It's time again for SewCalGal's Christmas Quilt Show http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/11/2011-christmas-quilt-show-welcome.html- . I love seeing all the fantastic creations and being able to share a little Christmas cheer with quilters everywhere. It makes the internet feel small and cozy this time of year. Okay, the sappy part is over. Here's my entry for this year!
One of my favorite parts of being a quilt designer is being able to play God and create flowers which will never die, because in real life I am a nightmare when it comes to keeping them alive. For no flower is this more true than the seasonal poinsettia. I have many memories of pots of poinsettias, lush and dewy, gracing the mantle of my mother's living room and the sideboard of the dining room throughout the Christmas season and into Lent most years, finally to be thrown into the woods by Good Friday.
Sadly, I did not inherit the poinsettia nurturing gene. When I buy a poinsettia, it is lucky to make it one week in my home before it starts to wither, drop leaves and petals, and start whimpering "Help...help...get me out of this house of torture and let me warn all my friends to hide when they see a redheaded lady in a Rendezvous pull up to the garden center."
My only hope was to create some out of fabric, and several years ago I did just that. Behold my "Winter Whites" wall hanging pattern by EvaPaige Quilt Designs, designed for the black thumb quilters we all know and love.
In this design, I used one of my favorite modified stack and slash piecing techniques with several fabrics of similar tone and value in a rich maroon for the background, then added white and cream petals via machine applique. My petal templates are big and loopy and easy for beginners while still looking enough like a real poinsettia petal to keep the garden club satisfied. For this particular sample, I machine appliqued using gold metallic thread, probably swore up a storm while doing so because metallic thread hates me although it was years ago so I can't be exactly sure, and beaded the centers with pink beads as shown in the next photo.
Three guesses as to what I used to attach the beads. If you don't know, welcome to my blog! You are clearly a new reader and I am delighted to have you! (It's Jewel-It, of which I am an obnoxious supporter.)This fall I was introduced to the joys of making this quilt in silks when a silk vendor at my guild's show asked if I might make them a sample for their vending purposes. They picked out the silks they wanted me to use, and I will admit I was a little skeptical at first when I saw how different it was going to look from the original since the tones and values were much more disparate. However, in the end, it's different - in a harlequin-esque kind of way - but really quite gorgeous in it's own way.
My apologies for the weird angle of the photo. I hope you can get the idea.
My apologies for the weird angle of the photo. I hope you can get the idea.This is one of my favorite patterns, and I would love to give one to a lucky commenter below. I'd also love to have you vote for "Winter Whites" if you love it like I do in SewCalGal's Viewers Choice contest this weekend.
Thank you for stopping by Quilting Hottie Haven. I hope you come back frequently for more fun and inspiration!
53 comments:
The metallic thread adds so much, as do the beads. Love the design and how you put it together.
I like the first version the best, but now you need to make it in Red Poinsettias on a cream or white background... that would be really pretty to.
The first poinsettias are my favorites, because of the colours. i love red and dark reds.
Love the way you have decorated the pointsettias.
Love it in the bright silks! Looks like stained glass.
I could still find a way to kill them! LOL The bead-work really makes them shine!
Gorgeous! My black thumb would appreciate those!=)
You can enjoy them much longer than a real flower!! Lovely work.
It's good that we don't have to use our black thumbs much when typing, ay? LOL I kill plants and flowers, too! I'd love to make some un-killable ones with your pattern!
I do not have a green thumb either - but never thought about using my quilting to make flowers - very clever. And your quilts are so beautiful.
your runners are wonderful!! hugs-- Snadra
A girl after my own heart. Poinsettias that I can't kill, cause don't you know I can kill any plant alive! It's too cute, and I love the beading in it! Nice for you to share a pattern with someone!
Love the bead work. Great effect.
LOL....another person who kills them!! thought I was alone there. It is a beautiful piece....and I would love a pattern. I do like the first one best though....your jewels really add to it..
Beautiful Table Runners! I love the bead work for the centers! Looks really cool! Thanks for sharing!
Very pretty. I love the beads.
Just a great way to get over the 'black thumb'. A close up of your photo just reveals so much more to this. I love metallics and beading added for texture and deminsion, too. Just lovely.
This is just lovely. it would be a treasure in anyone's life.
Your table runners are gorgeous!
the beads and the gold thread really push this over the top. They are lovely.
Fabulous. The beads and thread add just the right touch.
Carolyn
very nice. My kind of flowers!
Just Gorgeous!
Beautiful poinsettias.
How nice to create flowers that won't die. :) Beautiful design.
That is just beautiful. The beads give it such an elegant look. Good job!
Wow great job! I love your tablerunners.
Amazing poinsettias!
I love the idea of putting the beads in the centers!!!
This is a delightful wall hanging. Lovely stitching and attention to detail. My kind of flower, too.
LOL!! Poinsettias have the same fate at my house! :D I really love your wallhanging - gorgeous
I love poinsettias in the house at Christmas and always try to keep them through to Easter.
I love both of your pieces and the way you have used the beads.
I'd love to have the pattern.
wow...gorgeous...i love the detailing on the flower
Che belli!
Ciao
What beautiful flowers. I love the beading in the centres.
The first are my favorite but I tend to be very tradional. Lovely work on each one!!
Your wall hangings are lovely. I love the beading embellishment.
Very pretty!
Very nice work. The beads add a special touch as well as the metellic thread.
This is a lovely pattern. I too like it the best in your original version, but the silk version is probably lovelier in person than in a photo. Thanks for sharing.
The white Poinsettias look real. Thanks for sharing!
wow! absolutely stunning!
Nice choice of colors! Very bright and festive.
Lovely flowers that don't need to be watered!
Gorgeous! I esp. love the beading in the middle of the flowers! That is probably the only poinsettia that I could keep alive, too! ;)
I love the bead centers. What a great idea.
Beautiful quilt! Thanks so much for sharing it!!
How beautiful! The beaded centres are such a nice touch.
their fabric choice is pretty, but yours is stunning...
I love poinsettias very much, and have a quilt on my list for when I am more experienced! Thank you for sharing your design with us. Love the original a lot!
Your poinsettias are fantastic. Love art quilts.
SallyKingemail@gmail.com
Love your sense of humor! I just bought an orchid (don't know what possessed me to do that) and I'm counting the days until it keels over. Love the bead work.
I like the white very much for this poinsetta, gives such nice contrast.
Post a Comment