Luscious Lilies

Last year when I was making my Presidential Fabrications I started out by using some cotton velveteen that I had ice dyed. I thought it was rather wild and thus suitable for the "Wild Fabrications" theme of the show. But as I started piecing it together and adding some pinks and fuchsias I realized that it was getting too "pretty" and not suitable for a political statement quilt. So I stopped piecing, put it aside and went on to make the quilt in different colors.

I went back later and free-motion quilted it in an all over floral design. Again, "pretty", but lacking. I just put it away.

My day lilies have been scrumptious this year and I've taken a lot of pictures. This variety is my current favorite, "Fountain of Life"

Soooo, I decided to print out some pictures on fabric and appliqué them to the finished quilt. If I had to do it all over again, I would have quilted the lilies first and then appliquéd them, because the extra quilting caused them to sink a little into the background, instead of stand out. You can't tell from the picture. I played with different colors for the shadows and settled on navy blue.

Luscious Lilies  21" x 31"

Detail of background

Detail of Lily

Please let me know what you think. I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday, which I didn't think I could do this week because of horrible problems with my internet. Argh, Comcast!! Two visits to the house and a long time on the phone and it is still sporadic so I am getting this out fast before I lose it again.