First Medallion Quilt Top Finished

For a first medallion I think this quilt top is passable.  Not perfect by any means, but good enough.  (The photograph makes it look crooked.)  I think it could have had more interesting second and third borders but I think these work.  If/when I make another medallion quilt I'll consider the width of the borders more carefully and, perhaps, plan the sizes if there will be any borders with pieced blocks.

I was eager to photograph this top while we had some sun on Thursday.  But where to photograph?  The shade trees around our house cast strong shadows when their limbs and branches are leafless.  I finally hit upon the idea of hanging it against a brick wall in our breezeway.  I pulled a long, narrow strip of wood from the garage and tacked the quilt to it, then hung it on the wall balanced on one nail (with the help of my husband holding it steady).  Then I stepped back to take a photo.  Voilà!  Oops,  I'd hung the quilt sideways.  If you look closely you can see in the photo above that the hanging bar is on the side.

Despite how it looks in both photos, the quilt top really has square corners and straight edges.  It measures 69¾" x 75½", perfect for a nap or as a floor quilt for a baby to play.

Here's another view.  All of these photos were taken without a flash, so it's interesting to see the variation in colors because of the natural light.

Last year Lori of Humble Quilts and several other quilters decided to make Gwen Marston-inspired medallion quilts and invited anyone who wanted to sew along.  The center was to be a basket of flowers.  Since I'd already stitched the basket of flowers with no next step in mind, I decided to participate.  The others have long ago finished their quilts but I was slow to decide on the last border.  But here it is now.

I'm just about finished with my current quilt in the hoop.  Maybe this will be the next to be layered and quilted -- if I can come up with or piece a backing that goes with the front. 

Finishing this was my One Monthly Goal for October so I'm linking this post to the October Finish Link-Up at Elm Street Quilts.

I'm linking this post to
> Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts
> finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts
> Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
> Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF) at Anja Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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Appliqued

Many thanks to all you wonderful readers who left comments on my recent post, Wrestling.  I appreciate your observations, insights, suggestions, and encouragement.  I often tell myself that quilting's not rocket science or brain surgery--no harm done if it's not perfect--and that I can make another quilt if I don't like the first but sometimes I don't listen to myself (or forget to remind myself).  I'm finding that perfection and creativity are not good bedfellows... uh, quilting friends.

A few days after that post and after deciding on a layout for my Gwenny medallion quilt, I began industriously appliqueing

and yesterday and today cut out the backs of those appliques

to create this (in part).

Today I finished and pressed the quilt top with its days' worth of creases and crumples.  I'll photograph when the rain leaves and we have sun.

I cut away behind applique shapes so I don't have to hand quilt through an extra layer.  (And so I can't change my mind and unstitch them.  Ha.) 

To those of you who do the same, what do you do with those shapes?  Do you save them for another bit future of applique or do you toss them?  Or maybe just cut them into squares to use in a patchwork block?  I pitched the leaf shapes but have a stack of star shapes like these.  I'm not sure I'd ready to applique more star shapes, at least not for a while.

I'm linking this post to
> WOW at Esther's Blog
> Sew, Stitch, Snap, Share at Koka Quilts
> Moving it Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
> Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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Wrestling

This is a long post.  If you want to see my work in progress, scroll down till you get to the photos.

I rarely take the easy, sure way to a finished quilt.  Sometimes I see a quilt pattern that looks wonderful but imagine just one or two little tweaks that I think will make it better, make it my own.  Or maybe I want a similar quilt but just a little smaller.  Or larger.  Or with the first border narrower and the second wider wider, or a pieced border.  I make things harder for myself when I try to change up patterns and especially when I choose to create without a pattern -- the times when I dream up a quilt in my mind:  imagine, draw, choose fabric, cut, sew, alter, sew some more.

Why do I do this?  Elizabeth Healey, author of Stitch, Fabric & Thread:  An Inspirational Guide for Creative Stitches, offered these thoughts which mirror my own.

There is great comfort in following a design created by someone else, be it a shop-bought kit, an article in a magazine, a book or even an online tutorial, since much of the planning and thinking is done for you.  All you have to do is follow the instructions and you should get a replica of what's on the packet.  Coming up with your own design is far more daunting and can be filled with frustrating moments as you strive to realise your vision.  But when you get it right, it is infinitely more satisfying than anything bought off the shelf.

Creating from scratch can be difficult, daunting, challenging, and can call a maker's creativity into question causing self-doubt and uncertainty.  But when one succeeds -- what joy!

Without doubt, the most challenging quilt to make is/has been the Gwenny-style basket of flowers medallion I began last year.  It was part of a sew-along hosted by Lori of Humble Quilts.  I'd already made the center when the sew-along began; the border themes were suggested by others but the creative interpretations and decisions were mine.

The first border theme was childhood.

The next border was log cabins.

So far so good with all of the above.  The next border was stars.  And that was the border where I started to question the way this quilt was going.  By now it measured about 58" x 64".  I wondered about the widths of the borders -- were they too similar, not similar enough, etc.  And the colors?  Not much variety in colors in the borders.  But I continued on.

