Happy New Year, dear friends! It’s the first Monday of 2014 and I’m feeling like it’s time to get in sync with my plans for this year. One of the things I intend to do this year is get back to regular blogging. While other forms of social media are fun and much more spontaneous, I love this little blog of mine and it’s an important space in my life. So keep your eyes open for new posts coming soon.
I have tons of things I can’t wait to share with you, and while I definitely want to do a bit of a end of year wrap up and what my plans are for creating in 2014, I’m just going to jump right in and show you a finished project I can now share.
2013 seemed to be the year of the mini quilt for me. You may recall I gifted a couple earlier in the year (here and here)? It was only fitting that there should be a third one in there too. Well, you all know my love for Tula Pink, and you know I’ve been working on my Kiss Kiss quilt off and on. So, what could be more perfect than a mini Kiss Kiss, or well, in this case I guess it’s just one kiss. ; )
Anyway, I’m going to be visiting Paris for the first time in February with my dear friend, Sylvia. So what more perfect birthday gift for her than a Parisville quilt? Just like with the mini Swoon, I chose to just piece one block and then quilt and finish it as a mini quilt. I absolutely love how it turned out.
See why it’s called Kiss Kiss? The x is a kiss, as in xoxo (shout out to all Gossip Girl fans). Anyway, I loved the idea of Sylvia having a little something to remember our trip by, as well as a little piece of me over in Germany.
Of course, the star of the show here is the focal fabric with Marie Antoinette at the center. I wanted the quilting to echo the x shape, but I also wanted to highlight the cameo center so I left the very center unquilted (about 3 inches square). It turned out just as I had envisioned, and being a mini I was able to quilt it myself on my machine.
For the back I opted to use two fabrics I had in the Mist colorway – the topiary and the French lace. I cut them into strips and then alternated them which reminds me of some sort of luxurious wallpaper treatment one might find in Versailles (I’ll scope it out when I’m there and let you know).
I love how the quilting created a number of different patterns – straight lines, crosshatch, and arrows. And the very geometric straight line quilting was a perfect counterpoint to the more organic designs in the fabric.
The quilt made its way safely overseas in November and I was finally able to exhale that breath I’d been holding when it arrived. I’m so thrilled that Sylvia liked her little birthday surprise and I can’t wait to get back to work on my own Kiss Kiss.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I’ll be back soon with some more things I’ve been working on and a few finishes!
I am grateful for time at my sewing machine and giving handmade gifts.
What a lovely quilt. I am sure that Sylvia will love it. 2014 sounds like it is going to be an exciting year for you. I look forward to traveling along with you!
Sylvia must have been thrilled with her birthday surprise. I hope you and she have a wonderful time in Paris together. Safe travels!
Gorgeous! Love it!!
What a lovely gift! The quilt is just beautiful. I’ve never been to Paris and look forward to your pictures!
This is a very pretty quilt…love this quilt…I hope that your friend will love it as well.
Take care
Linda K, Railroad
Gorgeous mini quilt Michelle! I am sure Sylvia loved it! Are you going to Paris for l’Aiguille? OMG…I hope to get there one year. I am sure you will have a total blast and Paris is wonderful. You’ll love it. Happy New Year!
What a great quilt, so lovely!
Wonderful birthday gift.
Happy Paris time, Evelyne
OMG, I love that mini-quilt, just gorgeous :-).
And I like your sentiment about blogging, it makes me want to get back to mine too. I need a major overhaul on look, yours is visually so clean and modern. It’s very appealing.
Hope you have an amazing new year!
Such a lovely little quilt. Hard to give away, I’m sure, but so glad it went to a good home. Lucky you, Sylvia. Perfect choice of binding.
A beautiful quilt. The colours are so vibrant.
The quilts are so lovely, especially the scallop-y one.
OMGoodness…it is stunning! Love it 🙂
And the pictures of it are absolutely stunning as well!
Beautiful gift!! Love it!
Gorgeous quilt, congratulations
What a lovely gift, absolutely stunning. Are you including the Aiguille en Fête in your trip to Paris? Have fun, whatever the case 🙂