I’ve decided that Paisley Pavane is my favorite quilt, if I’m just thinking about the design. I made this quilt for the New Quilts from an Old Favorite contest a few years ago, and I enjoyed every minute of it’s making. Every part of the quilt was a leftover from other (failed) projects, and it’s just so fun that it all came together so well. I used my embroidery machine seriously for the first time, and developed some really cool techniques to solve various issues along the way that I still use today.
Paisley Pavane hangs on the wall in our dining room (and pretty much takes over the room), so I see it all day long as I go to and from the kitchen, and I never get tired of looking at it. The light from the window bounces off the 3,000+ Swarovski crystals and the whole thing sparkles as I walk by.
A friend was here for dinner the other evening, and he studied the quilt for quite some time, and finally asked what it was made of, and if it was really fabric. I asked what he meant, and he said the black fabric looked like it was rubber or something! The background fabric is black sateen, and it does kind of look a bit artificial and almost rubbery because of the sheen, and it was especially pronounced the way the light in the room was affecting the quilt right then. It’s always interesting to hear what a non-quilter will say about textile art!
One of the reasons that this quilt is my favorite is that if I made it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. With so many of the projects I make, there are little things that I would change or improve upon if I had it to do over again, but not this one. When I look at it, I think it’s perfect just the way it is, and I was thinking the other day how I’d like to make something similar again, because it was so enjoyable and turned out so well. Other than that, burgundy and green has been my favorite color combination for longer than I can remember, and I don’t think that will ever change!
As I said, Paisley Pavane is my favorite quilt if I’m just thinking about the design. But I have another favorite quilt that is a bit shabbier looking, but it makes my heart sing.
It’s been slept with, dragged, carried, cuddled, snuggled, and well loved. I made this quilt for my oldest daughter when she was little from a pattern in The Cat’s Meow by Janet Kime. It’s a scrappy quilt, with each cat having a matching spool in the border.
The background fabric is a plain muslin, and I stitched in the ditch around the patchwork pieces. I took my first hand quilting stitches in this quilt to make the hearts between the pairs of cats, when I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t have the right needle or thread and I was trying to do it without a thimble!
These two quilts are what it’s all about: quilting for the joy of it, and for the joy it brings to those you love. Simple, yet heartwarming.
Thanks go to Amy @ Park City Girl for calling all quilters to participate in the First Annual Bloggers Quilt Festival! I can’t wait to visit with everyone and see all the quilts!
Go quilt! Your work gets better every day!
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April 17th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
The first quilt takes my breath away. What an amazing result!! I especially love the colourful stitching on the black “rubber”.
But the second quilt is the one that really touches my heart. I love a quilt that has so clearly been well used and loved.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Hi Andi! Some of the threads are Valdani variegated cottons, and I also used some Sulky rayon threads so there’s a little shimmer from those as well. Thanks for your lovely comments about my quilts!
April 17th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Stunning! The colors just pop off the black.
The second well loved quilt brings to mind the one I made my oldest son. It has been re-quilted and bound. I has a few patches and holes.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Thanks Gayla! No patches or holes in this quilt, but there probably would have been had I made it for her when she was younger. I think I finished it when she was between 3 and 4, so it got quite a bit of use even then. Isn’t it wonderful when something we make becomes so important to someone we love?
Thanks for visiting!
April 17th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
No wonder you love Paisley Pavanne, I’m in awe every time I see it!
April 17th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Thanks Emma! I’m so glad I have a good place to hang it now in this new house, too!
April 17th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Wow, that is a spectacular quilt. The paisley quilting designs are wonderful.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Hi Terri! To give credit where it’s due, most of the quilting designs came from Quilting Makes the Quilt by Lee Cleeland, a most excellent book and great quilting design reference. I can’t recommend this book enough! If I remember correctly, I just rearranged some of the paisley designs to flow around the plates evenly, and maybe resized a couple of the designs.
Thanks for your kind comments, Terri!
April 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Oh my! This is one of the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen! I love the quilting design, the color combination, and the design of this quilt. Just lovely.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Hi Q&B (interesting name!
) Thanks so much for your lovely compliments about Paisley Pavane. And thanks for visiting, too!
April 17th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
AMAZING!!!
love the cat quilt too - so sweet and obviously loved.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Thanks amylouwho! Oh yes, obviously loved–until it’s somewhat flat, a bit limp, but still wonderful and smelling of childhood and memories! (and dryer sheets!
)
April 17th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Those are both amazing…each in its own way! Thanks for sharing them with us!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Thanks for your compliments Natalie!
April 17th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Your favourite quilt is just wonderful. The way the design just works together. I wish I could see it close up to see the crystals and how you have attached them. Beautiful.
The second quilt is so charming. Clearly well-loved too.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Hi Mandy! The crystals are Swarovski hot-fix, so they’re actually attached with heat activated glue to the quilt. This quilt is really difficult to photograph well because there’s so much high contrast, and even the professional quilt photographer didn’t really do a stellar job of it for the book it was featured in. There are many more crystals on it than you can see in the main quilt photo, but I did just upload a new detail photo in this post that shows the crystals better.
