Friday Finish
My Friday Finish today is a little mini quilt for a quilt challenge. I’m part of a group of quilters, The Endeavourers, and we challenge each other to make a quilt based on a theme for each quarter of the year.
The current challenge theme was “dreams”. Honestly, I had a tough time with deciding what to make for this theme. I pondered my sleeping dreams, and had some ideas, but nothing clicked.
As I’m working through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, she asks if we notice any synchronocity during the week — when things just seem to line up. The reading of this book, the week of being unplugged and this challenge theme all seemed to synchronize for me.
I realized that I don’t dream much any more, likely because I’ve been a busy mom and co-worker with my husband for many years. My dreams have been their dreams, and any dreams I might have had were set aside. And that’s all good; I enjoyed all those years and it stretched me and made me grow.
But now it’s time for me to re-learn how to dream. I have a sign above our closet in our bedroom that says “Dream A Little”. I’ve always liked it for the reminder to sleep sweetly and dream. I decided I needed that phrase made up in a mini quilt for my quilt room, to remind me to dream – to have dreams of things I’d like – again.
For the lettering, I tried something new – Crayola fabric markers. They worked really well, can be set with heat, and didn’t bleed. I used a dark gray marker on the light gray Kona fabric.
For the border, I had some improv scraps left from a recent pattern test. I sewed the scraps together and cut out six 6-inch blocks. I sewed those together during the unplugged week, planning to just make a fun little mini with them. Then I ripped the two rows apart, and cut those two rows in half the long way for the borders of this quilt. I love the fabrics so it just had to be.
But what to do with all that space around the letters? I was second guessing myself a bit and wondering whether I should stitch over the markers. So I was paging through a Sue Spargo book of creative stitches when I saw what I think she called pick stitching. It’s also known as the seed stitch.
I had a ball of variegated Valdani thread (12 wt) that coordinated well with the border fabrics. I didn’t plan to stitch quite so densely, but I do like how it helps the lettering stand out. A little binge watching of shows and – voila – the stitching was done!
I used a lime green Aurifil thread for the straight line quilting through the border. The binding is the same blue Grunge that is in the border.
The backing is a piece from my stash that matched well with the colors in the top.
And it’s all ready to go on my mini quilt wall, where I can see it and be reminded to dream, a little!
That’s my Friday Finish! Linking up today with Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sherry at Powered by Quilting and Tish at The Madd Quilter.
Wendy
22 Comments
Cindy Pieters
I like the density of the pick stitching it allows the lettering to pop. Sweet dreams!
Riceford Streams
You’re so creative, Wendy! I love your little mini and hope you feel inspired and empowered.
Katy Sweigart
I love this little quilt! Your Stitching is wonderful. So true that our dreams become so bound up in those of our family. It’s hard to find our own after while.
Vicki in MN
That turned out sew sweet! What did you use to make the lettering, hand written or computer? I think it just needed you to stitch densely and that was your subconscious mind taking over to make sure those letters popped out;)
karenfae
yes we all need to dream a little but as mothers and wife’s sometimes our dreams turn out to be what we want for them doesn’t it.
My Sewful Retirement
Love your mini quilt it’s very inspiring — dreaming is important ♥
Barbara
It turned out great. I enjoyed your commentary about setting personal dreams aside in the service of the dreams of others. It all sounds very familiar. Love what you did with the border.
Laura M
What a wonderful little project. I love how the hand stab stitches work so well to pop the words.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Sew sweet, Wendy!!! I love the pick stitch background! That really makes it. And as for dreams, you have plenty of quilting dreams!!! And yes, love what you said about our family’s dreams become our dreams.
Needle and Foot
What a wonderful mini – the pick stitching was a great choice to set the letters off. Love the lettering you did too – it looks so pretty. Also, the color combo in the borders is really nice. Well done Wendy!!
I got so behind in blog reading with the power outages and recent travel. So I am reading back on your last several posts. I think the idea of not reading or using electronics for one week sounds super. For me the reading would be so hard to give up. I am curious to hear more on your experience. I am not sure how I would replicate this because I have to fill orders and answer questions for the shop. But otherwise???
Diann Bottrell
That is a sweet little mini, Wendy! I love the border fabrics and colors, and the way you did the lettering and stitching around it, too. Is it the fabric marker that we see outlining the letters – and you set that with the iron so it will always be there? I haven’t used those before – where did you find them? I have an embroidery piece that needs a little color here and there, in between the stitching, and I’ve been wondering how to do it! Great Friday finish!
Rose Mikulski
I love, love, love, really love how this sweet mini came together. I was ready to drive to your house and raid your stash for what I thought was a border print but it was scraps sewn together-just love that b/w print. And the stitching around the lettering is just perfection.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! I love the look of the pick stitches or seed stitches. They really highlight the letters perfectly and make them stand out. The whole project is very cool. Now you’ll have to come up with a Dream list, and maybe you and Big J can work your way through the list?! That would be fun. ~smile~ Roseanne
Kathleen McCormick
I love everything about this. I did seed stitch once on a project and really got into it – a zen kind of thing isn’t it. I love the new techniques and the fun improv that is a part of this. I am sure that this will inspire many a dream!
Louise Hornor
I love this little bit of wisdom, Wendy! It’s good to be reminded that OUR dreams are important, too 🙂
Patricia Ludwiczak
Love your creativity, so important to remember when we are busy and stressed with things for everyone else.
nanamickie
I love this piece! I love using seed stitchs on small pieces like this too. The lettering turned out fantastic! Crayola is based in our area and we love their products too! Have a great day!
Kate
Very cute! Lots of different techniques went into that project, definitely a challenge well met.
Sandra Healy
Beautiful, Wendy, and I love the sentiments behind it!
Yvonne
I love this! The stabby stitches really add to it.
Sandra Walker
I love the execution and the reminder of this mini! I am glad it’s in your quilt room to remind you of the importance of a little dreaming. Gosh I nearly wrote DrEAMi-ing… bahaha.
Sandy Panagos
What an inspiration. I love this mini. It’s so sweet. The seed quilting really stands out. Thank you for sharing how it came together.