Gerri sent me this Yellow brick road quilt.

It is a richly colored quilt....and I found myself really drawn to the border fabric. I love these colors and her piecing is FABULOUS!

SO my quilting design mimics the patterns in the border fabric.

I know some of you who appreciate my "mini" lessons...or want to pick my brain for ideas..or how I come up with an idea....

I have a had time looking at the overall quilt most of the time. I look at each element....then I look at it as a whole. That is why it is hard for me to do all over designs {sometimes} or pantographs ( I still have never used a pantograph) but with quilts like YBR or T20...I like the all-over designs best. That is just personal preference...not good or bad. Usually even when I do an allover type of design I always quilt borders differently...why? texture. I like different textures!

I am also a person that doesn't ever just want to think..."oh I will just spit out a design"...and be satisfied. I feel like someone went to a lot of work to pick those specific fabrics, they took the time to cut those fabrics..and sew them into a specifically chosen pattern. If they are trusting me to be a part of it I want to do the best I can to compliment "their" work. Now if they tell me how to quilt it..then I do what they say. In this case Gerri said I could quilt it how I wanted.

So that is my lesson..back to Gerri's quilt.....

That border fabric is GORGEOUS! and I wanted to outline the flowers and swirls in the border....in the squares I incorporated flowers and paisleys from the border fabric..I freehand quilt...so for those that want the technical side of things....
I just looked at the flowers and quilted them the best I could...or a version of ones in the border....the paisleys..I took out my chalk pencil and freehand drew them on the fabric first to make sure they didn't look wonky and then quilted them and filled them in freehand. :thumbup: I filled the rest on with swirls...because the border fabric had swirly type designs.

I used Hobbs polydown batting. I use this quite frequently because I like the look of it. I don't get bearding and no lint build up. :thumbup:

I quilted this on my INNOVA. It's a 26 inch long arm quilting machine.
Thanks for looking!

Both of you have done a superb job! :)

Oh gosh, her colors are fabulous and your quilting is amazing, C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D

Wow!! Beautiful quilt...and awesome quilting!

Beautiful quilting :D:D:D

Beautiful work...both of you!

Great job by both of you. Thanks for the "mini lesson". I am a newbe and finding the quilting designs hard to pick.

Stunning! I love the texture and the quilting is great. You can tell you put a lot into reading this quilt, great job!

Stunning

amazing...
luv the colors in the quilt top...

and the quilting itself goes great w/ the patterns in the fabrics...

its beautiful

Gorgeous!

I appreciate your attention to detail. Love the organic feel of it.

I don't know which I like more...the colors or the quilting!! both are just gorgeous!!

FANTASTIC!! Love the colors! :thumbup: to you too C!

Some of my favorite colors. Nice work on piecing and quilting.

YOU BLOW ME AWAY!!! So I'd like to "pick your brain" AGAIN :)
what is your choice of thread?? Thanks again for sharing

I have a file folder on my laptop with pictures of your quilting designs for reference. Hope you dont mind but you are the best. :)

LOL, I am so glad you posted, I was beginning to feel like I was the only quilting techno-geek, how did you DO THAT fan of Charismah.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I always love the idea of picking elements in the fabric to emphasize with quilting, however I had boxed myself in by only thinking of outlining the elements with quilting on the fabric itself. To replicate the designs in other areas of the quilt had not occurred to me. Thanks Charisma, you have helped be think outside that particular box. It looks great. BTW I really like that border fabric too!

Oh You ladies are the BEST!! :thumbup:

I am not so particular on thread ..I buy everything mostly because I like everything..that is the great thing about my machine....she will use anything.

But on this quilt I used a signature thread because it is thick and I felt this quilt could take it. I tend to use a 60wt (or a thin thread) thread on many quilts because it is less invasive to the quilter's hard work. Meaning that it is thin enough and I can lay alot down and it doesn't take over as much as the thicker threads. I still have the philosophy of pleasing the quilter and making her work shine rather than mine....some quilters don't mind and others do.

If it is my personal quilt....well you know..I am a long arm quilter and sometimes I like to cover my quilt with thread...so it all depends on what you are wanting to show through.

I hope that helps..LOL....kind of?

Well I am honored! LOL
Thank you! I don't mind at all!

Ohhhhh.....gorgeous....its amazing how sometimes a simple pattern looks stunning...her fabric choices are great and your quilting is the cherry on top.

I think this quilt is stunning and you are really progressing on your quilting. I have to say that this is one of my favorites. Your quilting just adds to this.
Thanks for the mini lesson.
Kirsten

Another winner!!!!

Another work of art.

Beautiful quilt - Gerri and as usualy beautiful quilting - Charisma. Both of you keep up the good work!

Oh Charisma. You did a magnificent job quilting my quilt. You took my very simple top and turned it into something stunning. I can't wait to get it. Thank you all for your compliments, but it is Chrisma, not I who deserves most of the credit.

Love it! Fantastic job!

GORGOUS!!! Again!!

Great work by both of you! Charisma you have been one busy quilter !

As always, a splendid job...love her piecing which is lovingly showcased by your quilting.

Oooo--love the quilting on this one!!!

Beautiful quilt, and amazing quiting, great job both ladies

I don't know how you do it Charisma. They are all so beautiful.

sassy granny

Love the colors in this quilt and another great job with the quilting.

It is a beautiful quilt. you do such an awesome job with the quilting

Wow another one?!!You're really crankin them out. Beautiful job as usual.

Beautiful quilt and quilting.

Beautiful quilt and awesome quilting.

Excellent! Lush! Vibrant! I can see you are always pushing yourself and growing. The fabrics and colors in this are so rich and you've done them justice. I can't wait to send you another top :)

Charisma, you are such an inspiration to me!! I just purchased a longarm and am absolutely terrified of it!! It gives me hope to see such artistry in what you do.... and the dream that someday I will be half the quilter that you are!!