'Glad Tidings' by Gail Smith quilted by Angela McCorkle Look at this Christmas beauty! It's my pattern 'Glad Tidings' made by Gail Smith. Some of you might remember that Gail Smith made my Christmas pattern 'Red December' in 2015 and incredibly, she's done it again! Click here now to see that post. I just love how perfectly "Christmas" this quilt feels. THE FABRIC IS PERFECT! Isn't it stunning? This is exactly how I pictured it in my mind! I still have plans to make my own Glad Tidings, but you know me .. more designs than time How dreamy is this quilting? It's gorgeous! so it's always really special when people take the time to send me pics of the quilts they've made from my patterns Thanks for thinking of me Gail, these pics made my day This quilt made by Gail Smith is from my pattern 'Glad Tidings'. To read more about Glad Tidings and visit my 'Glad Tidings' post archive, click the image below. Glad Tidings Christmas Patterns

Faith Mcleod has created an outstanding Love Entwined quilt; the applique is beautifully crafted in beige tones that create a sophisticated quilt of low contrasts; this allows the pinks, purples and blues to shine as subtle highlights. This pallette is intriguing, holding our attention and inviting us to look deeper into each block - what a beauty! This quilt is still an unfinished quilt top, Faith has assured us that she will add images of the finished and quilted top once it's been quilted. I cannot wait.. ------------------------------------------- LE Quilt Gallery------------------------------------------- Thanks to Faith Mcleod for sharing her finished quilt pics with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Clear here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

Love Entwined is already shaping out to be a marvellous adventure; the energy and enthusiasm this quilt has generated prior to launching is breathtaking. I haven't been this excited about a quilt in years. I know a lot of you feel the same. Together, we're going to have a wonderful adventure making this heirloom. Today we've made a start and I'm looking forward to the finish line when we call look back and say, we did it! Does it feel like I've been discussing this quilt for weeks? Well, I must admit I have. So let's get straight down to business and take a good look at the centre square as this is where the quilt really begins and where our BOM starts it's journey. Now, neither of these mock up sketches do the pattern or my colour options any justice, but I think it gives you enough idea of where this pattern is headed. In Part 1 which just launched over in the group, we start with an introduction to the quilt, it's fabric requirements and the centre compass. Don't be fooled, it may not sound like much, but it's plenty to be going on with and next month (July 15th) we really step up a notch in terms of getting the centre square together. Due to my late launch, you have just enough time to think about your colour ways and select your favourite applique method. I have posted the centre square (instead of just the compass this month) for good reason: a lot of beginners have contacted me. You want to make the quilt, you want to join in, but the idea of making the whole quilt is just too daunting. I suggest that you make the centre square only. This centre square (with, say, a 2 inch added border to finish) would be a stunning wall hanging on it's own. It's a real option for those of you who aren't experienced in applique or don't have the time to invest in the entire quilt. You already know what this means, there's something in this quilt for everyone! You'll notice that I am between a rock and a hard place, colour wise. Should I stick with the faded linen or brighten up with the white background? Red and pink vases? Or blue and yellow? I can't decide! I keep going back and forth. I have tried to be Georgian True but there is so much conflicting advice about British Georgian colour schemes, and then; do the cool, sophisticated interiors of subtle tones and striking hues work in quilts? Is the original really created in 'Georgian' colours? I don't know. I've never seen it. After all my intense scrutiny, I don't want to make a call either way. The more I look at the original the more I think that it's actually a scrappy quilt. Will we ever know? oh 'a fine marriage coverlet' where are you? I've had a lot to say about the original 'fine marriage coverlet' in the past weeks. You all know that Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet is my ode to ‘a fine marriage coverlet’. I have created this quilt pattern as a historic interpretation of this important quilt and it is my hope that the popularity of this BOM will renew interest in the original quilt. Now the focus shifts to the actual making of a new heirloom and I find that I don't have anything more to add about the original because there's no more information to go on. So, lastly, before we move ahead, I want to make one last statement about the coverlet: It is my hope that it will be found and afforded its place in both British and quilting history as a fine example of women's work and as a legacy of workmanship respectively. It’s my opinion that this can only happen if it is found and preserved in a Museum for future generations to come. This quilt is an ode to the legacy of quilting and to women, known and unknown, who have contributed to our rich and combined quilting heritage; for whilst this is a British quilt, quilting belongs to the entire quilting community and does in that respect, inspire and ask us to maintain its preservation, regardless of our geographic location. So, who's ready to start this BOM ? ‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM. Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15th of each month. All ‘blocks’ are available for free during the month of their release. Any missed ‘blocks’ may be purchased. All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only.

Faith Mcleod has created an outstanding Love Entwined quilt; the applique is beautifully crafted in beige tones that create a sophisticated quilt of low contrasts; this allows the pinks, purples and blues to shine as subtle highlights. This pallette is intriguing, holding our attention and inviting us to look deeper into each block - what a beauty! This quilt is still an unfinished quilt top, Faith has assured us that she will add images of the finished and quilted top once it's been quilted. I cannot wait.. ------------------------------------------- LE Quilt Gallery------------------------------------------- Thanks to Faith Mcleod for sharing her finished quilt pics with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Clear here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

Inspired by the ever intriguing Love Entwined, this is an entirely new design hopelessly devoted to re-imagining the original in an updated but still breathlessly beautiful design. This is quilt for applique enthusiasts and lovers of fine detail and heirloom quilts. Due to popular demand, I am providing Love Always in 2 sizes, a large and a small. Make it 84 x 84 inch quilt, or 56 x 56 inch quilt. The choice is all yours. The complete digital pattern includes both sizes, you don't have to decide right away. Love Always Pattern Sale includes both sizes Complete Digital Pattern $59.95 USD

