Cindy Needham

Wedding Dress Quilt from Lisa Calle

2009-07-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

When I taught at MQX this year, Lisa Calle was in my trunk show class. She emailed me today with pictures of a special wedding dress quilt she made...it gave me bumps and I had to share with the rest of you. Amazing quilting on a very special heirloom. Thank you for sharing Lisa! Here is her letter to me~

My grandmother passed away about 2 years ago. I presented this quilt to my mother shortly afterward. The center of the quilt is made with my grandmother’s dress. The corner blocks were made from my dress with some of my mother’s lace flowers on top and with my sister’s dress as the border. Each of our initials are in the borders. I used Superior metallic thread. It was a bittersweet quilt to work on. Although my grandmother was 92 when she passed away, we all miss her.

Sisters Quilt Show Part One

2009-07-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Although I taught for the Sisters show last year, it was for a last minute fill in for a teacher who was ill and I wasn't able to stay and enjoy the show. This was the first time I've gotten to see the show in person and it was everything I have ever heard about it. The weather was absolutely perfect and the quilts were breath taking. There were quilts hanging from every porch and wall and each store was filled with quilts as well. I also loved all the flowers hanging from every porch. If you ever get the chance to come to the show it is the 2nd Saturday of July every year and the week before you can take classes from some of the best teachers around. Enough said...the pictures say it all!

Sisters Quilt Show Part Two

2009-07-11T15:54:00.001-07:00

I left to teach for the Sisters Quilt Show last Monday and started teaching on Tuesday. I had four amazing classes during the week and finished up on Friday night. The Ponderosa Lodge where I was staying is almost a park-like setting with deer and loads of chipmunks for cheap entertainment. I always had some granola on the porch for my visitors. Each night I had to get all the thread back in order from the class...good thing I didn't have a roommate! Sewing machine was set up in my room and I've included a picture of my current project :)

This was my first experience having quilters with treadle sewing machines...yes...treadle sewing machines! They hauled the cabinets and all into the room with a hand cart and they were able to free motion quilt with Superior Threads too!

Since this was going to be such a long stretch away from home my husband Kent and dog Miter showed up at my doorstep late last night for a surprise weekend visit. We spent the morning at the show before it got hot and then grabbed a picnic lunch and headed for Camp Sherman to the river and the fish hatchery and then off for a couple mile hike. We couldn't remember how long it had been since we had such a day for just "us".

More Inspiration from Karen Azevedo

2009-07-05T05:22:00.000-07:00

Last year Karen emailed me with her first linen wholecloth quilt, a few months later I got a picture of her second one and now we're up to three! I would say she has become as addicted to this type of quilting as the rest of us. I get bumps when I see her work and have to keep sharing her with the rest of you.

Karen wears two hats ~ she does long arm quilting and you can visit her website at cabincountryquilting.com. She also does new product reviews for the Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine. One of my students gave me a copy of this magazine a few months ago and was raving about it...I was SO impressed I immediately went on-line and signed up for a year's subscription. The articles are full of great information and beautiful photography. I don't normally spend a lot of time on magazines but I have read both of my issues cover to cover twice. I was also invited to write an article for this magazine on wholecloth quilting and the first part will be appearing in their September issue.

Karen's email to me is copied below...thank you for continuing to inspiring us all Karen!

"I am attaching some photos of my latest wholecloth. It is not an antique linen in the middle but rather a new doily that I found in one of our local shops. My access to antique linen is very limited! The lace doily is made in Germany in an area called Plauen so they call it Plauen lace.

On my wholecloth I also bought a square doily that matched the center lace and then cut it apart so that I had 4 pieces and put them in the corners. I also added an additional lace heart for the very middle. Both the front and back are a cream colored sateen. I also beaded parts of it.

I have since found several other pieces of Plauen Lace and am anxious to start designing around them."

New Stencils!

2009-06-30T14:13:00.001-07:00

I have been designing stencils for Quilting Creations, Inc. for a number of years. When I am working on a design I try to come up with designs that quilters can get lots of uses from...use different parts for different things or have lots of choices with one particular stencil. Because I am a wholecloth quilter a good portion of my designs tend to work well for those types of quilts.

