Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging at Piece and Plenty's 2005 Quilt Festival in Rolla, Mo.

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging

I get a lot of inspiration from my garden. I also enjoy visiting quilt shows to see what other artists are making. The bi-annual Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild show in my hometown is a delight and one that lets me see what friends do with their fabric stashes.

This was one of my favorite small wall hangings, Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging. Quilts make wonderful wall art and this little gem would be a focal point in any room.

The color, red, is a personal favorite. Some quilters tell me they are afraid of that bold color but I love it, it not only easily adds an accent to a quilt but becomes a beautiful stage for detailed applique work.

Love the descriptions with each of the quilts at the Piece and Plenty Quilt Guild 2015 show.

Picking the right fabric tones is an art form all on its own. I have seen too many beautifully-made quilts with poor fabric choices but this is not one of them. The red fabrics are just the right combination of reds, complimentary to each other without competing.

The marbled border fabric has some yellow, which is nicely reflected in the other red fabrics used in the center block.

In addition to the color, the applique birds and branches remind me of the trees surrounding my house. Also busy with feathered visitors, this handmade quilted wall hanging nicely captures the summer joy I hear in my garden.

The other major factor in this quilt is the quilting, beautiful details, you can see it in the cream white background close to the birds and branches.

Midnight Blooms Quilted Wall Hanging received special recognition for the beautiful work.

Others apparently thought this was a special work, too, it won 3rd Place in the Special Exhibit category.

Aren't those ribbons special? They were made out of felt and what a charming idea to make the top into a dahlia-looking flower. 

Nice job, Alyce and Lee!

Charlotte

Can You Guess How Many Hours to Make This Quilt?

This is a quilt my neighbor Diane had someone quilt for her, she did the piecing.

My neighbor Diane was very proud of her quilt and I can't blame her. The quilted wall hanging features curves and pointy end stars, two things that put fear in the heart of someone who is piecing a quilt. They can go so very wrong ever so quickly.

The corner of my neighbor Diane's finish quilt hanging at the entrance to her home.

Diane said the flying geese triangles gave her the most grief, probably from the curved design the triangles took throughout the quilt. 

Diane's quilt design features very detailed piecing work.

Besides the corners, the pointed design of the piecing work was very intricate. Here the center also showcases the lovely artistry of the local quilter. 

Any guesses of how many hours it took to make this quilt?

This is the center star of Diane's quilt and wall hanging.

Diane guestimated at least 240 hours, she lost track in some of the work. That's at least one month if you were working on this full-time.

As far as I'm concerned, it's priceless!

Charlotte