27.10.12

Basket full of wishes

Hi, welcome to Lakumuki if it is your first time visiting here ( ' v ' )
It is exciting to be part of Blogger's quilt festival with my quilt "Basket full of wishes". It is a wedding present for a friend. I've been working on this quilt for almost a year and only just finished it.


 My idea was to fill the baskets with special treats for the bride and groom while creating a fun story around each basket block. I hope this quilt will bring lots of smiles and happiness to the newly married couple.


After piecing the basket blocks, I added layers of little pieces to them using Machine Appliqué technique. I took my time to play around with various arrangements for each basket. Often times when I felt a basket is missing something, I put it aside and moved on to the next block. Later I would come across a cute mouse or a curious bug lurking among the fabrics and I would go back to fill those gaps. It's been a slow process but a very satisfying one.

I posted a tutorial here detailing the steps I followed. It is really fun and easy to do if you like to try :)


When putting the quilt top together, I alternated the baskets with a plain block and arranged them in a diagonal setting. The white space surrounding the baskets was like a blank canvas inviting me to add little flowers, flying birds, hearts, music notes, colorful balloons.. anything I could think of to make the quilt more cheerful and lively. I had lot of fun thinking about what kind of text to add next to the critters to give them unique personalities.


There are 42 baskets in this quilt each one telling a story of its own. If you like to take a closer look at individual baskets, please visit my Flickr or earlier blog posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, borders.


The quilt was too big to machine quilt at home, so I contemplated hand quilting it. But I couldn't wait too long to finish it as this quilt has been eagerly waiting to go to it's new home. Then I came to know about Emily @ Emerson quilting through Tamiko's blog. Emily did an amazing job with the quilt and finished it in a very short time!


I suggested simple crisscrossing lines with soft curves to give it a feeling of sweet dream or a soft breeze. I also requested for a batting with thin loft. Emily quilted around the appliqué pieces to make them more noticeable. It looks very organic and clean like I was envisioning. Emily is incredibly creative and dedicated. I am so thankful to her for the efforts and thought she has put into this quilt. She shares a sampling of her gorgeous work on her blog.


For binding, I picked this cute Minny muu print by Lecien. It has tiny mice scampering around with cheese! I love that this shade of green gives a freshness to the quilt and also ties in with the theme of treats!


And for the backing I felt this bold and whimsical yellow print provides a good contrast to the delicateness of the front while adding some weight to the sea of white in the quilt.


I chose fabrics from Apple Pie collection by Sandy Klop for the baskets and backing, as my friend loves bright sunshiny colors. They suit her perfectly! It is an older collection by Moda from four years ago.

Quilt Festival stats:

Quilt size is 93" * 108"
Special Techniques used: Machine appliqué
Quilted by Emily Sessions


We took these pictures at Arnold Arboretum in Boston like most of my other quilt pictures. It is a breathtakingly beautiful landscape to visit if you are ever in town ( * u * )

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my quilt! I enjoyed going back in time to share my experience of making of this quilt with you.
Also a huge Thank you to Amy for this wonderful opportunity to see so many beautiful quilts!!

Have a great weekend!

37 comments:

Barb said...

I love your quilt!! It's so fresh and fun. I love to see a new spin on a traditional pattern.
The quilter did a great job and the quilting really suits this quilt.
Thanks for sharing this fun quilt in the festival!

Abby and Stephanie said...

My very favorite quilt I've seen in a long time. With your attention to every sweet detail, the combination of fun and adorable fabrics, and the amazing quilting this quilt is a blue ribbon winner. A very special wedding gift.

Debbie said...

Beautiful quilt and love the quilting .
A fabulous gift and so much thought and love included.

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely stunning! I can't believe how great this looks overall and then how adorable and detailed each of the baskets are. It's seriously a work of art. You've got a VERY lucky friend.

Pam said...

love your good wishes and i love baskets...what a wonderful idea to put it all together xoxoxoxo

serendipity said...

What a fantastic quilt. You have out so much thought and work into it. Amazing!

Robin said...

