Monday, January 31, 2011

Trimming roses with a rotary cutter

I was playing with a dozen free-pieced roses at my quilt retreat this weekend, and inspired by the curved piecing going on here, I took my rotary cutter to the angular roses to  piece them together.
Some of the other quilters in the vicinty were alternately aghast and in awe as I took the rotary cutter to them and proceeded to sew them together WITHOUT PINNING.  I figured I didn't have much to lose, since they weren't doing me any good without being put together, so I cut and sewed with abandon. I admit to a few puckers and lumps, but not too bad.

Here they are on various green fabrics. I haven't decided how to proceed from here, except that I want this to end up as a lap quilt for a good friend who loves flowers. Any ideas on how to get the roses onto the green background?

15 comments:

Rene' said...

Brenda, I love your roses! You must have been reading my mind as I just went back to look at your AAQI Roses to refresh my memory as to how you did them and now I get to be inspired even more by these roses!!! I love how they are pieced to look like a big bouquet.

Anna said...

Love your roses!

Birdie said...

Oh...your flowers are sooo beautiful! I started one and got stuck in square mode...I might have to try your style but haven't done much with curves! Let us know how you get them attached to the green...thanks for sharing!!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Wow! They look fabulous on that background already!!! Go with it! Keep piecing it , by adding to the rises working outwards... Or keep working the curves as you did... If you want it all pieced... Otherwise, machine appliqué?
It's fabulous! Well done!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Roses!! I mean roses, not rises... Darn iPhone typing!

Alexis said...

Love love love love love! Your friend is so lucky.

Nathalie said...

How Beautiful!!! I Love them. I like what Rene` said about a bouquet. What about adding a few stems and then a vase?

Mary Keasler said...

Those are some of the most gorgeous roses I have ever seen!!!!
How about free motion zig-zag stitching the roses to the background. That is what I did with my log cabin posies. It is working out very nicely for me so far. Guess it just depends on the finished look that you might be aiming for. What a wonderful rose garden!

Brenda said...

thanks for all your comments. I haven't pieced the background yet -- its just on the design wall. I'm leaning toward more curved piecing, also as a way to get variations of the green background. I'll post more pix soon.

Frummie said...

Cover with bridal netting and stitch away with abandonment!
Love your flowers.
Frummie

Lisa said...

Oh my goodness these are stunning. It's going to be a beautiful quilt.

CharlotteP said...

This is a gorgeous bouquet, Brenda. Judging by what you have done so far, however you decide to go it will still look fantastic. I rather like the slightly angular edges of the flowers -I only need to smell them to be convinced they're real!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Thiy look like a painting they are so perfect. Your colors are amazing!!!

Cindy said...

Wow!! So beautiful!

Eileen said...

Wow...I love them!!!