Still Life begun in Jane Sassaman class

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"Still Life, Still Alive at Seventy" was begun in class on August 28 allowing me to celebrate my seventieth birthday with my quilting friends! The large caladium leaves were my staring point, then I added the vintage stylized fern print that Jane designed several years ago.The "still life" format was the suggested technique this accomplished quilter and instructor suggested for our class. We were to cut out motifs, arrange them to our liking in a vase and fuse the elements in place. Then all would be secured with a machine satin stitch.

Jane was helpful and spent time with each of us and our designs. I admire her quilts and the fabric she designs for FreeSpirit. But I learned from this class was I prefer to work with fabric–not fused fabric. Jane explained to us that she started as a paper artist, so she prefers working with fused fabric so that she can cut out shapes as if they were paper and then use a satin stitch to applique each in place.

I did try this suggested technique, but at home I pulled off all the fusible backing and turned under a small seam allowance and hand appliqued everything in place. I machine quilted it on my 1971 Bernina 830 with some accents of hand quilting.
Paula Mariedaughter, 30" x 32"