One line of stencil designs that is hard to find are a variety of large-ish ovals and circles...especially the ovals! I have designed two separate sets of ovals and circles that give you many choices. I intended for my students to pick and choose which ones they wanted in their quilts but many have used them just as they are using all the circles/ovals on their wholecloth and they have turned out beautiful. If you are interested in these stencils, please visit quiltingcreations.com (also a link on my Home Page) and look for NH199, NH198, NH233 and NH234. These stencils will be part of myLinen Ladies Club which will be premiering this fall.

I am busy getting ready to leave to teach at the Sisters Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon. I'll have my camera handy and will be sharing pictures soon! Cindy

What a Difference a Pearl Makes!

2009-06-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

I am still frantically trying to get everything done for Sisters and am down to the last 100 pearls to be added to this quilt. I wanted to show it to you while it was still in progress so you could appreciate what a difference a few details make.

This started out as a drawnthread work tablecloth. I placed it on a light pink Radiance and then added a small tray cloth to the middle. The middle design is from Elly Sienkiewicz's Baltimore Album Blocks collection and was quilted with Superior Threads' Bottom Line. The feather work was done with two different colors of Superior's Highlights and Nature Colors.

The beadwork on the tray cloth used clear/white and clear/pink beads and of course lots of freshwater pearls.

I have named this piece "Blooming Where I Was Planted". I wanted to acknowledge all the amazing things that have happened to me since quitting my full time job three years ago to follow my dream. Cindy

Great Job Miss Em!

2009-06-17T18:11:00.001-07:00

Give me a half-a-chance and I'll either be bragging about my daughters or my grand-daughters...

Emily, my youngest daughter, is known for her amazing wedding cakes and pastries (Picture of her on "My Time" Quilting Retreat blog). She is also known for being able to create things from almost nothing. We make dates at least once or twice a month to go antiquing and have a girls day together and the last time she was scrounging around looking for old purses to get handles and parts from.

She just sent me pictures of four new purses she made and that are amazing. She went to our local thrift stores and bought old skirts and belts and made created these one-of-a-kind purses from the fabric from the skirts and made the handles out of the belts.

I would love to get into her head sometime just to see how it works...or maybe not!

Good job Miss Em....luvu, Mom :)

Finished....finally!

2009-06-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

After finishing the post below I thought I should share pictures of the rest of the quilt! You've seen me working on this on earlier posts and it has been in my machine since March. I am going to be teaching at the Sisters Quilt Show this coming July and they asked for quilts for the teacher's exhibit...of course I had to list two quilts that weren't even done so it gave me a deadline to get them both finished. I'll show you the second one as soon as all the bead work is complete.

These are just quick shots to give you an idea of how it all turned out (overall picture only shows the middle section of the quilt). The original linen is in the middle and was a Christmas gift from my daughter Emily. I placed it on Kaufman's Radiance fabric which is 55% silk and 45% cotton...delicious fabric! The feathering was done with Superior Threads' Highlights #795 and #796 and the cathedral window background in Bottom Line #652.

As soon as the rod pocket lace is attached and the signature linen complete I will post those too.

Cindy

Almost Like Magic!

2009-06-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

I've been working on this linen wholecloth quilt for 3 months now and have finally gotten it done. I've been putting off dealing with these two ugly holes waiting for a magic solution to arrive at my doorstep...and it did! I was recently at a show and the Bo-Nash vendor was there demonstrating their product. This product repairs tears and holes and I was VERY impressed!

For my particular holes, I turned the underside of my linen over and in the double-folded hem around the edge I cut out two small pieces of fabric from ONE layer. I tucked a piece into each hole. I took some of the Bo-Nash 007 crystals and very lightly laid some along the raw edge of the hole. Using the special pressing sheet I pressed with my hot iron. Wha La! The holes aren't perfectly and seamlessly gone but they are filled and I am a very happy camper.

You can find this product online at www.bonash.com. It is the 007 Bonding Agent and be sure to get the pressing sheet too!

A Time Gone By...

2009-05-31T17:26:00.001-07:00

Remember Ricci Lindley??? Well, she blessed me with another treasure last week. A friend of hers asked if I would be interested in receiving a badly disintegrating wedding dress that had been passed down in her family. Of course I was interested!