I've been receiving requests to provide an update on the status of the 1790 Marriage Coverlet Quilt. Some of you wondered if my silence on this topic indicated that I was preparing to travel and see the quilt, or had some other exciting development going on. The answer is no; I know as much as you do. I have been silent about the quilt because I haven’t had anything to add, other than what we already know and I respect the current owner’s wishes to be left alone. Jan Allston has been our quilt researcher on the ground in the UK and here’s her update: "Unfortunately the owners of the quilt have categorically stated that they wish no publicity whatsoever and have not allowed us to see the coverlet. Perhaps at some time in the future they may relent, but for the time being, we are not allowed to see it. Esther and I would be grateful if we could all leave it at that. If anything happens and there is a change of heart, you will all be the first to hear about it" Jan. I really appreciate the time Jan has taken, in the UK, to do as much for this quilt as possible and thank her for reporting back to us. All I can say here, once again, is that it’s my hope for the new year that the current owners come to appreciate that the eagerness we have for this quilt comes from a place of love and earnestness to see it take up its place in quilting history and that our intensity to see it is borne of that historic interest and welfare for its preservation. Can you imagine what a treasure it would be to just once have the opportunity to see this quilt in person? In an exhibition? It would be wonderful and I continue to hope that one day it might be possible. Whilst this news is somewhat disappointing because like you, I really want to see the quilt exhibited, I don't want to lose track of what has been achieved – because it’s a significant accomplishment: This quilt was ‘lost’ to quilting, we didn't know where it was or if it still existed and this was a concern because it is a historically important textile and documents an extraordinary example of work in Georgian female and British history. It’s too important to forget or allow to be lost to time. And we found it. We know it has survived to the present day and we know that the owners now know that they are holding onto an item of significant historic worth. This is staggering achievement and one I don't want to lose sight of. I know many of you have felt called to make this quilt and I understand completely, it’s how I feel too. I had hoped that we would be able to discover something of the woman who originally made this quilt – we would need some serious quilt detectives on the case to uncover any such information. But this has not happened as it is not something that can be willed – it requires the active participation of the current owners. I am focusing on the wonderful and positive energy this quilt continues to inspire in us – that certain something which seen so many quilters start the challenge which is Love Entwined. Now, if you’re a member of my Yahoo BOM Group, you already know just how varied the Love Entwined quilts are so far – there’s a Love Entwined being made in almost every colour combination you can think of and each quilter is really making the pattern their own through pattern tweaks and embellishments, it is a real delight to see these quilts being made and to know that in the future there will be hundreds of Love Entwined quilts out in the world, shining and reminding us of the original – what a tribute to the forgotten woman who made the original coverlet. I hope one day to know more of her story. Until then, I respect the current owner’s desire for anonymity and invite you, if you are so inspired, to take up the challenge to make this grand quilt yourself. The pattern is still available for free from my Yahoo BOMGroup. This stunning block above is made by Jane Newble and is just one example of how beautifully and individually Love Entwined is being made and shared over in my Yahoo BOM Group. Jane has incorporated broderie perse in her block and I think it’s just stunning. As well as being an accomplished quilter, Jane is also a Moderator in the Group. In fact all our Moderators are highly skilled quilters and their work is simply breathtaking. We are so lucky, as a group, to have such inspirational and talented women give their time to help us out. They’re an inspiration in themselves. I'm moving forward with Love Entwined and I trust that when the time is right, something special will happen which will allow all of us to see or know more of the original coverlet and it's maker.

Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet is a historic, heritage applique quilt made in remembrance and legacy of an original coverlet of no name, referred to only as a 'fine marriage coverlet' by Averil Colby in her publication printed in 1958. I created this homage to the original because I knew that this quilt needed to be remembered, acknowledged and recognized by all quilters everywhere as a work of magnificent ingenuity without peer or equal in its era. I talk about these points in greater detail in the blog post archive listed below. If you are making this quilt, or have made it, please add a linky of your work as well as any Love Entwined related posts to the archive below for other quilters to explore in the future. This linky has been left open for this purpose. My aim in releasing this pattern was to revive interest in it, and I encourage you to make it, share your love for it and /or use elements and motifs of its design (acknowledging the source) in your blocks, projects and quilts if you are not making the actual quilt itself. Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet was released over 18 months as a FREE BOM. It finished on October 15th, 2014. It is no longer available for free. It will not be re-released as a Free BOM. If you'd like to make it now, you can purchase the pattern here. If you're making this quilt, please say hello in the comments below and remember to visit our Love Entwined Gallery project page. You can add your own Love Entwined quilt there too. Simply submit by clicking here. This is my Love Entwined quilt progress so far... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Love Entwined Archive ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An InLinkz Link-up

Center of Love Entwined from Esther Aliu's site. Have you been keeping up with Esther Aliu's pattern for this 1790 Marriage Coverlet? Happy Appliquer's center Esther's inspiration was a poor black and

