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!

Dragon Purse Finished! by LEE Needlepoint

Dragon

hand-painted canvas by LEE

stitched by Summer Truswell 2014-2015

Stitched in Impressions (a silk / wool blend), Trebizond (silk) and Kreinik metallic (synthetic) thread in basketweave.  The facial hairs? are wrapped backstitch.

I love this purse!  It's a good size - about 14" deep. It is made out of red leather.  Also from LEE.

Some comments from facebook:

Dana D. -  Love this!!!

Anne Marie C. - Gorgeous! Love it with the red purse!

Louise S. - He is gorgeous!!

Dianne M. - Oh wow

Cecilia R. - Dragons are a favorite theme of mine and it looks great on the purse.

Cindy H. - Fantastic!

Sally C. - Fab! and how!

Carolyn S. - I have the same purse and love it. Just don't fill it too full. Unfortunately I did and the lining split.

Sherry E. - Awesome!!

Cynthia B. - Great work

Mary Ellen P. - Fantabulous!!!

A Bitty Bite of KFC Quilt

A Bitty Bite of KFC

Inspired by Laundry Basket Quilt's

KFC @ the Flea Market

Measures 13.5" square including the itty-bitty prairie points.

I quilted this in Sew Fine from Superior Threads (grey) and Auriful (colors).

This won first place in the Miniatures Category at the 2015 Quilter's Anonymous Show.

Some comments from facebook:

Darlene Piche Perspective is everything! WOW!

Sandra Stehman Beautiful

Victoria Edwards I can see why

Noella Frail The star is beautiful but u love the vine and flowers around the outside

Debbie Holman Love!!

Shirley Dunlop Congratulations. Beautiful.

Anita Krauskopf Very nice! Like the touch of embroidery work around it.

Snowball Quilt design by Kaffe Fassett

Snowball Quilt

pattern by Kaffe Fassett from Country Garden Quilts

Harbor Steps in Seattle is a beautiful quick walk through from Seattle Art Museum down to the waterfront. 

Each block is a different floral fabric and I used different greens for the corners.  

Some comments from facebook:

Debbie Carlson Stunning

Lisa Cornay Roberts Simply gorgeous

Donna Fleming Meyers How adorable! I guess I better make one. I have lots of scraps!

Hilda Wessels I love it! So much!

Gina Nania Love the different greens; that's just like a real garden.

Sue Kater Love it! Perfect for summer!

Tia Hegstad I love how you've put most of the large blooms a bit off centre. It really brings it to life.

Nery Sharir Summer summer summer good on the eye

Debbie Nelson Heinle The prettiest I've seen in quite a while!

Janet Zucchero Smith How colorful! you have been busy!

Jeanette Eitzen Glasgow So lovely with the bright colors!

Levana Spencer Very pretty and joyful

Susan Ingham Wow!

Susan Ingham makes me feel like I am having a fabulous dream!

Anne Andersen Gorgeous. heart emoticon

Julie Sims beautiful!

Sharon Dallman Beautiful colors, prints and of course the whole quilt! heart emoticon

Suzy Rhine Beautiful

Phyllis Houck I love PJ"s fabrics because of the flowers so this quilt makes my heart sing it is beautiful.

Valerie Saffel beautiful.

Ann Champion Gorgeous!!!

Rosalie Glickman Beautiful!

Liz Schreiner Charming!

Joan Zieger I want it. I want it. Stunning. Perhaps my favorite of all.

Wendy Baker Oyler Love it

Ann Jones Rogers Love it!

Debbie Selman love your colour choices!

Rachel Smith Wow, this is beautiful!

Vicky Coughlan Gorgeous!

Debbie Holman Love. Love. Love!

Shirley Dunlop Beautiful and special because you used scraps.

Jackie Pryor Stunning colours!

Rosemary Hawk Lovely

Mary Foley Love this, looks amazing.

Hashtag Quilt

Hashtag

48" x 12" (unfinished)
photographed at Victor Steinbrueck Park in Seattle

The Hashtag is a way for people to communicate content in a clear way by creating searches through categories.   People are using instagram and twitter as a way to communicate outside the normal realm of newspapers or television news in a way that isn’t delayed by print deadlines. 

