Customizing the Center Block

[MSHendel]

I just finished adding month 2 border to my center panel which I adapted to simplify. I enlarged the appliqué pattern 200% and selected 2 birds, lots of leaves and a few flowers. I fused these on and added buttonhole stitch by hand around all the fused pieces. The stems are similar to the idea in the directions but I laid down heavy cotton embroidery thread and used my couching foot to add small zig zag stitches . I'm trying to use all Kaffe Fassett prints for this quilt, with off-white mini prints for the backgrounds for the appliqués. This was my first time doing paper piecing/foundation piecing- phew! Starting with 1.5 squares was probably not the smartest move! I'm uploading 2 photos of my panels so far.

[Barblln]

Hendel, I really love what you have done with the center applique! It is charming and so smart of you!

Barb in Alabama

[Barblln]

MS - really like your center panel and month 2 border in Kaffe Fasset prints!!
Barb :-)

[Barblln]

Great customisation MS. Looking forward to seeing this one develop.

[bean53]

Thanks to Barblin, I decided to do machine embroidery for my center panel.
I got a few puckers but it's not been pressed yet so I think it will be fine.
Now to decide what color to use for the first border.

I hope the picture comes through okay.
I'm not very tech savvy.

[bean53]

Well the picture is there but it should be rotated so that the one bird is not flying upside down!

[twiglet]

Wow it's stunning

[babawawa]

Beautiful!

[Pemela]

Stunning!

[glacerda]

I have finished my machine appliqué and now need to add the borders from month 2. Is it a 13 1/2" block I want for this step?

[Barblln]

Beautiful!!!! I'm so glad you didn't get the puckering that I did.

Barb in Alabama

[JudyFN]

Bean53, beautiful, vibrant block. You have so many ways you can go with color choices in months to come. Really looking forward to how your quilt evolves.

[JudyFN]

Glacerda,

Here are the directions from page 3 of month 1. You are following these directions because you foundation pieced (paper pieced) month 2.

Trimming—Foundation piecing only. Place the completed block, face down, on a padded surface and press it. Measuring from the center, trim the block to 14? square.

[bean53]

Thanks!
I'm going to use a dark green print with orange and blue accents for the first border background, light centers. Just going to build from month to month.
I'll probably fall a bit behind for a couple of months as I have to finish another quilt and get it to the quilter soon and then some medical issues to deal with.
And I don't do appliqué so I will have to draft something for the next border - 4 inch finished so probably stars.