Catherine Wheels

A quick post to show you the *probably* finished (and revised) quilt! Here is a full shot and a detail showing the switched blocks (note that I went with the original Libra in the small block) and the constellation stars in place. I think it is about as done as it gets. Label, secure the sun to the center and good to go! I have decided on Catherine Wheels for a name--a type of firework that spins like a pinwheel.
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Yikes!

You will not believe this. I woke up this morning having glued stars on all but one constellation in the border and looking forward to completing the four larger constellations, representing the zodiac signs of the family this quilt is going to. For no good reason, I rechecked their birthdates. Dec. 4, Sagittarius. May 1, Taurus. January 23, Aquarius. September 21, Virgo. WHAT? September 21??? How is it that I have Libra in that square? Frantically recheck lists of dates. Nope, September 21 is never Libra, always Virgo. Good Grief, now what? I had redrawn Libra because it was the only illustration I didn't feel worked in the larger squares and now--it doesn't even belong there! No sense crying. I thought about ripping out all the quilting stitches, but after 20 minutes spent ripping out Virgo's foot I realized that wasn't going to fly. So I cut out new blue squares, hand appliqued them over the finished blocks, then quilted Libra in the small block and Virgo in the large block where she belongs. 5:00 and I am caught up to where I was this morning. Well, it would have been the END if I had gifted it with such a major mix-up. "That's nice, but my daughter is a Virgo." You can see the mixed up squares if you click on the detail photo. I'll post a new photo once the blocks dry--had to spray water on the fabric because I don't think the quilt should go thru the washer with all the rhinestones glued on, but the new blocks look flat since they haven't been washed. Fingers crossed!

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Bound and washed!

That close! I got the binding and hanging sleeve done while away on a business trip last night. Tonight I put the quilt in the wash. Now to attach the central painted/appliqued Khorshid Khanoom and start madly glueing on stars. Just about a week before we leave--I'd really like it to be done in time. Today's pictures don't look much different from yesterday's--except hopefully better color, and imagine the hand sewing is done--big relief for me! I want to call this Cartwheels or Catherine Wheels but I can't find a Farsi translation for either. That's the connotation I want though--any ideas?

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Quitled Motifs

Seems I missed posting a shot of the zodiac motifs. Here is Sagittarius--I will be adding crystals in the constellation positions as a final touch. The quilting is done--I can't find anything more to quilt! Feathers filled in open space as did some echo quilting. While I mostly used matching thread for texture and background, allowing the motifs to take center stage, I did go back and quilt over the petals/flames in each corner of the motif blocks with gold thread to match the center. They were lost once the whole background got quilted in. Take a look at the binding--a small flange of hot pink will peek out of floral binding using the star fabric . I have to thank Heather for her unerring eye and good ideas. I haven't been happy with the color of most of the pictures of this quilt --in artificial lighting it has been photographing more gray than in life. Any ideas? Except take it outside since it is pouring rain?

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The quilting is coming along and making a difference. I have plans for feathers in some of the open spaces, but before I get to them, I keep finding fiddly bits to quilt, like around all the points, and within the kaleidoscope stars. Here are a few shots-you may be able to see the quilting better if you click on the photos.

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Lady Sun

I don't know that this quilt will get done in time to bring to DC in March, but at least I am back to making some progress. Having decided to quilt zodiac symbols around the sun, I went in search of a series that I liked. The ones I chose are from an old children's book. Here is a practice piece, trying out different threads and getting the hang of quilting the motifs. My process is to print the motif on tracing paper, glue the paper to the quilt sandwich with a spritz of spray glue, then free motion stitch over the lines. The worst part is getting all the bits of tracing paper out of the stitching. Here is a shot of the quilt center with Khorshid Khanoom in the center. She is very nearly done--painted and beaded. She will be the final addition to the quilt--along with a scatter of glittery crystals.


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Wedding Tree

What a difference a border makes! The tree quilt got a beautiful batik border of flying geese, chosen because geese mate for life, followed by a bright red border which brought great warmth to the piece. I spent the weekend quilting the center panel and am ready to pass it on to Linda to quilt the borders, then someone will add binding and a label, and voila! Ready to gift! Today's photos show the quilt with center quilting done, and a close up of some of the fill-in quilting--borrowed from Leah Day's 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs Thanks, Leah!

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