Friday, September 30, 2011

Wild Geese is this weeks theme

By now you know I enjoy the weekly themed contests that Quilting Gallery holds whether or not I have something that fits the theme. It is always fun to see what other quilters do with similar blocks and patterns.Check Spelling

When I was sorting through my scraps, I found one baggy filled with half square triangles. Most of those are leftovers from a much earlier quilt. Long ago, a friend living in Tokyo ordered fabric from Keepsake Quilters. She had a military address so she could easily have it posted to Japan. From time to time she would receive cut square samples of fabric from which she made her choice and the rest she gave to me, rightly thinking I could use them in a quilt.

Now, I have always loved the geese blocks. Having lived several times in my life along flyways, I love to watch the migrating birds passing through. I recall the first time my daughters experienced clouds of birds overhead, coming to the yard and taking off again into the sky. "Look, Mom, it's raining birds!", my daughter exclaimed. Wild geese went on to my list of future quilts.

So when I had a good selection of fabric samples from my friend, I cut them to make flying geese, using the lighter fabrics to set the geese. At that point I began to look for a nice floral print too use between the rows of geese. I don't recall how long I looked but I just could not find anything that would work.

Finally, thinking I would never find the fabric I wanted, I sat down with a pencil and paper and made a list. The list had the names of flowers from my gardens in assorted places through the years, those that had special meaning to me alone. Then I divided them by season and drew pictures on four strips of paper, one for each season. I added some birds to represent those seasons too, the ones to be found in my garden.

I quilted the background of the panels in a lattice design and in the border are quilted all different leaves, most Japanese trees but some from the States as well. You would be surprised how many friends got involved sending me pressed leaves to use as patterns.

The name of the quilt is "To Everything there is a Season" and, although not a winner, it made a trip to Paducah. (Something I have never done)
Being selected as one of 400 out of over 900 entries was quite an honor and it returned home with the judges compliments.

This was not my only quilt with wild geese blocks but others have flown away as gifts and no digital photos exist. I entered this once before in a flowers theme but it is not a big eye-catcher. Still, it is one of my all-time favorites because of the pieces of my life it represents.

19 comments:

  1. I really like wild geese and teamed with that beautiful applique - stunning!

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  2. I enjoy reading the story behind the making of a quilt. Your flowers and geese look wonderful. It's a beautiful quilt.

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  3. Oh My Goodness - what a gorgeous quilt!!!! It is just lovely! what a work of art! Just love it Julie!

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  4. Your quilt is stunning and I voted for you. Knowing the story behind your quilt is even more interesting. Hope you win this time!
    Cheers, from São Paulo, Hilde

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  5. Your quilt is beautiful. I voted for it earlier. Good luck!

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  6. Oh my goodness...a stunning quilt and a beautiful story. Is all of it applique or is some embroidered? Did you do needle turn? I am amazed at the beautiful work Julie. What a precious quilt this is, not just for the work, but for the memories. On another note, I have a friend who is an interior designer who is going to help me "rearrange" my living room. I've long wanted to do that but wasn't brave enough to let someone come in and sort through my stuff. :) At this age I want to simplify a bit but can't make the decision about what should be removed as most everything is sentimental (definitely not fashionable!). She wants to highlight my quilts, which is exactly what I wanted too, and promises that it will remain welcoming and not formal. I showed her the fabrics you sent me and she raved over them. She wants me to make a pillow of the navy pieces, which I will do as soon as she decides just which pieces to select. Thank you again for your generosity. blessings, marlene

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  7. Thanks for sharing the story behind your Geese quilt. Always nice to hear why certain decisions were made.

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  8. Hi Julie, I thought I had seen this quilt before in one of the Blogger comps. I voted for it then and again today. It is a stunning quilt all the more so because it is hand done. A delightful masterpiece !

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  9. Found you via the quilting gallery. I had to vote for that beautiful quilt and then look you up!

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  10. That is such a beautiful quilt, I really love your design style, you have a unique and beautiful gift.

    Debbie

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  11. Your quilt is lovely. I enjoyed reading the history of the quilt as well and have voted for your flying geese on the Quilting Gallery.

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  12. The quilt is so very beautiful, I love the applique, it is wonderful!
    I just voted for you too.

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  13. Hello Julie, I love to see the pictures of your family blog. The girl is so cute!

    Your works are very beautiful! I also love the idea of many quilters make works from similar blocks! It is like a composition at school. The title is the same, but the context is so different and amazingly wonderful.

    Hugs - Sandra xx

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  14. What a beautiful original design and a lovely backstory as well.

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  15. Oh! I just love..Love...LOVE this quilt! The colors are gorgeous. The handwork - absolutely perfect. I think the judges needed glasses. ;0) I hope you win with this quilt!

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  16. I don't think I'd have the courage to send a quilt to be judged in Paducah. The only quilt I have that's been to Paducah, was there to be photographed for quilt pattern book. As usual, I didn't use the designers pattern for her template, just the template, and did my own thing with it. She used the quilt as an example to try new things with her template. I love your quilt. I can't draw at all. Sew pretty!

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  17. Wow. You are a quiet one. What other beauties do you have stashed away? A great, interesting post, too. I hope the voting isn't over. I'm headed over to vote for you.

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  18. It is a very nice quilt! You have made a very good job. I like flying geese pattern and I also use it very often.

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