Saturday, July 15, 2006

Take the Leap with Tonya!

Thank you so much to Tonya for taking one of my comments to heart, and taking me (and anyone who wishes to join in) under her wing. I just adore Tonya's free form quilts, and I have wanted for the longest time to attempt one but as I commented, 'I'm scared to take the leap'. I'm like so many other quilters out there, who've been taught that it's a bad thing when lines aren't perfectly parallell and your points don't meet or get chopped off. It just looks so free and fun to me, but because of my points police training, I didn't know where to begin!

Tonya has offered to guide us through the process of making a baby quilt which is to be donated to the charity of our choice. I'm so in, and so excited! Isn't this cyberspace thing wonderful, it's not that long ago that I wouldn't have dreamed this kind of fun was possible!

Now for a little 'eye candy'. This quilt is called Amy's daisies, because most of the top was made last year by my daughter. She's 11 now, so she must have been 10 when she made it up. One school holidays we were looking for a project to keep her busy, so we went to a couple of quilt stores and selected some fabrics. The pinks and purples are her favourite colours. She's made a nine patch quilt before, so they're not hard at all, but this was the first time she'd played with fusible applique. She even did a great effort with the machined blanket stitch! Because of her efforts, Amy has been made a junior member of my local quilt group!

After the school holidays were finished, I offered to quilt the top for her, as she's a little nervous about doing that herself. I free-motioned the peacock feather design, and then gave the flowers some dimension with some lines to look like stamens and creases in the petals. After it was finished, I thought it would be fun to do a little beading around the centres of the flowers. Amy used to do ballet quite seriously, and as a result of that I've accumulated a million sequins and beads, so hey, why not use them up!

These school holidays Amy has a project she'd like to work on, it's an underwater scene made up with fusible applique. It's not huge, but it has coral and clown fish that look like Nemo. She's going to bring it to quilt group next week. I'm really looking forward to it!

15 comments:

quiltpixie said...

someone to inherit your stash eventually -- it'd be a crime to deplete it too far then right ???

Joyce said...

I think fusing is a great way for kids to experiment with shapes and colors. I want to try it with my grandchildren this summer.

ForestJane said...

Wow, what an impressive quilt top for Amy! We have a few kids in our guild too, and they do some cute stuff.

Hanne said...

What a cute quilt your DD has made. Do you quilt on a domestic or longarm machine ?

Cathi said...

That is great that your daughter is quilting. My girls are 2 and 3 and both love to watch me quilt! So hopefully two future quilters, right?

Jump in with the freeform letters. What I did to start off was pillows with the girls names...very fast and much loved...can use up stash for pillow border and backing as well.

I wish I could be precise, your quilts are all lovely! My Dear Jane is my most precise one because I hand pieced it using freezer paper templates. Will you come to Ireland and teach me how to do a perfect quarter inch, LOL, no points lopped off? blocks that are perfectly sized? non-ripply borders? it can be Ask Tazzie on the Emerald Isle?? :-P

Tonya Ricucci said...

Tazzie, I'm so glad you're going to come play. Your daughter did an amazing job - it's so great you two can quilt together.

Melanie said...

Cute quilt! I always say, we have to teach these young ones in order to pass a long the traditions. Did you machine quilt on a regular machine or a long arm?

Thanks for the pep talk, Things are always worse at night, in the morning--it is always better.
Melanie

Gail said...

Way to go Amy! What a nice quilt. Tazzie, isn't it nice to have your daughter share your interest in quilting.

Silverthimble said...

Your daughter is a fine quilter.

Linda C said...

I think Amy has had an excellent teacher. Does she have her own stash too? Then we would know she is officially part of the sisterhood!

Will have to truck over to see what Tonya is up to. Though free form is totally not what I am about, it might be fun.

Patti said...

Amy did such a wonderful job! Definitely a quilter of the future!

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

It looks just great! I love the quilting detail and all the work you put into it. I'm having a good time looking through your blog!

Bonnie

Finn said...

What a great quilt your daughter put together..*VBS* It's very nice, and certainly great workmanship. Congratulations to her and to you! Start them young!! Also, I'm so glad you will come out and play with Tonya and the free form piecing. It takes a bit to get the gist of it, same as the free form baptish fan quilting. But it gets easier as you go!! I look forward to seeing your efforts..*VBS*

MARCIE said...

Tazzie, thanks for your comment on my blog and for introducing your blog to me! I love your stuff! I also laughed that you link to FlyLady! My daughter is so into her and is dying to come to my house to "declutter". Heaven help me! Your ShooFly Table Runners are right down my alley, as is your Irish Chain! I could go on...

Mary Johnson said...

This is very cute. Your daughter did a nice job. I'm going to play along with Tonya too - it should be fun!

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