With this increased access to news, I learned about the sheer quantity of black lives that are killed unnecessarily by police or other authority figures.  Many are teens, many might have been criminals.  All are sad stories and some are truly heartbreaking.  I made this quilt as a way to process my sadness at so many senseless deaths.  Awareness is being raised but the conversation needs to continue about how we can make these killings stop.

Originally, I planned on leaving the bottom edges raw so if needed I could add more names to my memorial quilt, but instead I finished the quilt in the hopes I will not have to add any more names.  (I wrote this description in March 2015.  I'm truly heartbroken that I have to add more names.)

You can search for more information using hashtags on twitter, instagram, or facebook.  Or do an internet search with someone’s name and shooting and it will pull up articles.   By no means is this a complete list. 

#BlackLivesMatter

#HandsUpDontShoot

#NoJusticeNoPeace

#ICantBreathe 

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-police-deaths-20140813-story.html#page=1

 Aaron Campbell

Alonzo Ashley

Amadou Diallo

Angelo Clark

Bo Morrison

Christopher Kissane

Dante Parker

Dante Price

Duane Brown

Eric Garner

Ervin Jefferson

Ezell Ford

James Brissette

Jersey Green

John Crawford

Johnnie Kamahi Warren

Justin Sipp

Kendrec McDade

Kimani Gray

Malissa Williams

Manuel Loggins Jr

Marquez Smart

Melvin Lawhorn

Michael Brown

Michael Lembhard

Miriam Carey

Name Withheld  (Child)

Nehemiah Dillard

Orlando Barlow

Oscar Grant

Ousmane Zongo

Patrick Dorismond

Ramarley Graham

Raymond Allen

Rekia Boyd

Robert Dumas Jr.

Ronald Madison

Sean Bell

Sheron Jackson

Stephon Watts

Steven Eugene Washington

Tamir Rice

Tanisha Anderson

Tendai Nhekairo

Timothy Russell

Timothy Stansbury Jr.

Travares McGill

Trayvon Martin

Victor Steen

Wendell Allen

Economy Patch Quilt - Country Gardens Quilt

Economy Patch Quilt
Pattern by Kaffe Fassett from Country Garden Quilts Book

This was a true scrap quilt for me.  (As with any of the pictures, if you want to see them larger, open them in a new window and you can zoom in.)

It is displayed here on the outside steps of the Seattle Art Museum.  I love the museum and they have wonderful visiting exhibits.  Love being a member.

My beautiful cat Lois.  Placing a quilt on the ground is cat bait.

I love the backing fabric.

I quilted it in rounds of feathers.

Some comments from facebook:

Carol Adams This is stunning. I have collected blues to make this but love your reds!

Ann Kelly It glows!

Joan Mailing Rmt Stunning is right!!! LOVE this!!1

Linda Lambert It's Amazing !!!

Gina Nania I made this in the blues that are in the book and love it, but this is striking too. Good job!

Joanne Cleaver Beautiful!,

Mindy Melinda Way-johnson really nice placement of color!

Trudy Rupka Norton This is gorgeous!!

Ann Whitaker-Sauls Beautiful quilt! Love Kaffe's fabrics and designs period. I've spent the better part of a week organizing my fabrics. My shoulders and upper arms are getting a really good work out.

Kris Lattin Gruben Absolutely stunningly beautiful!!

Kitty Sorgen So beautiful, Summer! Doesn't it feel good to use those scraps?

Anne Andersen It is a wonderful quilt, Summer.

Karen Silence So so so so so so nice

Suzanne Meader Great idea for scraps...it's beautiful!

Wendy Rohde Love it

Cindy Schwarz Gorgeous!

Pam Dustan Vedder Love it! Am doing this pattern for my granddaughter in blues.

Maxine Jones Gorgeous

Sheryll Baum Seidel I ran to my book shelf to make sure I had that book and I do!!

Anne Riker Deister love this.

Sharon Dallman Beautiful quilt Summer! heart emoticon

Ruth 'babeyruth' Bass Gorgeous

Lydia Goode I actually have this in a kit...all blue fabric but really like it in the red too!!

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:)

•  

Cheryl Roler Timko Exquisite!

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

•  

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

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

•  

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

•  

Robin King Brilliant!

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

•  

Kelly Doyle Gorgeous!!

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

•  

Kathy Williams Coxwell Gorgeous!

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

•  

Shari Bruckstein Agree with Elizabeth Hurd. This is spectacular!

