Thursday, January 17, 2013

Snowflake Wall Quilt

I quilted this 41" wall-hanging last week.  It is pieced from Fairy Frost materials, a mystery blue-black background and a black batik border.  Quilting on black is definitely not for the faint-sighted, as it takes a ton of concentration.
 I quilted the border on the black and part of the curved-crosshatching with a Wonderfil silver metallic thread.  It is my all time favorite for metallics.  It is smooth and never gives an issue with the machine.  But, quilting with a starkly contrasting color gives me hives, so I chose to limit it to just outlining the key motif.  The rest of the detail would have to show with the relief of the quilting.  This piece has wool and 80/20 batts to help with that job.
 I quilted wonderful swirling and undulating feathers into all four corners.  They are so much fun to stitch out.

As you can see, the client chose a black backing fabric (more hives).  I use a white bobbin with my silver and clear thread, and it shows most prominently.  It shows every good and bad stitch.   Not my favorite thing, but part of this job.
 This shows the piecing, and how it is really done with 4 or 5 different Fairy Frost materials.  There is an ever-so subtle change of color here.  And I stitched in the center with silver.
 There are several small fills stitched out in black Glide thread.  The dense fillers help to make the feathery details pop out.  Little swirls, flames, bananas, pebbles...maybe more.
The client told me to be careful with using the piecing as a reference because some of it was off a little bit.  I hope that the "overlay" style of quilting helps to hide this.  I like to make a design for the quilting that is different, yet one that enhances the piecing.
Though I spent 2-3 hours longer on this than I budgeted, it is just the kind of project I love.  It had a well and easily defined design.  I quickly got my head into the work, and couldn't care less that it was going long on the budget.  I knew that I was creating something I would love in the end.  That is what it is all about.   It's the kind of project that you can practically see the end right from the beginning.  Love that.

Right now, I am 3-1/2 days into the polar opposite quilt.  The one on my frame now is enormous.  It is equally as detailed in it's own and different way.  I am still wondering what day I will catch a glance at the bottom border, and I know that even when I do, I will still have a few more days finishing places here and there that I left empty.  Huge quilts are not for the faint at heart, or those like me that need instant gratification.  Harder than that, while this has been on the frame, eight new quilts have come in, and I have received numerous inquiries.  I need a clone of me to work at night when I sleep to make a feeble attempt at keeping up!  I'm not a fan of being behind, or feeling like I am behind...even when I am not really behind.  It's like my perfect world would be to get a new quilt the day one is picked up!  But the world doesn't work that way - as someone told me earlier, it sucks much worse to have no quilts in the cupboard than to have too many!

9 comments:

MarveLes Art Studios said...

This is truly beautifully done! Nice job! I totally agree with the 'going over the budget' to do it the way you think is best! GORGEOUS. Love it.

Lynette said...

Margaret, this is gorgeous! And you are heaven-sent for taking on my king. :) I know it's a real challenge, and want you to know how appreciative I am. Can you *imagine* me trying to heft that thing around at my domestic?? lol!!!

P.S. - the silver thread you used on this one - is it Glide also?

Unknown said...

This is an amazing quilt. It is a beautiful pattern, but with the quilting it is magnificent! Your customer is going to be so happy! I can't wait til I have the ability to quilt this way. I'm just learning, but one day.....:)

SasNi said...

Your quilting looks great!
Love all your detailed pictures.

Maggie said...

My GOSH your quilting is outta this world!!!! Thank you soooo much for sharing with us. Please, please let me be your clone!!! That's the only way I'll ever be able to quilt close to the way you do.
Maggie in Arizona

Virginia said...

Again another fabulous quilt. Your artistry at quilting always leaves me wishing I could quilt like that. Thanks for sharing your talent with the rest of us. Have a great creative-filled weekend.

Rhonda said...

I can tell that you "love" your work and it is, in my opinion, stunning!! Just sayin'

Bianca said...

I only could wish I could quilt like this...
GORDEOUS!! Breathtaking!!!

Bianca said...

I can only wish I could ever quilt like this.
Gorgeous and breathtakingly beautiful!!