JulieB

I found a pattern that my MIL and I both liked, and it called for white material with bright bouquets of flowers grouped together in it, with colored lattice pieces between them. After looking for at least an hour at our large fabric shop nearby, we found nothing with the required pattern; only flowers spread throughout or small groups of flowers. Finally in desperation, I found some Asian prints that were close to what we wanted. The only drawback; it was on black background. We decided to go for it, and so we came home with the exact opposite of what we went to get; white flowers on dark material with light materials for the lattice pieces. After we fussy cut the patches and my MIL sewed them together, my mom hand quilted around the lattice pieces. Then I took my Bernina and, using a 7-inch hoop to keep the quilt from bunching, I machine quilted around the flowers in each of the large sections. I used a shimmery white thread for the flowers and a silver and red mixture for the stamens. Then I made up two pillows to match. The pattern for the pillows made 24-inch pillows, and I had 18-inch forms, so I reduced the pattern, then had to create some interesting borders to make it fit the pillow. This quilt is headed for the benefit auction at the school my children attend this April, and I think it is rather pretty! I hope you enjoy it too.