Saturday 9 August 2008

March Journal Quilt - At Last!

At the start of this year I planned to participate in two monthly projects for myself for 2008 - the first was Sharon's "Take It Further" Challenge and the second was the Australian-NZ Quilter's Journal Quilts. I managed to do the first five months of TIF before dropping out but I am still going with the journal quilts even though I am way behind schedule. The beauty is that it doesn't impact on anyone as these are for myself!

Anyway, today I have finally finished my March quilt which I first talked about here. I have been working on it in small bursts but it took ages as it is all hand sewn apart from the binding. The theme for March was "memories" and as I have many strong childhood memories of my mother and grandmother sewing and of my delight in Mum's spare buttons I wanted to make a quilt that was based on those memories.

The white and cream background is made up of small torn and cut pieces of various fabrics laid over a piece of muslin-covered felt and covered with a layer of white polka dot tulle. The "rustic" hand-stitching anchors the layers together, the buttons have been stitched on and lace has been added around the edges. The binding is a fine zig zag stitch (fabric postcard style). The buttons are in a heart shape to represent the love I felt as a child as well as my love of buttons!! My quilt was inspired (and influenced) by this which I happened to see on a web-surfing spree at the time I was contemplating the theme.

I was making progress with my April quilt (the "theme" was the technique of using painted vliesofix) but I wrecked that one last weekend when I tried to finish it, so it is back to the drawing board for April!

10 comments:

Vicki W said...

It was worth the delay - it's lovely!

sharon young said...

Oh Debbi!
I just sat there looking at this and going, 'yummy, yummy, yummy.......' in my head. I just love it, the simplicity is delightful, you've let the beautiful fabrics and stitchery do the talking and the heart is inspired!
Wondeful :-)

carolann said...

Wow this is stunning hun well done xxxx

Shirley Anne Sherris said...

The memories are reflected in the care taken with this piece. It's lovely.
Cheers

Natalie B said...

Debbi this is absolutely gorgeous.

RedLan said...

this is unique!

www.paperedarts.blogspot.com

Val said...

Oh Debbi it's gorgeous! No wonder it took so long - all that hand stitching, but doubtless love in every stitch! What a wonderfully happy childhood you must have had. Val

Jacky said...

I love this piece Debbi (and share your love of buttons). I remember as a little girl I used to love emptying mums button jar and playing with them all. Wish I had that button jar now!!!!!

Unknown said...

evryone has already said it, simply beautiful Debbi

Anonymous said...

Ditto from me ... so beautiful and simple - has all the elements of warm and fuzzy lovin'!
http://teaandtextiles.blogspot.com