“Hope Grows” Quilt

This is the quilt I made to give away awhile back. Click here for my current give away. Finally here are some pics and the quilt's special story… 

I wrote here about the loss of my son six months ago. I found out two months after losing him that I was pregnant again. In order not to give in to fear I have committed myself to creating like never before. God has calmed my heart as I have busied my hands making things and it has been very healing to see beautiful things made in the aftermath of such loss and brokenness. I sketched ideas for my very first quilt and a drawing of a single flower, rising out of a vase to reach out a window came naturally. Realizing that this was an image of the hope I was longing for I began to make this quilt. Pictured above is the front and below is the back.  

I ordered several fabrics for the quilt that ended up not being quite right so I was so excited when I found this Moda fabric that V and Co. was selling in her shop. My process was pretty simple. I sketched my design on big paper the size of the quilt. Then I traced over the flower and vase to make patterns for the appliques before I cut out the large shapes that I would make the quilt out of. I laid the paper and tracing paper patterns directly on the fabric and cut around them leaving a seam allowance. Then I pieced together the front and back of the quilt using basic sewing technique. 

Finally I appliqued the vase and flower on using fusible webbing and hand embroidery. I embroidered the stem and leaves on freehand. Fairy Mommy  then finished up by quilting the layers together and adding a cute binding made out of the scraps! 

Here are some detail shots of the quilt. And for all you who may be good at drawing and designing but feel that your sewing skills are sketchy – YOU CAN make a quilt! You can draw out a design, make your own pattern and use basic sewing techniques that are explained in a myriad of fabulous blogs… and then you can send your quilt out to be quilted and bound (I am thankful that I have a wonderful teammate in my mom) I know, I know, learning to quilt it probably isn't that scary either…. But for those of us with a phobia of math, measuring and matching corners, this may just be our niche – freehand quilt pictures?!

Since all quilters are artists, their work must be signed! Here's to you lovely bud blog and all the creations you have inspired in your young life.

and while I hope for healthy babies and many years to watch them grow, my hope and my faith is in God because there is more to life than this world… and I am thankful for His love and the gift He has given us to follow in His creative nature

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Check out all the lovely quilts over at the Blogger's Quilt Festival - and you have until May 28th to enter your own quilt! You can also check out the other link ups where I share my projects here.