Debbie's Crystals

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Debbie's beauty is up next on the frame. Isn't it modern and delicious? The high contrast really works.

I'm working on some design ideas. I want to highlight the circle forming behind the vertical and horizontal lines. This quilt reminds me of ice crystals!

When I start designing a quilting approach for my client's quilts, I like to use my tablet to draw on the image. I use it to visualize my ideas and, more times than not, I come up with motifs that I couldn't have dreamed without the trial and error. I use Adobe Photoshop but any paint program would work.

In this case, I kept seeing circles behind the horizontal and vertical lines. I wanted a motif that would give motion and action to the top. Plus, this top has such a modern feel that I could let my imagination fly.

Here's what I've come up with so far.

What do you think? I've sent it to my client, Debbie, and I'm looking forward to hearing her opinion.

Four Patch Posie

The Four Patch Posie craze overtook my online quilt guild.  This top is going to be a wedding present.  

Isn't it amazing how you can cut up one piece of fabric and get so many interesting kaliedescope designs for the blocks?

I auditioned some thread choices for the top.  A quilt with all of those colors provides a great opportunity to use a

 variegated thread that will sparkle across the shades of the top.  Here were the three choices:

This is a variegated thread called Lava from Superior Threads.  The color is "Fireworks" and has a color change each inch.  The colors include red, gold, green and two colors of blue!

Next is a blue variegated by Superior Threads called King Tut.  The different blues flow together like water.

The last photo is a solid red color which would also look nice but doesn't have as much "jazz".    Which one would you choose?  Guess which one my client picked?

Meow! A case study.

My client, Debbie D., made this great nine patch kitty quilt for a lifelong friend of hers.  She requested the "Quilter's Choice" level of quilting which includes one block design and one border design.  

I drew out some design ideas on my computer.  I really like using the computer to do a trial run so my clients can approve the direction I'm headed in.  

The design I came up with has flowers in the solid squares and continuous curves in the nine patch.  On the border I put swags with hearts.  But I thought it was too busy on top of the variety of fabrics she had as the "star" of her top.

So I played around with using long straight lines through the nine patches with a looped border treatment.  Again, it was too busy.  

My gut feeling was that this quilt really needed an over all, edge to edge pattern so the quilting could let the fabrics take center stage.  Plus, this treatment would mean a lower price for my client.

I sent Debbie an email with these choices laid out for her and my recommendation that she choice a lower priced quilting level for this particular top.  She agreed and chose the panto below. She was especially pleased that it also meant her anticipated cost would be lowered!  

I'll post a photo of the finished quilt soon!

Design process for Applique Quilt

Take a look at this quilt top.  Isn't it beautiful?  It was made by my client's deceased mother-in-law, Nellie.  I'm so happy that I get to help finish it.  This is what I love about quilting.  It has the power to link generations. 

I wanted to share the design process for this quilt top.  First I import a photo of the quilt into Photoshop.  Then I start to play with my special tablet that allows me to draw on the screen with my pen.  My clients are then able to see the designs I'm proposing for their tops as the design process happens.  In this case my client likes my proposal and has given me the green light!

My plan is to outline the applique pieces on each block and add veins to the leaves and the stem.  Then for the large flower blossoms I will do a version of a feather wreath that f

ollows the inside blossom to give it shape.  The background of the blocks will be McTavishing. This is a time consuming background filler so I only did a small portion of it on my computer.  You'll have to imagine the rest of it done.

 The sashing will have interlocking arches and diamonds.  The outside border will accentuate the appliqued vine by using it as the spine for a feather.  Behind the feathers will be a double piano key treatment.  I've got to order thread that will match the blossoms exactly so I can't put it on the frame just yet.  But I'm dying to start on this top.  I even had a dream about it last night!

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!

Up next, a bug jar quilt!  My daughter giggled with delight as she looked at all the bugs "escaping" some of the jars.  She even figured out the ladybug lid must not be on tight enough because they got out too.

My client, Linda, made this quilt for a local charity auction.  I will be doing a flight of the bumblebee stitching on it.  The cute frog will soon have a button eye.  I don't have a shot of the backing fabric but it is a LUSCIOUS butterfly batik.

Design choices

Here are two design choices one of my clients is choosing from for her baby quilt:

Freestyle meander level:

Quilter's Choice level:

What would you choose?

Whirling, Swirling, Curling Wind Soaring Through The Murky Pond

Here's the grid dropped onto my client's batik quilt.  I found out the pattern is called Murky Pond in the Bershires and is from the book, Batiks and Beyond: 22 Quilts from Fabulous Fabrics.

Can you start to see the block on point emerge from the top?

Once I broke up the top into that grid, I played around with a twirling scroll pattern to give the quilt some movement.  

It is a pretty contemporary treatment of the top but I think it is a compelling way to add some sizzle to the top.

Now, those squares in the center are calling out to host a motif of some sort, don't you think?

I'll have to play around with those blocks and start thinking about the borders now.  

Of course, this is just one treatment and my client gets the final word!

Baby stripes and mysterious batiks

Here are two client quilts that arrived today.

Don't you just love how dramatically different they are?  I get such a kick out of seeing how the creative spirit is expressed through fabric from the same person.

