In 2011 I designed and made this small "Fly Free" wall quilt.
It was a response to some deep seated regrets I had in my life, and a statement to myself that it was time to fly free of them.
Recently my husband and I have been reflecting on the unwise paths we've traveled and how the 'fruit' of those decisions can be quite bitter. We could feel ourselves sinking into a muddy river of regret and sorrow again, even though those decisions took place a very long time ago.
Times of inner examination of the past usually trigger a slide into depression, and that's exactly where this led me once more. But something is different these days.
I am aware of depression's bony fingers reaching into my mind and emotions and though they still gain access, it is only temporarily. I acknowledge the depth of my grief and pain, and I allow myself to feel it...and then I get angry at it. Really angry...the kind of angry where you hope your neighbours aren't home to hear your long and aggressive rant at the uninvited intruder, Depression.
I cry out to God, I cry out to myself, and then I just cry.
This week Depression left within a few days, gratefully his visits are much shorter than they once were.
I'm not going to tell you that facing Depression head on the way I do now is going to help you the same way, because I know for some people it's too hard and depression overpowers them, leaving them crushed and powerless for the longest time.
What I can tell you is that when you're out of the pit and experiencing 'normality' surround yourself with things that lift your thoughts higher, and inspire you to take hold of life and love it for all its worth. God gave me a key to help myself through the darkest times, and He is faithful to carry me when I can't carry myself. This design, though it may look difficult, is actually quite simple and can be changed around to suit what you have on hand and your skill level. The key is very personal to me, my symbol of being free from the cage that life had me trapped in.
I hope as you make it that you fill your heart with it's message ~ FLY FREE dear friend.
Finished size:
13 x 16 inches
When the idea formed for this wall quilt I gathered trinkets and lace, beads and ribbon, and favourite fabrics; then I played around with them until I knew what I would use...see what you have that can come together for your version of "Fly Free".
Here's what you will need to make it like mine...
·
1 fat
quarter of pale blue rose tonal fabric
·
14 x
17” rectangle of backing fabric
·
1 fat
quarter deep rose tonal fabric (bird body and binding)
·
1 fat
16th rose on cream floral fabric (bird wings and tail)
·
3”
square cream/brown floral fabric (padlock)
·
2 metres
(yards) 1¼” wide decorative beige lace
·
1 metre
(yard) pale blue silk ribbon
·
1 olive
green tassel
·
1
pre-made 1” diameter deep pink rose with leaves
·
1
pre-made crochet lace butterfly
·
One,
1¼” diameter doily flower
·
One,
1¼” pearl vintage button
·
One
pair of tarnished-look gold wings (can be found in craft stores)
·
One ¾”
crystal tear drop
·
One,
10mm pearl bead
·
One,
6mm pearl bead
·
One,
4mm pearl bead
·
Six,
pearl seed beads
·
Two,
rose seed beads
·
Anchor
stranded embroidery threads, 1 skein each of Medium Beige (831), Dark Beige
(832), Rose (896)
·
One, 15
x 18” rectangle of fusible Pellon
·
One, 15
x 18” rectangle Whisperweft, Weaveline, or preferred fusible fabric stabiliser
·
Vliesofix
for fusible applique
Applique
& Embroidery:
NOTE: If you have never done this type of applique before please watch my step by step tutorial HERE before proceeding.
1.
Trace
the reverse bird templates, and the reverse padlock template to the smooth side
of your Vliesofix, leaving ½” between each of the shapes.
2.
Cut
around each traced piece of Vliesofix leaving ¼“ buffer outside the drawn lines.
3.
Fuse
the padlock shape to the back of the 3” scrap of brown/cream floral fabric.
4.
Fuse
the wing and tail shapes to the back of the cream and rose floral fabric.
5.
Fuse
the bird body to an edge piece of the deep rose tonal fabric.
6.
Cut out
each fused shape on the traced line.
7.
Lightly
draw with a pencil a rectangle, 13" x 16” in size, onto the centre of your fat
quarter of blue floral fabric. You will
have to imagine another border inside that of 1¼” all round as this is where
the lace will be towards the end.
8.
Using
the photo of “Fly Free” for placement, peel the Vliesofix off the traced shapes and lay in place within the rectangle. When you are happy with
them, fuse in place.