Valerie Harmer saw Love Entwined on my blog and decided that she needed a challenge. Well, I think she succeeded! But let me tell you how - this stunning quilt you are looking at is hand sewn (applique), hand embroidered and hand quilted. What a feat! And it just won: Mixed Techniques: 1st Prize at the Queensland Quilter's Quilt and Craft Show This incredible heirloom will be going to a grandchild. She's made all her children quilts upon their marriages and is continuing the tradition for her grandchildren in turn (she has 10!). I'm in awe of her workmanship and just so in love with this beauty. Thank you Valerie for sharing your images with all of us. We all love seeing the work, time and passion that goes into making Love Entwined and I'm grateful to you for being generous to share it with us all to swoon over. This quilt will be added to the Love Entwined Gallery so it can be enjoyed alongside other LE's as and when they're made. If you've made LE, please consider sharing it with us all via the gallery. Details on how to do this are listed on my website, click here for the link. Personally, I'm surprised that so many LE's are starting to appear all over the world - you all work so fast! I must have the most talented quilt readers on the internet. The joy of sharing beautiful quilts thank you for sharing your quilt Valerie :)

Update: Christmas 2011 It's been a year since I posted this easy Christmas project and it's become one of my most popular posts! It's simple, so easy to personalise and the best bit? You can make it in a day. Yes, really. It's simple. If your haven't already, why not make it this year? Finished! A Christmas WIP no longer. Here is my Christmas Crochet Wreath. Last week I purchased a foam wreath ring. I had an idea to cover it with green crochet roses, and after knitting up a few of those decided to add some leaves as well. I wanted three white roses...and had thoughts about red roses too. As I already have a lot of red in my house with poinsettia's at this time of year, I decided to keep with mostly greens. I have another crochet wreath WIP which is full of flowers, but I don't think that WIP will be quite completed until Easter (ish). Maybe. Each year I aim to spend December winding down, but like last year, I find that I am speeding up. I don't want to enter the New Year with so many WIPs behind me. I am spending most of my days finishing finishing finishing. This wreath is easy to make, you can have it finished in just a day or two. 4mm, 5mm & 6mm hook I worked up a leaf in each of the above hooks and decided on working up in the 6mm as I was after lush foliage that was also quick to come together. I covered the ring with a variegated yarn in greens. This was the trickiest and most time consuming part! The foam has to be covered evenly and neatly -and thick enough to anchor your stitches into when positioning your crochet into place. This is what you are making: foliage flowers The foliage flowers save you from positioning hundreds of little leaves separately Make as many as you need to fill out your wreath / ring Make some green roses as well as white ones to create interest around the ring Stitch the foliage into desired position The 'roses' are so quick and easy, they almost twirl themselves into position I used 2 shades of green yarn Then I positioned the roses and leaves around the ring I purchased some bells last week when I purchased the foam ring...as I thought I would use them, however after positioning them I decided that I liked the wreath plain after all. As the base of the foam ring is flat, it can be placed on the table or the door. I think I will hang mine...but I might still change my mind. There are lots of options with this pattern project. To Make Up: US Crochet terms used 4, 5 or 6mm hook 100gm yarn to cover ring Green yarn (yarn busting from your stash??) for roses and foliage OR 2 x 100 gm in 2 shades of green (this wreath used 85gm) you may need more or less depending on size & tension 20gms white yarn I have kept the actual crochet super easy, mainly HDCs so you can do it whilst supervising in the kitchen or in front of the TV or with only half an eye on it. Sorry - no diagrams! I love diagrams, so I know how frustrating working from text can be: I hope this is clear enough to understand: For Foliage: Chain 6, create ring, chain 6, slip stitch into ring (to create 6 petals) Work into each petal: Half Double Crochet x4 Double Crochet x 4 Treble Crochet x 4 Double Treble x 1 Chain 2 Double Treble x 1 Treble Crochet x 4 Double Crochet x 4 Half Double Crochet x 4 Slip stitch into next petal. repeat until all petals are full, slip stitch to finish. This will 'fill' each petal and create an arch. When you are working it up, you may think it won't fit. Don't worry, it will fit perfectly. Persevere. If you can Double Crochet you can Double Treble Crochet...it's just three loops over the hook. Don't be daunted. Make 15 (or however many you need to fill your wreath) For Roses: Ok, this is so super easy that you might end up with a ring full of roses. Chain 20, turn Half Double Crochet down row, chain 2 at end of row Work into each chain: 5 Half Double Crochet until end. Tie off. The row will twirl as you work. When finished, twirl into a rose shape and stitch into position. Position across ring, stitch into place. If you make this wreath, I'd love to see it!

I was over the moon when I found out that Bunny had completed her LE.. but that was nothing compared to how I felt when I actually saw her finished quilt - WOW! Bunny has created a wonderful Love Entw

I'm so excited right now, it's infectious! I'm in the middle of moving around my lounge room to change wall focus. Well, when I say I'm doing it, I should probably clarify that it's my DH doing it for me. Don't worry, he loves changing around all our household furniture to accommodate my quilts 😉! Because, whilst some people hang painted artwork in their home, I prefer to showcase applique. And right now, I've got a new range to showcase! This is 'Thursday Flowers' and it's a flower gallery style wall hanging. I’ve designed seven vase designs, one for each day of the week. Each is a stand alone wall hanging, designed to showcase my love of vase arrangements for the home. I especially love it when my quilts are at first mistaken for paintings or murals and are then found to be textile on closer inspection. And that's what this set of wall hangings is all about. In many ways, stylized applique is a form of painting—with fabric! And I do love it. What better way to show off my passion for all things textile? Thursday Flowers finished size is 23 x 33 inches which feels like a perfect 'painting' size on my walls. The pattern also includes a 50% reduced option for anyone wanting to make it smaller. It's perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to make a statement in applique. Finished size 23 x 33 inches OR 11.5 x 16.5 inches Complete Digital PDF pattern for printing at home **Digital sales are instant** $12.95 USD

Last week I spent lots of time prepping blocks for appliqué. But for me that is a daytime job so the evenings were spent stitching and I f...

