Monday, June 11, 2012

Evening Bloom, In Full Bloom!!

Can you believe it!  I can't believe it! 
Only 18 months in the making but here it is,  all done!


(see what I mean about swapping block 3 with block 9!)

Each time I blog about Evening Bloom I get a question or two that makes me think, "I should have included that information in my blog post!" So I'll try to include all the pertinent details in this post.  But I'm sure I'll forget something so don't hesitate to leave a comment or send an email with any questions.  For some real fun, select "Evening Bloom" from my Categories list on the right hand column of my blog and read all about it, start to finish.   Block number 5, the center block had some ugly looks in the beginning!  I'm so glad I documented that block's growth, it came a long way!  I guess I could say the same thing about the whole project . . . and me!

This is my first appliqué project.  The pieces were appliquéd by hand using needle turn appliqué.
All the fabric is by French General for Moda.  The background fabric is from the Lumier de Noel line, the majority of the appliqué pieces are from the Maison de Garance line, with a few Rounneries pieces thrown in.
Each of the nine flower blocks finish at 24 inches, the border and center fan blocks finish at 4 inches.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 89
It finishes at 80" X 80"
It has approximately 626 pieces.

The pattern is Evening Bloom and is from the book,


Country Inn by Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs.

This project was pure joy, start to finish. And even though it's not perfect, it's far from perfect really, I still love it, flaws and all.  I'm pretty picky when it comes to my piecing but for some reason I was pretty easy on myself when it came to appliquéing those blocks.  I guess after seven years of saying I would never do hand appliqué, I was just so amazed that I could do hand appliqué and even more amazed how relaxing and fun hand appliquéing turned out to be, that I couldn't help but love it.

If you've been avoiding trying appliqué you've not found the right pattern for you, one look at this pattern and I just knew I had to make it.  I think this will be the first of many for me.

I never would have made this project if a friend hadn't given me the book, a friend who was mortified that I didn't own any Blackbird design patterns, so thanks friend for getting me started.  It also took a patient and experienced appliqué teacher to teach me everything I needed to know to appliqué these blocks, thanks Marianne!

This quilt has the perfect name, Evening Bloom, I don't intend to change it since the majority of my time spent on those blocks was in the evening.   What in the world am I going to do with my evenings now?


37 comments:

  1. This is so very beautiful! You look like a seasoned pro with that appliqué. And of course your choice of and white is stunning! Yay you!

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  2. Thelma, you did a wonderful job. It is so beautiful and looks just like something you would make. Another winner.

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  3. Congratulations Thelma - it's beautiful and you did a wonderful job with the applique. I would never know this was a first applique project.

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  4. It's just beautiful! Maybe it's time to add a new hand work project to your evenings?

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  5. Thelma, bravo. It is stunning!

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  6. Congrats on a spectacular finish. I love to do applique much more than piecing and am amazed at how many people are afraid of it. It really is relaxing and much more forgiving than piecing. Glad to see you are a new convert. :-)

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  7. Thelma this is superb. I am speechless! I enjoyed seeing each block as you made it, but put all together it is breathtaking. Can't wait to see it quilted x

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  8. Congratulations on completing your first applique project! it looks beautiful! I prefer applique to piecing, as I have arthritis in my back and can't tolerate long hours at the sewing machine. Hope to see more applique from you!

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  9. Your quilt is just gorgeous! I am definitely going to put this pattern on my to-do list. Congratulations on mastering needle-turn!

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  10. What a beautiful quilt! You should be proud of yourself for such a stunning finish! Congratulations!

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  11. What will you do with your evenings? Start another one, of course! Your Evening Bloom is beautiful, and such an achievement.

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  12. Поздравляю! Очень красивое одеяло, стильная аппликация. Этой работой можно гордиться.

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  13. Stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, and oh so pretty.

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  14. It finished beautifully, Thelma.

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  15. I am so envious.. I love this quilt. This is definetly going on my to do list. Just have to order the book and get with it. Well first I have to finish 4 projects in process before I am going to "allow" myself to start another project. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  16. I've come back to your blog three times this morning just to look at your quilt again and again. It is just so awesome! I love it.

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  17. yea for you . it really is beautiful! I have been struggling with applique. I usually do heat and bond lite with a hand sewn blanket stitch. I have decided that this is the year to learn some new skills with applique. I just came from the piece o cake web site and they are showing needle turn using Pearle cotton. I am going to be working on an alphabet quilt for my granddaughter. little 6 inch blocks. I think i can... I think I can...! some day i would like to make a quilt from barb and alma's blackbird designs. i am going to check out your progress reports for each block of your quilt for encouragement! janita

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  18. I'm so excited that you finally finished it! Yay you! I love how it turned out! The French General fabric was perfect for this.

    Now I need to get cracking on mine. LOL! I promise, I will pick it up soon. I just need to work up the courage to start this on my own and try to remember the applique method I was taught in class (I've slept since then).

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  19. It's absolutely stunning! I am like you and never liked applique and now I love it! I am anxious to read the story of your quilt in the making. Can't wait to see what else you are cooking up......

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  20. You've done it again, Thelma -- another stunner!

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  21. It's absolutely gorgeous! Now I'm going to have to pull my stuff out of the bag and get started! You need to start another applique project so you have some handwork for the evenings.

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  22. Thelma...this quilt is GORGEOUS. You should be so proud of yourself. You did an excellent job. A truly magnificient work of art. Congratulations.

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  23. Maybe you'll start hand quilting...try it...you'll like it!!
    This is an amazing quilt Thelma! Congrats on finishing it!

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  24. That's a beautiful quilt. But then, all your quilts are spectacular. Thanks for sharing.
    cindy

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  25. Absoluately Beautiful!!!! Soooo well done!!!

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  26. Wow, that is a gorgeous quilt!!

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  27. Congratulations on another job well done ! Your quilt is just stunning !

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  28. just beautiful, and now I can't wait to see what you make next!
    do you keep all your quilts???
    where /how are you storing them?
    Kathie

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  29. It's fabulous. Congratulations on a wonderful finish!

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  30. It's absolutely gorgeous! Love it and the color combos/choices :)

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  31. Thelma, your accomplishments are stunning. Evening Bloom is simply gorgeous! I enjoy your blog so much! Kindest Regards, Jude

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  32. For a first applique project, you have done very, very well. I have been watching your progress on the quilt and it is good to see it done.

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  33. fantabulous! love that quilt! great job

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  34. It is just wonderfully fabulous!! Love the color choices and your layout. Are you ready for more hand appliqué?

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