - if you do exhibit this in one or more places, will you please do a posting at that time to let us locals know? I truly look forward to seeing this in person!

December 31, 2014 at 1:02pm • Unlike • 1

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Mary K. LeBrun Campbell This is spectacular and very creative!

December 31, 2014 at 5:05pm • Like • 1

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Thais Carr Gorgeous!

December 31, 2014 at 5:21pm • Like • 1

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Myra Bradley Ernst Beautiful work of art!

December 31, 2014 at 9:08pm • Like

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Cathy Kirk It's wonderful!

December 31, 2014 at 9:28pm • Like

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Kate Cook Absolutely beautiful and extremely creative

January 1 at 7:59am • Like

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Vick Briggs It is lovely and I can sure imagine why it took 4 years....which isn't long on a few projects I have done/am doing!! The stitches, the threads, the colors....just lovely.

January 1 at 8:44am • Like

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Janet Gebow Fabulous!

January 1 at 4:30pm • Like

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Lynne Sloan That is just beautiful.

January 1 at 7:07pm

"Don't Touch the Coral; it's Sharp" quilt completed...

"Don't Touch the Coral; it's Sharp!"

I made this quilt in January 2014.  It is 100 cm x 40 cm.  The background fabric is folded and stitched; a technique I really like to give dimension and movement.  The coral is all hand-beaded (and took about 30 hours) and the applique on the fish and sea urchins is hand-worked.  

Batik cotton fabric, cotton batting, glass beads.  Original design by Summer Truswell.

My Wild Lone Star Quilt Completed...

Forest Park in Mukilteo, Washington, will always have a special place in my heart.  Victoria and I did our first Mommy & Me swim class there and spent many happy hours on that playground.  We still love the park but don't get there as often.  Miss Madeline kindly climbed this tree for me so I could get another "favorite" spot in for the quilt picture.

Word of note - you might already know this - with blogspot if you click on a picture it opens up the picture viewer and you can scroll right or left through that blogs photos.  Alternatively (and better, I think!) is you can right-click a picture and open in a new tab.  You can then click that photo and get a giant picture if you want to see better detail. 

My Wild Lone Star

This pattern is from "Scrappy Firework Quilts" by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.  Her instructions are impeccable and I really enjoyed making this quilt.  I also have her "Friendship Strips" book from which I plan on making a couple pieces. 

It is machine pieced, hand appliqued, and I machine quilted it.  My favorite applique memory was working on it at the reptile museum with friends.  It measures 73" square.

I am so happy that the points match!  It also lays flat!  This is a BIG DEAL because I wasn't sure it would lay flat.  :)

It might be hard to see the color but I quilted the background with a darker grey thread and a flower pattern.  I thought of it as night flowers.

The background and binding fabric are from Phillip Jacobs, called Brocade Peony.  It's a little less bright than in this picture, might be my monitor.  I love the print.

Some comments from facebook:

Sarah Page This is wonderful. Bright, happy, alive.

Anne Andersen A really gorgeous quilt Summer. 

Jillian Grant Lovely work, beautiful quilt!

Susanne Holst A piece of art - stunning work and detail.

Shilpa Singh Gour 3D Gorgeous !

Trish Bloomfield are you doing the happy dance? I would be .

MaryJean Cummings Bower Breathtaking ...beautiful colors!

Glenna Quigley wow , love it

Mary Julia Skwar LOVE how the applique works with that quilt! Beautiful work!

Evelyn Bylemeer I just started this quilt on Monday, love the pattern!

Barbara Falb Fine Wow that is spectacular - Bravo!

Cathy Good Stunning!!

Betty Eberle Very Pretty Love the colors

Sharon Dallman Summer I clicked on your photo to see more of the quilt and it is just beautiful! I really love the fabrics you used for your appliqued flowers! heart emoticon

Kathy Fey Stunning!

