Lady Gemma quilt

perspectives of beauty and gratitude

In Enschede lies an award-winning park, the Abraham Ledeboer park. Visitors are drawn to its regal giant sequoia tree, planted by Abraham’s gardener in 1866.

Like me, the tree is a California native, but she seems to be doing quite well in The Netherlands. In 2025 she was crowned the Dutch tree of the year! This week we bicycled to the park with my latest finish in tow.

And just as I imagined, she looks plucked from an ancient forest when photographed alongside this tree. The ladies of medieval times might wear just these colors, with pennants flying and flowers in their hair.

Lady Gemma quilt captures my heart with her royal, medieval vibe!

I am absolutely delighted by the interplay of colors, shape and fabric. I rarely work with pure red and true blue. This quilt has all three bold primary colors, plus a smattering of gem tones that gives it a sumptuous beauty.

My very favorite detail is the pale pink rose framed in the large vignette block at right. Isn’t it divine? Sigh.

I felt inspired to custom quilt this project with contrast between the blue zigzag line and the larger “gems”. For the blue I found a zigzagging floral that looks just amazing, if I do say so myself. But, choosing a quilting pattern for the gems was challenging. Eventually I modified an interlocking ovals pattern to fit my needs. I like how the ovals allow the gems to be fluffier than the blue zigzag, but I wonder if it draws too much attention away from the fabrics themselves.

It’s easy to be critical when creating a quilt, up close and personal. I often find that once the quilt is finished, my perspective changes. I step back to take in the whole, with acceptance for all I’ve enjoyed and learned in the process. Then it’s beauty that I see and gratitude that I feel.

Gratitude for the designers who create such beautiful fabrics. All of these fabrics, front and back, are Anna Maria Textiles. My creation is a response to hers. We are collaborators, in a way.

Gratitude for my skills and my tools, which allow quilt-making to be a delight. I am particularly glad that I can finish my quilts with a longarm - so effortlessly and so sturdily and with all the creative possibilities that a longarm brings.

And gratitude for the places I can photograph my quilts, the people who hold them for me and you dear readers who are my witnesses, my teachers and my cheerleaders.

Lady Gemma is listed today in my Handmades shop. Thank you all!