Friday, February 13, 2009

A Valentine Quilt






Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful, warm, safe, happy day!! For this post, I decided to show you a quilt I made for a Valentine Challenge 'way back in 1997. Since it's been in the quilt closet for years, it still looks pretty good. The color is somewhat deeper than is showing in these photos, so it hasn't faded over time. I love this little quilt. It is fifteen inches x fifteen inches. With lots of hearts.

The center is a "crazy-pieced" heart in a four inch square. I used someone's pattern for that heart, but I sure don't remember whose. It was a pattern for a paper-pieced heart. I HATE paper piecing! But, I did it anyway. I do like the result. Then, of course, I went "crazy" with the rest of the piecing....and the embroidery. Some of the hearts are done with metallic thread. Another thing I just don't like to do, but thought I should this once. There are some appliqued hearts. I love the two entwined ones on the lower left. I also got the bright idea of dangling two hearts from that large heart on the right. Now that tickled my fancy! I really enjoyed doing that part!

As always on my crazy quilts, there is only the rare solid color fabric. So, the crazy quilt block is all prints, but some of the appliqued hearts are solid colors. And, of course, my beloved DMC floss is always showing up in my embroidery. I used simple embroidery stitches to embellish this little quilt, and once again, they have not let me down. Love those simple, simple stitches.

Around the border is a scalloped gold design. I had this little quilt completely finished when I decided it needed "something" else. But what? I happened to have a bottle of gold puff paint that I had never used. So, I proceeded to paint the scallops freehand onto the quilt. I probably shouldn't have, but it was FUN and here all these years later, it still looks like it was just painted on today. Not such a disaster (but it could have been a small one!)

In the center square, I wrote the date, 1997, Happy Valentine's Day and To My Friends! Along the borders I decided to use some quotes pertaining to friends. I thought it added a special touch to a Valentine's quilt made to show my friends, so why not. Friends are very special. Here's what they say:

"If you want an accounting of your worth, count your friends." Merry Browne

"When friends meet...Hearts warm" A proverb

"No life is so strong, so complete, But it yearns for the smile of a friend." Wallace Bruce

and one of my favorites:

"The greatest gift we can give to one another is rapt attention to one another's existence." Sue Atchley Ebaugh

So, consider this my wish to you on Valentines Day.......with all your "hearts" around you, have a HAPPY one!!! Pat

12 comments:

Robin said...

What a wonderful idea to post a beautiful quilt that's FULL of heart and hearts for Valentine's day!!! Do you mind if I copy your idea? I hope not, because I think I must. You are a brave soul to have use puff paint that was previously untried on a finished quilt... not to mention hand writing quotes, which I assume also were written after the quilt was assembled??? Thank you for sharing the quotes... as soon as I saw the pictures, I wished I could read what it said. My fave is SAE's quote... what a good thing to remember! Valentine's hugs, Robin A.

Caron at Michigan Quilts said...

Wow! A lot of pretty stitching on that quilt. I had to enlarge it to see the writing you did... I wanted to see if it was stitched or inked. Simply stunning!

Elenka said...

The detail is amazing! I like the interlocking hearts.

BrenWall61@gmail.com said...

Happy Valentines Day to you my friend. Thank you for the quilt you made for your friends who are many. Your work as always is wonderful and I see you have inspired Robin. What fun!!!

BrenWall61@gmail.com said...

P.S.
BLUE??!!!
How different is that?

Pat said...

Brenda, my friend, I will bring this quilt to our meeting on Thursday. You will see that although the quilt here looks like it has a lot of light blue in it...it actually is a much deeper blue, purple, red an gold. You'll see. Thank you and everyone for the nice comments!! Have a happy day. pat

Gayle said...

I love the two hearts that are intertwined then embroidered. The last quote was especially beautiful.

Unknown said...

What a lovely quilt! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

What a beautiful quilt, so pretty with all the hearts. What a great idea.
The quotes is such a nice suprise!
Take care!
Hugs Bodil.

Gaby Bee said...

Wow, what a gorgeous quilt, Pat. A lot of beautiful stitching! I love all the wonderful details in your work, I could stare at it for hours. Everything you create is unique and beautiful.
Best to you,
Gaby

Tina Marie the Willow Witch said...

More wonderful ideas and inspiration! How will I keep them all straight until I have the perfect place to bring them to life??? Do you ever have this problem? Glad to be back for a visit, I hope you are well and happy at the nest, today!

Jackie said...

Such lovely warm colours and delicious texture.

A Bit of Heaven

A Bit of Heaven
An original designed wall quilt with my vision of heaven on earth.