The last border was "something fishy."  With such a large quilt and only a month to make a border, I chose what I called fish tails.  I should have realized, but didn't, that a 3½" final border (4" on the bottom) for a quilt this size wouldn't work -- would be disproportionately narrow compared to the other borders.

By the time that border was stitched in place I knew the quilt was in trouble.  I auditioned a few additional pieces of fabric around it with the idea of adding one more border but it seemed to me that nothing worked.  (Can you imagine me wrestling?  I'm not suggesting that I disliked the process, just that the choices didn't come easily.)  It was nearing the holidays and I needed the floor space so I folded the top away to work on later.

Later came last week.  I laid the quilt out on the floor again and within a day decided to remove the fish border, make the star border narrower, and add a wide blue border with the idea of adding applique.  (Blue water is definitely fishy.)  This is where the quilt is today.  (I'm beginning to think this style of quilt--Gwen Marston/liberated-- is beyond my current abilities.)

I've thought about omitting the vines and adding only flowers and leaves, as though they're floating on top of water.  I've thought about vines and leaves only.  I've thought about circles/bubbles; clam shells; waves in some form or other; etc.  If I had found a printed fabric that would have worked for a broder, I would have used it.  To some extent I'm probably stuck on too literal an interpretation of "something fishy" but at this point it doesn't really matter whether this border has anything fishy about it because the sew-along is over.

I could just stitch those vines, flowers, and leaves down and call it done.  Gwenny style?  I'm not so sure.  Good enough?  Yes, probably.  That border is not unlike many I've seen around the internet when I search google or pinterest.  It works well enough.  But could it be better?  Could it be more original?  Could there be a border that adds to the quilt more than this one does?  I think the answer is probably yes to those last three questions. 

So I'm wondering, dear readers, when you create an original quilt of your own design, do you keep working on it, playing with it, wrestling with it until it's perfect?  At what point do you decide it's perfect?  Do you ever settle for good enough, call it a learning experience, and move on?

By the end of October I want to have made a decision about the border on this quilt and have begun (and maybe finished) it -- for One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts.

I'm linking this post to
> WOW at Esther's Blog
> Let's Bee Social #197 at Sew Fresh Quilts
> wip link-up at Silly Mama quilts
> Midweek Makers #92 at Quilt Fabrication
> UFO Progress at Jo's Country Junction
> One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts
> Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts 
Thank you, ladies, for hosting.

--Nancy.
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A Basket of Flowers

This basket of flowers is the center for a Gwennie Inspired Medallion quilt.  Lori of Humble Quilts and several other bloggers are hosting a sew-along and invite anyone who wants to participate to join.  I'm running a little late with the quilt-along.  I've had some other commitments that had a higher priority and now that most of them are finished, I've been able to devote some time to stitching the appliques for this quilt.

I deliberated whether to link this with the Gwennie sew-along.  It probably doesn't look like anything Gwen Marston ever made or even might make.  And yet upcoming borders will, I hope, show a little more of her influence (now that I've finally been able to get some of her recent books to see what she's up to these days).

This experience is far outside my comfort zone for several reasons:  not having a clue about the end from the beginning; making such a large applique center and hand appliqueing it; keeping four borders flat(!); trying to copy Gwen Marston's style....  All of it is a challenge, but I know I'll learn something (many things, perhaps) by doing it. 

The background behind this basket of flowers measures 21" x 25".  The largest flower is about 6" across, the smallest about 4 1/2".  I cut the basket, flowers, and leaves from paper then cut them out of fabric (changing as I went along) and hand appliqued them.  It's amazing what a good moistening and pressing will do to smooth out a block that's been handled so much!

As you can probably tell the flowers are awaiting their centers.  I'm undecided about color, fabric, and size--but am narrowing it down.  The next time you see this basket the flowers will have their centers.  And I think it may need one more leaf.

There will be four borders on this quilt.  Each border theme will be chosen by one of four other quilters.   The first theme, suggested by Cynthia of wabi-sabi quilts, is "Childhood."  Hmmm.  I was expecting "triangles" or "log cabins," but I'm good with childhood.  It allows for lots of options.  I already have a list of a dozen or so possibilities.

Thanks to Lori for hosting this sew-along.  I'm headed to the link-up at her blog now to see other participants' baskets.  Won't you join me?

--Nancy.

Traveling Fast, Stitching Slowly

We drove three hours to Kentucky and back today to celebrate the naming and blessing of our little grandson.  In truth, my husband drove and I rode so I had some time to stitch.   A basket, some stems....

When my eyes weren't focused on the needle and fabric, I noticed the beautiful countryside in Kentucky -- luscious greens, black barns with quilt blocks painted on the sides, and horses with colts and foals.  Gorgeous!

And here's that adorable little grandboy of mine.  He's as round as anything you can imagine with blue eyes that melt your heart and a sweet, easy-going disposition.  At five months he's ready to move but hasn't quite managed the coordination to move far on his own -- yet.