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

•  

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

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

•  

Cindy Caprice Goldblatt You win. Amazing

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

•  

Izzi Carmen Stunning!

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

•  

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

•  

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

December 30, 2014 at 2:01pm • Like

•  

Alyson Taylor Unimaginably intricate and lovely!

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

•  

Linda Pawlusiow Mosch What an amazing accomplishment. Just gorgeous!

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

•  

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

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

•  

Debra J. Wallerstein Gorgeous!!

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

•  

Patty Steger Absolutly beautiful!!!

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

•  

Sue Spencer What are the dimensions ?

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

•  

Sue Spencer Absolutely beautiful. What an achievement

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

•  

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

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

•  

Joanne Colandrea So beautiful, Summer 

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

•  

Lietzie Hawkinson Belford Beautiful, beautiful!

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

•  

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

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

•  

Kate Dickerson Amazing!

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

•  

Mary Walker Exquisite work!

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

•  

Susan Reed This is beautiful, Summer!

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

•  

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

•  

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

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

•  

Laurel Wheeler So stunning!

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

•  

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

•  

Pat Miller Congratulations on a beautiful piece!

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

•  

Norma Blum Can you post some more up close photos ?

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

•  

Marlyn Dolgonos Blumenthal lovely!

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

•  

Anne Haney Remarkable talent

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

•  

Patricia Snyder That is beyond gorgeous!

December 30, 2014 at 3:08pm • Like

•  

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

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

•  

Susan Reedman Fabulous!

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

•  

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

•  

Margaret Payne Gorgeous. I am with Elizabeth Hurd.

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

•  

Paula Delaney Very impressive work!

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

•  

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

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

•  

Marianne Milazzo Teubner Wow!!!!

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

•  

Jayme Makowski Hey Summer. Absolutely stunning.

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

•  

Lynn Hayward Awesome!

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

•  

Jud Hemker Wow!! I love it.

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

•  

Kim Porrazzo Gorgeous

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

•  

Theresa Goon Waldo Beautiful!

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

•  

Dawn Perry Bagnetto Stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 4:48pm • Like

•  

Natalia Frank Gorgeous work!

December 30, 2014 at 4:53pm • Like

•  

Ann Whitaker-Sauls Gorgeous and impressive. Congratulations!

December 30, 2014 at 4:57pm • Like

•  

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

December 30, 2014 at 4:58pm • Like

•  

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

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

•  

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

•  

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

•  

MaryAnn Misenhimer Yes, what everyone has already said!!

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

•  

Christine Hands Absolutely stunning!

December 30, 2014 at 7:40pm • Like

•  

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

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

•  

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

•  

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

•  

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

December 31, 2014 at 12:20am • Like

•  

Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

•  

Ann Kahn Incredible!

December 31, 2014 at 1:49am • Like

•  

Melissa Miles This is a masterpiece.

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

•  

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

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

•  

Marcy Marley wow ... lovely work

December 31, 2014 at 3:50am • Like

•  

Carolyn Hedge Baird Magnificent!

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

•  

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

December 31, 2014 at 4:15am • Like

•  

Valerie Vivas Stunning! Congratulations!

December 31, 2014 at 4:19am • Like

•  

Carrie Ray Wow, so beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 4:36am • Like

•  

Dea Chesnutt Great idea for kimono sleeves. Stunning

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

•  

Judy K. Russell Beautiful and very clever!

December 31, 2014 at 4:55am • Like

•  

Mary Powell Beautiful. .

December 31, 2014 at 6:02am • Like

•  

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

December 31, 2014 at 6:21am • Like

•  

Barbara Norris GORGEOUS!!!

December 31, 2014 at 6:23am • Like

•  

Derek Price Just beautiful

December 31, 2014 at 7:16am • Like

•  

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

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

•  

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

•  

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

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

•  

Thais Carr Gorgeous!

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

•  

Myra Bradley Ernst Beautiful work of art!

December 31, 2014 at 9:08pm • Like

•  

Cathy Kirk It's wonderful!

December 31, 2014 at 9:28pm • Like

•  

Kate Cook Absolutely beautiful and extremely creative

January 1 at 7:59am • Like

•  

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

•  

Janet Gebow Fabulous!

January 1 at 4:30pm • Like

•  

Lynne Sloan That is just beautiful.

January 1 at 7:07pm