Bloom Quilt

I finished my Bloom quilt (from Lori Holt's sew along). I did fusible applique and stitched with machine stitches around each flower, leaf and stem. I also set my block differently, added a few butterflies and added a border of applique flowers that I reduced in size. I spent a lot of time making this quilt top and then I let a long arm quilter do custom quilting on it. I am sorry to say I was not pleased with her custom quilting. As you can see from the close-ups, the stitching wasn't what I expected at all. I did tell the quilter and she did refund my money, but that doesn't really fix the quilting problem. Since I did fusible applique there would have been holes left in the fabric if I had ripped it out. I will admit I never used this quilter before (I usually quilt my own quilts) and I never asked to see her custom quilting before having her quilt it, so that was my fault and a lesson learned! She also quilted another quilt with a pantograph and that turned out very nice. Anyhow, here is my version of the Bloom quilt. Overall I do love the look of this quilt.

The quilter quilted a meander around the white in the border, which is okay.

The quilter said she would match thread colors to fabric colors, but she didn't do that in several places and her free motion quilting wasn't the best. I can see where she started and stopped too. If the thread color had matched the fabric this wouldn't be so noticeable. After all the work I put into this quilt top, the quilting sure didn't enhance the quilt at all. 

Not very even quilting around these shapes.

Here she stitched up the stem and into the leaf and back up the stem, leaving a gap on both sides of the stem, She should have at least stitched back down the stem instead of leaving a gap. There are other places on this quilt I could point out too, but you get the idea, Make sure you see a long arm quilters work BEFORE having her quilt your quilt, especially if it's custom quilting! You pay more for custom quilting and you should expect a quilter's best work.

From a distance I love the look of this quilt. 

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Bloom Quilt Top

I finished my Bloom Quilt top. These are the Bloom blocks from Lori Holt's sew a long. I told you that I would set my differently than Lori did. I had a gradient green fabric that I used for the sashings and border. I added 4 applique butterfly blocks.  Not sure if I will add another border around the whole top or not. What do you think?

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Bloom Blocks 19 & 20

The last of the Bloom blocks are finished. Here are blocks 19 & 20. They are all finished and now I need to decide how I want to set them into a quilt. I didn't sew borders on my blocks. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them and still am thinking about it. I used all bright colored scraps to make the blocks and a variety of white and cream background prints too; whatever I already had on hand.

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Another Bloom Block Done

Another Bloom block is finished. I love this one with the little heart petals!

Southwest Decoratives had all their fat quarters on sale for Cinco de Mayo last Thursday. Only $2 per fat quarter! I bought 5 fat quarters, so I was good! Of course I only bought batiks! Aren't they pretty?

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Bloom Blocks 7-14

Here are my Bloom Sew Along blocks 7-14.  My first 6 blocks are here.  I mentioned in my posting of the first 6 blocks, that I am doing my blocks with fusible web and stitching around the pieces and not adding a border to my blocks as I am not sure how I want to set them. I like to do my own thing at least a little bit when I follow another person's block or quilt design.

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Bloom Blocks From Lori Holt's Sew Along

I have been joining in the Bloom Sew Along with Lori Holt from Bee in My Bonnet. I made the first 6 applique flowers blocks, but as most of you know me by now, I made my own changes. I decided to make my blocks the fusible applique method (instead of sewing it with interfacing and turning the pieces). I am sewing my appliques with machine embroidery stitches around the edges. I am not sewing on the borders around each block as Lori is doing because I am not sure how I want to set the quilt, or if I even want to make one quilt. I may decide to use these blocks to make a couple of table runners (or a round table topper, since my table is round). For now I am enjoying just making the blocks. I am using only fabrics in my scrap bags for the applique too.

Here are my first 6 Bloom applique blocks:

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4. I used a smaller template to make the leaves because Lori's leaves were too large and looked off-balance to me. I like my smaller leaves better.

Close-up of Block 5

Block 5

Close-up of Block 6

Block 6

Click to get to the Sew Along

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