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Alethea Ballard

Artist, Teacher, Author of Maverick Quilts

Quilt Label – a very long 4-letter word!

July 5, 2012 by maverickquilts Leave a Comment

Detail of Fiesta Beauties quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 2012
Detail of Fiesta Beauties quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 2012

OK! Uncle!

I am making some labels for a few of my new quilts. But, only because I have to.

detail of Fiesta Beauties quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 2012
detail of Fiesta Beauties quilt, by Alethea Ballard; 2012

The Quilt Police have had a warrant out on me for years for section 420.67b, non-completion of quilt labels (along with section 316.28a, undocumented quilt gift-giving (no photo of quilt taken before given away); section 421.12c non-inclusion of hanging sleeves; and a few other misdemeanors to be named later).

However, I am showing some of my new work in the Teacher’s Tent at the Sister’s Outdoor Quilt show next week, and they require compliance with the practice of adding a label.  I get why a quilt should be labeled – I even agree that it’s a good thing.

One should label their quilts. (Should – another long 4-letter word.)

I don’t know if it is the rebel in me, the lazy in me, or the absolute aversion to hand sewing, but I NEVER make labels for my quilts. Except for now, when I am doing it for these five quilts (and a few other times).

So, could I just have made a nice simple label? A pretty square with the pertinent information? I COULD have.

But did I?

Why, no.

Quilt Label pre-view
Quilt Label pre-view

Of course not! I made a super-complex collage of at least 12 pieces.

Why so many bits, you might ask? Well, I made her a new skirt top with the pretty red points (the original has just one red point), and then I collaged the basilica, flowers, cacti, and leaves to make a balanced arrangement.

I am sure you’ve noticed by now that the piece is not a simple square either. Of course not! That would just be too easy!

Starting to pin the label edge to the quilt back
Starting to pin the label edge to the quilt back

I did give her a nice set of arm and shoulder tattoos while I was at it. And why not?

Then, I used a zig-zag stitch to attach the collage to a background piece. Not sure it’s the best look, but TOO LATE NOW!

Now we come to the yucky bit – all that hand sewing and turning under of edges, curves, inner corners, and other tools of torture to a hand-sew-a-phobe like me!

Trim the excess off the edges
Trim the excess off the edges

I trimmed the edge a bit and clipped the outer curves. Then I pinned with long, sharp pins (I chose long pins so that the thread could get caught in the pins with each and every stitch – seriously!)

the Maverick Voodoo pin technique
the Maverick Voodoo pin technique

Then I did sew it with little invisible stitches and green thread.

Stitches are looking invisible to me
Stitches are looking invisible to me

Not too bad for someone who avoids this kind of work like a plague of nose-picking pig farmers.

Clip into the inner corners (I think)
Clip into the inner corners (I think)

When I had to work on this (the most complex) section, I clipped into the corners.

Got it pretty-much under control
Got it pretty-much under control

So that’s about it – and it’s done.

(You’re probably wondering why there is that funny line on her chest. The reason is that I started with a piece that had her face, arm and body but had the left part of her chest cut off. Rather than starting with a whole lady, I just cut the chest off of another intact lady. What was I thinking? No Idea. Just sometimes one makes silly decisions.)

Here’s the finished look…

Fiesta Beauties quilt label all finished
Fiesta Beauties quilt label all finished
close-up of Fiesta Beauties quilt label all finished
close-up of Fiesta Beauties quilt label all finished

So only four more to go!

Quilt label for Barbed Wire Betsy quilt, by Alethea Ballard
Quilt label for Barbed Wire Betsy quilt, by Alethea Ballard

Well, I actually finished the label for Barbed Wire Betsy (see this post), and I kept this one more simple!!!

I gave her a barbed-wire font!
I gave her a barbed-wire font!

So three more to go – please hold.

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Make socks not war – or sock it to me, fishy
Fiesta Beauties Quilt – grand debut

Questions and Comments

  1. Jeanette says

    July 5, 2012 at 2:47 am

    Love, love, love your quilt labels–when the back is as interesting as the front, now that is a wonderful quilt! So sorry I’m not going to be at Sisters to see all your new quilts–please post after the show!

    Reply
    • maverickquilts says

      July 5, 2012 at 11:57 am

      Oh, That’s so nice to hear – I really do dislike making them, but it helps to know that it’s worth it. I actually made a whole second quilt on the back of the Fiesta Beauties quilt! I just need to take photos and I’ll post. It’s on my list of things to do!

      Reply
  2. Carol says

    July 5, 2012 at 7:52 am

    Your labels are beautiful and give me inspiration because I’m in violation too! Have fun in Sisters! Wish I were going.

    Reply
    • maverickquilts says

      July 5, 2012 at 11:58 am

      Always glad to hear that I’m not the only outlaw! I’ll send lots of photos from Sisters for you!

      Reply
  3. Franki Kohler says

    July 8, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    Great labels! You are a renegade!

