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Applique, Applique hearts, Art, Art and craft creations, Art and design creations, Artist, Artistic moment, Arty, Beige and cream fabrics, Broderie anglaise fabric flowers, Capturing a couple's memories onto fabric, Cotton patchwork fabrics, Crafting with buttons, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Designer patchwork quilts, Embroidered Sharpei, Embroidered Shih tzu, Foundation piecing patchwork, Fun with fabric, Glastonbury, Great Hall Mains, Hand quilting, Handmade Patchwork and applique, Lap quilt, Matrimonial quilt gift, Memory quit, Original, Patchwork, Rome, Subtle coordinating colours, Trevi Fountain, Unique, Wedding gift
AND…HERE IT IS!!!! The GRAND unveiling of the commissioned designer handmade and hand quilted totally unique… Matrimonial/Memory patchwork large lap quilt made for two!!!
Having been granted permission to do a post from A Lady who commissioned me, I can now, after the Happy Event of their marriage, of Nathan and Kim that is, show their designed and handmade gift as well as Wishing them a Long and Happy Life Together! 🙂
I was very recently approached by A Lady, who had heard of me, by word of mouth (always the best recommendation I feel !!!) to see if I could create something extra special as a Wedding Gift for her Son and future Daughter-in-law, Something,which they could treasure as well as being totally unique and relate only to them ?!? WOW – A challenge and a half…My sleeves were already rolled up! 🙂
During our consultation session together, and having shown many examples of what My Lady thought she might like to have handmade for the excited couple, she finally did a ‘flip’ on her first thoughts, especially after seeing pictures of the two commissioned lap quilts I made for my friend Jackie, another WordPress Blogger with outstanding photography images, find Jackie at http://iamlostinthot.wordpress.com/about/
”LOSTINTHOT” Personalised Designer Handmade and Hand Quilted Custom Order 36” x 48” ART Lap Quit.
Commissioned Elephant Lap Quilt. Handmade and hand-quilted with custom design applique elephants hearts and flowers.
So My Lady finally opted for a large lap quilt – big enough for two! YAY! What an opportunity for another creative moment 🙂 !
After My Lady’s decision was made, we talked through what the requirements for the quilt panels would be……..Here is my brief;
*A fabric panel of the Trevi Fountain, Rome (The spot of the proposal)….Gosh, thought processes are in motion! Then, some simple embroidery naming the the venue and date of Engagement alongside…
*A fabric depiction of the Happy Couple enjoying Glastonbury 2014 in ‘Wellies’ and sun glasses!…A testy challenge!! Also, embroider venue and date…
*An embroidered depiction of their two ‘babies’ a Shih tzu and a Sharpei with their names too….OMG I was getting a little worried…..;-/!!!
* A small vine of 3D fabric flowers running around the Wedding venue panel, Oh! And a couple of random 3D padded hearts…
*A fabric constructed panel of the ‘Great Hall at Mains’ a slightly wonky wooden beamed Tudor barn which was to be the Wedding venue….Plus ”Mr & Mrs…and the date… ””””’fainted!!!!!!!!!!””””’
After picking myself up….and a few good deep breaths. I felt I could attack this challenge! I agreed it would be perfect as their totally unique Memory Quilt, all we had to do now was discuss a colour scheme ;-/…
to which, the conclusion was to be;
*Creams, whites (for the bride’s gown (no clues as to which the Bride would be wearing ,so let’s use both..)
*beige/ deeper creams (to match their living spaces and their décor)
*A pink flowery headband (as Kim wore at Glastonbury …Oh, and wellies and sunglasses too!)
*Grey (for the Groom and party’s suits)
now came the ultimate challenge……!