9.
Trace
the key from your pattern sheet to sit ¾” below the right hand edge of the
birdcage. Again, see photo for placement. Trace the sun beams and the wording.
Fuse the Pellon behind your prepared quilt top.
10.
Blanket
stitch around the bird’s body and wings with 2 strands of Anchor 896 (Rose).
11.
Using
your pattern sheet and the photo below for reference, draw the bird’s eyes,
beak and legs onto the body using a white pencil.
12.
Using 2
strands of Medium Beige (831), make French Knots for the eyes, satin stitch the
beak, and backstitch the legs.
13.
Lay the
block over the birdcage shape on your pattern sheet, and draw the birdcage just
behind the bird. See main photo for
placement.
14.
With 1
strand of Dark Beige thread, backstitch the outline of the birdcage and the
sunbeams.
15. Blanket stitch around the padlock with 2 strands of
Dark Beige (832). Using a fine brown pigma pen draw a keyhole for the padlock,
using the pattern sheet for reference. Backstitch around the shape of the
keyhole with 1 strand of Rose thread. Satin stitch inside the keyhole with 2
strands of Dark Beige.
16.
Using 1
strand of Dark Beige (832) chain stitch around the decorative top of the key.
Using 2 strands of the same thread, backstitch around the traced line of the
key shaft; then satin stitch inside the key shaft.
17.
Using 2 strands of Rose thread, chain stitch
the words, ‘Fly Free’.
18.
With 2
strands of Rose thread, satin stitch the little circle above the key shaft.
19. Stitch a pearl seed bead in place with 1 strand of Medium Beige (831).
20. Stitch the
green tassel down at the top of the key with a few stitches in matching sewing
thread. Carry the tassel across to the left and sew in place ½ way along with a
few stitches in a matching sewing thread. Sew the bulb end of the tassel in
place from behind with a few strong stitches.
21.
Sew the
rose in place over the edge of the tassel. Stitch from behind.
22.
Sew a
seed bead into the centre of the top 3 rings of the birdcage hanging chain. Sew
the crystal in place using a pearl seed bead for anchorage, and add the 6mm
pearl bead above it.
Note: I tea
dyed the butterfly before using it because I wanted an aged look to match the scene of Fly Free...
23.
Secure
the butterfly to the right of the crystal on the birdcage by sewing the rose
seed beads at the end of the antennae of the butterfly, two more pearl seed
beads at the bottom of the wings, and some hidden stitches at the top of the
wings and through the body.
24.
Make a
mark in the middle of the bottom edge of your rectangle. Make another mark 3¼”
up the left and right hand sides from the bottom corner of the rectangle.
25.
Starting from the top right hand side and left
across the top, pin your lace in place inside the drawn line of your 13 x 16”
rectangle, mitring the corners as you go. Pin the lace down the left side until
you reach the pencil mark and mitre the corner before bringing the lace down to
the middle bottom marker. Pin it here at the middle.
26.
Repeat the process up the right hand side and
finish where you began.
27.
Gather
the lace at the middle bottom edge with a couple of stitches.
28.
Hand
stitch the lace to the quilt top along the inside edges using a running stitch and a sewing
thread that matches the colour of the lace.
To Finish:
1.
Fuse
the backing fabric to the rear of the Fly Free quilt block.
2. Trim
the block along the 13" x 16” drawn border.
3. Make your
binding by using three lengths of 2¼" wide strips from the fat quarter of
deep Rose tonal fabric (same fabric you used for the bird body). For
instructions on making and attaching binding please see this tutorial of mine.
4. Sew the
binding in place around the block, mitring the corners as you go.
5. This is the
time to add a hanging sleeve. You can use the leftover
binding strip if you like, or use a wider piece of fabric if you're going to hang the quilt using dowel and not a wire hanger.
Fold in the ends of a strip, fold in half lengthways
and press, sew in place along the middle top back of the block.
6. Turn the binding to the back of the quilt and
slip stitch in place with a sewing thread that matches the binding fabric.
7. Sew the gold
wings in place securely.
8. Sew the pearl button over the top of the wings.
9. Sew ribbon bows in place at the sides (as seen in the photo), and the small doily flower with a large pearl bead in the centre at the bottom point. I used very aged ribbon, perfect for this project.
