Bloggers Quilt Festival - Fall 2010
I've been so looking forward to the festival and getting to see everyone's lovely quilts and reading about them.
My entry is called Summer Bubbles. Maybe I should have something a little more autumnal for the festival but it's spring here in Australia and I finished this quilt about this time last year so it's a nice way to celebrate its 1st anniversary.
I used a pattern called Ginger Spice by Hugs n Kisses. The original pattern is a baby quilt but I up sized mine to make a queen size quilt. Instead of a jelly roll I used 4 inch strips of Amy Butlers Midwest Modern range and I enlarged the curves and circle sizes as well to keep it all in proportion.
This was such a fun quilt to make. It would be super quick to make if you attached the ric rac by machine and raw edge appliqued the circles. I did both by hand but back then I had more time to enjoy hand sewing in quiet moments. I finished the top but somehow got it into my head that the circles looked too flat. In the end I decided to stuff them which consisted of cutting in behind each circle and adding some extra batting then sewing up the hole again. It was a lot of extra work but definitely worthwhile. The circles look so much better and it's so nice to run your hands over them.
The border fabric was some fabric I found in a bargain bin years ago before I was a quilter and bought thinking it'd be perfect for a skirt. I never got around to making the skirt luckily because the colours and circular flowers matched the rest of the quilt perfectly.
I hand quilted in perle 8 cotton in lots and lots of different sized circles in different colours. I didn't mark the quilt but just pinned paper circles to the quilt and stitched around them. Some are a little crooked and look more like potatoes than circles but it adds character. Quilting with perle cotton seems so much faster than quilting cotton. I guess it's the bigger stitches. I really like the obvious hand sewing look of it and the way the colour of thread really shows up.
If I had the time I'd hand quilt all my quilts, I find it so relaxing, my mind drifts away. I guess it's like meditation for me.
This is one of the quilts I entered in the Springwood Community Quilt Show. It's such a nervous but wonderful feeling to see something you've made being displayed in public. It received some lovely comments which is always encouraging. I now sometimes refer to this quilt as my Show Quilt. It's really earning it's title now!
Before this quilt I'd made a few quilts in a row as gifts for family and friends. This quilt I made especially for me, and I'm so happy with the way it turned out.
Thanks again to Amy for bringing everyone together for the Bloggers Quilt Festival and 3 cheers to all the wonderful sponsors!! It's going to be a fun week , I'm going to try to visit everyone who is posting a quilt!!
Cheerio
65 Comments
A gorgeous quilt.
ReplyDeleteI especially love the puffy circles and all that hand quilting.
Andi :-)
Hey what a beautiful bright fabulous funky quilt - I love al those colours and the wonderful border and the stuffed circles! I love you hand stuffed those circles! Love love love it.
ReplyDeleteI just love this quilt! The colors, the bubbles, the hand-quilting... it's just perfect in every way! So summery and cheerful :) Thanks for all the details about how you changed the pattern to make it the way YOU wanted!
ReplyDeleteThis is a quilt to treasure forever. All that handwork! I totally agree about the meditative atmosphere of hand quilting. And perle cotton big stitches add something you cannot get from any fancy machine quilting. I think what I like best about this quilt is all the love and care that went into it is very evident to the viewer.
ReplyDeleteI just love this quilt! I like all of the quilts I have seen on your blog; I think I'm going to follow along!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, your quilt is so jaw-droppingly amazing! It looks so intricate!
ReplyDeleteFantastic - love this quilt.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, I adore this quilt and I like to think Spring as Winter is fast approaching here!
ReplyDeletevery pretty! I love that you stuffed the circles. I so enjoy hand quilting too!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I feel the same way about hand quilting--so relaxing, but, time consuming.
ReplyDeleteVery Cool. Your quilt is my favorite so far of all that I have visited what a beautiful piece. I love that you beefed up the pattern and stuffed the circles. It is truly a delightful quilt and your borders carry the motif through so well. Really really nice.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is just beautiful! The hand quilting really completes it nicely. Thanks so much for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous and looks lovely as a larger size. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteStunning! It's so nice to see the gorgeous hand quilting too.
ReplyDeleteIts a fabulous quilt. The quilting looks wonderful and the dimensional appliqued circles are a great idea.
ReplyDeletePerfect for spring - this is stunning! I love the puffy circles, the rick rack, the hand quilting, the colors - oh it's just amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis is just so beautiful. I love the movement created by all the shapes! It's just so fun, fantastic work!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to visit everyone,too -- that's proving difficult, there are so many. I love your quilt! The colors are wonderful . . .
ReplyDeleteyou had me at the ric arc!
ReplyDeletejust adore this quilt!
Like your style! find a pattern for inspiration and change it up to suit! The stuffed circles are the cat's meow, too...
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! Nice job.
ReplyDeleteHappy Festival!
Beautiful quilt! I love those circles!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful quilt!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI bet it is really soft and squishy from all that hand stitching huh?
