For May I was inspired by the bluebells that were abundant in the woods in Sussex this year. I've always loved this time of year because of the bluebells so it seemed right to use them.
I started with a background of my own dyed fabric, one part green and the other a blue/purple mix. To these I added small pieces of toning fabrics and machine quilted them in a random zig-zag pattern. On top of this I machine sections of a photo of bluebell woods.
I then hand stitched both sections, using seed stitches for the green part and French knots for the blue section. I also free machined 'Hyacinthoides non-scripta', the Latin name for Bluebells and hand stitched it to the quilt.
As with the other Journal Quilts I have done this year, I stitched beads around the binding.
In June I seemed to spend a lot of time in garden centres looking at various plants so it seemed only right to yet again have a flower-inspired quilt for June.
I started with a print of a vintage seed catalogue which I've had in my paper stash for some time - so long that I can't even remember where I got it from. As it had delphiniums on it, I used a piece of my dyed fabric which I partly over printed with a blue floral design. I then machine quilted a delphinium-like design all over the quilt before applying some lace, the seed catalogue and a "delphinium" printed sign which was hand stitched to the quilt. A selection of blue buttons finished the body of the quilt and once bound, I yet again stitched various shades of blue beads.