You're finished!
You can download all the pattern pieces here, and in response to your comments the other day I've added the entire tutorial to the pattern.
Just out of curiosity, would you make this for yourself, or is there someone you care about that "Fly Free" would be perfect for?
I'm sending each of you a very BIG hug today,
16 comments:
Oh! This is the way I ♥ to "scrap" -- I've inherited lots of little trinkets & doodads from my grandmas & great grandmother. I even have some scrappy doily pieces from my husband's grandmother.
I would love to create a "Fly Free" wall hanging for my dear friend who last month said goodbye to her husband of 27 years after fighting with & for him against cancer for 6 years.
Thank you, Jenny!
For me - as a reminder!
Jenny, thank you for sharing and for being there. You will understand what I am saying. xx
Jen - this is gorgeous and thank you for sharing the story behind it. xoxo
Thanks Jenny...not only for the beautiful piece, but also for the reminder that all things dark eventually pass.
How nice is it....!
Best wishes and a nice day.
Daniéla
www.dazabe.blogspot.com
A lovely way to express freedom from depression - thank you Jenny!
This will be lovely for my sweet but troubled daughter. You are so encouraging when you speak openly about having problems… we all do, but sometimes bloggers make you think that their entire life is one big happy day. I appreciate your honesty and that you confide in your readers. Thank you Jenny!
Olá Jenny amo seu blog ele me alegra e traz muita inspiração.
As vezes ficos horas passeando nele e curtindo cada trabalho .
Você é muito talentosa e gosto muito do seu jeito de ver a vida bjs e bom fim de semana.
Hello Jenny! Thank you very very much for your today's post. You never know how many things have moved inside me after reading it. Many years ago I also suffered depression and only the ones who have suffered it know really well what we've been through. In my case was for external reasons but it went through for some years and at times it was very hard to go on. But once you go on you know you can fight and you feel stronger and those "really bad days" are, as you say, not so often and not so hard and that gives you the strength to go on. Unfortunately depression is still a "not to be talk about" illness, not so many people really understands it and and understands the person who suffers it but by people like you who speak out loud about I hope this will change. Thanks Jenny and all my love!
A wonderful post Jenny. I can definitely relate to what you have said. Thank you for the tutorial. Hugs......
Thank you Jenny I really appreciate your posts (and all your work) and that you are able to be open and talk about these feelings, depression is awful and touches so many families and their members for generations. Can tell you worked through a lot with your project, (it is wonderful that it helped you and are able to deal with it your way when these feeling make a return visit), it is beautiful and lovely work, thank you for the tutorial, can have different meanings for individual people. I hope you are having better days and have a great weekend, maybe with some more lovely outdoor adventures, soaking up some nature can be a good feel tonic too. Sending you huge hugs and good wishes, Judithann :-)
Thank you very much for your open and heartfelt post. We each have something we deal with and this "Fly Free" is beautiful and powerful. Thank you dear for sharing your soul and your Creative Bliss...
Thank you so much for such an open and honest post. I try not to dwell on past regrets, it is such a useless waste of energy as there is nothing we can do to change them. The first person I thought of when reading your post was of my friend. She suffers from severe depression. Her doctor just increased her prescription dosage.
I love that you included the tutorial with the directions. Such a big help! It can be tricky sometimes to print tutorials or try to pull them up on my phone. You are such a generous and giving person to share so much with everyone, not just your designs and tutorials. I'm glad to have found your blog. Thank you for everything!
(((((Jenny))))) Thank you for sharing your heart with us. You are an encouragement and a blessing to all who read here.
Catching up on blogs. I'm happy you've found your way out the other side of your depression. Been there. It helped me to realize that I have no regrets, because everything I have been through, my mistakes, illness, hardship, etc. has shaped me into the person I am. We are currently going through new challenges. My husband lost his job suddenly after 19 years and we've been struggling a bit since, but I keep in mind that these trials help to strengthen us, help us to be better people. I'm also reading a wonderful book, Loving What Is, that helped me through the initial shock. Depression and anger don't have to own us. We can come to terms with our past and move on.
Peace and Laughter!
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