*was it, Pistachio, or mint, or jade green, or light sage, or… or…My Lady gave it so many descriptive terms ??? My lady wanted a colour match as close as possible to the ribbons on the invitations, which in turn matched the waistcoats of the Gentlemen party, to be the main accent colour in the quilt…
All nice choices! But, I was running on a very tight time scale, five weeks to a completion date and still awaiting a colour swatch before I could start, or, even buy any fabric… OMG… the perspiration was stating to bead as I awaited a colour sample, Could I get it done in the time frame? Would My Lady be happy ??? Now, I was really worried! Had I taken on, for the first time, something I thought was more than I could chew….. ;-/ ?
At last, I got to see the colour of ‘green’ which was to symbolise the waistcoats and be the accent of the whole quilt, as fast as I could I was off to the fabric store, all I needed to do now was to find ”that green” beige/creams and greys that would go together….only a small extra challenge then. 😉
I picked my fabrics VERY carefully and used a perfect piece of fabric for the hearts which just by chance and good luck, was a deep grey with just a flecks of brown and cream on it but which also went extremely well with the ”green”, I hope you agree, the overall colour effect is quite subtle and coordinated ?!? I set about designing, and came up with a simple eight panel design surrounded by border strips of different sizes, in order to bring all the fabric colours together. My Lady had a specific order to which the panel pictures should be on the quilt, though with a gentle suggestion I sent out my first draft for the design and her approval, meaning her original choice of wanting four large panels had been developed and divided up into eight . A picture panel and smaller appliquéd heart panel alongside to include all the requirements and requests which My Lady wanted on the quilt 🙂
My suggestion was approved!!!YAY!!! So, my cogs of creativity were set in motion…
All the fabric applique shapes are turned back double fabric pieces, thought the Great Hall has been foundation pieced starting in the centre and working outward, incorporating some of the beams into the foundation and appliquéing the larger final ones. The hearts, dogs and Trevi Fountain have simple embroidery done in a ‘sketch style’ with little stitches here and there, apart from the Glastonbury panel, which has pieces so tiny, so I used a type of double sided adhesive before hand stitching the applique pieces in place! A simple cream cotton backing and unbleached soft 100% cotton wadding was used to give a traditional feel. Once sandwiched together, I hand quilted the whole panel.I added the stem stitched vine around the Great Hall panel and made some Broderie anglaise fabric flowers attaching them with a coordinating button to the quilt Finally I added a binding of the same fabric as the inner panel borders and hand stitched it down.
What had I been worried about ?!? I still had two weeks until the deadline and it was finished 🙂 !!! But My Lady was still to see it…..
Having taken a couple of photos, just to show My Lady her commission was complete, I contacted her, with full intentions of taking more and clearer shots of the quilt hanging from the washing line. But, as it turned out the weather wasn’t allowing for this, after the glorious weather, it had decided to rain…a lot! Then, My Lady couldn’t contain herself, she didn’t want a preview over the internet she NEEDED to come and see it straight away !!!!!
My Lady arrived early the very next day! I presented my designer quilt for her inspection…and stopped breathing simultaneously….