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Click over to see others' hand stitching projects.  Thanks for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.
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#BraveQuilter in June at Pink Doxies

I'm claiming this basket block as my #BraveQuilter challenge for June.  The only parts appliqued in this photo are the basket and stems.  The rest of the pieces are either paper or fabric.  Layout of the stems (and therefore, to some extend, the flowers) is set, layout of the leaves is not.

I'm thinking of this as a brave effort for several reasons.

This is the largest applique I've ever tired.  It is in the 21" x 24" range.  Am I crazy to think I can keep it flat?

I'm working without a plan for the completed quilt.  I usually have a vague idea what I imagine a finished quilt might look like, but not this time.  This is part of the Gwen-Inspired Medallion Quilt Along at Humble Quilts.  We'll be told the "theme" for each new border at the beginning of each month.  We can choose how we interpret the theme, colors, etc., but still, there's no plan.  Ahh, I'm shaking in my shoes over this one.

And the borders!  I struggle with borders.  I just added three borders to a quilt and barely succeeded in keeping them flat, and only one was pieced.  How will I manage borders on this quilt?  (There will be four!)   

I'm feeling just a little trepidation as I continue appliqueing this basket and flower block.  I'll report back at the end of the month.

I'm linking this post to #Brave Quilter June Linky at Pink Doxies.  Thanks for creating and hosting this challenge, Julie.

--Nancy.
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A Basket about to Be Appliqued

Last night I scattered paper patterns out of the way, laid the fabric basket in place, and snapped this photo knowing I would do some slow stitching today.

When I applique I usually turn the edges under and pin them but this time I tried something different.  I used a running stitch to hold the folded edges in place.  It worked well except where I turned the edge in too much or too little.  But it was easy to adjust and I didn't miss trying to keep the thread from tangling in the pins.

I left the top of the basket and both sides of the handle unstitched because I'll be adding stems behind the handle.

The background for this basket is about 21" x 25".  It's much bigger than any applique I've ever done.  I hope it's still lays flat after I've appliqued all the pieces.  (I feel so brave even attempting this challenge.)

This basket is the center for my Gwen-inspired basket medallion quilt.  I don't suppose this looks like it was inspired by Gwen which is because it really wasn't.  I had this in mind before the medallion quilt-along was announced.  I anticipate the subsequent borders will give me plenty of opportunities to hone some new improv and liberated quilt-making skills.

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

--Nancy.
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Thinking of a Basket of Flowers

Ever since I finished appliqueing stars I've been thinking about beginning another applique project.  I don't love applique enough to make only appliqued quilts but there are times when it's the perfect hand work to do.  I have a hard time just sitting unless I'm really tired.  With applique I can sit and almost do nothing and still accomplish something.  And applique is portable, packable (needle, thread, scissors, project, and I'm set), and friendly (my husband drives, I stitch, and we talk--or not). 

I'd been thinking about stitching baskets but hadn't moved forward with the idea.  And then a few weeks ago Lori of Humble Quilts invited her readers to participate in a Gwen Marston-inspired medallion quilt-along with a basket in the center.  Hmmm.  I began researching Gwen Marston's work.  She's been quilting for more than 25 years, evolving from traditional quilts, shown in her early books, to less traditional, more modern quilts in recent books and online.  Which makes me wonder:  What will a Gwen-inspired medallion quilt look like?  Could I make one?  Maybe.  Probably, especially when Lori says, "The only rule is, you make the rules!"    

This is the basket I've been thinking of appliqueing.  It's a little hard to see because there's not much contrast between the paper cut-out and the background fabric.

I doodled on paper, drew on construction and scrap paper, cut out, and laid the paper pieces on a fat quarter.  It's definitely a "cartoon" in progress.  Paper stems are hard to make but I imagine bias-cut fabric ones will be easier to manipulate.

On the paper sample above, the basket's too wide or the background's too narrow.   The sizes of the flowers should vary more.  That dotty background fabric has to go (unless it works when I get the basket, flowers, and stems cut out).  Red flowers or blue?  And are star flowers cliche?  But maybe this basket of flowers is a little too folksy to be Gwen-like?  But I make the rules so it really shouldn't look like Gwen made it, right? 

For me, part of the reason for participating in a quilt-along like this is to push myself just a little past my comfort zone and stretch my limited abilities by learning and doing something new and different.  One way or the other, I'll learn something, even if it's only that I don't like appliqueing baskets.

And why don't I just quit asking questions, make some decisions, and cut the fabric already?  Now there's an idea!  And I will.  Probably tomorrow.

In truth, I haven't been procrastinating.  I've been working on the Buckeye Beauty blocks.  I have precisely 12 seams to machine-stitch to have 42 blocks.  I'm ironing tonight, will pin tomorrow on the way to the zoo (to see baby polar bear Nora), and stitch when I get home.  And then I can lay them out and play.  (And cut out a basket.)

Little by little things get done.

I hope you're having a great day!

--Nancy.
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