I'm taking this opportunity to talk again about "Snowflake Medallion" a quilt I finished in June of this year. It's very special to me, for several reasons.
Photo by Craig Anderson Photography |
"Snowflake Medallion" is a pattern I purchased while in Australia, visiting our daughter who at the time lived in Sydney. I adore Sydney, and actually know it better than I know our capital city! If I ever win the lottery, this is where you'll find me... permanently.
In May of 2009, Dan and I flew from Sydney to Melbourne. We rented a car, and I'm the one who drove us around Victoria for seven days since left-side-of-the-road driving was more than he could handle. We stopped at several quilt shops, but mostly ogled the beauty of Australia's southern coast. It's simply astounding. Whenever I close my eyes to recollect a favorite view, I envision the beautiful day when we were blessed to see the "Twelve Apostles." Much like the overwhelming majesty of the US Grand Canyon, Australia's coastline is the most ruggedly beautiful scenery I've seen. (Doubtful Sound on the south island of New Zealand is another.)
We spent a night in Ballarat, Victoria. That's when I visited Ballarat Patchwork and met the young proprietor, Emma. Her shop is filled with modern fabrics and bright, fresh quilt designs that, at the time, were quite new to me. One of her quilts captured my attention: "Snowflake Medallion." It's the pattern I returned home with, determined to make.
Emma's "Snowflake Medallion" |
After completing the 78" X 78" quilt top, I pin-basted it, and let it languish for a year before I finally put my mind to quilting it. Quilting isn't my favorite thing to do. That's not because I can't do it, but because I always struggle with what to quilt. Designing quilt patterns isn't my forte. Still, I put my best efforts into Snowflake, at one point using a pizza pan as a template for the large, scalloped feather circle feature in the center of the quilt. Many hours were spent, sit-down free motion machine quilting to make this quilt as special as I could.
from the back |
Then, in October I was again honored to learn that Snowflake was accepted into the juried Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California. Snowflake didn't earn a ribbon, but I still consider it a supreme honor to have had it displayed alongside quilts created by extremely talented, celebrity quilters.
More importantly for me though was receiving, for the first time in my 30 years of quiltmaking, an honest and thorough judge's appraisal of my work. To be perfectly honest, I have room for quilting improvement. Still, my journey with this quilt - from Australia to Iowa to California and back to Iowa - has been one I wouldn't trade for any amount of kudos or prize money.
I think I told you before I much I love your Snowflake Medallion quilt but I just have to say it again ;)! Just love it. And I too love Sydney; we were very lucky to have been sent there by the company on our very first assignment and had the most wonderful time. Also our son was born there, which makes the place even more special.
ReplyDeleteYou have every reason to be so pleased with your Snowflake Medallion quilt, it is just lovely and your quilting is superb!
ReplyDeleteAs a Kiwi, I have to admit that we have not yet ventured over to Sydney yet, we must be some of the very few who have not made it yet. But....we have been to England, Hawaii, Alaska, New York and Niagara Falls. And travelled extensively around our own lovely country, New Zealand.
WOW!!
ReplyDeletegreat pattern, great colors
congratulations on your blue ribbon, and being exhibited
and the quilting is gorgeous too!!
Spectacular quilt, fun design, delightful quilting. And, great post too! You've inspired me to research to find this design, as I'd love to make this quilt. And, I'd also love to visit Sydney.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular FMQ work too!
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Oh-- I love it! Absolutely gorgeous... and the quilting...
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Thanks for sharing, :)
Greetings from Cyprus,
Valentina
So beautiful! I'm from Australia and know Sydney quite well. I have to admit I prefer Melbourne though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt, the quilting is exquisite!! I know all those places you've taken photos of. I grew up in Ballarat!! My grandparents lived near the 12 Apostles and until recently I worked a 5 minute walk from the Sydney Opera House!! How fun is that!!
ReplyDeleteGreat story behind your beautiful quilt. It looks as though it took a lot of time to make! Is it on your bed?
ReplyDeleteWonderful story behind the quilt! Just amazing piecing and the quilting is exquisite. Thank for sharing this delight with all of us.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a stunner, great work. Love the quilting.
ReplyDeleteCome see my entries: #29 miniature reproduction and #31 antique 1850 star quilt
I love this quilt....I think I told you before...
ReplyDeleteSydney is special to us too, family and wonderful memories there!
Next time come to Perth W.A. our beautiful vast north & the tree filled wine country down south.
I for one would be thrilled to meet you Linda!
Julia.
I think this quilt is gorgeous, made even more so by your spectacular quilting. The view of the back is like a whole cloth quilt.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed your visits to Australia, wish I'd known you when you were touring around Victoria.
Hope you win the lottery soon!
Great post, Linda! I enjoyed the Austraiian coast pictures as well. I hope to someday see this quilt up close and personal!
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing quilt, i love this:)
ReplyDeleteI know I've told you this before...but I just LOVE this quilt! In every aspect it is a gorgeous representation of quilting, color and design! Okay I'll stop gushing...
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful to see this beauty again!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice work thanks for the quilt for division.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is amazing! So beautiful! The fabrics are so pretty but the quilting is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you entered this one, Linda, it is one of my favorites this year. Your colors and quilt lines blend into one harmonious, beautiful quilt. Really, it is a jewel ~
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
I really love this quilt; your quilting and colour choices are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is wonderful and I enjoyed reading it's story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful journey/story and the quilt turned out gorgeous! :o) I am a new follower. Nice to *meet* you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - thanks for sharing your quilt and story!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing this again! It's amazing. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt with a lovely story to go with it. I love quilts that reminds me of places, of experiences and this one, with Australia, your home and Sydney tied into, is obviously a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI think the piecing, the stitching and the quilting are all just beautiful and congratulations on your honors!
Elizabeth E!
http://occasionalpiece.wordpress.com
I don't see how you could improve. From where I sit your work is stunning!
ReplyDeleteI always love seeing this quilt - you did a superb job, from start to finish! One day I'll definitely catch up and finish mine, though I can tell you right now my quilting won't be a patch on yours! Please keep buying those lottery tickets! Xx
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is beautiful and your quilting is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly an exquisite quilt. The colors are delightful and the quilting is absolutely amazing. You earned that blue ribbon!
ReplyDeleteJoyce
stunning quilt. i love the quilting and the design and the fabric and the story and really just everything about it! =)
ReplyDeleteI'm also jealous that you got to go to Sydney. I want to go there so badly. =)
What a gorgeous quilt in all ways. The medallion is superb as is the wuilting. Tha ks for sharing and have a grestvday
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is breathtaking! Love the pattern; love the colors; love the quilting. All I can say is "Wow"!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's truly a labour of love and it's so nice to hear stories behind the quilts. You macjine quilting is incredible!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely LOvely!! I really like this quilt. Hugs
ReplyDeleteIncredible. I am in awe of your quilting. It deserves all the prizes is has won so far.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt - thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteGoergous! I love the colors you chose and the quilting is amazing. It's no wonder it won a ribbon at the State Fair and was judged into the show in California.
ReplyDelete