Doll Quilt - Indian Tree

This is the quilt I made in June for my partner in the Doll Quilters' Monthly swap.

The theme for the month was fantasy, and I was stuck for inspiration until I realised that this plate was propped up on the sideboard looking at me.

So I did a little tree.  The trunk and branches are made up of home made braid, and I showed the work in progress a little while ago, but didn't show more because I always keep the swap quilts under wraps until my partners receive them.

No two leaves are alike, each one is made from a different coloured scrap of Oakshott cotton fabric,

and a different coloured embroidery thread for the blanket stitch edging.

Each of the four little flowers is made from a different shell button, with little glass beads at the centre.

The outline quilting was done on the Singer 15K hand machine, and the free motion quilting on the Singer 15K treadle.  For the quilting in the central panel I did my usual meandering infill, and around the border I did a design based on the curly leaves I tried out in one of my practice pieces.

This was a really enjoyable project.  For ages I have been meaning to do a quilt based on pottery design, and the fantasy theme gave me the opportunity.  I really love Staffordshire pottery.  My mum grew up in The Potteries and from her I picked up the habit of turning over plates to check the maker's mark.  So for the sake of completeness, here is the underneath of the plate.  Hooray, made in Hanley.

This quilt is now with its new owner Merry in Minnesota.  So glad you like it Merry!

This post is linked with Janice's blog Better Off Thread for Sew Cute Tuesday - lots of interesting blogs to visit there!
And also with Leah Day's blog for Free Motion Friday.
And with Richard and Tanya Quilts for Link a Finish Friday.

Welcome to the latest follower, Mary Ellen Gedris.  Thank you for joining!