A Stunning Quilt

I went to a quilt show Saturday that was put on by the local quilt guild and saw many beautiful specimens, but ONE quilt was phenomenal and that is the one I photographed for you.

Let me just say right off, I was attracted to this quilt like there was a force pulling me to it--I'm not kidding!  My reaction stunned me and I am still trying to figure out why.  Here is the beauty in full repose...

The machine quilting was the best I've ever seen, and the quilt top was hand-appliqued, with the exception of the triangle inner border.  Both of these components are very time- consuming, especially, when done at this level of expertise.  The next few photos will show the detail of the quilting, but first notice the symmetry of the piece...

If you need a point of reference in the quilt, this section is at the edge of the flower, just above the inner border on the right side.

This section is toward the very bottom of the quilt, below that inner border.  Those scrolls are so delicate and perfect and the stippling is the smallest I ever seen.  Did you know that in stippling no lines are ever allowed to cross?  Think about that for a bit...

This section is again inside the inner border on the left side.  Concentric circles within the quilting of another pattern...brilliant!

This section is in the middle of the entire piece, below the center flower.  Have you ever seen such quality in a quilt?  I just wanted to take this prize home and cherish it forever.  I seriously think I could stare at it for an extremely long time--like years--and appreciate all of the work and thought that created it.  I would give thanks daily to have a quilt of this quality in my collection (which I still have not shown you, but I will one day!).

I especially wanted to give proper credit to the hands, time and talent that gave my heart such joy.  Who knew that an Aunt bringing a young girl a silver thimble from Mexico would plant the seeds of such beauty.  Thank you Aunt Dolores for inspiring such talent and thank you Ann McColey for nurturing your talent and sharing it and thank you Jan Hutchison for such exquisite quilting.  If this quilt ever needs a home, I will decorate a room around it!

Thanks for reading and enjoying such things of beauty with me.  I was so excited to write this post and show you this quilt.  I appreciate each of you more than you know.

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