Thanks for your kind comments, and for visiting, Mandy!
April 17th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Thank you for sharing both of these! I understand exactly why they are your favorites too- Amazing art!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Thank you, Amy, for visiting, and leaving such kind comments about my quilts. And a bigger THANK YOU to you for creating an opportunity for all of us to share our quilts with new quilters, and make new friends through blogging!
April 17th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
“if I made this quilt again, I wouldn’t change a thing” That says A LOT! No wonder it is a fave. The second fave is pretty sweet and special too!
Thanks for sharing…
April 17th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Thank you, Doris! Yes, that right there is what made me finally realize why I liked this quilt so much! And the Kitty Quilt is just love and sweetness in fabric and thread. Thanks for stopping by!
April 17th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
what a beautiful quilt. You did a great job. I’ve always wanted to try some crystals ina quilt but never am sure where to put them . I guess I should just do it.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
You should definitely just go for it with the crystals, Mary-Kay. They’re so fun, and add such luxe to a quilt. I wasn’t sure where to put them either the first time I used them, but you do learn as you go which colors look best on which colors of fabric, and where you can work them into the design of the fabrics and/or the quilting. And of course, nothing is cast in stone, because you can lay them out on the quilt and see how they look before you glue them permanently.
Fair warning though: once you start, it’s hard to stop, and you’ll want to crystallize everything! And beware of damaging your hands (think carpal tunnel syndrome or tenosynovitis) from over-using the muscles when applying crystals or doing any other task like this to excess. I did that, and I still have problems with my hands!
Thanks for your kind comments, Mary-Kay!
April 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Oh, I wish I could see these quilts in person!!! Both of them.
I made a quilt a few months ago for a friend and I used a lot of crystals, sequins, etc, on it. When you shake it open, it just SPARKLES. I loved that so now I want to make one for myself so that I have my own sparkly quilt, too.
I took pictures of mine and it is so hard to do a sparkly quilt justice with a photo. You just lose that whole dimension. I think your quilt should be on a wall in a museum. Thank you so much for posting pictures!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Hi Lisa! Come to Germany dear, and I’ll happily show them to you! Walking by a sparkly quilt every day can bring a smile, that’s for sure. That’s what got me hooked on crystals in the first place: I saw a quilt at the Houston show by Cheri Johnson, and it had over 7,000 (yes, that’s seven thousand) crystals on it! It was amazing, and I found her in her booth at the show and bought my crystals right then. (I’m pretty sure that it was “Bird of Paradise” that I saw; the show coordinators had to set it up so that the quilt was visible from the front and the back because many of the crystals were actually on the back of the quilt!)
But you’re absolutely right, these sparkly quilts are difficult to photograph for full effect. Well, actually, I really think you could say that about almost any quilt; even the best photographers don’t always capture the “best” of a quilt perfectly.
Thank you for your lovely comments Lisa, and for visiting!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I love that you chose a masterful work of art and a well-loved security blanket. I am absolutely in awe of your work. Thanks for sharing.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Thank you for your kind compliments, Janet!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I do love the design and quilting on your first quilt. Your second quilt has brought tears to my eyes. When I was pregnant with my first child (now 12) I made a twin sized quilt top of the same pattern, with bright floral cats and a black background. When my baby was born and had to stay in the hospital, I was so upset I put the top away and didn’t finish it. I never found that top again, never saw it, have no idea what happened to it.
I LOVE your quilts. I know your daughter treasures that quilt as well.
Thanks for sharing,
Dionne
April 18th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Hi Dionne! Thank you for your kind comments on my quilts. It’s too bad that your quilt top disappeared! You should make another one just like it–maybe for a wedding, or grandchild in the future?
Thanks for visiting!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
This quilt is simply breathtaking.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Thanks Bethany!
April 17th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I am speechless!
April 18th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Hi Zonnah! I think that’s a good reaction?!?
Thanks for stopping by!
April 17th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Absolutely incredible! My son still sleeps with the dinosaur quilt I made for him 12 years ago. He has grown so tall and asked for a new quilt. I asked him what fabric choice. He said “dinosaur”. He is a teen now
April 18th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Isn’t it great that he loved it so much, that he wants another just like it? Thanks for your compliment and for visiting!
April 17th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
That quilt belongs in a glass case with security! Incredible! You are quite and ARTIST! I also love your daughters quilt, it has what I like to call the look of love. Thanks for sharing.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Oh, you’re so sweet Melody! Thanks! You’re right, it’s the look of love on that kitty quilt. My daughter was just here in my studio, and repossessed it!
April 18th, 2009 at 2:24 am
I love both of your quilts.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Thanks Heather!
April 18th, 2009 at 2:48 am
That is the most stunning quilt I have ever seen. Truly a work of art.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Thanks so much Staci!