Cow Pony Rust Quilt....Finding the Joy

This quilt is an entry for the Rust Tex Challenge

Entry Deadline: January 10, 2010

One of the reasons why I am passionate about quilting is that it fills my life with joy.

That excitement I felt as a child going to Disneyland for the very first time, is revisited each time I create a quilted textile........sheer joy......and it makes my heart sing.

Unfortunately, with this quilt I have not experienced joy.

It has been an uphill battle for me the last 6 weeks.

I have played it safe, not taken any creative chances, just hoping to make the deadline and get this quilt entered into the challenge.

No joy...

I have actually, mentally, gone on to other quilts I wish to work on.

I have been dreaming and planning to do some landscape quilts.

I think that is why I made the decision today to put a tree on this quilt.

Here are a few tree fabrics I auditioned

Two of my favorite Tree Fabrics

I love the texture

Freezer Paper

I sketched out a tree on the freezer paper

I cut out the tree and pinned it onto the quilt

I ironed the freezer paper tree to the top side of the tree fabric

Misty Fuse

I decided to fuse the tree onto the top of the quilt with Misty Fuse

Misty Fuse applied to the back side of the tree fabric

I flipped the fabric over, misty fuse is on the bottom side

I cut out the shape of the tree following the freezer paper image.

I took a deep breath and ironed the tree onto the top of the quilt.

There is no turning back now.....this is permanent.

This is what I call....taking a creative chance

My heart is pumping faster as I peel off the freezer paper tree.

Will I like the fabric tree I have just fused onto the quilt?

I stood back and smiled.......oh my......JOY

Yes, I have found joy again.

What a rush!

Now I am thinking a few autumn leaves in the branches and a couple that have fallen to the ground...

I am teaching a class on Monday, going into town on Tuesday, so I won't get a chance to touch this again until Wednesday.......see you then.

May Your Quilts Fill You with Joy,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE