Petal to the Metal

Welcome to the Sizzix Blog Hop!  Whoohoo!  I am excited to be part of this, and support my friend, Victoria Findlay Wolfe!  Here is the list of artists that are participating in the Blog Hop:

January 16th Jamie Fingal

January 16th Tracy Mooney

January 17th Elizabeth Timmons

January 17th Nicole Daksiewicz

January 18th Ebony Love

January 18th Holly Hughes

January 19th Marni Weaver

January 19th Leslie Tucker Jenison

January 20th Karin Jordan

January 20th Sue Bleiweiss

January 21st Jenny Doan

January 21st Victoria Findlay Wolfe

For this hop, each of us is using a die or dies by Sizzix designer, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, the Double Wedding Ring Queen.  I chose to use the melon dies to create my piece.  'Petal to the Metal.'

I used this gorgeous line of fabrics titled Alchemy by Fringe, made by Hoffman California Fabrics.  They are brand new!

I began by fusing all of the fabrics with Mistyfuse.  On the wrong side of the fabric, I roll out the Mistyfuse and cover it with a Goddess Sheet to protect my iron, and it also helps make a better bond with the fabric.  I make all of my quilts this way.  Raw edge applique.

These are just beautiful fabrics, and are all enhanced with gold metallic

I cut strips so I could just place the fabric onto the die, without much waste.  This is a huge die and can only work in the Big Shot Pro machine.  The machine cuts up to 6 layers of pre-fused fabrics.  I love that about this machine. I am using the Big Shot Pro for these large dies. 

This is to show how large the melons are.  13" long by 6" wide.  Put all of those together, and you've got a big quilt. Sizzix DWW Large Melon #660196 - there is a link in the right column for Sizzix

Since I am a 'think outside the box' kinda gal, I decided to cut them in half to make a flower, and a do-able size quilt.

I slid the tips of the petals under the 9" ring (Sizzix #659163), and pressed them into place

After placing the ring over the background, I felt it would be more interesting to have a four section center, so I added these to the middle

The flower is not fused down yet, because there are some things that I need to do first.  For example, I want to see how the colors work together.  Where the petals land, and does each background fabric make them pop.  I added a section of orange to two areas.

You can see it here.  I took a photo of the quilt with my iPhone to see which way the flower lays on the background, for easy reference.  I have trimmed the sides of the background and fused it to a piece of wool blended felt (my foundation).  I don't use batting or do binding.  The wool blended felt is by National Nonwovens #T0Y002.  I also back my quilts with the wool blended felt in a fun color.

Here's the flower, and I have fused it to a piece of black wool blended felt.  Then I am going to free motion machine quilt the entire piece, before I cut it around the petals, to prepare for the zipper trim

The petals are free motion machine quilted in lines like a flower petal.  I pinned the flower into place at the center ring.  I want to be able to lift the petals, so I can free motion machine quilt the background with ease, but not under the big petals.  I mean, really, why would I want to cover the entire piece with thread and design, if portions of it will not show? 

Now the fun part begins, adding zipper trim to each of the petals

The trim is slid underneath the pedals and sewn into place.  I have a BERNINA 750 QE, and I used a free motion foot with a straight stitch to sew the zipper trim.  No pins, and I didn't break any needles.  I have made many quilts with zippers, and is part of my signature style.

Closer view of the center of the flower, using the 9" ring and 2 circle dies (3/4" circles #657601 and 1-1/2" circles #658315) Link to Sizzix in the right column of my blog.

"Petal to the Metal" - 24" square - so happy how it turned out!