Thursday, September 6, 2012

Dresses through the Generations...

Have I ever told anybody how much I love my job?!?! Being able to hear all the stories that go with all the quilts that my customers bring me is the best part of any day in the studio!
This quilt is a joint-effort between twin sisters as a gift for their mother's birthday. I had to keep it a secret--now that she has received the gift I couldn't wait to share it.
This heartfelt gift contains pieces of the mother's wedding dress, the twin's wedding dress--that they shared and also pieces of the first confirmation dresses from the twins and their daughters. Needless to say I was a bit hesitant to start--didn't want to make any mistakes that would have to be ripped out and then maybe leave needle holes in the satin type fabrics.
The only request was for crosses and "Just do your thing and make it pretty!!"
After doing some serious thinking and praying...the "Love" chapter of 1Corinthians 13 was put on my heart to be the perfect starting point for the quilting designs.
Parts of this verse are quilted in the 2 horizontal sashing strips and the other sashings are filled with an up/down continous heart. Love the shadows they give on that satin sashing fabrics.
Each unit in the 9patch was given a unique quilting treatment to try and highlight each particular dress. Some needed feathers, or ribbon meanders, or echoing, or straight lines...whatever seemed best at the moment...
At least 2 units in each 9patch received a special design--either a feathered heart or a circled cross.
The feather spine was stitched using the heart template with my Quiltazoid as was the circle around the cross. All the feathers were freehand--and loads of fun!!
A few more photos--because there can never be enough inspiration...


"True romantic love seems to open a lover's eyes to see the loved one the way God sees that person--as extraordinary, priceless, like no one else ever created, as unique with an eternal identity."
                                                                                                   ---Ed Wheat

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a beautiful thing you have created ... i have ofen wanted to do this as well , but i dont have the talent you have ... This is beautiful ! thank you for sharing it ...
Lynn

fiberobsession said...

Absolutely a beautiful piece of art. Very nice job.

Donna Hollingsworth said...

THat has to be the most awesome and heartfelt heirloom gift I have ever seen. Beautiful!!!!