I am wanting to make a wall hanging for my husband. He loves Harley Davidsons and motorcycles.

I'm thinking of a picture of a man and a woman on a bike, riding into the sunset.......More like a "painting"...

I've got a great image in my head, just getting it into fabric doesn't always work!

Has anyone done their own design like this?

I also use my Cricut Expression to cut my appliques, so that will make it a lot easier. ANY image I can get on my computer screen, the Cricut will cut it perfectly. I LOVE that thing!

I found a beautiful example, from a member here, her name is Connie,message board name- Athomesewing, BEAUTIFUL quilt!

This is somethng like I want to do, I've "attached" it, I'm not sure how to post pics...I hope this works....

Its a quilt with a scene of foxes...

Sorry I can't be of any help other then to recommend you PM her and ask for advice . Usually board members are wonderful about helping out :lol:

OOHHHHHH, I LOVE her fox quilt too!

I am always amazed by these quilts but have never attempted one.

just in case you want to go bigger and make a small quilt, there is a wonderful line of fabric with a large panel of a guy facing you astride his cycle...not HD...companion fabrics with all kinds of motorcycle icons on it.

I have some of those fabrics, part of my inspiration! LOL! But, I don't like the panel one with the guy for some reason. I can't really say why, I just don't.

I am eventually going to make a full size quilt/shams, etc of the Harley Davidson stuff. I just know if I do, he will want it on OUR bed, and I'm still waiting for some fabrics,etc. that I can live with and decorate the bedroom around.

I know that sounds selfish, but seriously, he would have everything in the room clashing, LOL! It's more of a oriental theme right now, and I'm not wanting to change all that soon. If I could find the right colors, patterns, etc.I wouldn't mind doing it, I just haven't yet. The wall hanging is for his "workshop/garage".

I could make him a decent sized "throw", though, for hanging out watching tv.

I rather like the idea of having the biker guy in my living room looking at me....but then I've been single for years, and don't get that too often. At least that guy I can but in the other room and close the door when I don't want company..or fold him up and put him in the closet.

LOL! Now THAT sounds like a great idea!

This is going to sound strange, but can you draw? I'm not really good at it soooo. :roll: If you are, draw out a small drawing and take it to say Staples and have it blown up to the size you want and then use that as a template.

Another thought! :shock: Have you seen a picture like you have in your head? If so, you can do the same thing. Blow it up in black & white and trace it out.

That is exactly what I did with this one. It is all plain fabrics, except the "wall paper" texture.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-46363-1.htm

Actually, all I would need to do is either, a. "draw" it on the computer, with a program such as Paint, or b. scan a regular drawing done by hand with pencil into the computer and my Cricut will cut either one. That alone is one of the best features of that machine. I'm working on that right now.

The designing is not so much my problem. Its the actual "doing" I guess you'd call it. Should I quilt in the ditch? Or a pattern? Should I hand applique or machine? Borders? Binding? Picking fabrics, etc. Regular questions I guess, LOL.

OMG!! What a quilt!!! WOW!

That is what I'm talking about! Ohhh...it makes me want to get started, LOL!

go to the Harley website, maybe they have an image you can use or google motorcycles.

I've made a couple of "art" quilt wall hangings and I used fusible. I drew on the paper side of the fusible (remember to draw backward as you will be putting this stuff on the back of the material, so if you don't draw it "mirror image", you end up with it backwards when you cut it out), iron it on the back of the material, cut it out, lay it on your foundation/background, remove the paper and iron it on. When I quilted it, I quilted all along the edges of the raw edge of the applique to make sure it stayed where I wanted it! I also quilted in features on the mountains, trees, water, sky, etc. just to add dimension to it.

If you made yourself a huge template, you could probably PP if you wanted to or with some of the detail on the bikes applique.

Once you find your picture, the picture will tell you what fabric to use.

Check out Sue Olsen-"Doggonequilts".com

going thru my books and found one called "Fabric Silhouettes" along the lines you are talking about. Tho you probably don't need a book, there is one out there, and she takes her silhouettes from photos first, the appliques them onto either a pieced or wholecloth background. Book is by Louise Handley and published by C&T Publishing.