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays Talk about exciting news! I think Jenny Henry might be the only quilter in New Zealand making Love Entwined and she just let me know last week that her LE had won Viewer's Choice for Amateur Quilt at the Auckland Quilt Show! WOW Jenny, what an achievement! Look at these beautiful tones, they're just incredible and it all looks so lovely, shining with it's own beauty and grace. If you can't stop at just one picture of this stunning quilt, visit Jenny's page over on the Love Entwined Gallery (click here to go there now). It really makes my day when quilter's let me know how they're getting on and when they share such happy news as this, well it's too good not to share! Well done Jenny! What's Your WOW? An InLinkz Link-up

Introducing: Hearts Desire: Block 4 This month I’ve purposefully included some sharp points to my design, since life is not always a sun dappled garden of needle- turned circles. Those little thorns do creep into the stem and I feel that, as in life, the thorny details needed to be represented. I do always try to think: bigger the thorn, more beautiful the rose This month my desire is Flowers For Me... and for me alone. For that reason this bloom is not a rose of any identifiable genus, but a flower from some other long forgotten time, blooming in only my garden. OK! Onto Details…. Isn’t it sad to think our journey together will be finished in just 2 months? I know, I know, you’re all thinking arghh, enough applique already! But can a quilter have too much of a good thing? This month sees us making 8 sashings to add to our 4 remaining background squares, which when done - we will go on to applique. There are no further clues about placement this month – that will come together next month. This month concludes the four remaining blocks. But where each block goes? Nobody will know for sure this month….We are all well versed on our raw edge and needle turn applique by now – you might think that this month is the last final applique hurdle before a breezy ending as we approach the last 2 months. Well, let me tell you now – I don’t think anyone will guess what’s coming up next month, so if you’re having thoughts of resting or putting aside your applique – resist – because when next month comes, you’re going to be eager to finish your quilt and invigorated when you see what’s in store to finish this design off. We are nearly approaching the end of this heartfelt and emotionally charged applique quilt: so many of you have truly made this design your own with personalized fabrics and added small but significant changes that tell your own unique story. I love looking through the albums as each of you complete your blocks. I know how wonderful this month’s block will look as the next 4 weeks pass…. So, until next month BOM wise, keep up if you can – it’ll be worth the finish!

Available in 2 sizes: 56 x 56 inches or 80 x 80 inches Sometimes a quilt comes along and demands all your attention. The Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet is one of those quilts. As soon as I'd r

Wrapt In Love $19.95 Complete Digital Pattern OK, let’s talk big bold blooms because this design is all about abundant flowers! Wrapt In Love is a quilt that demands your attention. The florals are large and showy, dominating the centre with their whimsy and style. Here are four unique flowers bursting with personality—for each one wants to be picked by you, wrapped up and finished with a bow. Each bouquet is titled after a woman’s name that means ‘love’: Amoris, Carita, Delaris and Elska. Now, let’s talk about that bow—it takes pride of place in the centre of the quilt as a puffy looped beauty that is repeated in a smaller size in the border. And the fun doesn’t stop there: the centre sashing is a ribbon block and you can play this style element up or tone it down—it all depends on the colour you choose to run through your statement centre. And the surrounding squares are also the perfect spot to use up your favourite fabrics in some gorgeous stash busting, or simply fussy cut to make a real statement. The border is made up of basket blocks that are topped with twirling vines—a real opportunity to show off those fabrics with either a complimentary or contrast scheme. Those baskets are big enough to let your favorite fabrics breath without taking over the design and the vines are ready for you to play with. Green? Red? Blue? It’s up to you!

Here we go again: we're back to making two borders this month, and what a beautiful set they make! Border 3 is all about entwined leaves; and in Part 11 this month, the top border has an ongoing flower / element / angel design whereas the bottom of Border 3 finishes with a bird. I have been charmed by this bird in the bottom corner, it's the only difference between the two blocks and immediately caught my eye when I first came across this quilt. Maybe because I always sneak a bird somewhere in my quilts designs too. Of course, this bird isn't so much snuck in as it is simply an extension of the elements of this design. I have spent a long time looking at Border 3 and I still don't have answers to the questions it has posed, so I'd love to hear your opinions You might wonder, as I often have when considering the original, what the elements used in border 3 stand for? It’s interesting to consider if the shapes running along all of border 3 are angels, guardians...or something else? These were drawn from the original as closely as possible and they do have this head/wing shape. Originally I thought they were candlesticks, then I changed my mind to Angels. What do you see? Of all the borders, Border 3 speaks to me as being the work of a person: someone with beliefs, values and ideas about their world. Someone who sat down and actually made this coverlet. It's easy to forget sometimes, that this coverlet is imbued with someone's personality. Sadly, I can't tell you anything more about that woman, so we'll have to let her design choices speak for her. I don't know why I like this block so much, perhaps because it's so unexpected and modern looking This is the central element, I think it's so charming Of all the blocks in this quilt, those in border 3 strike me as the most hopeful and remind me that this was the marriage coverlet of an unknown woman; someone very real, not just an idea. These design elements are a direct extension of her hopes and fears for the remaining days of her life. More than any other part of the quilt, these blocks remind me that we are re- creating a piece of history; handling an unknown woman’s legacy whilst creating our own heirloom. So I invite you, as always, to make these blocks meaningful to you. ‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15th of each month. All ‘blocks’ are available for free All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only

