I really like the vase. I would not like the teddy bear. I like civil war looks and this quilt looks great

It is wonderful! Leave it the way you have it. Any other ideas can be saved for another quilt.
GREAT JOB!

Oh I can't picture a teddy bear on that quilt at all! This is a much better interpretation....go with it, the center vase / flowers go well with the houses...(weeping willow idea is wonderful too) Teddy bear...no way.

really looking forward to seeing your completed quilt!

warm quilt hugs, sue

Pam,
It is fantastic. I wish I could make something so beautiful

I think it is lovely, BUT, I agree with k3n. I would like to see it with something more patriotic in the center like an eagle or flag. Maybe even a silhouette of a national monument or the capital building. Just a thought...

I personally like the old colonial loooking flowers. It does add a touch of round/curve to a very angular design. Gives balance, in my opinion. I like it very much.

That is the most beautiful patriotic quilt I've ever seen. Your choice of the flowers really makes it look great. Did you put all the elements together yourself or is it a pattern?

I do see the point of having something not so soft and contrasting but, I like the flowers the more I see it. The other motifs seem more masculine to me too. I am chomping at the bit to get the CDs I ordered and the different background fabric so I can get started on it.

Thank you. It is my own design using classic blocks. I like using classics put together in different ways.

i like the tree thing

The more I look at your design, the more I like the contrast of the softness of the center with the angles of the rest of the quilt :wink: And as always, I can't wait to see how it looks when you sew it together :lol: You'll have it done before I finish my black and white blocks for the exchange :P

What a beautiful quilt! I would not change a thing.

I love the flowers. When you consider the history of quilts in the US, I think the flowers are very appropriate.

I like the way this looks - very very nice job.......
If you aren't happy with it just sent it my way. BOL :lol: :lol:

The vase looks great in the middle! Compliments the whole quilt beautifully and looks like it belongs perfectly with the house blocks. I was impressed. Feel free to be very proud of such a beautiful piece.

I like the flowers in the centre. It looks great the way you have it now.

The flowers is a great choice.

I got the two CDs and these are the ones that I like the most. The problem is that I like ALL of them! Maybe a Baltimore Album quilt in red, white, and blue is in my future. :lol:

Pam, the tree looks great. And really fits the theme of the quilt. As much as I liked you vase of flowers. I also like the tree just as well.

i like the tree too! I also like the one middle right - are those 'turtle eagles' LOL!

They're Blue Doves... cross between a Blue Jay and a Turtle Dove. All the rage for winter weddings!

I was thinking Life (tree of life), Liberty, and if I put smiley faces in the center of one type of star it could be Happiness. :)

Life, Liberty, and This Quilt Makes Me Happy. :lol:

I got it... Life, Liberty, and Quilting Persuits.

It looks like a cherry tree to me - George washington & the cherry tree - keeps it historical/patriotic with your red/white/blue :D

pam i lke this one better ,the center block brings out the rest of blocks

My first thought was an eagle and a shield in the center. If you stay with the floral center, maybe picking up some flowers in the quilting would unify it more.

I think the vase with the flowers is perfect!!!
Don't change anything.

Sharon
[email protected] :)

Pam,
I really like your vase with the flowers, but if you were to choose from the others I like the last one.
Muriel

You did a great job the quilt is beautiful as is it.

Ann Marie

I went with the first vase. I have 4 more flowers and a couple of leaves to do. It's pretty big, 24" square, but that just makes it easier to work with. I'm not very experienced in applique.

Dang... it took 3 evenings to get all the vines and one flower done! At this rate it's going to take another week to finish it.

it looks great - i just love it!

you've been very productive.

Very nice. I've yet to try applique.

It's coming out awesome!!! What method are you using for the applique?

Stay with your gut! If you are not sure then it is probably not what you want. I like the "baltimore" look, but you will know when it is right for you. Beautiful job.

Pam, you are not experienced in applique? You could have fooled me! This is going to be absolutely stunning. :thumbup:

Is this needle turn, Pam? It's beautiful!

I'll post some closeups when I can, my camera battery was low so I had to charge it.

I'm using a method that Klue told me about. Though she said to use non-woven, sewn in interfacing, I used muslin because that's what I had.

I cut a piece of muslin about 6" x 12" and then drew the template shapes for all the leaves on it, leaving at least a half inch between them for the seam allowances. I then put it right sides together with the blue fabric and sewed on the drawn lines (no seam allowance) with water soluble thread. Cut them out with a 1/4" or less seam allowance, cut a slit in the muslin and turned them right side out. Pressed them VERY well with a dry iron. When I'm ready to applique a piece I press it again with steam, some pieces I had to use a shot of spray from the iron. The thread disappears, peal off the muslin, and left with a perfectly turned under and pressed seam. This is an absolutely terrific way to do it. Perfect edges, no needle turning, no hand basting.

I did take pictures while I was doing the shapes but I think they are still in the camera.

For the vines I used two different sizes of pressing bars. I love those too as there are no loose edges to deal with and keep turned under nicely while hand sewing.

I've never heard of doing it this way, but it makes perfect sense! Brilliant!!

I've used fusible interfacing for machine applique and trimmed it away to about a 1/4 inch, but there was always a bit of interfacing showing after turning. What a great idea to use water soluble thread. Can't wait to try this!!! :D

I have used this method using dryer sheets after they are used. Works great.
Eleanor burns uses the fusible web method in her applique books. Great quilt.

The pictures don't come out in the order you put them so... I trace the shape onto the muslin, right sides together with the applique fabric, then sew the outlined shape. Cut them out, slit the back, turn it right side out, and iron. When I used the steam/spray I then turn off the steam to make sure it's totally dry and I used one of the pressing bars to hold it down as I seperated it. Then just pin it on and sew it.

Continued...