She seeks wool and flax, and works willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13

Friday, May 21, 2010

Quilt Festival Fun




 
 

I discovered this wonderful quilt festival while reading my very creative and talented cousin's blog,  Dolly's Home. So I decided to join in the fun!  My entry is Birdwatching, which I made several years ago. It was based on a pattern in the spring 2000 Quiltmaker's All-time Favorites. I changed the colors of course, and made a lot of the birds look like the ones that visit my yard, like the goldfinch, robin, bluejay, and junco.

 
 This is my favorite quilt since I used  to be an avid birdwatcher, and I love all things having to do with nature and animals. It was also one of the first that I machine quilted. I did  part of it using meandering, the sashing with an ivy leaf pattern, and outline quilting for the birds.


 I made this around the same time I saw my first bald eagle,  and was so excited to find bald eagle fabric that I used on the back.      

I hope you enjoyed my entry. I am so inspired by all of the talented quilters who entered the festival and intend to visit each and every one as time allows.       

48 comments:

  1. Pretty Birds! I love what you can do with a HST. Have fun at the festival! It's a blast!

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  2. Lauren, thanks! I am enjoying the festival, so many creative folks.

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  3. This is so pretty, Janet........I think I made one of these blocks once to add to my flower quilt-top....I'll have to look up that top and see.

    I adore the backing fabric that you found. Lots of people in our Church have been spotting bald eagles around here.....hope I see one.......of course, I already SOAR on eagles' wings ! Praise the LORD !

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  4. I've never seen this pattern before. Such a happy quilt. Absolutely gorgeous! I can see why this quilt is one of your favorites. :-)

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  5. Dolly, I have only seen one pair of bald eagles, they are rare around here. It's nice that you have them around your area!

    Michelle, thanks, it's an oldie but goodie ;-)

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  6. Oooh, those are wonderful! I love the birds, and the color choices.

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  7. Holy Chirpies! I LOVE this quilt! Especially the way it is set 'on-point'. Awesome! Sew On!

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  8. Jen, thanks for your kind words.

    Shannon, thanks, I liked the fact that it was set on point too:)

    Michelle, thanks.

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  9. I love this quilt for lots of reasons! I'm a birdwatcher too and it makes me happy just looking at all those little pretty birdies! And then there's the quilt, which is stunning. It looks like a lot of work and you did a great job!

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  10. Melanie, thankyou so much for your sweet comment! It's nice to find another birdwatcher:)

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  11. Beautiful birds! My mom is an avid birdwatcher. We have Juncos in our yard here. Great exhibit in the festival!

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  12. Riel, thanks, that's great that your mom is a birdwatcher also:) I love the juncos, we only get them when it snows!

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  13. amazing birds! That's great that you made them to look like birds that visit your yard.

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  14. Great quilt. Those birds are so unique. We have a pheasant that visits across our back fence. We've named him Ralph. Bird watching is so fun and it's great to catch a love of something in your quilts. Oh, and I love that quilt in your header!

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  15. that is so pretty! I love birds, living in the woods as we do.

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  16. Dawn, thanks, yes I like looking at them when the real birds aren't around:)

    Pat, I love that you named the pheasant;) The quilt in my header will not be done for a long time, since I am hand quilting it and I'm not fast!

    Musicmaker, thanks, you are lucky living in the woods!

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  17. Great quilt! I love all the different birds you represented!

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  18. What a wonderful quilt!!!!!!!

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  19. wow! this is beautiful janet! i am impressed by the intricacy of all of the birds.

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  20. Very nice quilt. lots of work. Congratulations

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  21. Hey - i have had these patterns for years. I've seen a completed quilt with them - hooray -

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  22. Alexis, thanks, I tried to do a number of the birds that come to my yard.

    Allie, thanks!

    Nichole, thankyou, you are very kind.

    Marie, thanks alot.

    Barb, it's funny how many patterns we manage to collect, and yet never see some of them as completed quilts. It's always fun to see one finished.

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  23. original, superbe ouvrage,félicitations

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  24. Your quilt is fantastic love it.

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  25. i am a big fan of Dolly's blog!!! this quilt is gorgeous. we have lots of birds in our yard and we are all self professed bird nerds! my daughter would especially love this. it is beautiful, you did a great job

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  26. Love this! Reminds me of my Gram, who loved all the birds who visited her yard. My parents now have a small extra Christmas tree just covered with bird ornaments in her memory...with lots of the same birds. Thanks for the smile!

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  27. Very nice to see you bird quilt. I have been working on a bird quilt for a friend's mom. It's taken me ages, though I am making progress. Yours will help inspire me to get back to it. Thanks.

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  28. You made a beautiful bird quilt. Great work - so many pieces! I love backyard birds too.

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  29. Lovely, did you paper piece? I saw so many bald eagles in Alaska & had to buy the fabric too,LOL.

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  30. O wow but that is a great quilt!

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  31. Pretty way to showcase all the birds - great quilt!

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  32. Thankyou all for the kind comments!

    Roslyn, not I did not paper piece this, I used templates. I have only done paper piecing for a small pillow, I would not have the patience to do it for a whole quilt. It must have been exciting to see so many eagles!

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  33. Wow! I love the way you tweaked the birds to ones you see in your garden. Very special!

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  34. so pretty! I love the cardinals and jays... I see them around here fairly often. :)

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  35. What a fun quilt to make and you found the perfect backing fabric for it!

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  36. what a cheery fun quilt. It is always interesting to see how people personalize commerical patterns.
    Come see my antique quilt entries
    http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
    http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com

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  37. I love your bird quilt! I am a back yard bird watcher!

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  38. What a beautiful quilt!! My mother would love this - they are avid bird watchers.

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  39. Thanks for the kind comments! It's nice to find so many others are also birdwatchers:)

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  40. I can't believe that's pieced! How beautiful!

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  41. following patterns is for the birds !)
    love the quilt.
    thanks for stopping by.

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  42. very nice and wonderful you could personalize it. we live among hundreds of acres of fruit trees and have alot of evergreens in our yard so get lots of birds. my favorite is a bullock's oriole that showed up a couple years ago and is so beautiful but not around too much or for long. thanks for sharing

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  43. wow, that's a lot of gorgeous piecing...I love he individual character and personality each wee bird has, and even better that you have included the types who visit you!

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