Home Sweet Home #2 and Every Now and Then Variation

Home Sweet Home 

This is the second, larger, needle turn version of the Home Sweet Home quilt.  I love it! It's big.   You can see the smaller one at http://summerlouise.blogspot.com/2012/04/home-sweet-home-quilt-1.html?m=1. The blocks are hand appliquéd and I machine pieced them together.  The swag is my favorite. 

For the back of this quilt I modified a pattern from Sew Scrappy Volume One from Better Homes and Gardens 2010.  It's called Every Now and Then.  I modified it by cutting some of the long strips in different widths and also staggering the rows a bit.  I did this because I knew it would be a backing and its much easier to line things up when you don't have to line them up.  

It is quilted in King Tut threads from Superior Threads on my home Juki.  

Cathedral Windows - Hubble #1

I love it!

People have been asking me how much time this has taken me to stitch.  I don't usually keep track of how much time I work on something because I enjoy the process more than the end product (hence the piles of finished quilts and bins of finished needlework around here) so it is hard for me to give a true answer.  I did start this project in January of this year, although the planning for it started last year.  It took me about six weeks of solid stitching to get 1/6 the way through.  

I then had a series of short breaks where I made a double-sided quilt for Brad, did the actual quilt work on the Home Sweet Home quilt #1, spent a week on the backing and quilted the Dresden Plates quilt, and lastly finished the top of Home Sweet Home quilt #2, which hasn't been photographed yet because I need to make a backing.  Also in there was my long trip up to Kelowna where I finished up UFO's (unfinished objects that have been around for a long, long time) but then I spent hours and hours and hours working on this.  The quilt is 58" square and each little square is 3" across.  

All worth it, in my opinion.  It is hand folded, hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand bound.  Each little prairie point was place by hand (my how I hate math).  I stopped counting the yards of black fabric and just bought two yards more each time I went in.  All of the black fabrics were designed by Faye Burgos from Marcus Brothers.  The colored fabrics are 99% Kaffe Fassett fabrics, some leftover from Lollypop Trees and many bought specifically for this quilt to get the right shade of fabric.  

My inspiration for this quilt was the images coming from the Hubble telescope.  It's amazing to me that with our eyes, we see so little.  When you layer images of stars that the Hubble can see, it's layers and layers of color.  Each star is a different color based on the age of the star.  Truly breathtaking.  

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2009/may/06/hubble-space-telescope-images

Some comments from facebook:

Kamila Vm Kamila It´s breathtaking !

Anna Margrét Árnadóttir Summer!!! This is one of the all time most wonderful quilts ever 

I have seen . . . thought first that all you fabrics were batiks . . but up close I saw that "Hubble #1" had found all the best fabrics in the Universe ♥ Congratulations on a magnificent quilt!

Anne Andersen Really beautiful. Must have taken you forever. :-))

Chantal Lynch Absolutely wonderful! Love the inspiration.

Margaret Jackson Graeff That is incredible! Just gorgeous!

Christina Belding Awesome!!

Sandra Howell Wow! Breathtaking is an understatement. I'm not a fan of creating a Cwindow quilt, but my hat's off to those you make them.

Bettina Trapp This is amazing!

Cathy Hurst Just had a look at an enlarged photo. Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous and a massive amount of work. Well done!

Dresden Plates and a Nine-Patch Rearranged...

I love the colors in this quilt.  I pieced the top in December 2010 and just needed some really bright colors at that time.  The Dresden Plate side was from a pattern from Quilter's Newsletter from October/November 2010 designed by Kathy Doughty.  She is Australian and has a gorgeous blog too.  She also sent me the sweetest e-mail when she saw my completed piece.

After finishing the top, I put it aside and made a few other quilts.  I just finished up a backing for it this last week - the pattern is called Nine-Patch Rearranged and I got that as a freebie from the Quilted Strait shop.  I used leftover fabrics from the front and supplemented with others I had on hand.

I quilted this in June 2012 on my Juki machine.  It's set up on a frame so it's pretty painless.

I love this block - my favorite!

This was claimed by Victoria, age 11.