The first quilt is for a precious little newborn who has endured so much in his first few weeks.

I have it up on my design wall right now so I can think about the motif possibilities while I'm working on two charity quilts for my local guild.

The second quilt this client sent me is made of these luscious batiks.  I don't know what the pattern is but the first thing that jumped out at me is the secondary pattern between the blocks. 

 I'm thinking about highlighting that block between the blocks.  I just love it when the quilting makes the viewer consider a whole new idea that isn't what you'd expect from the piecing.  

Do you see the secondary block pattern?  It is on point between the smaller squares.  In the next day or two I'll post another photo of the batik quilt so you can see what I'm talking about. 

These are the first two quilts I've done for this friend of mine and I'm so delighted to be a part of her handiwork!  

What a fantastic job I have, eh? 

Ginkgos in the air

I've come up with two approaches to the sophisticated table topper I'm working on for a client.

The first version is an all over, edge to edge design of meandering ginkgo leaves to keep with the upscale Asian fabrics in the quilt top.

The second approach is a leaf branch growing up through each diagonal space with a separate design in the border.

The client has chosen the all over Ginkgo leaf approach and I think it is going to be beautiful!

Up Next!

Up next, this table topper quilt was done by a woman in my local quilt guild.

She made it during a workshop class offered through my guild. She did a great job and the fabrics in it are beautiful.

She used some Japanese style fabrics that look very sophisticated.

She stated that she didn't want it over quilted so I want to make sure that the quilting is very open and flowing.

The diagonal spaces scream out for attention so I'll need to think over those areas carefully.

Time to plan and play with the quilting design!

Heart motif for baby

Here's the motif I'm leaning towards for the baby nines quilt. I like the hearts that echo through the petals. It fits nicely with the vines meandering through the quilt top.

I want to keep the vines simple and then there's all that wonderful white space!

I still haven't decided what should go in that white space. I do, however, have an idea for the sashing.

Baby Nines Audition part 1

Today I'm playing around with the baby nines quilt. As a reminder, here is the quilt top. I've already finalized what I'm going to do on the top but I wanted you to see the progression of the design process.

I love fluid lines layered on top of very geometrical shapes. With that in mind, I drew some curly windmills that would spin through the open white space. I like the movement but I don't think it elevates those nine patches that are on point. Plus, those white spaces are just crying out for a specific treatment to stand proudly in those open areas.


Here's another idea. I've drawn tear drop petals in the white spaces. It works and looks very nice. However, the next question is what to do with those nine patches. This pattern is a bit complicated to try to put on the nine patches too. It might get too busy.


Let's try it.

Well, it doesn't look like it would get too busy. At this point I've finalized that I want to use one block design in the white spaces with a smaller version over the nine patches. I don't know that this teardrop petal block is the best motif, however. This is a baby quilt so I'd like to incorporate some heart motifs

Maybe a block design repeated throughout but with the petals forming a heart instead. Yeah, that sounds right.

The sashing needs some work and then there is that massive white space dancing around the center of the quilt top.

That will be the next idea to work through.

Auditioning

Okay, day two. Auditioning!
I used the grid to guide the flower and petal block design you see here. It introduces a new vision of the block layout that adds a third dimension. I just love it when you see a quilt from a distance and you see one voice speaking to you through the fabric layout.

Then you step closer to the quilt and the thread suddenly introduces a completely new voice and idea. That is the "wow" factor for me.

I did a second petal design that is more fluid and loopy. It almost spins in place. My gut feeling is that it doesn't work with this quilt top.

The last variation I want to share with you is more of an all over meandering. It is a ribbon that is blowing across the top. I would need to add more ribbons but I like the idea of the ribbons intertwining and playing with each other. I even like the bright yellow color I'm using for thread. I've got some wonderful Caryl Fallert brytes thread in my machine right now. It would work great on this bright beauty!

I'm leaning towards the overall windy, windy ribbon right now. More auditions tomorrow.

I've got to live with a quilt for a bit to see how it speaks to me.

In the mean time, here is another quilt I'm working on for a new client. She has made a divine baby nines quilt that is just precious. I'm thrilled that I've got so much space and room to let the quilting shine through and add that extra dimension I mentioned above.

Here's the quilt with the grid lines laid out. Next step is to audition some designs.

First Step- find the grid

Take a look at this incredible quilt I've received to work on! Check out all those ribbons this quilter has on her design wall and she is just as impressive in person, too!

This top was made by a meticulous piecer who's work is incredibly precise. She made this top for a teen in foster care. She chose bright colors and fun fabrics. Her hope is that a bright, cheery top like this will help that teen during those inevitable down days.

My first instinct on a scrappy quilt top like this is to do an all over design. But first I place a grid on the quilt top to see if there are any secondary patterns I could tease out with some well planned quilting.

I import a photo into the computer and use a paint or photo edit program to draw on the photo. In this case, I used neon green and the straight line tool to draw my grid.

Next, comes auditioning quilt patterns.

Next on the frame- Baby Nines!

Here's a beautiful baby quilt made by a very sweet friend. Some new little baby is going to love this!

Now I just need to work out the quilting pattern to use so I can highlight her work!