What a beautiful quilt! I love how you took this very traditional block and really made it your own, and gave it a wonderful modern twist. The thought that went into all those little details really comes through in the finished product. Beautiful work!

Maureen T. said...

Your quilt is unbelievably beautiful! Each basket is filled with such charming detail. The border is beyond adorable. Thank you so much for sharing this masterpiece!

Sew Lovins said...

This quilt is Ah-Mazing. I love love love love the special details and will check out the tutorial on how u machine appliqued it. Wow!

Maureen said...

Beautiful! Fun, fresh and unique. The quilting is perfect.

CitricSugar said...

just beautiful! She did a lovely job of the quilting, too. The combination of her quilting and your fabric choices keep this from being too traditional. Just lovely!

straythreads said...

beautiful I could spend hours looking at there are so many wonderful little details.
ann

Carla said...

This quilt is so beautiful, and the quilting is brilliant!!

mb. said...

I love basket quilts & this has to be one of the most wonderful I have ever seen.

Quilting Babcia said...

This quilt is the most amazing original take on the basket design - I totally love it! The quilting compliments all the designs and activity going on so very well.
Pat (#127)

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

I have followed your progress on this quilt and to to see it finished. It is stunning. All the extra touches and love you put into this quilt. It is a treasure for sure.

Ann Marie said...

I'm glad you are showing this in the festival. I have enjoyed reading your posts about different blocks for so long, and am happy to see the whole thing and the quilting detail. A beautiful quilt!

Candace said...

Pratima, your masterpiece will be enjoyed for an entire lifetime and beyond by the happy couple! Such a thoughtful creation from a very thoughtful person ;>) It's Best of Show in my eyes!
Cheers!

Quiltbenaco said...

Bellissimi quei cestini!
Complimenti
ciao

canuckquilter said...

You put a lot of thought, creativity and work into this quilt! I'm sure your friends are delighted with it. I particularly like the ants coming down from one "picnic" basket :)

audrey said...

Wow! What a great quilt! Love your baskets--very sweet to personalize the quilt like you did.

Marit said...

Congratulations, it's an amazing quilt! You have put so many beautiful and fun details into it. I think it's one of my most favorite basket quilts, ever. You have a very lucky friend!

Nanette Merrill said...

Fabulous photography. It is a challenge I often fail out and admire in others. Your staging of the quilt on the steps or bleachers is perfection! what an awesome idea. It suits the line of baskets so well. Love love it. Love how the baskets pop and the background melts in but melts with motion. The quilting is really great. I love her technique. Your project is a stunner. Your best work ever.

Η Πευκοβελόνα said...

The best bed quilt so far! It is simply ingenious...

Lisa D. said...

This is the most creative quilt I've seen in the festival. Beautiful *AND* creative. What a fun wedding quilt!

Emily said...

The detail on your quilt is amazing and incredible. I'm sure your friends love the gift.

My Heart 4 Him said...

Clever!!!!

Shannon
http://myheart4him.com/art-alexa/

MalinisQuilts said...

Beautiful quilt. Love it totally!

Rebecca said...

Wow, this quilt s stunning!

Lily said...

This is so beautiful and my mouth is hanging open! The couple must be thrilled and it will take them months to see and discover all the little bits. How wonderful! I like your other work too!!

Carolyn J. said...

Your basket quilt is stunning!!!

Mary said...

What a beautiful quilt. I love it. It is a precious gift.

happy zombie said...

So dang cute (and clever!)!

tusen said...

Oh, this looks both very impressive and fun. I love the quilting, too.

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

Oh my Pratima!! The basket quilt is exquisite!! What a beautiful wedding gift for your friends. I really wish I could see the quilt in person. I suspect it is one that I would stand in front of for a long time to study each detail in the baskets. It is just breathtaking!!

Nana said...

What a delightful quilt. Lucky bride and groom.

Amira@littlemushroomcap said...

Such a beautiful Quilt! That is a lot of love and cheery wishes... Thanks for sharing this. It has inspired me so much today!

XOXO
Amira @ http://littlemushroomcap.blogspot.com