Barbara's Quilt is Finished!

Barbara's eye-catching quilt was expertly pieced from some very delicious batiks.   

I auditioned quite a few designs before just the right thing came up.  "But of course!" It must be "McTavished"!!!!

 

It's a Wedding Quilt!!

Karoline pieced this stunning quilt for a wedding gift.  The quilt combines traditional piecing and foundation piecing and Karolines workmanship (workwomanship????)  is excellent.  What contributed greatly to the successfull end result, was that Karoline and I worked together on the quilting decisions.  Remember, the Bears always welcome your visits to our studio, or your phone calls,  to discuss the quilting of your project.    

The quilt was custom quilted using a variety of designs and techniques.  Because the star blocks were foundation pieced, the points were sharp! We pounced on those sharp points, and made use of radiating lines:

 

The beige sashing and borders were treated to a swirling vine and flower design:

Scallops applied to the purple border added to the frame work:

 

The outer border was a beautiful feather design.  It is more easily seen on the back of the quilt:

Sue Ellen's Quilt is Finished!

Sue Ellen pieced this beautiful wall hanging.  The colors---you can't believe how vivid. 

In order to allow the piecing design to show clearly, it was critical that the thread blended.  We chose "Opal" from Superior's Rainbow line.  Just the right amount of bling!

 

and one more, just because

 

Wabbits and Wibbins!!!!

 Rachel's Baby Quilt is one of very cutest I've seen!    

Nine Rabbits adorn the quilt top, each bringing an offering to the baby.

The sashing was quilted with ribbons:

Each Rabbit was outlined and surrounded by billowy feathers:

And finially, the border.  It's a baby quilt, right?  Had to have a few hearts somewhere!

  

Peter's Quilt is Finished!!!

Peter pieced this stunning Asian Wall Hanging. I feel privileged that he chose Three Bears to quilt it. His eye for color and design is simply brilliant.  The main quilting design is a suttle clamshell in the sashiko tradition.  

The fabric prints as well as the small inner border were defined by some careful SID.  A simple crosshatch provided the right amount of contrast on the birds.

 

The clamshell design was expanded and incorporated into the border:

Lastly, Peter had pieced a design into the backing.  It was crucial that the centering was spot on.  And it was.  

New Combination!

Linda pieced this beautiful floral print quilt for a close friend.  To make sure that it had a "snuggle factor" of 10, she chose a super soft minke for the back.  It was Linda's idea to use Hobbs Wool for the batting.  I have to admit, I was not quite sure that this combo would quilt well. I reminded myself:  Don't be afraid to try new things!!  So if you are looking for a super soft and warm quilt - look no further than Minke and Wool.  Thanks Linda!

The Quilting Design is called Desert Rose:

The flower looks a lot like the flowers in the fabric.  

Here's the back!

  

Kitty's Quilts are Finished!!

Kitty made a pair of identical quilts.  They are quilted exactly the same, using Hobbs Tuscany Silk Batting, with one exception.  We changed the sashing design on the 2nd quilt.  Kitty is going to show one of the quilts at the DOQ Show in October.  Which one will she choose?  I like them both!!

Here is some detail of quilt #1:

 

Here's some detail of the different sashing on quilt #2:

 

I love these cornerstones!

 

Natalie's Double Wedding Ring Table Runner Finished!

It's a funny thing about quilting--how I've come to know so many of my customers that I truly do consider friends--are really some good stories.  Lydia contacted me about quilting a beautiful queen size (see Website Gallery).  She had recently moved from Kansas after getting married, and was getting ready to begin a PHD program at UNC Chapel Hill in something I can't even begin to pronounce.  She and her Mom, Natalie, came to the studio to meet me and talk about the quilt.  A whole bunch of quilts later, (most that have been shipped to Natalie in Kansas), and the rest is history.  The latest is this beautiful DWR table runner for Lydia's best friend.  She is getting married in May.  Will this go on the   Bride and Groom's table???  Just don't get any frosting on it :-)

Everything was SID.  The Blocks have a beautiful inter-twining heart design. Here's some detail of the quilting:

Pepa's Star Quilt is finished!!!

