The Value of Violet at Mainely Quilts of Love

2019

71″x71″

Made from commercial cottons and hand-dyed silk Radiance fabrics. This original two-color quilt creates harmony and movement solely through the use of value. All applique is turned edge, and hand stitched. Edges of the central pumpkin seed appliques are also hand embroidered. Tiny fuchsia berries are punched ultrasuede, hand-stitched to quilt. There is cut-away trapunto on outermost border as well as central dark purple diamond (a first for me!). The finished edge is similar to what was done on Taking the Unmapped Road. Scallops were quilted on the longarm, then finished on the domestic machine. Scallops on this quilt were also edged with a silk piping. Quilting sought to create an Asian, zen-like feeling since the applique reminded me of a Japanese garden I used to visit in San Francisco. A meandering stone path was quilted through the floral applique. Quilting on the pieced diamond corners sought to repeat the “floral” design used on the appliques as well as the clamshells (a derivative of the pumpkin seed). Both 40wt polyester as well as 100wt silk threads were used. Battings include Hobbs wool/cotton blend and Quilter’s Dream wool. The quilt is embellished with hand-couched perle cotton embroidery thread, tiny crystals and Swarovski pearls.