Saturday, January 22, 2011

Panel #4

My heart is beating a little faster now that this has grown by one more panel.
I'm giving a couple of closer up photos here in case you want to see the fabrics a little better, the photos can be clicked on for a bigger picture. A lot of the leaves are stripped pieced which was Susan McCords signature.
It's really hard to take a decent photo on my design wall, it always looks crooked and the lighting is not great but it gives an idea of how it's looking.
I really think the stems are a bit fat, a minor thing I think but I'll be using that 3/8" bias maker for the next panel when I can get the nerve to do another one. In reality, I imagine Susan McCord's quilt had really skinny stems. I wish I had realised that at the start of the project. I know,  I'm being fussy.

73 comments:

Quilt Station said...

Hi Janet, this is looking fantastic, the clolours/fabrics and scale are all perfect.
Loving it, cheers Margaret

liz said...

I love it.

Oops-Lah said...

It looks absolutely stunning! I only realized after enlarging the pictures that some of the leaves are pieced. I also love the "misshapes" of the leaves. Adds a ton of charm! How many panels are you going to make? Have a great weekend. Vreni x

Unknown said...

Janet, it is just gorgeous!! I love the stems the way the are, but after all it is your quilt and you have the righto be fussy about it. But it really isn't warranted here. Fabulous job!!

Linda said...

Wow, it's just amazing, Janet! Beautiful! I love the look of the strip pieced leaves. Adds a lot of color dimension to the quilt. How many pieced do you think you've appliqued so far?? :-)

bountiful quilter said...

I love this so far! I also actually like the witdth of the stems, they help strike a balance between the sashing strips and all of the colors in the leaves. Great job!

Minick and Simpson said...

It's all PERFECT! OH, how I love seeing the progress of this quilt. It was always "the one" I was going to try to do one day. LOVE it.

Laurie

Meredith said...

Well i strated mine with the really skinny stems and thought it looked weird and stopped. I like yours. It would be an interesting experiment to see what 3/8" looks like. Have fun. I think it looks great.

Mimi said...

I see a red chili pepper over there on the right! LOL. This is beautiful. How long are those strips? They look huge! You sure like "involved" applique. It is well worth it though. I am just going to enjoy watching your progress. If your vines are "fat", I think it is ok. Some fat ones and some skinny ones just add to the interest. Love your work.

Jamie Janow Elfert said...

wow!!! I really mean WOW!!! On my bucket list - perfect embroidery just like yours.

LuAnn said...

WOW! I can't believe you are doing the Susan McCord quilt. I just love it. I think that is one that is at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, but I don't believe it is on display. I would love to see that one in person. You have done a great job reproducing it.

Anonymous said...

WOW...this is amazing! You have done a beautiful job on this quilt!

Awe inspiring applique! Absolutely wonderful...

Can't wait to see the completed quilt!

Hugs,

Elaine in SLO, Ca

Eileen said...

Janet,
I think it looks great! How many panels are you going to do altogether? Will there be top and bottom borders?

Barb said...

Soooooooooooooooooo AMAZING!!!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Absolutely breathtaking!

Vicki W said...

Spectacular!

Katie said...

Wow, wow, wow. You will have something very special when you are done. Fabulous. :-)

Teresa Rawson said...

I am in AWE, utter AWE!! (And to think I bitched and whined about the number of leaves I had to applique in the Civil War Bride Quilt...) This is so very beautiful! I've seen Susan McCord's quilt in person, and you've done it...this is it! Wow, wow, wow...

In stitches,
Teresa :o)

DebbyMc said...

I've always loved this quilt. You are doing an utterly amazing job of making your version...so incredible!

Thimbleanna said...

Wow Janet -- it's stunning. How many more panels? Be careful, if your heart beats faster each time, you'll be headed for trouble LOL!

Karen said...

Absolutely unbelievable!! Don't imagine problems where there are none. Yours is fabulous!

Alisa said...

Oh my. Your work is stunning. I love everything about this quilt. I personally like the width of the vines, they flow and add such movement to your work. Again, your work is beyond beautiful. Wow!

Julia said...

wow Janet, it's stunning...and you amaze me, with what you do, you must have so much patience to do all those leaves..
How many panels are there all up Janet?
Julia ♥

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Oh Wow Janet, this is incredible! xo

Janet said...

Your panels look fabulous!! I LOVE to see your progress on this quilt. The colors are wonderful - gotta love those strip pieced leaves. :0)

Kat said...

..very impressive! ..love it !! :)

Anonymous said...

This is a feast to the eye- absolutely stunning!

antique quilter said...

just beautiful....
totally in awe

Lurline said...

Lovely to be back to see all your pretties!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Marit said...

oh! so! wonderful!!!

; )

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

It looks fabulous! i like the fatter vines, it kind of balances all the leaves. Do I spy a missing flower?

Ann at Prairie Primrose said...

Spectacular! And VERY inspiring!

Nedra said...

I'm really glad you gave us an upclose photo of the leaves. Each one is so unique and original. Great job!

Barb said...

My heart is beating faster too! I'm breathless. I have always loved this quilt and you are doing it more than justice - just beautiful Janet!

Abby and Stephanie said...

You deserve a big pat on the back. I love watching this grow and never tire of your gorgeous applique projects. Congratulations on finishing another panel.

The Quilted Finish said...

I really fell seriously in love with this quilt the first time I saw it. Yours is spectacular! I think your vines/stems give real definition and balance all the vibrant movement of the colourful leaves.

