If you have been counting, you probably think I'm nuts. 'Course many of you who really know me, might think I'm nuts anyway, but we won't go into that. LOL I told you I'd be busy for the doll swap, and I wasn't kidding. (As you have probably noticed if you've been visiting for awhile.) We're up to 8 at last count and that is before today's new one. In justification though, I am keeping one for myself and I have already given one away which brings the total down to 6 and I figure we're going to need at least 8 for angel quilts. (Maybe more.) Last time, for DQS8 we sent out 7 or 8 and that was for a group of 160 players. This time we have 200 participants, so who knows? This is a warning....there will be more so if you're sick of these little quilts, come back after September 1st when the swap will be over. LOL I LOVE making these little things!!!
Today's quilt came about because I wanted something so I could continue my "swirl" free motion quilting practice. (Can you believe?) I hated to duplicate the stuff I've already done, but I had to have something with a white background. Birds seems to always be the "go to" in the swap. Seems everybody likes birds, so I thought I'd start with them figuring that I'd cut out some flowers and plop them on and be done with the thing. BUT, then I spied the new fabric I bought last week with big circles and thought, "Hum, what about using them as the flowers?" It might look a bit folk artish. So that's what happened. First, I drew the birds and cut out the circles:
I actually took a picture of the circles on the fabric so I'd have reference as to how I liked them so I could fuse the fabric for the birds first. After that was done, I replaced them, fused them down too and drew lines for the stems of the flowers.
Of course, now came the fun part to sew everything down and stitch the stem lines, etc. plus do the free motion quilting. (My favorite part, other than the initial drawing.) And wa-la! May I present, "Two Birds Hiding".
14 comments:
I LOVE this... so cute...
That is sooo wonderful! You've got a real creative gift! Love it.
Oh my God, you work so fast, do you ever sleep?
Another adorable quilt, love it?
I love the flowers, what fabric did you use for that?
OMG I can't stand how cute this is! If you end up needing a "home" for any of these little gems let me know. I am working on a project for the city arts council auctioning off small quilts to benefit the Arts Council. They promote art in our neighboring community. Love it and can't wait to see the next one! Maybe a cat??
Is it wrong to wish for a flaky partner? I love and want this one too!
This quilt is so cute ... I love it
Edith
Amazing, even the expression on their faces...the bottom one looks disgusted. LOL
I have a question. I could just call you & ask but I figured someone else might want to know, too.
I'm pretty sure when you are doing your free motion swirls, you are avoiding going onto or across any of your appliques, right?
When you are stitching down the leaves & the stems & all around the birds, etc. are you doing it with just a straight stitch or do you have your feed dogs dropped & are you doing it free motion?
IF you're doing it with the feed dogs up & a straight stitch, are you using a walking foot? Do you just spin the quilt around & around as you circle each flower???
Inquisitive minds want to know! LOL
Hugs,
Rett
Okay, let me see if I can explain the process. As you saw in the picture, I fuse everything on and draw (with a pencil) the stems. Then, I used my walking foot and sewed the birds legs on with a buttonhole stitch doing the other side of the leg with the mirror image. Once they are done, I continued with the walking foot doing the stems. I have a Bernina Activa 240 and used stitch #86 for them. Once those were done, I switched to my open toe free motion foot, dropped the feed dogs, and free motioned stitched around each flower and bird. I used a micron pen to draw around the eyes and do the pupils. Then I free motioned swirled my background avoiding the fused appliques. I did, however, stitch over the stems. I figured since I was using Aurifil thread and that is so thin anyway, it wouldn't show. I hope this helps explain the process. I do love it!
This quilt is FABULOUS and I LOVE it! I'd be thrilled with this, it's perfect in every way.
Thank you for the description of your quilting. I think you just solved my quilting problem!
wish I was a doll and could be wrapped in this loveliness! GREAT QUILT. Would love it hanging around all the time. Cyndi
Gorgeous!
ooooh I love this!!! It's fantastic.
I really really want this quilt :)
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