Nonnahs' Wedding Quilt

I knew I wanted to make Nonnahs a wedding quilt as soon as they decided to get married this September. It just took me a while to pick just the right one. I knew I didn't want it to be too busy and more classic looking, but I also wanted to take advantage of some of the great contemporary fabric out there. I hit pay dirt with the Cutting Corners pattern from Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts.

It is simple, yet interesting and offers a great combination of straight lines and floral 'roundedness'. For colors I had two main inspirations: Nonnahs' fairly neutral living room and, of course, the Doogles. So I went to the fabric store and shopped the black florals until I found the perfect one: plenty of black but enough cream and taupe to give me something to work with in picking out the border fabrics. The rest came together pretty effortlessly. I was also inspired to add the red binding because there is the tiniest of red in the floral print on the inner cream border fabric...plus red is such a 'love'ly color! I opted for a solid black backing mainly for the practical purpose of living with a (mostly) black dog.

Main Print - Michael Miller for Fabrics LLC
Cream Inner Border - 19th Century Backgrounds II for Marcus Brothers
Taupe Outer Border - Floral Damask by P&B Textiles
Binding - Little Red Riding Hood for Red Rooster Fabrics
Backing - Black Solid Kona Cotton from Robert Kaufman Fabrics

I also knew that I wanted to add some kind of inscription to the back. I went back and forth about embroidering their names and/or the date of the wedding. But, nothing seemed 'just right'. I was also mildly afraid that by adding their names and date it would turn more into something that's kept in a closet vs. something that is used...and if its up to me (ha!), I'd rather it be something that's used! Then a lightening bolt stuck! I could add feng shui love birds to the back! Again, this idea went through many incarnations and it didn't materialize into the final product until I was putting everything together (mostly because of trial and error):

I used the side bird template from the Bird Ornaments pattern, also from Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, on fabric treated with iron-on fusing. I used a 'fancy' stitch from my sewing machine to applique the birds to the backing (also fused). Then I invisibly hand stitched the patch to the quilt back (like when you attached binding). Considering this was completely winged (no pun intended ;), I really love how the patch came out.

And finally, what would a quilt project be without fabric leftovers...which were promptly turned into a set of Quilted Coasters, again from Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts.

I do believe Nonnahs will be an absolutely beautiful bride, don't you think!?! :-)