With an undertaking like Love Entwined, deciding on a final colour scheme can be fraught with indecision - just ask me; I'm still undecided on my final colour scheme and here's four reasons why. 1.Dark background, full colour applique This was one of my first colour schemes and one I am having trouble letting go of it as a possibility. I love it and the dark background means the applique shines and really comes into its own. My only apprehension is that it doesn't ring true (in my opinion) to the original. Or does it? Who knows. I've spent alot of time thinking about the original and have created something of a set idea about it which has come from studying the design so closely. Of course, I really don't know anything for certain because I've never seen the quilt. A lot of discussion has taken place over in my BOM Group regarding colour choices for this quilt and I've been giving out the same advice each time: do what speaks to you, make it authentic to your own style ...in that way you will do the quilt justice. Only problem is, I cant take my own advice because I love all the possible colour options! 2. Pale green background There's no denying a pale green background just works; it's subtle and it lets the applique take centre stage whilst setting a sophisticated tone. And tone here is the issue for me; because it asks for the applique fabrics to be in complimentary hues and colour families which means purchasing a lot more applique fabric than ordinary, but I do love it... 3. Classic scrappy It's become my opinion that the original is something of a scrappy. Like before, I can't determine this with any authority given that the quilt hasn't been seen in public since 1956. Whatever the original is, a scrappy quilt can not only seriously stash bust your fabric but put it to seriously good use too, what a stunning heirloom this would be. 4. Light French Blue with pinks and yellows This is the colour way I finally decided on. The light french blue really speaks to me and I have been wanted to make a significant quilt with this blue/light aqua tone for a few years. The added bonus here is that it is such a Georgian colour too. I'm actually waiting for my fabrics to arrive so my final choice is not definite, it will all decide on seeing the fabric in the flesh and making the final call then. These images are only coloured in sketches, not real quilts and this means the colours used are guides only. The fact is, the yellow is appearing out of tone in these pics and not showing up as true - this is especially the case with the light french blue and pale green background. So the colours above that look out of place - they are out of place, they've been distorted via imaging. I think though, that these colour ways give you a good idea of the real possibility your own Love Entwined can take in feel and colour theme. The top 3 colour ways take over 158 separate applique colours each, with a set background. My final colour choice is this last one and it's the one used in the pattern; it contains significantly less fabrics. Determining fabric usage in a quilt such as Love Entwined is difficult. I have done so in the pattern but what I really want to say is; set your background fabric and after that, it's anything goes. How many colours you use, how many prints, how complex, how diverse, it all depends on what you want to create. Some quilters are talking about making a 2 tone quilt and this could certainly work too. When my fabric arrives I will share my 'final' selections; whilst I wait, I am really enjoying looking through everyone elses colour palette and am so pleased that you're sharing your own progress in the Group- it's really interesting for the rest of us to see what you're up to and how you're interpreting the design. What do you think? Which colours would you choose? ‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM. Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15thof each month. All ‘blocks’ are available for free during the month of their release. Any missed ‘blocks’ may be purchased. All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only.

Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet by Patricia Stephans of QLD, Australia (and her long suffering DH helping hold it in place during the photograph :) ) All hand stitched and quilted. Patricia chose the colors of purple and gold as they depict the colors of the jacaranda and silky oak trees that are out in blossom in Queensland What can I say? It's beautiful and inspiring, Here we have yet another Love Entwined -hand sewn- that reflects the life and nature surrounding the quilter who created it. What an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your work with us Patricia, it sure is motivational for those of us stitching along on this extraordinary heirloom. This quilt will be added to the Love Entwined Gallery so it can be enjoyed alongside other LE's as and when they're made. If you've made LE, please consider sharing it with us all via the gallery. Details on how to do this are listed on my website, click here for the link.

Eleanor Montgomery Smith is a talented quilter who's on her own journey towards creating Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet, in her own special way. Eleanor is also a Moderator in my Facebook BOM Group (lucky us!) and when I saw some progress shots of her LE quilt, I immediately asked her if I could showcase her progress here on the blog for all to see. She has generously agreed and I don't know about you, but I'm swooning! As you can see, Eleanor has a beautiful way with flourishes. When I released the Love Entwined pattern, I really hoped someone would take it and make a heavily embellished version - just so I could see what it would look like. Although I am a lover of classic applique, I could already see during the design process that this was a quilt that could take as much embellished flourishes as anyone could care to incorporate into it. And look at this - someone has! I'm on cloud nine just taking it all in with my eyes! Ribbon embroidery is something I have always admired and it really finds itself in this design - these enhancing touches are so special and give the eye so much to take in - it makes an already special quilt extra special, wow. The borderie perse Eleanor opted for looks custom designed - and I suppose that in a way, it is. How beautiful! I'm also loving Eleanor's blue background and vase choices, her colour balance between the fabrics is just perfect. Each time I see another Love Entwined, that one becomes my current favorite because honestly, each and every single one of them speak with their own accent of beauty. They each have something different and special about them. And this somehow makes the journey extra special all over again. 'Special' is a word that keeps coming up over and and over again in connection with Love Entwined - the mystery, the intrigue, the tantalizing Georgian facts around the textile that make us pause for thought..and then carry on with our legacy. Anyone who's making their own Love Entwined understands - there's just something about this quilt. I found this border tricky, getting both zig zags, border and zig zags just so within the spacing, but you've done it beautifully Eleanor! this pot of broderie perse pansies has stolen my heart! Love how you incorporate your ribbon flourishes in this block, gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your progress with us Eleanor, I know this inspirational boost will be push some quilters out there need to pick up and carry on with their own LE WIP! As for myself, I was working on my own LE during the time when mother died and because of this, I haven't been able to get back into the right kind of mood to complete it. At least, until now I haven't felt it was the right time. I'm beginning to feel a little differently just lately. It's been over a year now and I'm thinking that it's time to finally complete and show off my own coverlet. Of course, when I do, you'll know all about it - every step of the way. I'm so lucky that until then and up until now, I've been able to feast my eyes on all the beautiful LE's being made by so many other quilters. Thank you everyone, for being so generous with your talent and motivations; it makes our creative hub on the internet a extra special place to belong - and having you all there makes all the difference. And an extra special and repeated thank you to Eleanor because as I mentioned at the top of the post, she's a Moderator in our Group and we all know, Moderator's make the BOM Group keep turning! In addition to my Facebook BOM Group, there's also an extra Love Entwined Group (because it's so epic it needed it's own space with it's own pace) for makers to connect and create. What about you? Are you making Love Entwined? Have you joined the Love Entwined BOM Group? Go ahead and join us as we share friendship, quilting tips and creativity. Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet is a historic, heritage applique quilt made in remembrance and legacy of an original coverlet of no name, referred to only as a 'fine marriage coverlet' by Averil Colby in her publication printed in 1958. I created Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet in homage to the original because I knew that this quilt needed to be remembered, acknowledged and recognized by all quilters everywhere as a work of magnificent ingenuity without peer or equal in its era. This quilt was originally released as a Free BOM over 18 months. The BOM is now finished. The pattern can be purchased via my online pattern shop.