Pepa knew exactly what she wanted on this quilt.  Boy would I love to take credit for coming up with these quilting ideas ---but alas, no can do.  Pepa is proof positive that you absolutly can complete your quilt from start to finish.  (It's an urban legand that you actually have to stuff that Queen size quilt under your Bernina and struggle, spit and curse till it's quilted, just to say "Yep, did it all myself".  As I've said many times, part of being a great quilter, is knowing who to call to finish it. Enjoy!

There were three thread color changes - Pepa wanted the thread to blend everywhere:

The brown sashing had a matching thread color and a seperate flower and vine design; the green stripe got curlique's; the star blocks were treated with a flower design in the middle (picked up again in the border).  The background of the star blocks were stippled;  the cornerstones each had a teeny tiny daisy in each of the brown patches.  The Bears had to place those!!!

Another thread change for the border and we're almost done!

This is the week for leaves and metallic thread!!

Cynthia's other quilt was a leaf wall hanging.  

I just love this quilt.  I am secretly wishing it were mine :-)

The quilting design is called Promenading Leaves.  It's one of those quilting designs that really deliver the goods in the texture department.  If our quilt studio were  a car wash, then this quilt, like Cindy's other one we did this week, got "the works".   Along with the quilting, she got a hanging sleeve and Binding #1.  Oh, I almost forgot the custom embroidered label as well.  The Bears have a commercial four needle Embroidery  machine that can bang out a label in your choice of fancy fonts faster than you can say "double wedding ring"  (hint - a beautiful DWR table runner is comming up- stay tuned). 

Christmas will be here before you know it!!!

Cynthia made this Christmas Wall  hanging some years ago, but decided that now would be a good time to get it quilted.  Right ON!  I couldn't agree more:

Wouldn't this look great on the wall for the holidays?  The bears were happy to add a hanging sleeve along with "binding #1" (see website for details of those services).  The quilting design was called Blowing Snowflakes and was done in a variagated Silver Metallic.  Just the right amount of bling!

The snowflakes are kinda cute; just a few every so often:

Green, just in time for spring!

Kristy's quilt is finished, and not a moment to soon if you ask me!  This is the dose of spring flowers that I needed:

All flowers need leaves, so that's just what this quilt got:

Maybe a little more detail will show up here.  Remember, you can click once or twice on any image for a better look!

Christina's Quilt is Finished!!

Christina pieced this flower-full Mama's 4 Patch for......hopefully herself!

The Quilting design is called Daisy Days.  Maybe you can see some detail here:

Nancy's Sudoku quilt is finished!!

Nancy's Sudoku quilt is just gorgeous!!

All of the sashing (yes, every line) was SID.  This is the only way to frame the quilting.  And I know you probably won't believe me, but this quilting design is one continuous line.  As John Denver would say ---now that's far out!!

Maybe that design will show up better here:

 

These retro fabrics are the real deal!!!

Margaret's quilt is pieced out of original 30's fabrics.  Feed sacks?  Maybe, but I'm not really sure.  All I know is that I love, love, love this quilt!

The quilting design incorporated some of the design elements in the fabrics:

Give Back

I was approached  October 2009 by Katie Paulson of Carolina Donor Services.  She needed someone to make  Quilts out of Quilt Squares that were made by donor families to commerate the memory of their loved ones.  I called on my friend Lynn Elliott, one of the most brilliant, and generous people I have ever met.  "Lynn, I need some help!"  That's all I needed to say.  Lynn took the squares, and pieced together the most amazing quilts I have ever seen.  The setting could have been simple, but she felt that the families would appreciate something more.  Then, Three Bears Quilting and Yogi (the name we've given to our Beloved Gammill Optimum Longarm)  went to town and turned Lynn's Quilt Tops into actual Quilts.  Next, Celeste Lestienne, manager of  Bernina Sales and Service at Thimble Pleasures in Chapel Hill, bound the Quilts.  Lastly, the Quilts were returned to Lynn so that she could applique some of the more fragile items into place.  

Here are the Quilts!

Detail of Quilt #1

The Quilts will travel to various locations throughout the year to raise awareness for the importance of organ donation, a cause very near and dear to my heart.  Here's Quilt #2:

    

Here's a bit more detail of the second quilt: