This all started way back in January, when Amanda Herring, designer of this beautiful Desert Bloom fabric, was teaching at our local Cedar Retreat. Amanda and I have been long time friends in this amazing industry :) I was absolutely delighted when she asked if I could design a quilt for her upcoming line to hang in her booth at Market!!! In fact, I was so excited, I went home that evening and drafted up Desert Rose. It was one of those amazing designs that just wants to come together, and I could hardly wait for the fabric to arrive so I could make it up ;)
But of course, there was some waiting involved ;) But the fabric came, and my design became a reality. And here is Desert Rose hanging in Amanda's booth at Spring Market in Salt Lake ;) Ahh, i just smiled every time I walked past and saw how pretty it looked hanging there. Ya, and Amanda and I were having a little fun hiding behind the cool canyons :)
And because it is always great to share that we all still need to use our seam ripper sometimes . . . I have a little story for you today. So this was Market sewing. Meaning, you are working with a short deadline. And sometimes when I get going really fast, I tend to "miss" something. Sadly, I didn't realize my "miss" until I had gotten to this point (with all 9 blocks, because of course, I am chain stitching) that somehow I had managed to turn all of my Half Square Triangles in instead of out. Horror!!!
Grab the seam ripper, laugh and cry at the same time while your turn your rows into swiss cheese. I am happy to report that it didn't take as long as I thought it would to fix these :) Sometimes its a good reminder, that no many how many quilts you make, it's always good to take the extra two seconds and double check your design by laying it back out again. And yes, with that said, I am sure I will do this again in the future. I think it just goes along with the Market sewing experience ;)
But it was totally worth all of the unpicking (and a few of those tears) because I just love this finish!!! I am over the moon for all of those wonderful points matching up to make perfect little rose blossoms. And I have to say, the pink background was a bit of a stretch for me as white is my "comfort zone" of backgrounds, but it was Amanda's favorite print in the line and I am so glad we decided to use it as the background because I just love it!!! Always good to try something new and stretch ourselves ;)
When it came time to quilt Desert Rose I really had some fun and stretched myself again with some super custom quilting!!! In the center of the blooms I quilted tiny swirls and then in the petal part of the bloom I quilted tiny echoed paisleys. In the sashing and background of all of the blocks, I quilted tiny swirls, paisleys, curls, and pebbles. (lots of tiny :) I really wanted the piecing to stand out, so I decided not to quilt on the prints at all, but just to stitch in the ditch :) And combined with that tiny element going on in the background, it really makes the prints just pop. So fun!!!
And oh, so much lovely texture. I will admit, I might have run my hand across the top a time or two to feel all of that amazing texture ;) This is one of those quilting finishes that I am just so loving and also, a little blown away that I did it ;) You know how you just keep getting gradually better at something with more practice, but you don't really realize it because it is that gradual change. Well, when I finished this one I looked up and saw a quilt on the wall I did a while back. Ya, practice makes a difference ;) Gotta love a little perspective!
And I love that you can see the design popping out in the backing as well ;) It is just a double quilting bonus!!! And don't you just love this super fun grey swiss dot for the backing and that awesome strip print from Desert Bloom as the binding. It is those little fun parts of finishing that just make me smile every time ;)
And that is Desert Rose!!! I hope you love it just as much as I do :) And if you do, I am happy to announce that there is a Pattern in the works and it is Coming Soon!!!! And of course, like all of my patterns, there will be lots of size options :) I can't wait to release it!! Here's hoping the excitement will carry me through the actual finish writting it part :)
I want to say a huge thank you to Amanda for having me as part of this super fun Desert Bloom Blog Tour as well as part of her booth at Market!!!! Desert Bloom is now available in stores and trust me, you are going to want to sew with this :) It is absolutely beautiful fabric!!!
I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!
This is a beautiful quilt and the quilting is amazing! I love that picture of you and Amanda...too cute!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is gorgeous. So soft and serene. I love the subtleness of the design from a distance, but how the flowers pops up close with your great quilting. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love it. It has easy pieces put together in a delightful way. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteVery lovely!
ReplyDeleteEs precioso el diseƱo de este dulce quilt
ReplyDeleteBesos
I love your excitement about a beautiful finish. It tells me even very experienced quilters who have been doing this for a while still get a thrill over a great finish. In SPITE of the hiccups! :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Melissa. Such a pretty pattern! And oh, the seam ripping: the pain!! But what a beautiful finish!! Now I've got to go check out that fabric! :-) Have a wonderful weekend!! Hugs, H
ReplyDeleteI love the design. Look forward to seeing the pattern! lovely work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful quilt!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I think some of us are very familiar with such surgical procedures (did a major one just the other day due to scorched white kona and the print as well...) Anyway, I love the quilt and I love the Canyon.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very highly attractive quilt
Thanks for sharing --- and your mishap too. Hey, life is full of oops.
That is a great pattern. Love the quilting on it too.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt.
ReplyDeleteReally pretty. I would have cried having to get the seam ripper out at this point. x
ReplyDeleteLove love love! The colors are amazing - Marni
ReplyDeleteDesert Rose is beautiful and the color and fabrics are lovely. Your fabulous quilting though - that just knocks the socks right off me Melissa!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Love this material and your quilt!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Love this material and your quilt!
ReplyDelete