Monday, February 14, 2011

Re-discovering Love

Yesterday, I had my nieces over to embellish tote bags. While I was pulling out supplies for their day, I discovered this Valentine's Quilted Jacket that I made over 10 years ago...



Except I never actually sewed the pieces into a jacket.


I suppose that finding it means that I'm supposed to finish it.

I have thought I might like to embellish and bead it but then I'm not sure how to quilt it to the sweatshirt backing if I put all of that embellishment on it...


Maybe I should quilt it first and then embellish it but that might look funny.

This is where I get stuck because I'm not really a quilter. I have no problem sewing the blocks but then making it into something is my Achilles heel.

I really love hand applique though...and I'd forgotten about that.


I put a lot of what I love into these blocks. Like this popcorn tub I made in honor of my husband Jim. He makes the best homemade popcorn ever and it's his favorite food...


And this block tells you exactly how long this project has been in hiding...


That was Jack's hand at 3 or 4 years of age, compared with his hand this morning.

Jack is home sick today so I'm nursing him with the healing tea and some Valentine's donuts...


I hear they have loads of healing properties.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone...


I hope you celebrate someone or something you love today.

11 comments:

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Hi Susan
I sure love the fabrics in your blocks.

I got a book on applique because I thought I should learn something different. My BJP stalled because I wanted to try some of the techniques in it. How funny, I determined that hand applique is still my favorite so that is how I am proceeding. So much slower, so much more soothing to my soul.

Happy St. Valentine's Day.
Get well Jack.
xx, Carol

Judy S. said...

Happy Valentine's Day, Susan. I figured you've been busy with fun stuff. My sis made me a quilted sweatshirt jacket and cut open the sweatshirt at the armhole seams so it would lay flat, quilting on it and then sewed it back up. How about finishing it for yourself? Either that way or as a small quilt. It's way too pretty to be hidden away!

Susan said...

Your hand applique is just lovely! I would guess that you should quilt then embellish being careful as you stitch so it doesn't show much on the inside. Anyway...

Happy Stitching!

Ruby said...

Oh! DO find some way of finishing. It is so lovely. Happy Valentine's. Yes I think that donut is FULL of healing! :)

bubbygigi said...

Happy Valentine's Day, Susan. The patchwork is beautiful. I would quilt it and then embelish it with beads, charms and maybe some lace. Have fun with it and wear it proudly.
Gita/Gigi

Vicky aka Stichr said...

who says it has to be quilted?

if it needs to be attached to the sweatshirt, just do some stitch-in-the-ditch to hold it together, assemble the parts into a jacket then embellish! it's a perfect QC canvas....oh, and be sure to add a new threaded outline version of jacks hand and maybe jims hand on the popcorn box too!!!!

Createology said...

What a treasure to find your jacket and know that you will have a unique masterpiece completed very soon. Happy Hearts...
Hope your little one feels better very soon.

Barbara C said...

Your applique is really lovely. I hope you find a way to use your blocks.

I have a large quilt I made with heart-in-hand motifs cut from outlines from my kids' hands when they were little. It's a precious reminder of their early years. I really cherish that quilt.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rachel said...

Not really a quilter myself, but please finish it into something - it looks lovely!

Hope Jack gets well soon!

FredaB said...

Hi Susan

The blocks are so bright and cheery
and I just loved the popcorn one. Very cute and clever.

Why don't you bring it to the retreat if you are coming by car and there sure should be enough people to give ideas there.

I am still waiting on my packet to arrive but have already started on some swap items.

Getting excited to meet you all.

Hugs

Freda

ps - hope Jack is feeling better. Lots of stuff going around.

Blissful Banter of a Creative Crafter said...

Could I put my nosy opinion in here please. I am a quilter and usually any embellishing is done first depending on how much you will be doing you need to add a little stabilizer behind it otherwise when you wear it it will start to drag down. It's really lovely by the way!
Analisa

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