Her face was a picture, she was totally ”thrilled to bits”’ 🙂 🙂 🙂 YAY! Then she told me, ‘…..it is so much nicer than anything I could have ever wished for! The colour combination Is perfect, (bear in mind, she hadn’t seen the fabrics I had chosen) I love the overall design….the quality is superb and in such a short time too…In fact I am speechless, it’s just wonderful…PERFECT!!!’ As well as all My Lady’s lovely comments, I did get quite a few hugs too 🙂 So I think she liked it 😉 I breathed a huge sigh of relief, It was simply the best feeling in the World, to know I had accomplished all My Lady’s thoughts and dreams onto a fabric panel and made her so, very happy too!!! 🙂 Just hope the Happy Couple like it now! A couple more pictures of the panels…
The Trevi Fountain
Lexi and Marley
Glastonbury 2014
The Great hall at Mains, Lancashire UK
3D fabric flower vine
Broderie anglaise fabric flowers attached with a coordinating button to the quilt panel and a stem stitched curly vine
Appliqué fabric heart
Appliqué heart
Appliqué Heart
Caren's Creative Canvas & Craft 
Oh Caren I know you described the quilt in our chats but I wasn’t even slightly prepared for this !!!!!!!! what a beautiful, amazing piece of work, I’m totally and utterly taken aback, the amount of work gone into the quilt staggers belief, I’m not surprised ‘Your Lady’ was pleased OMG you are a genius, I’m in awe of your ability. Many congratulations xx
Mrs. P. I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful comments, they have been a miracle tonic to my (wo)Man Flu. your words combined with sitting on my chaise ‘supping stout (;-/’ LOL!!!)! has made my horrid cold fade into the background…well….a bit! ;-/ Now I have done the ”Big reveal” I feel so much better, having others’ opinions helps reinforce my finished product. As you will know as a crafter, sitting designing and then making your own ideas for someone else, can be a little daunting (please be on the outlook at your next auction hunt for a crafter’s de-stressing manual) (also, I think my hair is starting to grow back…bonus! Soon I won’t have to wear my mop cap with attached tufts) LOL 🙂 It was a stressful but also a thoroughly enjoyable experience. But, best of all is knowing I have accomplished someone’s dreams into a reality! 🙂
All the comments are well and truly justified 😀 Now lets get down to the issue of your ailments….I have referred to my Household Manual, apparently there may have been 3 ways you can have caught your cold. Firstly you have been sat in a in a small gale or had a draft of air playing upon your loins, feet or other parts. Secondly, scant clothing …going out in ‘half dress’ with the shoulders /chest exposed.Thirdly lack of sleep, putting yourself about by late hours attending fashionable parties. The treatment is as follows
Solution of citrate of ammonia…..2 drachams
Water ……….1 ounce
Mix ……to be taken 3 or 4 times daily
I can see my book being a fabulous tomb of reference LOL
There is also a chapter on patchwork that I really must get around to reading 😀
Your household manual is sure to be a solution to many a Blogger in the future with its ground breaking cures and suggestions…My little one is dashing to the nearest apothecary as I write, for the recommended citrate of ammonia!
I can see I will have to rethink my attire, locations and social frivolities for my next day release…;-/ Obviously wearing a low-cut diamanté ball gown whilst speeding through the countryside after dark in an open top charabanc….just may have been the cause of my malady ?!? LOL 🙂
It has been recommended that I post a weekly etiquette update from my new Manual I think this might be a very wise move, how many of us are committing a mortal sin by not carrying ourselves correctly in polite society, a low cut gown indeed !!!!! I’ll delve into my book for more insights on modern practices LOL
T’wud seem my Nell Gwynn bodices are no longer the height of fashion ;-/, therefore I look forward to being enlightened I’m totally in favour of a weekly guide to make sure I have the poise and of course, the where-with-all of how to behave in modern day circles 🙂
There should be plenty to go at as My new Lifestyle Guide Manual covers many interesting chapters, I wonder what it has to say on our crafting mania LOL
I hope it covers a section on multitasking?!? Tips on keeping two treadle machines at full speed would be a great help to improve my daily production, especially as I am behind now due to (wo)Man flu!
I know what you mean, I have so many ideas scurrying around at the moment & my alter ego has me grovelling back to ‘The Workplace’ tomorrow 😦 I could do with an extra 4 hrs a day to fit everything in !!!! I wonder if I can forgo sleep ??
