2nd Flower Pots Panel

I finished my 2nd Flower Pots panel this weekend. The first panel took about 3 weeks, but this one took a little longer because I also managed to hand-quilt a baby quilt for my new nephew. Naturally I enjoyed every minute of applique.















Here they are together. I've cut out the Star block so I'll have handwork to take on vacation on Saturday. Does anyone know a good quilt shop in San Diego? I can always use a couple more pieces of fabric, right?

I Met My Deadline

Here is my first panel of the Flower Pots quilt. Setting a self-imposed deadline was an excellent idea; I sewed morning, noon (lunch break at work) and night. When I finally finished the last stitches this morning and stepped back to look at it, I was pleased. I still have a lot to learn but it sure is fun.
I started stitching the flowers on December 30; the stems and the pot were already done. So it took roughly 3 weeks which isn't too bad.
Most of the applique was done after front-basting by hand, which sounds like a lot of work. But I don't mind doing it, and having most of the flowers basted let me carry it around and work on it without having to run to my 3rd floor studio to pin new pieces on. I think I'll continue to to do that.
Onward!

Getting Ready for Flower Pots

I ordered Kim's Flower Pots pattern as soon as I finished Hearts and Flowers--I was hooked and Glorious Applique had a lot to do with that. Thank you, bloggers!
First I had to decide on colors and fabrics. I like dark backgrounds a lot and set out in that direction.
I fell in love with the Philip Jacobs Coleus Leaf in teal, posted by Gisele in September, and that led me to Coleus Leaf in turquoise which was even closer to "my" colors. I went shopping and bought most of these at my LQS, Pennington Quilt Works in Pennington NJ. Coleus Leaf is on the right.
Then I needed a background and the decision was made when I saw this green solid at Fibers in Motion when I was vacationing in Portland OR. It wasn't what I went out looking for, but my heart took over. Obviously my plan had to change. I could keep elements of Coleus Leaf but the fabric itself wasn't enough of a contrast for my background.

















So I did some online ordering and pulled from my shelves and set up a card table:


Aren't they pretty?
Ready to go! I got busy, but was a bit discouraged at how long the prep takes--first I took Kim's pattern to Staples and had it reduced in size--I want a wall-hanging, rather than a bed quilt. Then plastic overlays, templates, cutting, pinning, basting etc. It seemed to take forever.

I also use Julee's method of numbering the paper pattern and the templates, and then laying the pieces on the paper before I pin them to the fabric. I decided I needed to choose fabrics for both the left and right panels before I did any sewing. I know some of you choose ALL the fabrics before sewing--there's no way I would have the patience for that.

I'm a lot happier now that I'm sewing. I am almost done with the applique for the one on the right--which is actually the left hand panel in the pattern. I work better with deadlines: I'm going to promise a photo of the finished panel by next Friday. That will keep me stitching!

All Things Kim

Would you like to learn more about Kim, our quilt design star? I found a delightful interview on the Alliance for American Quilts website, made at the Houston Quilt Festival in 2002. It's a transcription, and there are some parts missing, but I enjoyed it a lot. The address is http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/qsos/interview.php?pbd=qsos-a0a2j0-a
Just if your fingers are getting sore, and you need a break, of course.