All the while I had this quilt spread out on the floor for basting, I was troubled by all those white blocks that don't match. Well, it was a quilt made from my scrap tin and it is too late to take out the muslin blocks that are too white or too yellow.
My quilt plan ... if I had one, was just to quilt in the ditch all around with something a bit fancier for the border. However, those non-matching blocks kept bothering me. Finally, I thought I would try something different by quilting over those odd blocks using a light blue thread rather than white.
I still am quilting white in the ditch. I am afraid the blue shows off my uneven stitching but I do think it is helping to calm some of those white blocks that don't really fit.
I just folded a piece of paper and cut it to make the design. Hopefully it will last long enough to finish the top. I am marking each block as I go. Maybe I will need to secure the pattern in a folder so Nikko doesn't eat it before the quilt is done.
Yesterday and today I have been comfortable with long pants and no air conditioning.
Outside my gate, I am rewarded by this hosta flower.
This plant was rescued from the bulldozer when my neighbor's garden was being ripped up. I put the roots in a long planter and this year I moved it to my gate area where it could get a bit more sun.
The flowers are small but so beautiful. It has been several years now since the garden was replaced by two houses filling the entire spot and blocking most of the sun.
That neighbor was my first non-English-speaking friend and the one I owe most for daring to use my poor language skills.
She loved and cared for her garden and in later years I was glad to help her with her weeding. Her daughters live in another part of the city and, as far as I know, have never returned to the place they grew up. I wish they could see their mom's memory lives on in the bits and pieces she once cared for.
What a fantastic difference quilting makes! Compare the unquilted white pieces with those you have quilted, they are worlds apart! Trust a whittle expert to 'just fold a piece of paper and cut it to make the design'! Magic fingers, that's what you have got, Julie. AND they are green, too, see how the plants grow in your care.
ReplyDeleteI think your blue quilting has provided a great to solution to your problem. I do like the interest it has added to the blocks.
ReplyDeleteThat flower is made all the more special with the story that is attached to it.
I think your solution works wonders. Great hand quilting, BTW. Would it help if you glued or transferred the design onto some lightweight cardboard or template plastic?
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely quilting!!!!! With that quilting, I didn't even notice that the fabrics weren't the same. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilting design. Beautiful. I hope your little hosta survives well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative solution! The blue works beautifully - ;))
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful quilt. You have an elegant solution to melding the various whites with your blue hand quilting. I prefer the non-matching whites, rather than all one fabric. It gives the quilt more character. This will be a keepsake, for sure.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful memory of your friend and I am sure the memories come every time you walk past her flowers x Quilting looks good from here x
ReplyDeleteLovely! I think the blue quilting on white draws the eye around the block and makes the colorful squares pop.
ReplyDeleteThe Hosta is thriving in your loving hands. A great way to remember a friend or family member. Mom and I took Hen and Chicks from my Grandma's garden after she passed away. Grandma's plants did a lot of traveling until I could not take them with us overseas.
Fabulous idea for the quilting - and I think it looks super. We always see our own inconsistencies but others just see the beauty. I like quilting in colors - adds so much to the quilt. And your flower is lovely - how nice that you could save a piece of your friend's history.
ReplyDeleteJulie, oh my goodness, your hand quilting is absolutely WONDERFUL. What a lovely pattern, and it fills the space perfectly. You are so talented. We don't see any variations in the fabric; and honestly, Julie, that is just so beautiful. We love it !! :-) Blessings, from Marina and Daryl
ReplyDeleteI love your quilting. I met a quilter recently who never uses white in her work, but rather cream, off white, natural etc etc, these seem to work together more happily. But then she buys new fabric and that's not the same at all as using your scrap box and then making it work, which you have done with enormous success.
ReplyDeleteYour quilting is just gorgeous! You have inspired me to get started on my hand quilting project, but the thought of marking the pattern (not that I've decided on a pattern) stalls me. No light box and I don't need a glass table even if I could buy a cheap one at a recycle shop. What am I going to do? Probably opt for colored thread though in the end, as you did, thought I doubt I can get my stitches so small and even.
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