Saturday 9 November 2013

Medallion applique borders and a colour remedy

The applique borders for my Chintz Medallion quilt are coming along.

Two borders with applique finished

Close up - some favourite fabrics


Another border is attached. I'm really happy with the look of the borders and am planning a focal feature in the corners to link them. 

Problem - I now feel that the chintz medallion background is too white. I knew the cream background in the border was not exactly the same shade as the chintz medallion background and that didn't worry me, but when they are in good daylight it really stands out - too much I think. 

Daylight photo

Colour remedy ? time for some tea dyeing. I only want to apply the tea dye to the chintz panel - not the rest of the fabrics - and am not unpicking the borders so will sponge the dye on carefully!

Here is the top laid on the kitchen bench ready to sponge:

And here goes with a bowl of cold tea and a cloth to dab/sponge on the tea:

I applied two lots of tea - leaving it to dry on the bench between each lot. It looked a bit blotchy after the first dry so I repeated the treatment just to even out the colour more. I quite like the touch of 'vintage' given by the uneven colour. 
Here is the result - a  much better match - not so stark: 


There has been progress on my Dutch reproduction quilt 'Simon'. Growing row by row of English paper pieced blocks...
Papers are all removed except in the outer edges

Here is another row ready to be stiched together, and then onto the top:

Remember my friend Angela - making her first quilt under my supervision/tuition? 
Well - she has 9 huge 18" blocks completed - more than half way done to a King Single bed quilt. Looks great!

Angela's Log cabin blocks laid out together
 I've told her she is no longer a student - she has graduated and we are just 'sewing buddies' now. You can see how organised she is with her block strips prepared, labelled and clipped together ready for sewing - she's a natural at this and well and truly 'hooked'!


Here's a glimpse of what I have been doing since last post - lots of catching up with friends and family. This is a Birthday Pavlova (my favourite dessert) made for me every year by my daughter, and chocs from my son - yum -  thank you!


24 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Hilda! You must have the most amazing fabric stash - just looking at them all in your medallion border and Simon is such a treat! I love the tea treatment you gave - did you do it inside the wreath as well, or just around it?

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  2. You are so brave to tea dye like that - I'm such a chicken and would never be brave enough to try that. Your result is wonderful - they look great together now. The log cabin blocks look wonderful - I bet you are both having fun stitching together :0) The pavlova looks very yummy!! Happy Birthday Hilda!!

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  3. Omgoodness, where to start? The medallion has got me all fired up. All the colours and those clamshells, I just love it all. I want your stash lol.
    It truly is going to be a beautiful quilt.

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  4. Oh Hilda, you are amazing. I love what you are doing with those quilts - all those wonderful fabrics! Your student definitely seems a 'natural', such lovely log cabin blocks! But then, with you as a teacher.... Happy Birthday! Pavlova is my favourite too, and it looks yummy!

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  5. Happy Birthday Hilda! You have been busy, and brave with tea staining. Also love your Dutch quilt with its HSTs.

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  6. Happy Birthday HIlda! Great solution to the stark white fabric. Your dutch repro Simon is stunning! What a great gift to teach a friend to quilt, she is a lucky student.

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  7. Happy Birthday. I love birthday pavlova too. I love the borders on your medallion, and the tea staining has worked really well on the centre. Always amazes me how much some tea can change and improve a fabric.

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  8. I will first of all echo the other birthday wishes looks like you had a good one. The medallion quilt and Simon are looking beautiful. I am still in awe of that appliqué border, can't wait to see the corners.

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  9. So many interesting fabrics in the border you are working on. Must have been fun to select each one.

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  10. Happy Birthday Hilda!!! The medallion is looking superb. It is so interesting with the clam shells surrounding in the first section. Glad you were able to age the medallion background. I did not realize you were paper piecing your Simon quilt. I have finally gotten the book & see why you started this quilt!!

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  11. Love to see your progress. Very inspiring.:)

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  12. More birthday wishes from me. The tea dying seemed to work. You were very brave!

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  13. Happy birthday to you,
    love the work of the dutch,s quilt.

    christine .

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  14. Firstly, a belated Happy Birthday!!!!

    My, you have achieved alot! I love looking at all the fabrics you have used in the border. You are brave tea dyeing the centre medallion. The end result was well worth it!

    Congratulations to Angela!

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  15. Happy birthday Hilda! The birthday treats and the cuppa look wonderful - they are making my mouth water! The tea staining it a great solution to soften the background. The quilt looks great and the border is a wonderful catalogue of interesting fabrics. I'm really liking Simon too. The hourglass block is simple but I think the arrangement of lights and darks creates almost a stained glass effect. Finally you must be a very good teacher because your student Angela has done an amazing job of her first quilt! Thanks for sharing all these wonderful treats for the eyes and the tummy!

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  16. Happy Birthday Hilda!! How brave to do that tea treatment - and so glad it worked!!

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  17. First......Happy Birthday! That Pavlova looks amazing! Yum! And your tea-dying is brilliant! You toned down that center perfectly! Well done! And that quilt looks amazing! A stunner!

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  18. happy Birthday!! your treat looks yummy
    great idea with the tea dying in the center. I agree, it looks great with the border color and does add some vintage feel - great job!

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  19. You are so brave doing that thing with the tea, but it worked so well! I am in awe of your quilts. That applique border is just beautiful - the whole quilt is amazing! xCathy

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  20. Using the tea was the perfect solution to toning down the stark white! Your applique border is just wonderful!

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  21. I actually shrieked out loud when I saw you putting tea on your quilt. Good for you for being so confident and brave! Love the results. I love the fabrics you used for your clamshells and recently purchased some. Thanks for the inspiration!
    Kerry
    Simple Bird Applique

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