I am always in awe of such beautiful pieces despite the fact that they are in such poor condition. I have enjoyed ooohing and awwwwiing and fondling the lace and thought you would too. I've taken some close up pictures of the collar, cuffs with hooks/eyes still attached, the back showing the itty bitty covered buttons and button holes, and other "parts". When I decide what to do with this beautiful dress, or what's left of it, I'll have to bring you along on my journey. If you have any ideas, please share! Cindy

Sewing Machine Roller Bag

2009-05-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

When I'm teaching I always point students to good products that I find so I thought I should start doing this on my blog too!

One of my students from Sacramento, CA recently came to class with this GREAT bag for her machine. I bought mine yesterday and fell in love with it! It's not feminine and pretty but very practical and affordable. The bag that I have pictured came from Harbor Freight. There happens to be a store in Chico but they are on line too at www.harborfreight.com. This is a 20" Rollaway Tool Bag, Item# 92328 and it cost me $28.00 in the store. It also comes with another bag so it's two for the price of one. I have a Juki sewing machine which is larger and heavier than most machines and it fits comfortably and snug. There are lots of pockets on the inside and outside for even more storage. I put my tool box, foot pedal, cords, light, threads, etc. in the extra bag that came with it. The handle of the extra bag fits over the extendable handle so the two bags can travel together. They also had a smaller 15" bag for $14.00 that could carry a smaller sewing machine. Happy Shopping! Cindy

The Linen Ladies Club

2009-05-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about my new "project" and had to share with everyone!

When my book, Wholecloth Linen Quilts, was published almost two years ago it introduced my world of quilting antique linens to all of you. The response from everyone has been almost overwhelming. Each time I speak to a guild or conduct a workshop I have the best seat in the house as I get to see all the little light bulbs going off in everyone's heads when they realize what they can do. I considered doing a second book, even had a rough draft on the publisher's desk, and decided to pursue an idea I've been playing around with for awhile instead.

When I teach I am always listening to my students and I've been hearing over and over that specific detailed instructions and designs are badly needed in this field of quilting. There is too much to cover to fit in ONE book!

I am going to be self-publishing a series of workbook-design packets that will be called The Linen Ladies Club which will be recognizable by my trademark logo above. You will be treated to well written instructions that will accompany each packet to get you started. I will then have specific instructions, illustrations and photos taking you step-by-step helping you create your own hankie quilts, pillowcase quilts, tablecloth quilts, wholecloth quilts on plain fabric, etc. I have some very talented students I have dubbed my Linen Ladies and they have come up with some great projects, ideas and tips. They will be featured in these packets too giving them due credit for their work. As all of you come up with ideas I could include you as well!

I design stencils for Quilting Creations, Inc. and they are in the process at this very moment turning more of my designs into stencils that can be used specifically for these wholecloth linen quilts. Specific designs will be printed and included in each packet and will be available for sale as stencils through QCI.

I created a special 3-ring binder for my Asilomar students for their daily workbooks and it made such a hit I decided to do this for the Linen Ladies Club. Each of the packets will be 3-hole punched. I am going to separately sell a special binder for these packets so as you add to your library you'll have a wonderful place to keep them for reference. My Design Class workbook and my great basting lesson handout will be included in the binder as a special perk. Each binder will also come with a "gift" of my enamel pin which is my flowered star pictured above. This pin is something I will never sell, but I give as gifts and those students that have them now love them! I will also be offering for sale some of the products that I recommend as well as some special gifty items.

I am SO jazzed about this and the sky is the limit with how far this will go. Due to my extensive teaching and traveling schedule I am squeezing this in-between everything and anticipate having it up and running by the end of summer early fall. As I said before I listen to my students and readers and would appreciate any and all ideas, inspirations, or critiques!

Cindy

Inspiration from Martha

2009-05-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to have been invited to teach at MQX in New Hampshire last month and I had a ball. One of my students, Martha Wishart from Lexington, MA was one of my students and just sent me pictures of her newly completed project. This is her first linen piece and also her first piece as a machine quilter! Thank you for sharing Martha and welcome to the Linen Ladies Club!
***

Hi Cindy-I thought I'd show you what I did after I took your class in NH. Keep in mind that I had never machine quilted before. The white material is a linen napkin.