After months of countless handwork, I wanted a post to document my completely hand sewn applique top before I quilted it. Hand sewing has definitely bonded me to this quilt in unexpected ways. We all know what a mysterious background it has and the constant wondering of the woman who designed it in the 1800's is always there, lurking n the background. And, true enough, each time I took up my top to sew a little more, there was always a brief thought of her, the unknown woman, as I set about completing her extraordinary motifs in the pattern. looking at it now, I can barely believe I did all this work! I can tell just by looking at it, what time I did the work The small neat stitches were made during the day, the larger looser stitches were made during the night, I have two stitch speeds, daytime and nighttime :) now all that's left is to quilt it... The original Love Entwined Coverlet was designed to revive interest in the lost original - a cause many quilters around the world took up - managing to finding the original and reigniting interest in it's origins by taking part in the pattern. Thanks to this effort, this design is no longer forgotten and by the looks of things, will be around for many more years. This second version LE2 is a focus on the original centre panel but as a wall hanging and is therefore much more achievable for many more quilters. This pattern is currently not available, however I may make it available for publication in a magazine next year, depending on their interest to run it. My hopes are to have it published so that it may be professionally photographed - something I am unable to do myself. I'll keep you posted..

I'm working on the applique shapes that make up Oma's centre plate. Today, its the vase. Applique shapes have a habit of growing, so I keep checking them against the template I'm using stitch and wash fusible for the applique pieces I'm fussy cutting all my shapes and my finished vase! I love this fabric and I'm not surprised it's called Dutch Cottage, it's perfect for my Oma's Blues When I have my shape completed, I iron it and then position it into place on my background using basting glue. I've pinned my background fabric over the pattern template (which is clearly showing through). Oma's Blues is my current free BOM; you can download the pattern parts over in my Yahoo Bom Group https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/estheraliubom/info

Mary Chartier of Connecticut, USA has created a majestic Love Entwined with a dark background and bright fabrics. What a story this fabric combination creates! There's something so alluring about a dark background and the use of colour really makes the quilt flow as the eye keeps moving, keen to take in all the wonderful detail. ​ Every LE is as unique as it's maker, thank you Mary for sharing your wonderful quilt with us. Don't forget, when you've finished your own LE quilt or project, there's a special spot waiting for you in our LE gallery. It's still early days yet with many of us taking our time to complete this heirloom beauty, so the gallery will always be around. And if you're still working on LE, as many of us are, we have an LE Facebook Group dedicated to supporting each other. It's free to join, see you there!

'Forget Me Not' was released back in 2012 as a Mystery Quilt and is one of my earlier patterns. Because I'm always two steps ahead of myself, I was already onto the next quilt before I finished this o

Part 1 of Love Entwined consisted of easing you in with a simple centre applique compass. After all, I knew you'd be busy selecting your fabrics and getting your work spaces in order to create this stunning and laborious heirloom. Naturally, it's all applique work. Many members mentioned that it was actually their first applique compass, so I must say, I'm doubly impressed with how many were made in such a short span of time. Many members made 2 or more compasses to choose from. How much enthusiasm can a single quilt inspire? Thanks to Bunny and Michele for posting these in the group Of course, I must be the slowest member in my own group because I haven't actually made my own one yet (of course I made a draft when I created the pattern, but I am still waiting on my fabrics. Yes! I'm really still in a fabric slump). Luckily, our group moderators are both enthusiastic and highly skilled and they've allowed me to show you what they've created, and yes, it's fabulous. There are hundreds of compasses over in the group now: each one is different and expresses a unique style. It's really interesting to see how this centre work of applique sets the tone for the entire square. There are going to be hundreds of Love Entwined quilts out in the world in the next 2-3 years and I am really looking forward to seeing them as they progress. Now for the compass. This is the kind of post I like to blog a few days after the Part is launched, but this month has been so crazy for me and I have been rushed off my feet: I'm lucky our moderators are so generous with their time so that I can share it with you here, now. Glenda had the wonderful idea to hand embroider rose bullions on her compass ring instead of the small applique circles. Glenda, I think you mentioned it was 8 hours work? Look at how marvellous these look, worth every minute. I tried to keep my DD away from Glenda's photo because I knew that when she saw it, she's demand rose bullion too.! But I'm afraid I'll be sticking with the applique on this one, my embroidery techniques are a bit too rusty! Bunny created machine embroidered roses which I also instantly fell in love with and here is Bunny's ring for around the compass, they look stunning! Of course, making your own ring for the compass doesn't mean you stop sharing you ideas! Here's the brass washers idea to help turn those small fiddly applique circles. Thanks again Bunny, I know a lot of members took this idea on. a lot of us couldn't believe something so common could be so effective, so Karen Van Dijk Nielsen helped us out with a photo Yesterday I mentioned that group activity inspires ingenuity: well here's an example, the thumb tack method. It's as simple as it is effective. I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. I've since tried it and yes, perfect little applique circles. Thanks to Marieke Hordijk for sharing this for us. Thanks to the members mentioned here who gave me permission to share their photos on my blog. There is so much sharing of ideas and methods over in the group that I can't wait to see how we approach and tackle each new Part. Part 2 will be released on the 15th of July and I suspect the group will fall silent for all least a few hours whilst everyone keenly examines the work ahead: we're really stepping up in Part 2 and the quilt centre takes it central shape. I'm already excited and can't wait to work through it with you. ‘Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet’ is a Free 18 Month Historic BOM. Each ‘block’ of the month is released monthly, on the 15thof each month. All ‘blocks’ are available for free during the month of their release. Any missed ‘blocks’ may be purchased. All ‘blocks’ are available for download via my Yahoo BOM Group only. 

