Benson's memorial quilt is finished!

Benson's memorial quilt is now finished and hanging on our living room wall. When the sun decides to come out I will take some better pictures of it. I really enjoyed making this wall hanging; it has helped me get through the grieving process. Rest in peace, faithful friend.

More Progress on Benson's Memorial Quilt

I finally printed an image I liked, using TAP Transfer paper, and have embroidered it to the background, instead of using trim.   I am much happier with it this way.

In the photo below, Benson's image is appliqued to the background using a narrow zigzag stitch and invisible thread.  There is a layer of batting behind the image.

More Progress on Benson's Memorial Quilt

The top is almost done.  Tonight I will be working on getting his photo in place, and some more embroidery, or some trim,  to frame the photo.

Progress on Benson's Memorial Quilt

I have finished the embroidery on the two side borders, and the first pass on the top and bottom borders.  Here are the side borders:

Benson's Quilt - Fur Photo Printed on Fabric!

I am happy with my quilt so far.  The four borders are pieced, although there is at least one area (near the top right) where I may add an additional piece (see third photo).

I feel that the frame print in the center has too much blue, so here is what I did.  I took a number of photo's of Lily's fur (same color as Benson's fur was) and arranged them on my photo software to print all 12 photos with no spaces in between. Then I printed it on white fabric using the freezer paper method.

The next step is to cut the fabric into strips and piece it together. Or maybe sew the three sheets together and then cut into strips.  Whatever is easiest.  

 I will then turn under the long edges and appliqué it over the square flowered border on the frame print.

This photo shows a mock up with the fur photos printed onto paper and temporarily glued to the frame.   Benson is still in the hoop, but I have printed a larger and more saturated image to use on the real project.  

This is one of my fur fabric sheets, printed onto fabric using freezer paper.  I used the same sheet of FP three times and it kept working!

Wow!  Printing one's own fabric has endless possibilities...  More will be revealed. 

Here is the finished pieced border.  I think I want to assemble the quilt before starting the embroidery.  I hope it won't be too unwieldy.  

I want to do two steps of trapunto: one behind the photo of Benson, and one on the back of the two sets of  "leaves" framing his photo.

Embellishments for Benson's Quilt

My dear friend Cherie is a dog lover, and also an expert glass bead maker.  I asked her if she had any dog themed beads I could use to embellish my quilt, and she said she would send me these. Adorable!

I already had these, from a keychain she made me years ago.

Benson's Quilt - Third Border

Wow, the freezer paper method rocks!  It is much easier than curved flip and sew and the pieces lay so flat.  I am backing some of the nappy fancy fabrics with knit fusible, but not all.  Silk does not not need it.  

I may reprint the photo, to try to get it more vibrant, and I would like to enlarge the center square, to avoid trimming so much from these fun borders.  

I will assemble it before starting the embellishments, as Allie suggests.  

Progress on Benson's Crazy Quilt

This evening I made block B, the right side border. I used the freezer paper method and it was a breeze compared to the curved flip and sew. I used clear thread to appliqué the pieces down and it really disappears, even before embroidery. 

Start of Benson Memorial Crazy Wall Quilt

I wanted to do something to help me grieve my beloved Benson who passed on October 31. 

I am using one of the lessons from Allie Aller's crazy quilting book. 

The first side of the border is done using the curved piecing method. I am thinking of using the freezer paper method for the other three sides of the border. Or not. 

I may assemble the whole thing before starting the embellishments.