I wasn't able to finish this piece by Christmas day, but if we fall back on the notion of Christmas continuing for 12 days, then I finished right on time.
After I turned in grades I came down with a really bad cold, but Christmas came nonetheless, and once the wrapping paper was recycled, and the leftovers packed away, I was happy to sit down and put the finishing touches on this piece.
It seemed only fitting, crazy quilter to crazy quilter, to add some seam embellishments to the outer border of Allie's quilt. And I took a page from one of her techniques to use these beautiful shiny ribbons--some have beads, and all have metallic threads, in lieu of a conventional binding. I hadn't set out to do this, but I had four perfect ribbons and I also wanted to avoid cutting the points off on these embellished blocks, so it was a happy solution. I didn't follow Allie's instructions exactly, but the basic idea is there.
I added some mother of pearl buttons to the floral part of the composition.
Another close up. You can see that I extended the halos with more buttons and with beads.
A lot of handwork is like prayer or meditation. It infuses objects with spirit and with intentions. It's a wonderful opportunity to make a quilt for someone like Allie who is tuned into these messages in the cloth. This has been a fulfilling project, and in many ways it's been an unexpected form of dialogue between two quilters.
I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays in the ways you love the most and with friends and family. I am sadly behind on my blog reading, but I'll be catching up over the next few days.
10 comments:
This is a gorgeous piece. I love the embellishing you did, especially the halo. Perfect.
Totally fabulous on many levels!
Glad you are back to normal--you probably needed some serious rest after your teaching semester.
What an amazing job you have done...we really do communicate on a special wavelength, which adds so much to this already gorgeous work of art.
Barbara, I bow to you in thanks...
Beautiful. I love studying all the details. What a lovely project between two lovely people!
Oh, it's absolutely wonderful! Allie is gonna swoon!
So many beautiful details! Something to linger over in every inch.
How exquisite and inspiring. Love it. Found your blog from pinterest.
Fabulous work, Barbara! (And lucky Allie.) I love this piece! What a great way to use tiny buttons, and it looks like you also incorporated a bit of machine embroidery? I also like the way you did CQ embellishing on the more traditional half square triangles! Did you print the "believe in miracles" part or was it already imprinted on something? You are so right about the meditative part of handwork; this piece is a perfect example. Just feasting on the details is meditation of a sort.
When I first opened this post, I sighed with pleasure and delight. My shoulders dropped and my eyes lit up and settled in to discover all the nuances that your spirit stitched into this quilt. This piece has soul, Barbara and it's palpable.
I love the handstitching. It lends a sweetness, and hand -wrought element to the composition. I too love the halo of tiny buttons...and the metallic quilting threads that help the piece to glow...the small star sequins and the gold embellishment on her crown. It's absolutely lovely in it's simplicity.
Is that angelina under the stitches in the halos?
It's absolutely lovely. Thank you for the refreshing drink of beauty.
Happy New Year. xo Susan
I love the image you used. Where did it originate? I did a Madonna advent on my blog last year, and that would have been so wonderful with it! I don't know if I like the buttons best or the stitching best. Overall, a terrific finish!
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