A Hug and A Kiss

As I started taking out my Valentine's Day decorations, it occurred to me that I had never written a post about my quilting projects.  I've been quilting since 2001 but I still consider myself a beginner.  I have made one large quilt and the rest have been lap size or wall hangings.  There are still so many techniques and patterns I want to attempt to master!

This wall hanging was made in 2010.  It is a two block applique quilt that I named "A Hug and A Kiss".  The  buttonhole stitch around the applique was done by hand.  The quilting on this wall hanging was done by machine.

The top block features a circle surrounded by hearts (the hug).

Crossed bars with a heart at each end (the kiss) are the basis of the bottom block. 

This wall hanging was was inspired by a quilt I admired in the July/August 2006 issue of Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine.  The quilt was designed by Mimi Dietrich in a Baltimore Album style.  Since the inspiration quilt was made of four blocks, the original name was "Hugs & Kisses" (plural).

My "A Hug and a Kiss" quilt was a low cost project.  The only newly purchased items for this project were the pink flower shaped buttons used to embellish the blocks. The log cabin blocks used as the background for the applique were left over from another quilt I made in 2006.  The appliqued pink hearts and green leaves were cut from scraps of fabric found in my stash.

My earlier 2006 project was made entirely from log cabin blocks and the layout forms a heart in the center.  Most of the log cabin blocks were made entirely of cream colored fabrics.  Two blocks are entirely made of varied pink fabrics.  Eight blocks were made the traditional way using half light and half dark fabrics.    I originally intended to use some of the half light/half dark blocks to add some pink in the corners.  But when I was working on the block layout, I thought the heart center needed to be the feature of the quilt and the additional color detracted.  That's why I ended up with extra blocks for the wall hanging.

Since the fabric used for the borders and backing featured the word Love in varied fonts, this log cabin Valentine quilt is named "Surrounded by Love".   I like to make my quilt labels using a miniature block that repeats a block from the quilt itself.

"Surrounded by Love" was hand quilted.  The outer cream portions were quilted in a grid pattern.  The pink fabric center is quilted with repeating heart wreaths.  You can see some of the hearts clearly in the darkest fabric.

Until next time, live and love well.

Joining these lovely parties this week:

Bunny Hop at Bunny Jean's Decor and More

Creative Bloggers' Party at Homemaker on a Dime
Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Little Quilt Monday at pieceful life
The Valentine's Party at Holiday Haven
Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.