Radiant Blues is finished! The binding has been hand stitched, the sleeve is hand stitched and the label is hand embroidered.
Coleen Gall did a wonderful job with the custom long arm quilting. For the quilting designs, I told her what I would do if I were hand quilting the quilt, she took my suggestions from there and adjusted them to machine quilting. Radiant Blues measures 76" square, a perfect size for a wall quilt.
The next group of pictures are closeups of the quilting. Some of the pictures are long and narrow but I don't know how to put them side by side.
A light blue fabric was used for the backing.
And a close up of star quilting on the back.
The label is hand embroidered. I don't know what I was thinking that one line is over to the left side but it is how it is. The small tree and bird is a design by Gail Pan.
Several years ago my friend Linda and I were perusing through a tub of quilt magazines when she came upon a pattern that she said was me. She was so right, Radiant Blues is definitely a quilt for me to make.
I started the piecing at the end of March, the flimsy was pieced then sent to Colleen Gall to do her wonderful quilting the first of June. She was returned in July but it has taken me several months to sew the binding and attach a sleeve.
In January I posted a list of projects for 2024. One of those projects was called Radiant Blue hereafter to be known as Radiant Blues. The pattern for Radiant Blue is found in the January/February 2007 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine and was designed by Marsha McCloskey.
Marsha is famous for her method of piecing feathered stars, however I did not use her method. I'm a foundation-paper-piecer and I used the free 16" no Y seam feathered star fpp pattern from Threaded Quilting Studio. I used the same pattern for the first time when I made this little quilt.
The 16" star is a different size than the size star Marsha specifies for her pattern. I made a sashing change. Another change, my wall quilt is larger than the pattern and includes 9 stars instead of the original 4.
Radiant Blues is going to hang on the east wall in our living room but not until after the Jane Stickle retreat in November. I want to present her at show & tell.
Thank you Linda for alerting me to this lovely pattern.
I love this quilt so much, I'm going to post it on every linky party I'm involved in this week!
Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts
If you didn't get enough of quilt show quilts from my posts on September 22 and 29, click here to view pictures from the Quilted Twins visit to the Jacksonville show.
Radiant Blues is beautiful! The custom quilting is perfect, not too much and not too little. Thank you for sharing the link to the free block pattern. I've saved it and added to my bucket list. I think it could be made with the paperless paper piecing method.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of little pieces in the stars but you'll save yourself a lot of depapering if you can use the paperless method.
DeleteRadiant Blues is a stunning quilt Gretchen, and the quilting complements it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHey Gretchen... LOVED the close ups and the LONG view sooo much I had to log onto my computer to announce to the world... this is amazing... your piecing to me and my honey just rocks! I showed it to him and he was amazed at your piecing prowess! The quilting is so phenomenal and not overdone either... I so hope this is enjoyable to call done! What a lovely adventure... I love a good feathered star and all yours and your sashings and outer border are AMAZING! Kathi
ReplyDeleteIt's SO pretty!! The quilting it just perfect. I'd post it on every blog I could find - lol! Beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the name of that blue fabric line? I had some that looked a lot like it that had metallic gold running through it, but it was from around 2012 I think.
The center of all the stars is from a Robert Kauffman line called Dutch Cottage. 2012 sounds about right, that's when everyone was starting Lucy Boston's Patchwork of the Crosses design. I managed to make 6 blocks then lost total interest. I had purchased this fabric for that project and still have it on hand.
DeleteHow pretty! Congrats for the fantastic finish. Pass our compliments on to your quilter as well. A perfect collaboration.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! Congrats on the finish. The label is very cute too.
ReplyDeleteStunning, great work!
ReplyDeleteA really lovely finish Gretchen!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous heirloom treasure, Gretchen! Thank you for the close ups of your fabrics and the quilting. I'm going back to take a second look!
ReplyDeleteThat's such a beautiful quilt, Gretchen! I completely get why you're sharing it everywhere. Congratulations on your finish!
ReplyDeleteGretchen, this is another gorgeous quilt! But I expect no less from your skilled hands. Your quilter did an excellent job and the choice of quilting design really enhances the overall beauty. I can't believe you started this in March and its all done basically six months later.
ReplyDeletevery pretty I started some Feathered Stars last year and then had trouble with a block and that made me set it aside. I did finish that block eventually but never got back to the whole quilt which was to have 9 blocks like your does
ReplyDeleteRadiant Blues is beautiful. I like the way it was quilted. Your label is adorable. I have to remember the idea to embroider a label in the future.
ReplyDeleteRadiant Blues is beautiful, I love the Gail Pan motif on your label.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous finish and perfect label!
ReplyDeleteRadiant Blues is so beautiful, no wonder you love it so much. I know you enjoyed working on it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And your quilt label is delightful
ReplyDeleteYou have every reason to be proud of your new quilt. It is wonderful. It's going to look fabulous on a wall in your house.
ReplyDeleteIt's really stunning! Your friend was so smart to point you toward that pattern. It will be a showpiece on the wall.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! The missing "l" in quilted on your label is perfect for "the one intentional mistake" in a quilt. I always put one in and my receivers spend hours looking for it! Almost like an I spy quilt.
ReplyDeleteIt is a stunning quilt! Thank you for sharing in my Sew & Tell party.
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous quilt and lovely quilting too. It's a classic.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! And the quilting she did is perfection. It'll look stunning on your living room wall. Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2024/10/02/wednesday-wait-loss-401
Oh, what a beauty you now have! Love all the blues you used.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is beautiful. A wonderful harmony.
ReplyDeleteEverything just fits there. Very fine craftsmanship.
I also love quilting, it's beautifully done.
You can be really proud, it's such beautiful work... and yes, show it.
Thanks for your many links. Enjoyment.
Many kind regards go to you.
It's beautiful Gretchen and I love your label. Thank you so much for sharing in Put your foot down.
ReplyDeleteLovely finish for "Radiant Blues". Thanks for sharing the information on how you made it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful finish, Gretchen!!! Love the feather quilting, too!!! Cute embroidered label.
ReplyDeleteJust a gorgeous quilt!!! Thank you for sharing the block and pattern info.
ReplyDeleteWOW WOW WOW - that Quilt is gorgeous - but her quilting took it OVER the top!! She put a LOT of time into this one - and its amazing!!! Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful quilt! The quilting is lovely too, and the label is cute! What a wonderful finish, it's going to be a beauty on your walls, after the show. Thank you for sharing, and linking up ;)
ReplyDeleteYou should post it every where you can, it is a stunning quilt! Thank you for linking with my TGIFF link party!!
ReplyDelete