There is nothing more satisfying than stitching a quilt to be gifted for someone special.
This quilt is from the pattern {Trees!} by Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts
and intended for my lovely friend, Rachel. You can find Rachel at Family Ever After
Rachel and I met through a mutual friend, although I knew who she was, I just hadn't formally met her. I was fortunate to be part of a small group of friends who got together every now and then to quilt and chat. For about 2 years now we all meet to work on quilts, blocks or individual projects.
Rachel will be leaving Ohio next summer and just the thought of it makes me so, so sad. I know she will love having her family closer to her mom and dad, so I can't be too sad. Family is a good thing!
As for the quilt....the color palette needed to be simple....I love red and white quilts. Red and White for Christmas. I used a variety of red prints. A Japanese dot, a gingham, apples, and a vintage large red and white check. Then I added a touch of grey...a text print called Dictionary by Tim Holtz. The grey binding and splashes of the same text in the blocks, is a nod to our OSU Buckeyes.
In the lower right hand border, I added a pieced heart...for Ohio! Ohio is shaped like a heart and our state slogan is Ohio, the heart of it all!
Here and there, I fussy cut a heart for the top of the tree from a Maze and Vale panel. A sweet little heart because Rachel and her family have touched my heart.
I added a great red check from the new collection by Molly Hatch...and the backing fabric is also a Molly Hatch fabric...
And, finally, I hand quilted this with a color I LOVE! Valdani size 8 perle cotton in Orangey Red. Stitched with love.
Of course, pieced using Aurifil cotton thread.
This is a small quilt...great for a wall hanging, over a chair or on a table. I can just imagine Rachel unpacking it every Christmas and remembering her group of friends in Ohio who will always love her dearly.
Love you, Rachel :)
One week to go!
happy thursday!
xo mary