😦 Why is it that all our good ideas invade at such inopportune moments??? Having tried the lack of sleep in order to create, it”s definitely not something I would recommend…maybe the first hour is good, then a constant unpicking for the next three makes it counter productive. At least you will breathing new fun into your ‘Lovelies’ at The Workplace tomorrow! Boy, I bet they have missed you being around over the past few days! 🙂
At least I’m having ideas which is a bonus LOL it’s all coming back to me now about crafting when tired I remember frogging The 3 Bears Shawl time & time again ……not good…. I’ll have to get back into the regime of work / craft life balance :-0
I’m sure you’ll soon fall back in stride, looking forward to seeing more on what your new ideas materialise into !!! 🙂
Ta me duck I’ll try n’ do yer proud LOL
;-D
As you’ll see, I have come back again to add a little more, my first attempt at a reply was thwarted somewhat by a hacking attack of the crafter’s lung… :-@ – (wo)Man flu has developed into an even more horrid stage, each unavoidable uncontrollable coughing bout results in my eyeballs barely clinging to their optic nerves as they scan the room for a source of oxygen to keep my limp bag of bones body alive in readiness for the next surprise attack !!! ;-/
Though, I just couldn’t let this deter me from letting you know, just how much I appreciate your dialect comment, I can almost hear the echoes of you practising out loud before you finally typed it LOL 🙂
Oh no I hope it’s not the Bubonic plague you are trying to re enact in the corner of your little crafting den, I’ll have to delve into my Guide to see what remedies may be of benefit for your hacking cough, I’m sure there must be a DIY lung transplant tutorial in one of the chapters 😀
”’Chinese city sealed off after bubonic plague death”’ (in 2014)!!! OMG maybe you are right, I do remember seeing a large selection of discarded bird feathers on my day release outing trip- would they count as infected??? I certainly haven’t felt this poorly for a long time. I do hope your manual has a good solution, but how would I select a donor ????? do check if there is a chapter on selection!?! I wouldn’t like to whip a pair from someone only to find they are as useful as two brown paper bags……! ;-/
BTW, I hope The Workplace has been appreciative of your return, I bet your Lovely’s faces lit up when they saw you back again 🙂 ! little do they know how much crafting you could have done with all your new inspirations and guidance from the wonderful ‘modern’ manual – though I’m sure you too would be missing them too much to give everything over to crafting…hope your scales are balancing soon 🙂
Since my last comment, I managed, between coughing bouts to pop off the top of a Stout bottle,YAY! you know…I think I might have ‘lulled’ my cough to sleep for a while- what a relief…………OH NO! Maybe not…..@-/….perhaps two bottles will do the trick!!! LOL
It’s funny how you soon slip back into the old regime, one Lovely was years ahead of her time & did experimental embroidery, she is well into her 90’s and the tales she tells me when I mention fabric, cottons & yarn, she invited me to high tea to discuss sewing techniques. Go for the second swig from the stout bottle it can’t do any harm surely
She sounds like the perfect Little Dear to spend quality time with, I bet she has furnished you with a wealth of informative ideas as well as colourful stories from her youth, of course, in all matters of fabrics and yarns! 🙂 From many moons ago of being an employed worker, I always found returning after a break, was a bit like donning a pair of comfy slippers, which was as well as I always had piles to catch up on!. I might just indulge in a second swig, for medicinal purposes, of course…but, before I do, I wanted to congratulate you again here as well, on your new line of historical bunnies!!! Anyone reading this, with an inkling of bunny fascination should check out…
http://craftodyssey.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/trouble-at-mill/
So, So, Sooooooooo cute 🙂
Ok Now I’m going for another swig and to nurse my cough back to health :-D…Have a good weekend! x
Within hours of being back at ‘The Workplace’ everything falls back into place, and of course it’s great to catch up with my Lovely’s escapades, thank you so much for your kind words for ‘Mill Worker Rabbit’ my knitting will be sneaked in now and again till I have a few more days off, do you need me to reference hangover cures in my Tomb of Knowledge??
