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“I have given skill to all the skillful, so that they may make all that I have commanded you. “ Exodus 31:6


“O Thou who art the all pervading glory of the world, we bless Thee for the power of beauty to gladden our hearts.
We praise Thee that even the least of us may feel a thrill of the creative joy when we give form and substance to our thoughts and, beholding our handiwork, find it good and fair. “.
Walter Rauschenbusch


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"Come, and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.
I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD woud not have listened and heard my voice in prayer.
Praise be to God, Who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!" Psalm 66:16-20
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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Both Wilburs are finished !

Last week, I finished the Big and Little Wilbur quilt-tops.  I mailed them on Friday, and Jodie received them Monday.  It was a couple of days before I heard from her, due to health problems she's having, and I was actually worried that she didn't like my work this time !    Blessedly, she assured me a couple of days later that she was thrilled with both works.

Big Wilbur was a kit, and I hand-appliqued it to look just like their version, except that JoAnn had me add a 6-inch border of a large red floral fabric from the same line.  I didn't take a finished picture of that one.

Little Wilbur was made from a set of half-yard pieces of the complete Purebred line of fabrics.   She left it up to me to come up with a design, setting, size......EVERYTHING.  She gave me the names of several quilt designs that she liked from the Craftsy site.  I chose to adapt the design from a pattern called "Peachy Keen", resizing some of the proportions.  I renamed my design  "Don't Fence Me In", as I proceeded to piece 'corrals' around each of my horses.

 Of course, Little Wilbur was the star of the quilt, so he was top center.  Instead of a corral, he was surrounded by a wreath of roses, as though he had just won the Kentucky Derby (a fanciful notion for which I have absolutely no basis).

 Four 'corrals' encircled printed ponies that were too finely detailed for me to feel comfortable appliqueing on the printed edges.  So I did what I called 'shadowing', leaving about a 1/4 inch width of the cream background showing around each pony when I appliqued him onto his new background of a woodgrain print from the collection.

The rest of the 'corrals' contained ponies or a red-roofed stable that had been fussy-cut from the landscape fabric from the same line.

When the center was finished, I still needed a border to bring the quilt up to a good usable size.  JoAnn had requested that I use the same red floral fabric, and make the border the same size as on the Big Wilbur quilt.  So, rather than be redundant, I designed a 'rail fence' border to enclose the horses in their corrals.  I only had enough of a light fabric remaining to make a single rail, but I think it is still effective.

I was really pleased at the finished quilt-top.  The size was big enough to make a bed-covering for a twin-sized bed, thought it isn't a true twin-size.  She is planning to surprise her granddaughter with this quilt, so I'm hoping to come up with a little bit of a surprise to add to it myself.  We'll see if I find  the time.

Spring is trying it's best to sneak in early this year, with my Buttercups blooming hesitantly, and my Lilac bush leafing out.   I fear that Winter is going to send her scampering back into hiding, biting off all the tree buds, but I surely love the little bursts of fresh color in the meantime !

Hubby goes in for his second 3-day session of this new chemo treatment this coming week.  He is suffering with knee-pain in his left leg (which has always been his GOOD one) this weekend, and his feet keep swelling horribly.  Thank you for your continued prayers for him and myself.   Without God's presence, we couldn't go on.

I am so very thankful for JoAnn providing my 'escape' with these projects that she sends me.  And you should just SEE the box of fabric that she sent my way this week just to clear out her OWN shelves !  God bless JoAnn Gilley !






5 comments:

  1. Its so good to see that you are designing and making quilts...I was a little worried.....praying for you both. Your horses in the corrals are just so special! Love those verses on your header and that you feel God's presence....how to be blessed by trusting. sending my love, Maggie

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  2. Oh, I have two granddaughters that would go crazy for this quilt . . . thanks for the inspiration. It is lovely and you are so talented :)

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  3. Your Little Wilbur quilt is fantastic! You are so crazy clever and talented! You really made the fabrics shine! I think you should share your creation with the fabric designer by sending her a link to your post and a picture of the quilt. I would think she would be thrilled to see what you have done. =)

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  4. What a wonderful name for the quilt and the whole story behind how you designed it. Plus a lovely quilt all the more special for the care and meaning in the design. You are a true artist quilter!
    Prayer go out for hubby and you for health and healing. Much Love!

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  5. I just had a phone call from a friend in Georgia, who told me how impressed she is with your talent and your quiltmaking! I thought you needed to know that since she is unlikely to comment on anyone's blog.

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