*karendianne. said...

Be still my heart! You may recall this is what really inspired me to start to learn applique. I'm so moved to see The Vine like this. Gosh. I'm totally moved. Thank you, Janet!

Lori said...

I think your stems are terrific janet!! It is stunning to see!!

Ann Champion said...

I LOVE this quilt! I think your vines are a perfect scale to balance out the leaves. I wouldn't change a thing.
Thank you for the close-up pics. You've really captured the beauty of Susan's work. Your panels look like they could be hers?

Sujata Shah said...

Stunning! Just stunning!

Marie said...

I love this - I want to make it but I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle this just yet.

Hugs - Marie

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

OH I am loving this project, I am going to make me another applique one soon. But I need to finish up quite a few others before I start a project that big again. You can see all the ones I am working on over on my blog at 16muddyfeet.blogspot.com

Terry said...

All I can say is WOW!! It's beautiful Janet! :0)

ranette said...

Oh Janet...my heart is beating right with yours! A M A Z I N G !!!!

Nifty Quilts said...

Absolutely beautiful. Susan McCord's vine quilt is my all-time favorite. You're making a wonderful rendition of it. I think your stems look great.

Anonymous said...

Breathtakingly amazing....no way could I tackle so much applique! You are such a pro...love seeing your work.

Janet said...

I know I haven't commented in a while...It was this quilt that attracted me to your site and the fabulous work that followed. I am working on hand quilting the Mary Mannakee that you challenged me to make. Please come see my progress.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Amazing, you are such a fast stitcher! I am anxious to see this one quited!!!

Michele said...

Hi Janet, What a wonderful quilt! I would LOVE it if you showed how you prep your Susan McCord leaves. Do you machine stitch the strips, or do it all by hand. Do you make multiple leaves out of each strip set, or do them one by one. What a fabulous quilt to hand quilt. Michele

Cheri said...

Oh Janet, this is sooooo good. I really like the change up in the stem sizes. I am not familiar with the original quilt but I think the strip pieced leaves are wonderful. Great Quilt!!

Maureen said...

When I first saw the McCord vine quilt in a book I stared at it for the longest time. You are doing a fabulous job!

Dixie Howard said...

Wow, I literally gasped (with delight) when I opened your post. This quilt is just so lovely - very nice progress, Janet! Bravo!!

Janet said...

Janet
You are coming along. It looks great. Love your fabric choices
as always. You have such an eye.
Janet

Christie describeHappy said...

This is just stunning! I can't get over how I like the detail and fabrics working together. Congrats!!

Lina said...

Janet, your AMAZING! I wish I could meet you in person!

Joan said...

OH WOW Janet - those panels are somthing else - stunning. Dont worry about the stems, it all looks fabulous. What a heap of beautiful work!

julieQ said...

Wow!! Every time I see this, I drool...now excuse me, I must change my blouse!!

Kim D. said...

Not many people would tackle this quilt Janet, it's very impressive. Love it!! You must have the patience of Job. Thanks for sharing your progress.

Sarah in Houston said...

This is totally awesome. I have this quilt on my to do list and even started tracing leaves on fusible. I see you are hand appliquéing. I was thinking that would be REALLY hard. Your leaves look bigger than the original. Did you enlarge it some? I'd love to talk to you about your tricks. I know it's a crazy idea, but I just want it so badly!!!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Janet, this is stunning!!! You're amazing!! It's just wonderful!! Wow!!

Anonymous said...

be still my heart! do your hands hurt? i'd love to do this, but i get "trigger finger" and all kinds of problems! i'm SOOO jealous that you can do this. and it's absolutely gorgeous. you know your quilts will be in a museum some day!

all my best,
ellen in florida

Anonymous said...

Spectacular and stunning, Janet. I saw this early on on your blog, before I got to 'know' you and was so drawn to it. Those strip pieced leaves just make the whole thing! It's divine. In nature, there are fat vines and skinny ones too. Some of both in your quilt seems natural. ; ) You are an inspiration, Janet!

Diane said...

It is looking great! How wide are the panels? I like that some of the stems are wide and some not. How many more panels do you have to make? I think it looks great!

Sewjournal said...

It looks fabulous. I think your stems are fine. This is your quilt not Susan's :)

mbroider said...

You are a star. I dont think you realise how much of a role model you are. Looking at your blog, i aspire to take up quilting.... Some day

mbroider said...

Oh, i forgot what i came here for. I did click them photos big, and saw how you have joined so many fabric to make one leaf SO MANY times... I salute that

Dolores said...

Just my 2 cents but I think if the stems were thinner, they wouldn't show up. Your little, thinner ones almost blend in and I like the fact that I can see the the vines.
This is truly a labour of love. I like it a lot.
Will you be hand quilting or machine quilting it? Or is it too soon to think about quilting?

Carrie P. said...

Wow, it is really looking great. Congrats on getting that much done. I am not sure I would enjoy appliqueing so many leaves. lol

Anonymous said...

It looks fabulous!!

Lisa said...

Wow Janet, it looks fabulous! I just contacted the Henry Ford last week about arranging a trip to see the McCord quilts.

Deb said...

Don't worry Janet - it is stunning no matter how wide the strips are. Big picture? It may give the quilt an extra dimension. Remarkable.

Shari said...

Amazing so far. And a little variation in the size of the vines would fit right in - so try another size for sure. Love the stip-pieced leaves. Impressive work, as always.

Ivory Spring said...

I am in awe, Janet!!! All those leaves!!!! WOW!