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Many winning show quilts have crystals on them :D:D:D

I think it is a great idea. You have a great sense of style, so go with your gut. When I was in Paducah at the Nat'l Quilt Museum, one of the most wonderful quilts on display had 40,000 swarovski crystals on it. Definitely not for snuggling, but it was breath taking.

The top prize winning quilt in Paducah several years ago had about 120,000 swarovski crystals sewn on the BACK of the quilt. They had it hanging in the Quilt Museum so that you could walk around it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikkiLu

The top prize winning quilt in Paducah several years ago had about 120,000 swarovski crystals sewn on the BACK of the quilt. They had it hanging in the Quilt Museum so that you could walk around it.

Oh NikkiLu! I am so glad you posted that! That is the one I was posting about....gosh, I got the number of crystals wrong! But wasn't it a wonderful quilt? Back was prettier than the front!

I vote to go with the bling

Not rhinestones! The hot fix Swarovski crystals are made for quilts. Just a few give lots of sparkle. The tiny ones are so fine you can't feel them on the quilt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

Not rhinestones! The hot fix Swarovski crystals are made for quilts. Just a few give lots of sparkle. The tiny ones are so fine you can't feel them on the quilt.

Oh man, you wouldn't believe how tiny the rhinestones are that I've used. #9, #16 and #20. I used the flat backs so you get the refraction but not the bulk!! The ones I used were actually Swarovski AB rhinestones. They come in crystal rhinestones too which are a little less expensive. I ordered all mine wholesale from a company in New York. They are totally different from the ones where you get a few in a little bag at HL. Little tiny bags would come in the mail and I would say no way is that all my order. It always was!!!!

No wonder that quilt is in a museum...that amount of rhinestones would be mega money!! Not to mentioned the labor involved!

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalartquilts

DO IT!

This will sound like an oxymoron. One of the most beautiful quilts I've seen was an embroidered Sunbonnet Sue embellished with crystals! the shiney thread with little sparkles on the dresses was breathtaking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachelcb80

So I've been thinking on this all afternoon and had pretty much decided that I wanted to add some sparkle to my current WIP. This quilt is for a show this fall. I've quilted, and quilted, and quilted on it but it seems like it needs a little something more still. I mentioned the rhinestones to my husband this evening and he didn't like the idea at all. (What do husbands know, right? :P ) He said, "Who wants scratchy rhinestones on a quilt?!" I told him this quilt was never going to be used and with all the quilting on it already it would be like snuggling with cardboard. He doesn't quite get the whole "quilts for looking at only" deal. He still didn't think rhinestones were a good idea.

So his reaction got me to second guessing my idea (grrr, he always does that), but I'm still thinking I might try it. How many of you have used rhinestones on a quilt? Were you fairly happy with the end product? Did the rhinestones just stick out like a sore thumb, or did they blend well and just add some sparkle?

I think it would depend on the quilt. On some quilts, they'd be just the thing to give it zing. On other quilts, they might look out of place.

I'd say lay the quilt out, place the rhinestones on top of it, then stand back and take a look. Take a photo of the rhinestones laying on top and see how that looks.

If you like it, then go for it!