Oh to have the luxury of a hangover….LOL! Alas, between coughing fits, wheezing and making trumpet sounds like an elephant each time I blow my nose, I was unable to consume enough Stout to induce any kind of lasting effect….though its good to know your Tomb of Knowledge might have a cure for one in the future, and most kind of you to think of me too;-)
Seems to me a visit to the Shaman or a Witch Doctor in the next village may be imminent
Repetitive chanting and rattling of random objects could well be the only method of shifting this lurgy – I’ll see if I can get someone to wheel me there in the barrow !!! LOL
Is your bath chair out of action ?? I hope you begin to feel better soon your malaise appears to be rather debilitating. Your Betrothed must be near deafness with your hacking cough resounding around your homestead 😦
OOOOOOH the luxury of even owning a bath chair!!!! I wouldn’t even mind it being out of action…if I had one! Alas, my tin tub has no wheels or even sufficient concealment to hide my modesty from all n sundry if I was to be taken to the next village for Shaman intervention ;-/
After several sessions around an outside fire, wafting intricate smoke signals, not sure that didn’t make my ailment worse in fact, I think I have secured a home visit from a couple of mobile witch doctors pertaining to have in their possession a good selection of lungs for immediate transplantation…though I’m not sure what I think about the new fashion of Sea sponge composition !!!!! ;-/
As for the deafening echoes of my imitation of a barking seal around our homestead, I think I have regressed to childhood with this malaise 😦 , you may have no worries, for, Mr Dearest and my Loving Son, have both taken to stuffing hay….from my bed in the corner of the floor, I might add, to their ears!!! LOL
…..Oh to be better soon!!!!!!!!, I miss my crafting and creating, I seem to have a whole bunch of stuff bagged up waiting to be worked on, let alone the new projects that are swimming around waiting to be fished into reality.
The next time they suggest a day release into the open world, I’m going to make sure I am at the back of the queue AND tied to a wall in my padded cell!!!! LOL
My I bet your creative mind has been whirling with ideas what with your expedition to the Lakes, who would have dreamt that upon your return to the Workhouse you would be infected by all the smog free air!!!! do you think it may be wise to perhaps begin a small adventure into your crafting den where the cotton dust may reinstate it’s self back into your parched lungs. Top tip I’ve found the interior of my padded cell makes excellent stuffing for my rabbits,
Not only now have I a backlog of new mind munching ideas, I also have a large bagged selection of projects I was working on before my dearest daughter and her partner took us out on my day release!!! I must say fresh clean air isn’t to everyone’s benefit ;-/ I can foresee burning many a candle to catch up as soon as I am better! How wonderful you found a resourceful use for the lining of your cell walls…I hope you didn’t damage any fingernails getting through the protective barrier! LOL 🙂
Caren, it was amazing. I saw the finished article a couple of weeks ago and Cath was thrilled with it.
You are very talented.
Jo x
Sent from my iPad
Thank you so much Joanna for your lovely comment and also for recommending me to Cath :-)! I hope you are keeping well?! It was an amazing experience being able to create someone’s visions in fabric, though I must admit to having a few fraught moments of worrying if she would like it !!!, I know from Cath’s response she was totally thrilled when she saw it…YAY!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I do hope you all had a lovely day at the Wedding and everything went smoothly, but most of all that the Happy Couple had a brilliant Day! Look forward to seeing you in the future xx
WOW! What a beautiful quilt! You did an amazing job on it. I’m at a loss for words – it’s brilliant! And you are so very creative to have thought of it all. I know the recipients will cherish it for many years to come. Congratulations on a job beyond well done! 😀
Thank you so much Jackie for your wonderful comments, they really do mean so much to me.:-) 🙂 🙂
Once I get over this horrid cold I will be heading back to my creating corner ;-)…let’s hope that is sooner rather than later….
Take care – I hope you feel better soon!
Me too…:-( Not quite as horrid this morning. Thank you for your kind wishes though 🙂
This is absolutely stunning Caren! The Trevi Fountain had got to be my favourite bit. No wonder she was bowled over by it. X
Thank you so much for your lovely comments 🙂
You know, the tiniest details made me so happy when I added them, the few silver threads in the fountain to give a bit of sparkle and also the couple of white stitches in the eyes of the dogs too! 🙂
What a huge amount of work but very well worth it, it looks amazing!
Thank you so much Jennifer 🙂 I hope it gets well used in the years to come ! 🙂