I was talking to my sweetie the other day about the applique books that I just purchased on eBay and was showing him pics of the magnificent quilts done by the artists. I told him that it would take me years to complete a beautiful quilt like that and that it would be my masterpiece quilt. I will someday make my masterpiece......someday. :roll: Does anyone have a quilt that you consider to be your masterpiece quilt? How long did it take you to complete, or are you still in the process of completing it? Please share a pic of it, too. I would absolutely love to see your masterpiece! :wink:

'Don't have one yet, but I'm working o it!

not yet, and someone will have to tell me if it ever happens. So subjective, objective...you know what I mean ;-)

I do understand what you mean, but I think that when we see a true masterpiece, we know it. It's like looking at a forest of trees. All of the trees are beautiful in their own way, but there is always one tree that is the most beautiful and most perfect of them all. It is majestic and begs to be looked at and admired so you can take in every part of it. You look at it and cannot find the words to describe just how beautiful it is. You cannot seem to take your eyes away from it. It's the same with a piece of music. We listen to a lot of music, but one will come along, and we know that it has been composed by a master's hands. It touches us in a way that no other music can, and we feel it in our very souls.

I personally think of a masterpiece as being the quilt that when you are working on it and finally have it finished, there is something magical about it. It's a quilt that stands far above all others. It's a quilt that while you're working on it, you feel in every fiber of your being that you are accomplishing something far above and beyond any quilt you have ever made or will ever make again. You know it's a masterpiece when you see it. For me, I guess it would be an appliqued quilt with lovely birds hovering about hundreds of beautiful delicate flowers, and it would have vines with flowers gracefully flowing along in the borders. I so want to get started on it! :wink: I can almost feel it, and I haven't even designed it on paper (or on the computer) yet!!! It is in my mind and is as vivid to me as a photograph. Ahhhhhhh......someday.....someday.....my masterpiece will begin, and it will be the most beautiful quilt I will have ever made. :oops:

Describe it to us. What will it be? :wink:

I'm the same, I think the one your working on or just completed is the masterpiece, my last one is and I'm sure my next will be! :D

I think anyone's quilt is a master piece that, when given to someone, makes that someone almost cry with joy and hug it to him/herself. And uses it and loves it to death and doesn't stick it in a closet to "keep it good."

That is MY idea of a masterpiece.

I love all I've done but I want to make a masterpiece some day. I'm a semi-pro photographer and want to turn some of my favorite pictures into quilts.

Nope in my dreams maybe. I think I just do not have the time as there are too many quilts I need to get done still. LOL

Well, then you know your masterpiece. That's a good thing.

Nicely said, Debra K!

I have my personal masterpiece. It's a wholecloth that needed about 1000 hours of my life and 2000 meters of hand quilting thread to finish it - and I still love it. It's name is "Amber" and it's place is at a large wall in our house.
I love all my quilts but this one is special...

I haven't made a masterpiece quilt & after making quilt tops for 20yrs,know that ain't gonna happen.I'm still a learner & will always be.
You see....learning the various components of making quilts is what I love the most.Once the quilt is done, I have no more interest in it.
It's the learning I love & thankfully, every quilt I make teaches me something new.If that makes sense.

If that is the definition, then my avatar quilt is my masterpiece. It is my first large quilt, and the reason I learned how. It was made for my grandfather's 90th birthday, and everything in the design has some meaning, from the Ohio Star, the log cabin, the photos, etc. Even the chevron blocks, which are autograph blocks signed by more than 100 family & friends. I even quilted it myself. Even though it took longer to design (math!!!) than to make, it was magical from start to finish, and now I have an heirloom that has already been claimed by my niece when I am gone.

My masterpiece is still in my mind. I have a lovely vision of a hand pieced, hand quilted masterpiece with appliques of birds and flowers so lovely that it will make you cry, LOL!. Now, the appliques changes from time to time as I come across pictures, images, etc. that I think will be better than the last ones I envisioned, LOL! Its really more of a mixture of all the beautiful quilts I've seen, with elements of each contributing to it.

I have actually drew out several designs by hand and in EQ to try and start this quilt.

Will I ever actually do this masterpiece? I don't know. I hope so.

Gaigai, your quilt does look like a masterpiece! Its beautiful all by itself, but especially so with all the meaning that went into each block. Thats another type of masterpiece I'd like to do someday, too!

Thanks, Stef! I may make quilts that are technically more difficult/intricate, but this one, like I said has special meaning. Not to mention that I still have "math brain" (think encephalitis, LOL) from designing it!
:wink:

Here's a link: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-29501-1.htm

Gai...I just love your avatar quilt and I've always loved the story behind it.

I guess that my masterpiece (to date) is a quilt I designed when my DH was in the hopsital in 2008. I finally finished it..its called "Heartsong" http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-16909-1.htm

Patti, that was one of the first quilts I saw when I joined the QMB. I STILL drool over it! And I downloaded the photos of it so I could drool even more. It truly is a masterpiece!!!!!

I haven't made mine.....yet. I want to make a Baltimore Album quilt. Someday maybe.

This note is for 'BORN TO HAND QUILT'

I strive to become a hand quilter. You are the person that I would emulate as the BEST HAND QUILTER that I have ever seen.

Yes I will start on a Masterpiece quilt as soon as I have finished the seven quilts for this winter. All of them are started or should I say "in progress'. Two to be completed by Christmas.

I view your photos frequently.

Thank you for sharing.
Quilter68 (who is now 69)

I think a masterpiece quilt is any quilt that you make once you become fairly proficient that you think is beyond your capabilities. Just my definition.

I suspect that one can have several masterpieces in one's life as they evolve.

gaigai and sandpat: Your quilts are so-o-o-o absolutely stunning!! Thank you so much for sharing the pics of them with us again!! Both of your quilts have so much meaning behind them and that certainly adds even more (if that's possible!) to their marvelous beauty. They are sure to become special heirlooms for your families! :wink:

Quilter 68,
thank you so much. What you've said really makes me proud and very, very happy. It's wonderful to know that my work inspires and encourages others to go on with hand quilting or to start with that wonderful traditional craft. I'm very thankful for being able to do that.

Here is my recent one, still a top, but love how it turned out!

That is gorgeous!! Another masterpiece for sure!!!

I agree!!! It's so-o-o-o beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing a pics with us! :wink:

Here is a link to the book that inspired me, if you would like to check it out further! Lots of neat ideas & suggestions in there, then you can just do your own thing! I have some more planned along this line! It is such a fun quilt design to create!

Thanks for the compliments too!

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Block-L.../dp/1574329596

Your work really does inspire and it does encourage! I have not been on the Board for nearly as long as most, but I have seen several of your pics, and I have been in awe at your beautiful quilting! If you have posted your Amber, please provide the link so we can see it. If you have not posted a pic, please do. We would love to see her! :wink:

I enjoy hand quilting, but I don't do it often and will doubtfully ever reach your level of accomplishment. You board name certainly is the perfect one for you (Borntohandquilt). You have a gift that most of us will never have, and I would like to thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us.

Thanks for the compliments and then showing more masterpieces here...yes, that top is gorgous!!

Borntohandquilt...I agree with what has been said..you have a great talent. I think you are the best hand quilter that I've ever seen! I just wish I could do half as well.