Preeti's Picket Star Quilt: Courage Like a Flower

“Deep in their roots all flowers keep the light.”              

– Theodore Roethke

Serendipity E2E Quilting Design on Preeti's Picket Star Quilt

One of the hardest things about quilting for clients is when you're working on a quilt that you are totally in LOVE with, but you can't share any pictures until after your client has a chance to share her own finished quilt on social media.  It is like having a giant box of Godiva truffles sitting on your desk, with a fan set up behind them to blow delicious chocolate aromas in your face all day, but if you eat them you will explode.  It's been AGONY, having these photos on my phone for a whole month without sharing any of them!  And now, without further ado, check out this gorgeous quilt made by my friend Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts!

Ample Negative Space is a Perfect Backdrop for Large Scale Floral Design

“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”                 – Anais Nin

And yet, waiting to share the pictures was only one factor contributing to the exquisite agony of quilting for Preeti.  She sent me this photo of the finished flimsy before mailing it to me, but then was adamant about NOT wanting to know how I was going to quilt it until it was finished.  I know, right?!!  Oh my gosh!  

Preeti's Picket Star Flimsy, Ready for Quilting

Preeti and I are BQBs (Blog-Quilting-Besties), so I'm familiar with her aesthetic and have been following along as she developed her Picket Star block (there's a free tutorial for this pattern on her blog here) and I watched as she created several Picket Star tops in different colorways.  It's a huge 17" block, which makes it a fantastic choice for showcasing those larger-scale prints we can't bear to cut up.  

Preeti named the block "Picket Star" because it reminds her of the tops of a picket fence.  I love how she has just the right amount of value contrast in each of the prints she paired to create the illusion that the picket stars have been crisply chiseled.

Seriously, I had at least EIGHT different quilting ideas that I could envision for this quilt top, and each of them would have looked amazing in completely different ways.  I have seen how Preeti quilts her own quilts on her domestic machine using straight lines, serpentine grids, and even spiral walking foot quilting that looks simply amazing on her quilts.  But I knew that she wouldn't be sending this one to me unless she wanted something different this time.  So I ruled out any designs that were too similar to things she could easily quilt herself.

“As delicate as a flower, as tender as rose petals, choosing to be tender and kind in a harsh environment is not weakness, it's courage.”                 – Luffina Lourduraj

And so I looked to the quilt top for inspiration -- a joyful mix of both modern and vintage-vibe prints in glorious, saturated colors.  Florals, geometrics, and playful novelty prints.  Cool white background fabrics sprinkled with silver metallic accents.  And then there was the name Preeti had chosen for this quilt, "Courage," and what she'd shared with me about what this quilt represents for her.

What does Courage look like to you?  This is what Preeti's courage looks like to me.  This is the courage of a woman who responds to the pain and suffering in our world by rolling up her sleeves, carefully selecting joyful fabrics, and sewing them together to make quilts for faraway strangers, just to show them that there is still love and hope and beauty in this world.  Time and again, when the morning news has hit me like a sledgehammer and I feel overcome with grief and helplessness at the darkness in the world, while I am still feeling paralyzed, Preeti has already sprung into action to start quilts for the victims or survivors.  She speaks out in support of those who have no voice and isn't afraid to take a passionate public stance on controversial issues that might alienate readers, if it's something she believes in.  Preeti's courage is like a strong, beautiful flower that is determined to push its way through the scorched earth and bloom.

              COURAGE

by Helen Frazee Bower.

 

"You asked me, "What is courage?" And I took 

The dictionary down and spelled it out. 

For such a little boy, the heavy book

Was ponderous. You twisted it about; 

You said, "It's being brave-and what is that?" 

You said, "It's not to fear - am I afraid? 

Does courage arch its back up like a cat, 

And spit at everything it meets?" you said. 

Perplexed, we closed the book and took a walk, 

And came where fire had worked untimely death; 

The woods were gone. But on a slender stalk 

A flower inched for life. I caught my breath. 

"Courage," I said and took you by the hand, 

"Is one white flower in a fire-swept land."

Quilt Pattern: Picket Stars, my client's original design (free tutorial on her blog here)

Quilting Design: Serendipity E2E

Batting: Quilter's Dream 80/20

Thread: So Fine in Snow (needle) with Glide 60 in White (bobbin)

PSST!!  I'd Love to Quilt for YOU!

By the way, if you or any of your quilty friends has a quilt top or two that needs quilting, I'd be delighted to quilt for you!  My turnaround for edge-to-edge quilting is currently running about 2 weeks, and you can click here to find out how to book your quilt with me.

I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

THURSDAY

Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

Free Motion Mavericks with Muv and Andree

FRIDAY

Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre

 TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday: TGIF Friday