28 May, 2010

Bloggers Quilt Festival 2010



(sorry, don't know how to link the button!!)

I am thrilled to be a part of Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival this year.  I am not a very experienced quilter and I marvel at all the amazing quilts that are being showed in the festival.  Inspiring and amazing.
Even though I haven't made many quilts ~ well, I made them but haven't finished them ~ I have finished one and the quilt I am going to submit has been a big learning curve for me.

Meet my Matryoshka Quilt....





I chose this beautiful Rosalie Quinlan designed quilt as a way to beat the blues.  It was bright, fun and girly!! 

Unfortunately I sewed the blocks on three different machines and for some reason they were all different sizes.  I could have cried.  So I had to cut down the blocks, to make them all match, with some up to 1/2 an inch.  
It still looked okay though, luckily!

With the applique, I started doing it by hand but realised it would take me forever to get it done and I had a bit of a deadline because my local quilting shop asked if they could hang it in their shop for a while.  I had just bought myself a new machine so I could do machine applique (one of the three I sewed this on!) so I thought I would bite the bullet and do the other Babushkas on the machine.

I loved it!  I found the machine applique alot quicker but also I had taught myself a new skill.

So, after finishing I sent it off to the quilters - Val at Blue Gum Quilts in Murray Bridge.  I let her chose what to do and I certainly wasn't disappointed!  Absolutely beautiful.

It is still hanging in the shop - Kirkbride Quilting at Strathalbyn.  I have received many many comments about the quilt and I think it will be one that will stay with me close to my heart.



I hope you enjoyed seeing my quilt!  Please check out all the other quilts that are on show.  Truly special.  There is also a group in Flickr that is showing them all.  Just click and check them out.

cheers   :o)

15 comments:

2miracles/Tove said...

i love your quilt it is so orginial, I love that. The colors are so happy and the little dolls are adorable! thanks for sharing.

Mary-Kay said...

It's very cute!

Sarah Craig said...

Such wonderful bright colors on this quilt! I bet it works great at cheering you up!!

Lonci said...

This is a lovely quilt,congratulations:)

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

Very cute quilt. Good work!

Martine Kuciel said...

j'aime beaucoup la fraicheur de ce quilt ainsi que les poupées russes félicitations

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

I love your Matroyshka quilt! I love quilts and I love these little nesting dolls! And the fabrics that you chose are wonderful.
Ah! I have sooo many unfinished tops and parts of tops!

Blessings & Aloha!
(I am hopping over from the Quilt Festival...hope you get a chance to stop by :o) Also...as a novice quilter...I am taking this opportunity to ask quilter's what type of sewing machine do you use? )

Angie Padilla said...

Love the bright colors and theme. Thank you for sharing!

Little Island Quilting said...

This is gorgeous

Anorina @SameliasMum said...

Fantastic! I love the Russian dolls.

Chris said...

I love your quilt. Bright and cheerful.

Leslie said...

i love this...these little dolls are adorable.

quilary said...

Gorgeous quilt - I love the colours and the matryoshka dolls. You must be so proud to have it hanging in a shop for all to see.

AnnieO said...

Definitely brings a smile with the bright colors and dots, stripes, and florals. Lots of lessons learned in this quilt...every single one of my quilts has taught me something too! Thank you for sharing your quilt's story :)

Laurel H. said...

That quilt hangs on the wall of the quilt shop, and you get lots of comments, with great reason; it is beautiful.