Last week I blogged about Narelle Birchall and her LE - she is an extraordinarily talented quilter and the first person, as far as any of us know, to have finished Love Entwined. Am I serious?! Yes I am! Just thinking about it leaves me a little breathless. But Narelle isn't just talented, she's also generous and giving too. Last week we met up at Quilts in the Barn over in Wonga Park and I was able to see her work firsthand. This has been the first moment I've had to blog about the whole experience. Oh my. (L-R) Narelle, Brenda Papadakis and yes, that's me grinning in admiration and awe. It was cramped in there for a quilt as big as LE, but we were keen to unfold it and have a look at its beauty and it wasn't long before everyone present was desperate for a better look... So it was taken outside and pegged to the tennis court fence. It was an incredibly bright day and the glare was overwhelming for me, all my photos turned out blank or washed out and I got one of those instant sun headaches, so I was very grateful to Linda who knew my camera better that I do and put it on the right setting so that I could capture a photo with Narelle in front of her majestic quilt. We are both somewhat stunned by the light in this image, but I think you can see how spectacular Narelle's Love Entwined is. Narelle, you are talented beyond words. I can tell you that it truly is spectacular and that Narelle has accomplished years worth of work at a rapid pace. And yet, it's incredible in every way. Her fabrics, her workmanship, everything just left me speechless. I'm already at that stage with Love Entwined, where I just don't know what to say about it anymore. It has been an epic and heartfelt journey for me and I feel in many ways that I have done what I felt I needed to when I started this project. With the last installment released this month, I feel somewhat 'finished' emotionally with the drive that was needed to release it. From this point onward, it belongs to whoever makes it and takes on its own character at each hand. Seeing Narelle's quilt made me fully 'realise' that this quilt is out there in the world now and this leaves me deeply contented. Did I mention Narelle's excellent workmanship? She really is talented. This is perhaps the most difficult block in the entire quilt and she has made it look effortless and simple. It's very difficult to photograph a quilt like LE because there is so much detail and these details are not distinguished in overall quilt front pics. So here is a close up shot. I can tell you first hand that every inch has been made extraordinarily well, this quilt is a masterpiece. My deep thanks and gratitude to Linda who allowed us to unfold LE and then peg it on the tennis courts, and for taking the images I am in when I couldn't manage my own camera (honestly, I'm hopeless with those things), and to Brenda Manges Papadakis (that's a whole other post!) and of course to Narelle Birchall - its incredibly generous to take the time to show your quilt and to have allowed me to see it in real life. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Yes, Love Entwined is officially out there. What do you think?

This stitch really appeals to me: it's called a Hungarian Braided Stitch. It looks like a plait and I think it's just perfect for my flower stems. I considered a lot of stitches for the stems and really agonized over my all the available choices. Personally, I think you should select a stitch based on your design and personal taste. The pattern actually has an appliqued stem - and I love that too. In fact, at this stage I plan to applique my stems on my red and white LE. Something about this scrappy style called for embroidered stems in my opinion and I did think about it for a few months before committing. There are so many beautiful LE's being made over in my Yahoo BOM Group that when I started seeing the embroidered stems, they just spoke to me. So I changed my mind. I'm combining the Hungarian stitch with free stitching and I'm using two shades for the main stems and the little flourishes and thinner stems branching out. Mostly I use an embroidery hoop, although I did create a few stems 'freehand' but then it just got too difficult. My zig zag border is precisely pinned to my paper template (below) and ready to be appliqued to this center, but I really wanted to have the embroidery down before I put down that border. I'll repeat here that I used a Pilot Frixion pen to transfer the pattern to my chosen background. I pre-tested this pen before drawing it up. Now, with the zig zag border, its so important to accurately put it down as there is a lot going on in the center square. Please don't go ahead and 'fill out' your center without the zig zag down first- even though it appears that I am doing that now. I am actually not doing that. I am creating the pattern out of order from the BOM Parts and because of the hoop and handling for embroidery (and potential shrinkage) I wanted the embroidery finished before stitching down the border. The border has to be in place before you place the vases and flowers or else you'll have clashes. I really don't want anyone creating a bad habit because it appears that I am working 'out of turn'. Each week I select a different area to focus on and I work on whatever suits me at that time; taking into account hand and eye strain. I can afford to do this as I know the pattern very well and am experienced, but if you are working from the pattern I do suggest you stick to the order of the Parts as they are released. There's just so much work - too much- to have to re-do any one part. You don't want to face that discouragement! Embroidery stems are not better than the pattern applique stems - they're just different, and whether they will work on your own quilt will depend on the style of your fabrics and your own personal taste. Here is an excellent YouTube Tutorial to help you learn this stitch, if you are interested in making it yourself. As for me, I have a lot of embroidery to be getting on with! If you're making LE and you blog, please consider adding your progress over in the Love Entwined Archive at the top of this blog - it's easy to add a link and it allows quilters in the future to see how other quilters made LE their own.