Feel free to send it my way if you ever get sick of it, I will love it like its my own! : )
This reminds me of what it was like to walk into a lolly store as kid. You just dont know where to look or touch first.
ReplyDeleteThis is adult eye candy. Gorgeous. Love those puffy circles!
Wow! Those circles are awesome. Your quilt is a beautiful piece of inspiration! Thanks for stopping by, I am flattered!!
ReplyDeleteI love the ric rac and the circles. So impressed that you hand-sewed the ric rac and the bubbles.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! I love your design!
ReplyDeleteVery fun quilt that you made your own by changing the dimensions and adding trapunto circles. I love the addition of rick rack too- The colors are so spring and summery- just perfect for where you live.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your lovely piece- Enjoy the festival.
Regards from Western Canada,
Anna
This is such a lovely quilt. I love the colours and fabrics you have used for this gorgeous design. You have been so patient with all the hand sewing. I was well worth it for the wonderful end result!!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with the circles and hand quilting! The palette is so soft and sweet - lovely quilt. I enjoy quilting by hand as well. Like you say, it's like meditation...
ReplyDelete; )
I just love this quilt, you have done a wonderful job.
ReplyDeleteRachael oh my goodness..beautiesss...beautiess love this uilt..congrats..Bloggers quilt festival what a great idea...all my best, Jennifer
ReplyDeleteFun quilt- that is true dedication with the hand quilting!!
ReplyDeleteAngie - www.craftedAngles.com
Wow!vi don't know if I'd have the patience for all that hand work but it sure is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteen résumé superbe mon préféré certainement
ReplyDeleteOk, If were were voting for a favorite quilt I'd be voting for your today! I love this quilt. It is my favorite so far!!!!!! I love that you had quilted it. my quilts were always hand quilted till my hands decided no more.
ReplyDeleteI hope to do more hand quilting in the future once in a while I may borrow your idea for the thread. Thanks for Sharing again very nice quilt! Love it!
I just love love love this quilt. The pattern is unique and the colors and fabrics are awesome!Great woek!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt! I love circles and the bright colors and wavy lines are fantastic. I think I might have to go find that pattern to put in my "someday" pile!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors and the border is great with all the other fabrics.
ReplyDeleteThis might just be my all time favorite quilt of the whole year! As in, 2010! Stunning, and love the quilting.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing - - now can you send me the upsized pattern version and the kit?
Thanks again.
Inspiring.
What a lovely and fun quilt.
ReplyDeleteI love your use of cicles and the pink rickrack is inspired!
this is so beautiful...i love it
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous quilt - just love the ric rac!!
ReplyDeleteAnd love the fish on your header too!
beautiful quilt! you put so much loving care into this one!
ReplyDeletei LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about this quilt. it's so full of joy! it's truly amazing, thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeletecheers from Portugal
Rachael, gorgeous quilt for the BQF. Very special quilt I love the colour and the design. I will be in Sydney shortly and we are staying in Darling Habor area. Sydney is beautiful we love visiting there. Your blog is colourfull and I love it - Hugs Nat
ReplyDeleteOh my, what a fun quilt! I love it!
ReplyDeletePretty, pretty!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable! Love the pattern and your fabric choices!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and creative quilt- the choice of colors are great!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a beauty! I am impressed over all the creativity you share here. The colours,the bubbles, the ric-rac...it all worked out so wonderful! Congratulations with this beautiful treasure!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is so cheerful, so colorful, so wonderful! What a brilliant idea to stuff those circles!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words about the rick rack on my BQF quilt.
ReplyDeleteYour rick rack looks great on this lovely quilt. I admire all the handwork you put into it! Those hand quilted circles look wonderful!
This is such a beautiful quilt! Wonderful that you had the border fabric on hand - it's perfect! Adding the extra batting to the circles had to be a huge amount of work, but it adds such a special touch!
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely gorgeous! I love the curves..and the ric rac...and the colors...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your quilt! The rick rack, the circles, the fabric! it is just beautiful! I will have to check out this pattern :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, you have a great blog.
SHeilaC
WOW! what an amazing quilt and youve done a fantastic job of it! i love it!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is stunning, I think it is my favorite. Love the rickrack and the stuffed dots and the perle quilting--AB FAB!
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding me to your blogroll
I love circles! This is darling...so happy and whimsical. The perle cotton was a perfect choice for the quilting and I'm impressed you stuffed your appliqued circles. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! I love the tactile puffy circles and the circular quilting with perle cotton. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI absoutely love this quilt, and I love what you did with the circles to make them puff out. I think this would have to be one of my favourites.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! I love your quilting too!
ReplyDeleteWow! This quilt is just gorgeous. I love the happy bubbles and the rick-rack. Your quilting looks beautiful as well. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeletewhat a fun quilt! i love this design and your fabrics are fantastic. those circles and the squigglies across the quilt are wonderful. thanks for sharing and have a great day
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.