Flowers in the Wind: A Quilted Transcription

What is a quilt transcription?  I've borrowed the term from music.  In music, a transcription is  a piece of music that was written for one instrument that is re-written for another instrument.  Many of my patterns are architectural transcriptions, ie. designs I find in architecture that I’ve transcribed into fabric.

Flowers in the Wind, our newest table runner, which launches at Spring Market-May 2018, has had a different creative journey of transcription. I’m excited to announce the transcription of Flowers in the Wind into silver jewelry pieces by Siesta Silver Jewelry!  How cool is that!

My newest design began back in 2016 as a simple paper cut that I turned into a block that appeared in 100 Quilt Blocks.  At that time I called it Giving Hearts.  Unfortunately, the magazine changed my reverse applique pattern into an applique pattern.

Fast forward a year later to 2017.  I re-sized and renamed my block Spring Love (12" x 12") and started creating quilt projects with this fun reverse applique block.

I combined Spring Love with the classic Tulip Block to make Flowers in the Wind. I love the combination of reverse applique, with pieced blocks, don't you?

The Tulip block, sometimes called Buttercup, is such a happy design, reminiscent of the emergence from winter into sunny spring.  Quilts with this block in it strike me as light, colorful and airy; hopeful even.  And did you know that tulips are most strongly associated with true love? And purple tulips symbolize royalty?  My tulips are purple.  I love that the meaning even went with my Spring Love reverse applique block.

Out on the quilt show circuit I met Karla Piper of Siesta Silver Jewelry.  You see, in addition to loving all things quilts, I love earrings…particularly silver ones. I had seen some of her earring designs and initially approached her about turning one of her designs into a quilted medallion.  That never quite happened on my end.  But at every show I would scope out her booth for the latest earrings, of which I have bought several pairs, and we slowly got to know each other. 

Karla and I decided we wanted to collaborate on a jewelry / quilting project.  It was just a matter of timing.  (She has also developed a lovely line of silver jewelry pendants and earrings based on quilt blocks, including Tucker University/Siesta Charm School. Check out her jewelry at www.siestasilverjewelry.com)

When I had my quilt designs using the Spring Love block ready I shared them with Karla. She loved them and thought they would transcribe well into silver jewelry pieces. Our timetable was set in motion: We would release the new designs Spring 2018 at Quilt Market/ Portland.   

The final piece to coordinate was the fabrics I would use to make the table runner.  I’ve designed for Island Batiks since 2015, and I can always count on their batiks to be beautiful and their collections full of inspiration.  So when Island Batik put out the design call for their new batiks for spring 2018, I was excited and ready.

This time it was their British Rose collection that captured my imagination.  I could just see these lovely purples and pinks in my Flowers in the Wind table runner design.  I added to that a spring green from their Batik Foundations Collection and I was happy. Island Batik accepted the design and the fabrics arrived in November 2017. 

I began to make my table runner in Colorado, while Karla was transcribing the Spring Love and Tulip blocks into jewelry in Michigan. While I stitched fabric in Colorado, Karla etched silver in Michigan.

I cut out the blocks and strips for making the top.  I was making 3 samples because each company needed a table runner to display in their quilt show booth.  I made some of my 12" x 12" Spring Love reverse applique blocks by hand and some by machine to show off the versatile beauty of the pattern.   By the end of November the reverse applique stitching was done, I had made my pieced Tulip Blocks, and I was ready to assemble and quilt.

I culled through my quilting stencils and then perused on line for other options. I had fun quilting them all just a bit differently. It’s a fun design challenge and keeps life interesting.  My first round of quilting is always in the ditch of the reverse applique. When quilting reverse applique, you want to quilt in the small negative spaces of the design.  This pulls those design elements into the batting, accenting what you’ve spent time stitching.  As you quilt on the rest of the top around the reverse applique work, be careful of getting too close to it, as It will only flatten the piece out. Next on to the quilting of the rest of the top and borders.  In no time at all, my quilted Flowers in the Wind table runner XV was done! 

Meanwhile, Karla was busy designing pendants and earrings. The Tulip block was an easy transcription into 3 pendant sizes and earrings.  To transcribe Spring Love into her jewelry sizes required her talents, knowledge and skills.  My 12" block design needed to fit on the 3 sizes she uses: mini (3/8" x 3/8"), medium (3/4" x 3/4") and large (1 3/8" x 1 3/8").  But she is expert in her field and by February she had finished her creative process and shared the silver designs with me for my approval. I loved them! 

And I love the top-notch quality of Siesta Silver Jewelry.  All their jewelry is made from nickel-free sterling silver, .925 indicating sterling. (I have sensitive ear lobes, and Siesta Silver's earrings never bother me.) The mini, medium and large pendants and earrings use a specially designed round bail to accommodate not only a necklace or choker, but also modern charm bracelets. The earrings use the 3/8" x 3/8" mini pendants and come in 3 pierced options; on hook, with a post, and on a long wire. 

As Karla went into production to make the jewelry, I went into pattern publication! The creative collaboration of our quilt transcription was ready for its premiere May 2018.

Make the Pattern!

Wear the jewelry!

Adorn yourself and your table!

Flowers in the Wind table runner XV pattern, available for purchase on our website. Now taking pre-orders.  www.eobquiltdesign.com

NEW Spring-Themed Quilt Blocks silver jewelry available now at www.siestasilverjewelry.com. Soon to be available from www.eobquiltdesign.com, too.