Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Evolution of a Quilt

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This is the secret celebrity stunt sewing project I did for Joanna Figuera of Fig Tree Quilts.  The quilt has had its reveal at Market, and now I can share the story with you.

Out of the blue, Joanna sent me an email asking if I would be willing to make a quilt top for her on a super tight deadline.  The quilt was to debut at Quilt Market and was to be made using her new fabric line "Mill House Inn".   Feeling a bit star struck,  I agreed without hesitating and received the gorgeous pattern, "Rosettes" and the fabric in a short time.  Trust me, I spent some quality time fondling this new fabric line before cutting into it.  I think it is one of her prettiest designs ever.  You will want lots of it when it is available!

I was so determined to do a really good job on this project, and was more than a little bit nervous!  My husband took over the household chores and cooking, and I barricaded myself in my sewing room until it was finished. 

This pattern is layer cake friendly, for all you Moda pre-cuts fans out there!  Fat quarters would work great as well, and you would have enough fabric left over for a second project.  The block construction was simple enough, but a certain amount of perfectionism was necessary to get all the seam joinings to line up just right.

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Once my part of the construction was finished, I packed up the quilt top and sent it back to Fig Tree, where it was handed over to the person who would really make it into a proper quilt.  The quilter!  After she did her magic, the quilt was to be washed and made ready for photography.  Check out Joanna's blog Fresh Figs for photos of her booth at Market.

This is the new pattern, which I understand is selling quickly.  The fabric line used on the quilt on the pattern cover is Patisserie.

Rosettes

Being involved in this process was such an honor for me.  I loved every minute of it!  I would do it again in a heartbeat!  Carrie?  Heather?  Camille?  Call me…..

64 responses to “Evolution of a Quilt”

  3. What a beautiful quilt top, Nicole. That must have been quite an honor and a thrill. Joanna chose wisely; you clearly were the woman for the job! The reveal was worth the wait. I’m always inspired by seeing what you’ve been up to.

  4. What a beautiful quilt top, Nicole. That must have been quite an honor and a thrill. Joanna chose wisely; you clearly were the woman for the job! The reveal was worth the wait. I’m always inspired by seeing what you’ve been up to.

  7. You did a perfect job Nicole…It is just wonderful. You are now sewing in the limelight! Pam in Chico

  8. You did a perfect job Nicole…It is just wonderful. You are now sewing in the limelight! Pam in Chico

  15. Nicole . . . absolutely beautiful !!
    I think I would do this in English Paper Piecing . . . I’m going to order the pattern . . .
    thanks for sharing it . . .

  16. Nicole . . . absolutely beautiful !!
    I think I would do this in English Paper Piecing . . . I’m going to order the pattern . . .
    thanks for sharing it . . .

  19. Way to go Nicole! You did an amazing job. Joanna is a great gal and wants only the best, so you should feel really proud. Maybe this will start a new career for you!

  20. Way to go Nicole! You did an amazing job. Joanna is a great gal and wants only the best, so you should feel really proud. Maybe this will start a new career for you!

  23. You should be very proud Nicole. The quilt is beautiful. Thanks for the peek. . .can’t wait for the fabric. . .I’m such a Fig Tree fan!

  24. You should be very proud Nicole. The quilt is beautiful. Thanks for the peek. . .can’t wait for the fabric. . .I’m such a Fig Tree fan!

  25. Wow! How exciting that must have been (and is!) You did a fabulous job.. nice “perfectionism”! Maybe you can give up your day job and work in the quilting business!
    My Husband and I went to High School with Joanna’s previous partner. Lisa Quan. Very talented. Oh how inspirational… I have to sew…

  26. Wow! How exciting that must have been (and is!) You did a fabulous job.. nice “perfectionism”! Maybe you can give up your day job and work in the quilting business!
    My Husband and I went to High School with Joanna’s previous partner. Lisa Quan. Very talented. Oh how inspirational… I have to sew…

  27. So you are the one who got to make that beautiful quilt for Joanna! I saw her preview and I love it! Great job. What a thrill!!! I will be posting the one I did for her latter today.

  28. So you are the one who got to make that beautiful quilt for Joanna! I saw her preview and I love it! Great job. What a thrill!!! I will be posting the one I did for her latter today.

  29. It was lovely and Joanna remarked on how wonderfully it was pieced. I’m sorry I didn’t get that info back to you sooner, I asked which one you did at market. I have my share of photos as well! Nice work.

