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!
April 18, 2009 at 2:54 am
An absolutely stunning quilt! The detail is amazing. How great that you get to enjoy it all the time
Love the little quilt you made your child, too. The first quilt I made was for my son and he used it for ten years until it literally fell apart in the wash when he was away at college. I never took a picture of that quilt. Silly me!
April 18, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Hi Kim! I have made quilts that I haven’t taken pictures of as well, and I always regret not having that pic. I try not to do that anymore! Thanks for your lovely comments about my quilts, and thanks for visiting!
April 18, 2009 at 5:20 am
Thank you so much for sharing these! Paisley Pavane is just gorgeous– so bold and lovely, and it has so much movement to it. It sings. And I love the little kitty quilt. It must feel so gratifying to know how much it is used and loved.
April 18, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Robin, thank you for coming to visit, and saying such wonderful things! I’m glad you liked the quilts. It is a wonderful feeling to know that my daughter still loves her quilt!
April 18, 2009 at 8:59 am
How large is the Paisley one? And how long do you think it took?? It’s just gorgeous!! I’ve seen the kitty one in person and it was love at first sight! So sweet.
April 19, 2009 at 8:54 am
Thanks Jennifer! I think I spent about 3-4 months on it, once I actually got started.
April 18, 2009 at 10:21 am
This is a lovely quilt – the paisley variegated quilting in the black background is stunning and I love the inset squares around the border. I’m not surprised this is your favourite.
April 19, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hi Kate! The squares in the border are one of my favorite parts too! (I have this thing about squares…
) Thanks for your kind comments!
April 18, 2009 at 1:22 pm
The Paisley is one amazing quilt and the colours are stunning !…..Luv AJ
April 19, 2009 at 8:57 am
Thanks AJ, and thanks for stopping by!
April 18, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Extremely creative, I am envious, fabulous colour and design
April 19, 2009 at 9:39 am
Thanks ozquilter!
April 18, 2009 at 2:14 pm
that is a such a wonderful quilt! so much detail. I also like the “shabby” quilt – what wonderful love it was given.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
April 25, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Hi Karen! (sorry it took so long to reply to you–your comment fell in to the spam trap!)
Thanks for your kind comments, and for visiting!
April 18, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Your Paisley Pavane is incredible. I am so amazed to look at the close up photos and see how the fabric colors and crystal play together. Wow.
Thank you also for the nice comments on my pinwheel star and noticing all of the fun I had making pillows for on my bed to go with the quilt.
April 19, 2009 at 9:41 am
Hi Mary! Thank you for your lovely comments about Paisley Pavane. It was great fun (well, mostly) choosing the crystal colors! I say “mostly” because when I made this quilt, there were fewer colors available, and it was sometimes difficult to get the effect I wanted with what there was at the time. Now there are a few more colors in the hot-fix collection. Thanks for visiting!
April 18, 2009 at 5:32 pm
This is one of the most wonderful quilts I have ever seen!! I can imagine just staring at it for hours!! You are very talented!!
April 19, 2009 at 9:43 am
Oh thank you Karen, for leaving such lovely compliments about my quilt!
April 18, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I can only imagine the hours that went into making such a masterpiece. This has got to be one of the most unusual quilts I have ever seen. Just Beautiful.
And I have to say, your other favorite quilt is rather charming. I tend to love older, shabbier, well loved things best!
April 19, 2009 at 9:51 am
Hi Coloradolady! Eh, I think the hours were worth it, and when you do what you love, the hours pass like minutes anyway. Thank you for your kind comments about my quilts!
April 18, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Wow
Your paisley quilt has taken my breath away.
I have never seen anything so complicatedly beautiful.
Wow
Thank you for sharing it with us!
April 19, 2009 at 9:58 am
Thank you Julie, for visiting and leaving such nice compliments!
April 18, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Paisley Pavane is beautiful! I love it! And the “well-loved” quilt is just as beautiful in it’s own way. I love the look of worn quilts.
April 19, 2009 at 10:09 am
Thanks for your lovely comments, Jennifer!
April 18, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Your paisley quilt is stunning, wish I could see it in person with all the crystals. The baby quilt, so sweet with all the memories.
You could well market a pattern for sale for your paisley, it’s a work of art.
April 19, 2009 at 10:11 am
Come to Germany Roslyn, and have a visit and see the quilts! Thanks for stopping by and leaving such nice comments.
April 19, 2009 at 12:41 am
This is stunning, Amazing. I can only imagine how long it took to put the crystals on.
April 19, 2009 at 10:13 am
Thanks Cindy! I applied the crystals 80 at a time and only that many per day, so I didn’t over-stress the muscles in my hands. You have to use tweezers to pick up each one and place it on the quilt, and that repetitive squeezing with the tweezers can (and has!) caused injury. Thanks for visiting!
April 19, 2009 at 1:28 am
Great to see both these quilts. Love the movement in the Paisley Pavane
April 19, 2009 at 10:14 am
Thanks quilt rat!
April 19, 2009 at 2:08 am
Just fabulous! I love them both! The stories are great! I can’t imagine even attempting anything like the paisly quilt!
April 19, 2009 at 10:15 am
Hi Kim! Imagine, and you can do. Thanks for stopping by!
April 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Wow, after looking at your favorite quilt it makes me wonder what I was thinking when I decided to join this quilt festival. The quilt is stunning. I enjoyed seeing your daughter’s quilt as well, so loved! Thanks for sharing..Kathy
April 19, 2009 at 10:19 am
No, no, Kathy, that’s not how it should be! Your butterfly quilt is fabulous; the quilting, metallic threads and embellishments are wonderful! I love it! I know that Greg and Vanessa surely must love it too. You should be proud!
April 19, 2009 at 5:03 am
Nadine,
Your quilt is absolutely stunning and the detail is exquisite. What alot of thread and bead detail. Your workmanship is impeccable too.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful piece of art.
Your daughter’s cat quilt is really special too- well loved quilts make me feel warm all over.
Regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
Anna
April 19, 2009 at 10:22 am
No, thank you, Anna, for visiting and leaving such lovely comments about my work! You’re right about the well-loved quilts. My daughter (now 17) was here in my studio last night before bed, and she went off with the quilt around her shoulders like a cape. We both went to bed warm and happy!
April 19, 2009 at 8:42 am
Your paisley quilt is wonderful! I can see why it would be your favorite, as well as the kitty quilt. Thanks for sharing!
April 19, 2009 at 10:23 am
Hi Pamela! Thank you so much for your kind comments!
April 19, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Wow, so stunning and detailed!
April 19, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Thanks Aunt Spicy!