I have an old organdy table runner that belonged to my grandmother basted and ready to quilt next.

I loved your class, and I'm having so much fun!

Backgrounds-Double Grid & Cathedral Window

2009-05-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

I started Mother's Day at 4 am at my most favorite place in the world...in front of my sewing machine, under a beautiful quilt with a really good cup of coffee!

I haven't written a new post for awhile as I have been very focused on getting this quilt done and also working on a new venture that I will be sharing with everyone soon. I don't know about the rest of you, but some quilts "talk" to me when I'm working on them and this is one of those very special ones. My daughter Emily bought me this old linen for Christmas and I have enjoyed every moment of its creation. While I was working on some background quilting this morning I got caught up in how the quilting continues to change it. Something as simple as gridwork and cathedral window can make such a huge difference in making a piece come alive.

I love doing a background technique I call "double gridwork". The sample I am showing above starts out as 1/2" grid. I then go back and divide it in half again in both directions. It provides a beautiful background design that is easily executed. For those of "creatively pieced" quilts this is a good choice of background design to hide the creativity. I also love to take the gridwork and turn it into cathedral window. You can use your marked gridwork lines as a guideline for the windows and NOT stitch them OR you can stitch those lines to add an extra detail as I have done here. Of course I had to add itty bitty scribbling in the middle of the windows to add even more pop.

Happy Mother's Day everyone and check back soon...I'll have some fun new information on my newest inspiration and project. Cindy :)

"My Time" Quilting Retreat

2009-05-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I held my first retreat at the McCloud Mercantile and Hotel in McCloud, California. I hostessed my first two retreats in Chico last year but had difficulties with the facility. The minute I set foot in this beautiful building I knew I had found a permanent home for my retreats each year. Visit their website at mccloudmercantile.com to get more information and enjoy the story of the renovation.

The Great Room is 3,000 square feet and housed my retreaters. There were two large windows which gave us ample light and a beautiful view of the mountains and countryside. We had enough room for each quilter to have her own 6' table without sharing! Scott and Aubrey from the McCloud River Lodge (mccloudlodge.com) catered all of our meals in the sewing room and the food was amazing...the only complaints were that there was too much of it! My youngest daughter, Emily Zimmerman, is a fantastic pastry chef and she provided our yummy, over-the-top desserts Friday and Saturday nights. Thank you Miss Em! (A picture of her demonstrating for a visiting class is included above).

The Mercantile has 10 exquisitely renovated hotel rooms and each was a work of art unto itself. We all had to run around and check out each others rooms. There are also numerous other beautiful small hotels and B&B's that housed a good number of the quilters too.

The retreats are designed for nothing but RRQing...rest, relaxation and quilting! Each person brought whatever projects they wanted to work on and they could quilt 24/7 if they wished. Franci Lamb, our amazing masseuse, provided private massages all weekend long and we celebrated birthday's too...Nancy Selby is showing off her birthday crown!

My daughter, Jenny Skibo, deserves a big round of applause as my amazing webmaster and photographer. The pictures on this blog are mine (except for the groupie picture at the top). Jenny's pictures will be updated as a slide show on the "Retreat" section within the next couple days. Jenny is a professional photographer, webmaster to many quilters' and quilt guilds' websites and of course I highly recommend her! If you want to get a feel for her work, and see my amazing granddaughters too, visit her website at http://passionforlifephotography.blogspot.com.

Soooo, if you are ever in need of a wonderful get away, I highly recommend the small town of McCloud...whether you come to my retreat or not. The town welcomed us with open arms and they were excited that we plan on coming back for years to come!

Advice Needed!

2009-04-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

I taught my linen wholecloth workshop today for the Sierra Gold Quilt Guild and one of my students, Iola Gibbs from Pioneer, had a question for me and I need advice from my readers. She has some old quilts that were soiled with cat urine several years ago. She was asking for advice on how to clean these. I thought it was a significant enough of a problem to post it for good advice from everyone...I'm sure she isn't the only one who has been faced with this problem. Thank you for any advice you can offer. Cindy

What to do with a doily? Quilt it of course!