  30. It was lovely and Joanna remarked on how wonderfully it was pieced. I’m sorry I didn’t get that info back to you sooner, I asked which one you did at market. I have my share of photos as well! Nice work.

  33. I love it! I received the fabrics today and ordered the pattern today too! How lucky you are to be able to work with those great designers!
    Nat, from France

  34. I love it! I received the fabrics today and ordered the pattern today too! How lucky you are to be able to work with those great designers!
    Nat, from France

  35. What an honour. How cool is that. You did an excellent job Nicole it looks gorgeous.

  36. What an honour. How cool is that. You did an excellent job Nicole it looks gorgeous.

  41. That is so awesome that you were chosen to make that quilt, and you did a beautiful job. I hope she gave you the pattern for free and you were able to keep the scraps.

  42. That is so awesome that you were chosen to make that quilt, and you did a beautiful job. I hope she gave you the pattern for free and you were able to keep the scraps.

  51. Beautiful quilt and you did such a beautiful job Nicole. Congrats on being asked to make quilts for Market. Just goes to show how much they appreciate your wonderful quilting skills. Didn’t you do two for market??? Anyway, we have been gone for 5 days down to Arizona, Sedona (found a great quilt shop there, spent a grundle), well I didn’t ‘find’ it, ‘The Quilters Store’ owned by Patty Krause was featured in Quilt Sampler magazine Fall 2008 and my hubby agreed to take the beautiful side trip out of Flagstaff on our way to Lake Havasu City (what a disappointment that city was). Sedona was so beautiful and the quilt store was wonderful. We got in yesterday evening but I was too tired to unpack so now I have to take care of all that this morning AND someone drove into our front yard through our fence while we were gone and my grandson was here taking care of our little dogs so we have to deal with that today too. They left the scene before the police arrive but a neighbor got their license plate # so they are in more than just a little trouble. AH well, life happens and we didn’t let it interrupt our little vacation. I’ll have to come back later to catch up on all the great sales I missed and anything else you’ve been sharing with us. Have a great day!! Oh, I wanted to ask you…do you get to keep the quilt you did for Market or does it become property of Joanna and Fig Tree? Just curious…

  52. Beautiful quilt and you did such a beautiful job Nicole. Congrats on being asked to make quilts for Market. Just goes to show how much they appreciate your wonderful quilting skills. Didn’t you do two for market??? Anyway, we have been gone for 5 days down to Arizona, Sedona (found a great quilt shop there, spent a grundle), well I didn’t ‘find’ it, ‘The Quilters Store’ owned by Patty Krause was featured in Quilt Sampler magazine Fall 2008 and my hubby agreed to take the beautiful side trip out of Flagstaff on our way to Lake Havasu City (what a disappointment that city was). Sedona was so beautiful and the quilt store was wonderful. We got in yesterday evening but I was too tired to unpack so now I have to take care of all that this morning AND someone drove into our front yard through our fence while we were gone and my grandson was here taking care of our little dogs so we have to deal with that today too. They left the scene before the police arrive but a neighbor got their license plate # so they are in more than just a little trouble. AH well, life happens and we didn’t let it interrupt our little vacation. I’ll have to come back later to catch up on all the great sales I missed and anything else you’ve been sharing with us. Have a great day!! Oh, I wanted to ask you…do you get to keep the quilt you did for Market or does it become property of Joanna and Fig Tree? Just curious…

  57. Have been waiting to see this quilt. Love it! Great job of piecing. Joanna knew what she was getting when she chose you to piece the quilt…very fast and very precise. GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!

  58. Have been waiting to see this quilt. Love it! Great job of piecing. Joanna knew what she was getting when she chose you to piece the quilt…very fast and very precise. GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!

  63. Hi Nicole!
    Wow, you’re awesome…the piecing is perfect! Congrats on your “stunt sewing” job!!! {I’m a Fig Tree addict so naturally I love this new pattern & fabric…}.
    I heard (ehem…read!) that Joanna speaks highly of your piecing skills ~ so congrats again ;o)
    Cheers, Julia

  64. Hi Nicole!
    Wow, you’re awesome…the piecing is perfect! Congrats on your “stunt sewing” job!!! {I’m a Fig Tree addict so naturally I love this new pattern & fabric…}.
    I heard (ehem…read!) that Joanna speaks highly of your piecing skills ~ so congrats again ;o)
    Cheers, Julia