Monday, April 1, 2019

Vibrant Celebration Finishing Touches

Some of my finishing details are utilitarian, such as my quilt label and the quilt sleeve I sewed into the binding. Others are more sentimental. 


This quilt is special; I sought to grace it with meaningful treasures — no longer tucked away, but serving as a reward and a reminder for those who look a little closer, who graze their fingertips over the supple, comforting surface of my beloved creation. 


The swan print cornerstone was embellished by trimming a dyed feather to size and machine stitching a tiny zig-zag over the spine. 



I inherited buttons from my grandmother, who always encouraged my quilting. She was a talented seamstress, but never made me feel lesser regardless of my inexperience. I remember the Bernina Record in the corner of her living room, and the one she gave my mother as a wedding present. 


Grandma was passionate and enthusiastic, always curious and observant — one to notice the most positive nuances of people and other beautiful things. 


I reflected on how her life impacted the woman I’ve become as I grasped each type of button, neatly bound together with a loop of thread. 


I carefully selected favorite buttons, from my collection and hers, that complimented themes within my chosen fabrics, replacing printed berries and bubbles with baubles. 


While embedded with memory, Vibrant Celebration is as much about cherishing the present and anticipating the future, as it is about reminiscing, much like Bernina 125th Anniversary. 


As I set tiny specks of sparkle in the form of hot fix crystals into my quilt, I contemplate my aspiration for my daughter, who has already claimed this quilt as her own, to show the same unabashed audacity to shine. 


I hope she sees how using my hands to create fulfills an unspoken longing in my soul, and she finds a way to creatively express her own talents as she grows into a vivacious, independent young lady.


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Vibrant Celebration Outtakes & Assembly

There’s a secret behind how I get my blocks to play well together. For every block included in the quilt, there’s one set aside. These poor outtakes from the Bernina 125th Anniversary Quilt Along didn’t make the cut. One suffered from printer rescaling. If only I had a fat quarter for every time my computer has played that cruel “How’d do you like me at 96%?” trick on me. Some blocks demanded too much attention, while others disappeared from view like my television remote in the hands of my one year old. 


The coloring sheet and my erasable colored pencils were indispensable.  My design wall proved invaluable, as I placed and replaced blocks until I was satisfied.



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Vibrant Celebration Quilting Preparation

When preparing my version of the Bernina 125th Anniversary Quilt, Jubilee, I experimented with motif options using transparent chopping mats placed upon the top and wet-erase overhead transparency marker. As the voice of regrettable experience, woe to any who touch this marker to the quilt top. 


I also used the Coloring Page and a sketchbook to test out my designs, because un-doing quilting is nowhere near as fun as doing it.


Next I spent some quality time with my Aurifil thread color card and my fabrics, choosing just the right hues  to match my included fabrics.



Then I set to work. You can read more about my process in my upcoming post.




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