Meredith's Christmas Quilt

For this years quilt, I have made a brave decision to not let her pick anything out.   I think it will be fine.  I'm pretty sure I know my kiddo well enough to be able to handle this task.

This project will be unique for me and possibly challenging since it will incorporate many techniques.

My ideas....embroidery, coloring, patterns, muted tones, bright colors.   Just have to see how well it will all work out.

I wanted to do something with embroidery, well hand embroidery.  I have machine embroidery ability, but just wanted something that looks more original.   I'll color in the image with crayons, then heat set it.  Outline everything with hand embroidery and surround it all will patchwork. Then quilt it to a wonderful masterpiece.  

That's the plan anyway.

What I have so far.... The embroidery pattern  Feathered Friends, found at Scarlet Today - RedWork Plus.  I transferred the pattern to my fabric.  I chose a muted background design, instead of the traditional white or solid background.

Then start coloring.  I've started with the green leaves.   Might take a little bit for this process.  While I am using regular Crayola Crayons, I'm trying to color in darkly.  Once it's ironed to set the coloring will fade a little bit.

I haven't decided on what blocks to use with this, but I have a little bit of time to decide on that.

More progress, YEA!!!  Just have those birds left.  I really need to find a picture of a bird and see how I want to color those little guys.
I'm planning on expanding this picture on the fabric a little bit, just a few flowers and the vines to stretch across the entire width of the bed.  I'll be working on that next.  Should have all the coloring part completed within the week and on to the embroidery outlining, whew...that will take a little while to complete that.

I think it looks pretty good myself.

Finally did the birds, not as hard as I thought and I think it looks pretty good.

Coloring done....now iron, iron, iron. Cover image first, don't want that extra wax on your iron.

That sure is a lot of excess coloring.  

Tada... it's done.   

Now that the color part is done, on to the hard part.  Hand embroidery outline, yes I know hand embroidery.  I haven't done that in years.


Here are the fabric selection I have picked out.  I know it's a lot of pattern going on, but I like it.  My kiddo is a busy, busy little girl, so something busy with pattern and colors will be just up her alley.  Any guess to her favorite color?  I think it's PURPLE.