2009-04-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to speak/teach for the quilt guild in Sunriver, Oregon. The person in charge of me, Sue Schimke, shared a picture of a doily that she crocheted and then quilted. It was beautiful and I asked her to share her story too. It touched my heart and know it will touch yours as well. Thank you for sharing Sue and see you in July!
***

I have always loved crocheting and I have made a few doilies in the past, it always reminds me of my dear Grandmother. I grew up under her quilting frame and her hand work always fascinated me. When I tried hand work I found that I was a spaz with two needles, but a wiz with one.
This year two of my dear quilting friends lost their husbands, one suddenly and one very painfully. When my sweet cousin’s husband who was my age died quickly of a malignant brain tumor it all seemed just too much. I came across a wonderful book called Extra-Special Doilies by Mary Werst. I found that sitting and counting helped calm me down and helped me to ease the pain. I didn’t think that I was that good at crocheting but this was such an excellent book and every doily was so beautiful that I made every one in the book, some 2 or 3 times. My Aunt who still does tatting and makes lace showed me how to block and starch my doilies correctly. They are each so beautiful that I couldn’t imagine them under anything and I was trying to think of some way to incorporate them with my quilting. Maybe I could use them as centers in spacer blocks. Then we had Suzi Hokonson come to our guild and do a program on textile art followed by a workshop on framing your textile art. When she showed a doily that she had framed I knew right then and there that that was what I wanted to do with some of my doilies. I hope to frame a few more of them and I am really pleased with the first two. I really do look at them as artwork, and I like being able to look closely at them, or at a distance on the wall.
Sue Schimke

More Inspiration from Karen Azevedo!

2009-04-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Karen shared her first linen quilt with us on a previous post. As I tell everyone who starts to work on these quilts you will become an addict~~and she has! I have copied/pasted Karen's email to me this morning and added the beautiful picture she sent. Thank you Karen and PLEASE continue to inspire us all! Cindy

"We've traded emails before when I started asking for advice and you posted one of my little projects that I framed after I saw your little one on your blog. I've attached a photo of another quilt that I made in your style. The center of the quilt was a pillow cover that I found in a local antique shop for $4. I removed the back and centered it on white sateen and then quilted and beaded it. I'm really liking it. I've been told to submit it to shows - don't know that I will, except for our local county fair, but the compliments are flattering.

I don't know if you are a member or follow MQResource but there are lots and lots of quilters there, short, mid and longarmers. I posted some pics of this quilt there with your name in the post as inspiration. I guess several of the ladies took your class at MQX after seeing the post. Here's a couple of quotes from a couple of posts:

"Fantastic. This post encouraged me to sign up for her trunk show class at MQX. Cindy is wonderful teacher and great quilter. I would love to take more classes from her."

"What a lovely wholecloth!! Karen, that is so pretty and the beading is sure to add to the beauty!

I had a student in my quilt whisperer class (Debbie in Chico) who knows Cindy and hangs out with her. I bet she would LOVE to see your wholecloth. "

Sounds like MQX was a big success.

Thanks again for your inspiration. I'm having lots of fun dreaming about what doily to use next, which pillowcase, etc. My mom even went through her things and sent me a bunch to work with for her. She said "no hurry" but she is 80 so I'd better not wait too long. Too bad I can't do this full-time!!! Take care."

Karen Azevedo

You're Welcome Ricci!

2009-04-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

I finally arrived home today after an amazing week of teaching at MQX in Manchester, NH. I was lucky enough for Ricci Lindley to be my room mate. It's been the plan all along to give her the linen quilt during this show. I arrived about 11:30 at night and she was waiting up for me..PJ's and all. Many of you have been following the creation of this quilt on my blog so I had to share the homecoming!

I wanted to take a minute to thank all my students at this show for an unforgettable first time teaching experience here...I had a blast and look forward to hopefully seeing you at future MQX shows!

Parts & Pieces-Crazy Linen Quilt

2009-04-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

When I teach my Linen Ladies Club workshop, I teach quilters how to take "whole" linens and turn them into wholecloth quilts. But what about all the parts and pieces we all seem to have? Turn them into a Crazy Linen Quilt! Rather than using bits and pieces of fabric, use bits and pieces of lace, crocheted doilies, old jewelery, buttons, what-have-you.

I have taken some of my parts and layered them on top of a beautiful linen given to me by Carlotta White of Redding, CA. This piece is obviously still in progress and it may never be done as I keep adding to it. This will be a great hand work piece for the long flights I have in store for me this week.