    Reply

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maverickquilts

Artist/Teacher✂️Textile Collages💠Unexpected quilts🔅Online quilting classes!
Watch me sew! Sew with me! Aletheaballard.com

Instagram post 2195415411176988913_194116183 Cat Quilt is quilted!
My nephew Danny created and quilted this fabulous cat quilt!
He chose all the fabrics and appliqués himself. 
And he’s getting really good on the longarm. 
I recommend exuberant appliqué with kids.
Pro tip:
If they are little do the fusing and cutting in advance. Let them choose from two or three backgrounds. 
They love to collage. Then you press. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
It’s a great activity for the holidays, snow days, rainy days, and visits with auntie/uncle or granny/gpa. #sewwithkids #sewingwithkids #sewingwithchildren #collage #exuberantapplique #cat #cats #catquilt #luckyauntie #superauntie #onlinequiltingclasses @hoffmanfabrics @fronddesignstudios #picachu⚡️ @alexanderhenryfabrics @woodengatequilts @wehadtwins
Instagram post 2193940972971089201_194116183 Oh Joy!
More exuberant wreath fun!
Seriously, there’s cake, right?!?✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️
#onlinequiltclass #cats #cat #wreath #christmascat #joy #cake #onlinequiltingclasses #onlinequiltingteacher ##exuberantapplique #midcenturychristmas #midcenturymodern #collage #collageartist @harts_fabric
Instagram post 2193240701764722156_194116183 Gack! This fabric!!!
My LQS sent me these pictures. 
If you really need some Today call Woodengate Quilts this afternoon. (925) 837–8458
How absolutely cool is Alexander Henry Fabrics putting my postcards in their fabric deliveries?!? Thank you, Alexander Henry! You guys rock.
This makes my day!
And thank you Katie and Debi  at WGQ for being my biggest cheerleaders!!!
@alexanderhenryfabrics @woodengatequilts @kdkap @dabucc2 #tatoo #tattoofabric #sailorjerrytattoo #tattoo #hulagirl #hulagirltattoo #hulagirls #rhianna #fabric #fabricaddict
Instagram post 2190960646099317836_194116183 The season is kicking off at a cheerful pace! 🍾🍸🍹
How funny is this Tipsy Ladies wreath I made?!?
🤪😋😝🤣😂😆🤓🤪🥳
I found all of this mid-century-style fabric down in Santa Cruz at Hart’s fabrics three years ago!
💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫
I just had to do something super silly with it!
💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
Did you know that I share all my appliqué secrets in an online class?
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Check out the link in my bio, and you can make exuberant things like this, too!
😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜
Make sure you put the good fusible and special scissors I carry in your shopping cart! They make all the difference in the world! ✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️
#onlinequiltclass #onlinequiltingclasses #onlinequiltingteacher #exuberantapplique #midcenturychristmas #midcenturymodern #tipsy #collage #collageartist @harts_fabric
Instagram post 2189668930876790389_194116183 Cardinals taking shape.

#bird #birds #birdquilt #exuberantapplique #watchmesew #fabric #textile #textileart #textileartist #lonirossifabric
Instagram post 2189066931642583870_194116183 Back home means back to work means back to my birds. 
Tonight it’s a nuthatch. 
Fitting for my current level of sanity. 😝
#bird #birds #birdquilt #exuberantapplique #watchmesew #fabric #textile #textileart #textileartist
Load More... Follow on Instagram

maverickquilts

Artist/Teacher✂️Textile Collages💠Unexpected quilts🔅Online quilting classes!
Watch me sew! Sew with me! Aletheaballard.com

Instagram post 2195415411176988913_194116183 Cat Quilt is quilted!
My nephew Danny created and quilted this fabulous cat quilt!
He chose all the fabrics and appliqués himself. 
And he’s getting really good on the longarm. 
I recommend exuberant appliqué with kids.
Pro tip:
If they are little do the fusing and cutting in advance. Let them choose from two or three backgrounds. 
They love to collage. Then you press. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
It’s a great activity for the holidays, snow days, rainy days, and visits with auntie/uncle or granny/gpa. #sewwithkids #sewingwithkids #sewingwithchildren #collage #exuberantapplique #cat #cats #catquilt #luckyauntie #superauntie #onlinequiltingclasses @hoffmanfabrics @fronddesignstudios #picachu⚡️ @alexanderhenryfabrics @woodengatequilts @wehadtwins
Instagram post 2193940972971089201_194116183 Oh Joy!
More exuberant wreath fun!
Seriously, there’s cake, right?!?✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️
#onlinequiltclass #cats #cat #wreath #christmascat #joy #cake #onlinequiltingclasses #onlinequiltingteacher ##exuberantapplique #midcenturychristmas #midcenturymodern #collage #collageartist @harts_fabric
Instagram post 2193240701764722156_194116183 Gack! This fabric!!!
My LQS sent me these pictures. 
If you really need some Today call Woodengate Quilts this afternoon. (925) 837–8458
How absolutely cool is Alexander Henry Fabrics putting my postcards in their fabric deliveries?!? Thank you, Alexander Henry! You guys rock.
This makes my day!
And thank you Katie and Debi  at WGQ for being my biggest cheerleaders!!!
@alexanderhenryfabrics @woodengatequilts @kdkap @dabucc2 #tatoo #tattoofabric #sailorjerrytattoo #tattoo #hulagirl #hulagirltattoo #hulagirls #rhianna #fabric #fabricaddict
Instagram post 2190960646099317836_194116183 The season is kicking off at a cheerful pace! 🍾🍸🍹
How funny is this Tipsy Ladies wreath I made?!?
🤪😋😝🤣😂😆🤓🤪🥳
I found all of this mid-century-style fabric down in Santa Cruz at Hart’s fabrics three years ago!
💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫
I just had to do something super silly with it!
💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
Did you know that I share all my appliqué secrets in an online class?
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Check out the link in my bio, and you can make exuberant things like this, too!
😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜
Make sure you put the good fusible and special scissors I carry in your shopping cart! They make all the difference in the world! ✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️
#onlinequiltclass #onlinequiltingclasses #onlinequiltingteacher #exuberantapplique #midcenturychristmas #midcenturymodern #tipsy #collage #collageartist @harts_fabric
Load More... Follow on Instagram

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