Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Make It Your Own

Recently I had the opportunity to machine quilt some amazing quilts. They were made by some very talented ladies. Let me share them with you.
Perhaps you are already familiar with the ever popular "Be Attitudes" quilt by Nancy Halvorsen of "Art to Heart" quilts. This is the 3rd one I've had the chance to machine quilt. Read about the last one here: 'A Quilt Comes Alive.' (I even got a nice email from Nancy Halvorsen herself! She got a kick out of my blog entry last fall.)

Well, let me share with you what another talented quilter did with this quilt. She made the "Be Attitudes" quilt, just as it was designed, pictured below:
Then she made a second one. And she made it her own! ...or rather, she followed her own pattern!

Following the basic layout of the quilt, she inserted photo transfers in the blocks. Following the lettering patterns, she appliqued other words. This darling quilt went to one of her daughters. Such a wonderful gift!
And here's another one. This beautiful "Hopeful Sampler" quilt, made by Sherri of the blog, A Quilting Life. (follow this blog! This girl quilts and quilts!) She did such a beautiful job of applique, embroidery, and piecing! I was amazed!
Throughout the original quilt as designed there are beautiful quotations related to "Hope." But look what Sherri did! She embroidered passages of Scripture. Here's one of my favorites:
And here's another favorite of mine:
As I machine quilted these two quilts I enjoyed seeing how these amazing talented ladies made the quilts their own. Sometimes in life we don't always follow the pattern. Cartoonist Al Capp said,
"Success is following the pattern of life one enjoys most."

13 comments:

Sherri said...

Thank you so much, Vivian!!! It looks amazing! I can't wait to send you more quilts!

Debra Dixon said...

Fun interpretations!

Martha said...

I love this pattern. I can't wait to make it myself. Your quilting is beautiful.

Shannon said...

It must be wonderful as a longarm quilter to have such beautiful canvases to work on.

Sherri said...

I had to leave another comment...I love the idea of using a quilt pattern and adapting it as in the example of the "Be Attitudes" quilt...I keep thinking of things I could do with some of my patterns! Thanks for the wonderful idea!

Gari in AL said...

You are so lucky to be able to quilt these quilts. And they are so lucky to have you to quilt them. Beautiful work by all.

C. C. said...

You do beautiful work! So nice! What a blessing you are to so many! I just had two quilts done because I can't push them through my machine and the light isn't so good in this house so I didn't want to hand-quilt them. I didn't do a custom pattern; I just picked one of the computer designs. But still, they are done and I am now free to make NEW quilts!

Have a nice day!

C. C.

Anonymous said...

Vivian.....as always your quilting really makes the quilts! They are truly beautiful.

jen duncan said...

WONDERFUL work. Now I must run back over and tell Sherri the same. :-)

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

The quilts were beautiful at the start, but you certainly enhanced them!

Simone de Klerk said...

How special it must be, to be allowed to quilt such beautiful quilts!

•stephanie• said...

the quilts are beautiful, but your quilting makes them amazing.
and congratulations on your son's mission call.

Martha said...

I bought the book today at Nimble Thimble in Tyler, Texas (we are on our way to Dallas). This amazing quilt store has most of Nancy Halvorsen's fabrics and an Art to Heart club. I have bought so many patterns after seeing them on your blog.