Friday, October 9, 2009

Quilt Festival

I found lots of quilting blogs through my friend Andrea last year when she entered her quilt into Amy's Quilt Festival .




This year I finally, after some prodding, and lots of guilt have thrown myself into this blogging thing (I just figured out the clean way to link - yay me!) Posting photos has always been my biggest hang-up, but I'm very happy with the ease I seem to be experiencing here. Now If I could just figure out how to add side buttons, where direct code hasn't been typed out for me, everything would be wonderful.

Anyways, on to the quilt!!
It's Fairyland from Birdhouse Designs . I spotted the elephant on the cover with these fairies that weren't the country style ones or overtly frilly fairies, out of the corner of my eye while on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road January 2006 from the Fragrant Cottage in Warrnambool, Victoria. I must add that the ladies at the store were exceedingly helpful, volunteering to ship items home for my mother (Canada) including items that were not currently available in the shop, and they did so, very quickly.

I walked out the door, and across the street, then turned to my mother, who was visiting for Christmas, and told her that if I didn't go back and get the book I was going to regret it. So back in I went to get this distinctly girly pattern just for me. So many have questioned who I'm making it for since I have boys, my answer, me until there is a girl and I'm willing to let it go!








It's still not 100% complete, since there is still much more handquilting to do on the border - see those butterflies? I've only gotten one long side finished so far. I didn't do the machine quilting, I took it to a lady who did a lovely job, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the last quilt I took to her.












The elephant block is still my favourite and always will be!





I hope you enjoyed your look around and that perhaps I've inspired you to try out an applique quilt.

44 comments:

  1. the elephant block is wonderful.thank you for the closeup of that - and yes, definitely inspiring to do a bit of applique.
    i giggled seeing the 2 fairies on the beds too. (one upside down)
    looks like a A LOT of work has gone into it - and i love the butterflies you are doing. hope you can finish it soon :-)

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  2. Ah yes.... the all boy family when you want to make a girly quilt. I SO know what you mean. My last quilt is full of circles and pinks and purples. I have two nieces and I've decided that this Christmas they'll get a quilt, and I get to work in less manly colours for a change!

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  3. Thanks for the kind comment on my blog. This is a beautiful quilt, and I can see why you loved that elephant.

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  4. This is a really fun quilt! I love it! Well done with the quilting and colours! Very special!

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  5. Your quilt is amazing, Mel! Beautiful!

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  6. Beautiful handquilting and love the funky casual look you've achieved!

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  7. I love fairies! And of course I love your quilt! It's a treat for my eyes, I'm a 30 year old little girl (n_n)

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  8. That's a lot of hand quilting and beautifully done! The elephant is adorable!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  9. So adore all the detail! Good job! My favorite thing about Amy's festival...all the amazing quilts and blogers! What a beautiful quilt and what a fun blog you have!

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  10. Beautifully done! I thinkit is great to have a girlie quilt for yourself!

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  11. what a great whimsical quilt, sure brings a smie to my face.

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  12. An adorable quilt! so glad you shared it. ooxx`jodi

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  13. Very pretty, indeed - yes, that elephant block is too cute!

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  14. Hand quilting, oh I have yet to try it! Great job! Very cute quilt...

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  15. Thanks for visiting my blog and the lovely comment! I was lucky enough to live in Africa for a number of years, and I just love your elephant block as it brings back many memories of that magical time!! Thanks for sharing............Luv AJ (France)

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  16. This is an absolutely wonderful quilt - I, too, love the elephant block (although the little fairy doing a handstand on the bed is a close second!). Truly whimsically wonderful.

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  17. I love the quilt you are showing here. It is surely a great and nice quilt. I love the elephant and the little girls around.

    Thank you for a nice comment on my blog..

    Have a nice day

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  18. Beautiful quilt! I love the bright, cheery colors. I would keep it around also, if I were you!

    Thanks for visting my blog also.

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  19. I love the elephant block too! :)

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  20. It is gorgeous I liked the block with the beds. Great Job

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  21. I love it!!! It is so soft and pretty and whimsical, and the handquilting is gorgeous. :)

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  22. The whimsy is definitely appealing, no wonder it was irresistable to a testosterone overladen girl! Your handquilting looks great and I'm sure you enjoy handling the quilt every time you add to it. Thanks for sharing your quilt's story.

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  23. I admire your handquilting!! What a fun quilt and great animation and colors. Thanks for visiting my blog; it's new like your's so I'm still getting the hang of things. :) Come back soon!!

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  24. Wow, I'm in awe of your hand quilting! Super job. It is such a sweet quilt, and I think my favuorite is the elephant one too, although the little fairies are too cute!
    Yay for joining in, welcome to blogland!

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  25. I love elephants and collect them!I love the block, in fact the whole thing is very pretty!

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  26. What a gorgeous quilt. You've done a beautiful job. Keep up with the handquilting, it will be worth it I'm sure.

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  27. Love this!! Never feel like you have to give this up - if a girl blesses your home - there is always another quilt in ya!

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  28. What a beautiful quilt, and lovely colours. I see why you like the elephant block so much. I admire everyone who hand quilts, - never got the hang of it myself.

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  29. I love fairies! What a pretty quilt. :) Thanks for sharing!

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  30. Love, love, love your applique quilt. My first had a couple of stars appliqued on it but nothing like this. I'm inspired to try some more applique. It is so pretty.

    Vail in TN

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  31. Your quilt is adorable .... love those applique blocks!

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  32. Oooh, you're right, the elephant block is so delightful and whimsical. Isn't it funny how a pattern just calls to you sometimes? Hopefully you'll have a little girl to give this sweet quilt to one day. Cheers!

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  33. It is very sweet. And it makes perfect sense to make it for yourself too!

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  34. Hi again, Toonzie! Thanks for coming by my blog - I just wanted you to know that I've posted two quilts since the festival - this was my festival entry:

    http://divaquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/welcome.html

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  35. Oh wow, such a cute quilt. Beautifully done!

    Jocelyn
    http://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/

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  36. Great design, colors, & fabric. Just delightful! You did a great job.

    Thanks for sharing and for participating in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  37. You are aloud to make a quilt for yourself! I love your quilt and so much love is put into it! Enjoy your girly quilt! :)

    Zlaty

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  38. I don't know how I managed to miss your quilt on my first stroll through the blogs.
    I love it. The whimsy is quite delightful. Hold on to that one. Everyone deserves a quilt all of their own :)

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  39. It looks absolutely fa-bu-lous!!!!!!
    I ♥ it:)

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  40. Such a fun quilt! I think my favorite would be the angels jumping on the beds -- reminds me of my two little ones!

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