Basket of Blooms

Fused Flower Basket Ready for Quilting

One of the workshops I took at PIQF 2015 was Laura Wasilowski's Woven Flower Basket Quilts.  I've watched several of her Craftsy classes but it was a real treat to take an in-person workshop with her.  As part of the workshop kit, we each received two lovely pieces of her hand dyed fabrics.  We ironed on some Wonder Under fusible and were ready to experiment and play!  Laura shared her tips and tricks for fused art quilts and led us through several demonstrations and exercises to help us explore new techniques including weaving, braiding and more!  By lunchtime, we were starting to compose our own unique woven flower basket quilts.  And despite starting with the same two pieces of fabric--everyone created very unique quilts!

Laura demonstrated hand stitched embroidery and provided us each with some of her hand-dyed threads to embellish our own quilts!  And while I really loved all the little details she hand stitches into her own quilts, I opted to finish my top by machine before it turned into a UFO.  But I do hope to incorporate some hand embroidery into future fused art quilts!  However, I did adapt some of Laura's free motion designs into the background of my flower basket and love the fabulous texture it creates!!

Details of machine quilting embellishments

The workshop supply list had us bring a pre-cut piece of fabric for the backing, to which I had selected a lovely floral print.  However, once I finished my basket, it reminded me of a batik checkerboard that I had in my stash.  So once home, I swapped out backings and think the new one is the perfect complement to the front!

Quilt Back Inspired by Basket Design

Finished "Basket of Blooms" 12" x 14"