'Love Always' is inspired by the ever intriguing Love Entwined 1790 Marriage Coverlet and is an entirely new quilt hopelessly devoted to re-imagining the original in an updated but still breathlessly beautiful design. This is quilt for applique enthusiasts and lovers of fine detail and heirloom quilts. Finished size is 88 x 88 inches. Although completely new, this original design is, in my own mind, a sister quilt to Love Entwined. They belong to the same family of romantic florals, bows and beauty. I always knew when I released Love Entwined out into the world, that the design story wasn't over for me. I wanted to go back to the evocative style of the coverlet and create something new. I'm still thinking up colourways for Love Always and will update and show off a few more ideas before today is over. But my first colour was is highly symbolic for me. It's in red and white, just like my first ever BOM 'Red Delicious' was and it feels like a nice tie in to present Love Always in that way. As you know, 2018 is all about celebrating my 10 years of blogging and BOMs, so having Love Always nod to Red Delicious in this way feels so right. If you've signed up to my BOM 2018, Love Always will be available to you, just like Morning Glory (revealed yesterday) is and just like Daisy Blue (revealed tomorrow) will be. There'll also be extra bonus quilts on offer to make 2018 my biggest ever quilt-a-thon year! Make your 2018 the most creative yet, join my BOM 2018 now to secure your Early Bird Discount (expires Thanksgiving). You can pay in full once or in monthly installments. Simply click the early bird to learn more and sign up. Be sure to check back tomorrow when I'll release the sketch for 'Daisy Blue' (3 of 3)

When I first saw progress on this quilt, I called the chosen hues 'sunshine on fabric.' Today I'm delighted to share Chris's finished quilt with you all. It's a journey full of dedication, love and colour. Isn't it breathtaking? Here's what Chris has to say about her journey through Love Entwined: "I started my quilt when it was published as a BOM and wanted it to show off all the colours I like which is pretty much any colour under the sun, so it includes all possible shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, violet and purple for the flowers. The tone I love most is always bright and light, so I used batik fabrics. All the flowers produce so much lovely chaos on this quilt that some element of order had to be introduced which is provided by the dark blue found in the borders and the zigzag. My favourite part was picking fabric but it was also the hardest part because I had to imagine what it would look like in the end when it all comes together and just hope that everything would be in balance. I'm particularly pleased with the lavender-purple/ red-yellow gradation in the third border that creates a pulsating vivid effect." Chris, your favorite part is really the most difficult part for me and I love reading about how the shades used throughout inspired you. I definitely agree that the dark blue you have used, really grounds your quilt in just the right way. "I'm not much of a fan of broderie perse so I spent hours on research for techniques that could be used to create realistic looking flowers. I tried a lot of things, I ruched roses in three different techniques, folded calices, frayed daisies etc. LE was a huge playground for me. The wish for realistic flowers led me to change the design in various places, the one that stands out the most is the centre-piece with the four vases which are seasonal vases filled with flowers from my garden. When pieces became too small within the leaf helix of the second border I turned to embroidery and tried different stitches. I decided that the strange shapes at the crossings were butterflies instead of angels which seemed to go nicely with the flower theme and replaced the strange looking bird by a robin. After the second border I was fed up with leaves and thought the double bows need loose ends rather than more leaves. I also wanted real tassels rather than embroidered ones so I made them out of wool." "After so much appliqué I needed a break and put the top aside for an entire year. With this hand appliqué I wanted to hand-quilt it, too, and after visiting an exhibition comparing quilts I decided on a grid because that's what I think makes the appliqué stand out. I quilted a 5/8th inch grid, I quilted for 5 months for two hours every day. I chose a leaf design for the green borders and an intertwining zigzag for the blue border." "Now that I'm finished I can't really believe it, LE has been my steady company for four years in total. It encompasses all the workmanship I'm capable of, certainly an insane amount of work and displays my love for colour and flowers like no other quilt has done or ever will do again. There's no quilt like it and I'll never undertake such an enterprise ever again. It's unique and stands out amongst all my other appliqué quilts." Chris, your Love Entwined quilt is full of joyous light and energy that just floods the senses. When I see your colour scheme and consider how many hundreds of hours you have spent making this magnificent heirloom, I'm in awe. This quilt shines and I'm honored to add it to our Love Entwined Gallery. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. There are more images to see! Luckily for us, Chris sent through 16 stunning images (too many for a blog post) that you can view over on her Love Entwined Gallery Page. Click any of the images above to go there now, or click here. What about you? Are you making Love Entwined? Have you joined the Love Entwined BOM Group? Go ahead and join us as we share friendship, quilting tips and creativity. If you'd like to make Love Entwined yourself, you can purchase the pattern by visiting my online pattern shop, or click here now to go there.