Hello Friends!
It is a pretty day here at Piccolo Studio, the sun is shining, my daffodils are starting to grow and I have been working on one of my prettiest quilts of 2021. Like so many others out there my emotions are heavily tied to my environment so a clean house, hot coffee and blue skies is almost always a recipe for success and a creative burst.
This year I have made myself a goal to create out of my comfort zone and, as a direct result of that, I have chosen fabrics that have made me really have to think about my creative processes. It has been such a great exercise in finding my creative voice and pushing myself.
When I saw the range Adel in Autumn by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs I admit I nearly passed it by. It is very sweet and has the prettiest florals but not in any colours I usually work with. Something about the main panel really caught my creative eye though so I just had to order it in. There is a divine wide back print in the range I encourage you to get excited about as well however unfortunately it wasn’t in stock at the time I ordered.
I always knew I was going to give them vase a new home and background and had many grand ideas throughout the process including a scrappy low volume background however my fabric stash SERIOUSLY lacks low volume and neutral fabrics (no huge shock I am sure lol) and a state-wide lockdown through a further spanner in the works. It is a good thing though because it allowed me to really scale back my big plans and focus on what matters most – that delicious panel.
I settled on a sweet aqua coloured Swiss dot print as the background, backing and binding. This really modernised the design and kept the vase absolutely the hero. This was purchased online from my LQS along with a yard of fusible webbing (vleisofix). I ordered in the main floral print in white at the same time as the panel and inserted a border into the quilt to add extra detail. Goodness I am so happy with how it turned out!
Initially when I cut the vase out I was only going to iron it on to the top and then quilt over the top of it. However it quickly became apparent that I would need to stitch the image down as well to ensure it was secure and all these delicate stems didn’t lift and roll up. I used raw edge applique and stitched around the outside of the design. There will still be some lifting with use however I think that will create a wonderful 3D effect as time goes on without worry for the integrity of the actual make. Again a happy coincidence and great outcome.
Now I wont lie, I have never appliqued an image as large of this before so there were moments I regretted how well I cut it out but boy does it let the amazing details in the design really shine. It has hard to believe this wasn’t the original home.
To quilt I decided to echo a wavy design across the whole cloth. It has added a lovely texture and movement to the design.
So so pretty!
I kept my photos really simple as well. White background, neutral chair, lots of quilt detail popping as a result. I wanted to take her to a garden at one stage but this little lady really needed to have no noise around her and the minute I saw these photos I knew my work was done.
Offsetting the design really added to the overall look of the quilt. The vase and stems got to break out of their environment. It really was the exact look I had in my head the minute I saw the panel and I am so so glad that it pulled off as I wanted.
And now I am going to take a much needed opportunity to relax with my family, enjoy the rest of this Sunny Sunday and set myself up for a restorative and healing week. I hope you are all finding the time to do the same.
Sarah xx
We always knew I was going to sneak in one more picture!
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