Just an FYI...when you are cutting up lace be sure to use Fray Block on those raw edges to prevent them from unraveling. Don't use Fray Check...use Fray Block. It comes in a blue/purple tube, I get it from Joan's, and it doesn't get hard and yellow like the Fray Check can.

Ohio Valley Guild!

2009-04-11T04:57:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to speak and teach at the Ohio Valley Guild in Cincinnati. I had a WONDERFUL time. They spoiled me rotten and during a "down" day in between my guild program and workshop, Hannah loaned me her Bernina and I got to quilt ALL DAY while watching it snow outside...mmmmmm. :)

Nancy Eckel (first picture on top)was my hostess and hauled me all over the place. She brought a hankie quilt she is working on for a friend and I was so impressed with the unusual lay out I had to share with you. She has taken hankies and folded them to create a different texture and then placed them on black fabric. Great idea! I've added pictures of a few more members during the workshop and then my hankie with a "C" which was a gift! Thank you everyone...I had a great time!

Cathedral Window

2009-04-11T04:49:00.000-07:00

I recently had a reader ask what all the gridwork was for on one of my previous posts. I love to do cathedral window background work. I will mark my background with 1/2" diagonal gridwork, quilt the lines, and then fill in with the "windows"...of course I need to add more detail and add itty bitty scribbling inside the windows. These look good without the scribbling too! I'm working on a piece for auction for the upcoming Sisters Quilt Show and am adding tiny beads to it too. This will be my airplane project while flying to Manchester for the MQX show next week...I'll share pictures when I get back!

Roylene's New Passion

2009-03-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email from Roylene Scoggin of Warden, Washington sharing her new-found passion of creating her first wholecloth linen quilt! I was SO impressed I had to share her story below....Thank you Roylene and I agree with you, this WILL become your new passion! :)

"I do enjoy machine quilting and have for some time now. Diane Gaudinski was my first inspiration in very fine machine quilting on a home machine. And then I saw your quilting on old linens and I was hooked. On this Damask napkin I followed the designs in the napkin and then filled in with my own designs. I used silk thread and a wool batt. I like to quilt with silk thread in the top and the bobbin (Bottom Line works well for this too). This was the first time I used a wool batt and although it was quite puffy initially it quilted beautifully and after washing had a very soft hand. I also decided to be brave and use colored threads to accent the leaves and roses. Then, of course, it needed some beading to complete it.

I live in Warden, Washington and winter in southern California. I visited with you four or five times when you were the featured quilter at the 2008 Road to California Quilt Conference. I just couldn't get enough of your work. I now have several more linens to work on. Who knows -- it may become my new passion."

Mmmm...I got to quilt ALL DAY!!!

2009-03-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

I co-host a small weekend retreat with my good friend Goldie Olson. I always bring something to work on just in case there's some down time. It just so happened that everyone nested in early and didn't need help so I was able to indulge in a full day of quilting...something that never happens any more.

The linen piece I shared below was placed on a fabric called Radiance. It is a Kaufman fabric that is 55% silk and 45% cotton and is absolutely amazing to quilt on. I just had to share how the feathering turned out in the corner I was working on as well as the cathedral window background. I marked the entire quilt with 1/2" gridwork and will be filling it in with various styles of cathedral window and double grid. I used Quilters Dream cotton for my batting, Superior Threads Highlights for the feather work and Bottom Line for the background quilting.

What a difference a detail makes!

2009-03-26T04:41:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Emily, bought me a gorgeous linen for Christmas that has some amazing gold embroidered flowers and buds. I finally got this in my machine yesterday morning and started playing with some beads last night to see how it would all come together.

When I teach my linen workshop I stress to everyone how important it is to show off the work of the original maker. Stitching "in the ditch" around all of the embroidery is critical...lots of ladies groan and whine! On this particular piece I'm also adding a 1/8" echo around the embroidery too. I'm just getting ready to sit and quilt some more (my quilting time is between 4-6am) and I noticed the difference this detail makes and had to share with you! These pictures show flowers that HAVE been ditched and flowers that haven't. Look at how the flowers come alive and a perfect choice of beads in the middle of the flowers adds a great detail!