Monday, February 27, 2012

Trees!





This week I have been doing something that I have been meaning to do since I got my long arm machine back in November!  I have been playing with it!  I got out some plain fabric and set it up on the machine just to practice some free motion quilting and to have some fun scribbling on a blank canvas.  In the meantime, my Oakshott cottons arrived in the mail, which I was inspired to purchase from this post here by Lynne.  I have always had a love for shot cottons, but in past I have used ones by Kaffe Fassett which another blogger once described in agreeing with me that they are, "flimsy at best".  Well, I wasn't disappointed with the Oakshott at all.  They have been woven with care and sew very nicely.  The only complaint I might have is that they smell a little bit strange (I don't prewash my fabrics anymore).  I loved working with them and enjoyed making up the "kit".  My husband loves trees--he has planted thousands in his lifetime and I thought it would make a nice wall hanging for our living room.  So, armed with new free motion skills from playing and a new pieced quilt top, I had my first stab at free motion quilting on the long arm.  It was, I have to admit, too much fun.  I do not intend to use my machine for doing custom quilting for customers, but for myself I definitely plan to do more!!!

I am also glad that I did not read the follow-up post that was written about suggesting how Lily should plan to quilt her top (here) until after I did the quilting as I am sure it would have influenced me.  I chose to use variegated thread by King Tut, which I really like but was advised against in the post.  I like how the variegated changes the look of each block as it changes with each different color.  Also, I probably would have tried to do something like the leaf pattern suggested and I am sure I would have failed miserably at it.  My original vision was that the trees should have the wind blowing in the background to add to an autumn feel and I am glad that I stuck with it.

I wanted to finish this quilt in order to enter it in the local show in which entries are due this week.  Just in time!  I am going to enter a few other quilts too, this will be my first time entering in a show, but I'm doing it just for fun and to bulk up the quilting section in the show:)  Our shows are small around here.

15 comments:

Kiekplaotiesenzo said...

Wow!!!! proffesionel... groet uit Holland.

Jenny said...

I Love it! I love the texture created by your background filler and the way the trees pop is fantastic!! You should enter it..it's awesome!

simplestitches said...

awesome job! just stunning....

Leanne said...

This is wonderful, great quilting!

Lynne (Lily's Quilts) said...

Wow your quilting is really amazing. Did you have fun making this quilt? I found the process making mine really fun

pippablue said...

What a gorgeous quilt! and your quilting is too!

I actually know the lady who designs the quilt patterns for Oakshott, she lives near my mom in the UK. She also makes the most amazing kites. We have a tiger one that the kids love.

Katy Cameron said...

Oh wow, it looks fab! Lynne's such an enabler though, Oakshott's been leaping into loads of our hands recently :oD I think the leaf suggestion was mine, but I was just winding her up, honest ;o)

Marla said...

Wow vyzeré fantasticky

myBearpaw said...

Wow! I totally love your tree wallhanging - very inspiring, and I really want to try those oakshott cottons now!

India Rivers said...

Good luck with the show that you are entering! This quilt is wonderful, original, colorful and beautiful!

Best wishes,

India Rivers

Mama Spark said...

I love how you chose to quilt this one. I like those trees too.

Kirsten said...

Love the Trees quilt - the quilting you have done is amazing!

Peg said...

Beautiful wh, love your color choices and the quilting is FANTASTIC. superb job, hope it does/did well in your show :) Best wishes

Peg said...

Beautiful wh, love your color choices and the quilting is FANTASTIC. superb job, hope it does/did well in your show :) Best wishes

LethargicLass said...

I love your quilting choices... but now I am nervous as I bought the Kaffe ones for just this purpose...

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