Quilt: "The Way to a Friend's House is Never Long"

Early this morning, I was in the quilt closet, trying to choose something to show you. As you know, I'm not getting any quilting done these days, but really need to, so I thought a trip to the quilt closet would sort of spur me along into at least thinking about quiltmaking.

So, here's the quilt I decided to show you...one made for a quilt challenge at our quilt retreat...way back in 1991. It is 28 1/2 inches x 30 inches. The rules of the challenge were to use a floral print fabric 'somewhere,' to which you could add up to five other fabrics. I used the reverse side of the house roof to make the girl's hair. And, I used the reverse side of the 'wall' to make the one inch border and the inside of the arch.

The 'theme' fabric...that floral print required....is what the bushes up front are made of, along with the leaves, the dress, the hat, the basket, and the house.

My favorite part of the quilt is the shoes and the overskirt. I appliqued the legs and feet of one piece of pink fabric, then painted the shoes on. I needed to 'touch up' the shoes with a bit of paint....wouldn't you know I'd accidentally get a dot of black paint on the path! That is why there are embroidered flowers on the path....to cover up the black dot. Even after that, I still loved the shoes! The overskirt is a wide piece of lace which I sewed into the bodice of the dress, then appliqued the sides, leaving the hem free so you can see the dress beneath. It was fun.

The heart at the top has inked words and a leaf drawing. The leaves hanging on the vine are tiny and appliqued from the theme fabric....the vine itself done in embroidered chain stitch. I'm thinking if I did this piece over again today...it would look completely different. I know I would use more interesting fabrics....but, hey...it's what I knew to do then.

And, the way to a friend's house...never really seems long, does it....so from my house to yours, my friend, have a really nice Monday! take care, pat