Sunday, November 30, 2014

Ronald's Flight--Completed!


Four days before Thanksgiving, our son completed his test for becoming a

 Commercial Pilot.
During the winter months he gets to train in southern Florida!
And while at home he trains up and down the east coast.





I wanted to make him a quilt that represents where he is, in his life now.
Over the past 2 years he has spent many, many hours over the ocean.



To show the detail of the quilting I added a up-light.
It is amazing to see the difference of the quilt in person verses in print.
I might need to attend a photography class or hire a professional! 


















The fabric is from Cherry Wood Hand Dyed Fabrics (except the backing).
There is a mix of thread of Superior Silk, Bottom Line, Omni & Sulky.
The quilting is done freehand and with rules.
I do not have a computer.



 It started with squares but felt it was lacking movement.




 I choose diamonds over squares giving it a better flow.


 I did not want the focus on the blades however on the movement they 
create without looking too juvenile.


Here he is flying over a event we had going on
 and he photographed from above!



This is a few weeks ago while on a flight over a boat tournament in Miami.



So just gotta say...
I could not be any Prouder than I am.
And also how much I Love him and this Quilt!
I will have a hard time departing with it when he settles down in one spot.
But he deserves it!


Till We Quilt Or Fly Again,



Linked with:

51 comments:

  1. Fabulous quilt!!! Love the diamonds and the way you did the colors. Oh, your quilting...so perfect!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Helen, I sucked in my breath audibly when I first laid eyes on this stunning quilt! You should enter it into something! Anything! I LOVE the diamonds, yes, totally gives it more "lift" (get it?) The quilting is ... glorious. A feast for the eyes. Love the hits of green on the 'waves'. Truly a master/mistress-piece!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You captured the magnificent beauty of your quilt with these pics! You are a true artist!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is one gorgeous quilt! You sure accomplished what you wished with the blades. And I agree that the colors are perfect. Yes, diamonds were a good idea. I agree. Enter it in a show (if he will part with it long enough for it to hang there). QuiltCon entries close tonight midnight CST(15 minutes from now). AQS Paducah is open till Dec 5 I think it is.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! Gorgeous quilt! Love the quilting on it :).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wowww! What for a beautiful quilting! Love it! It's a great work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is stunning - everything works so well and I love your quilting. Thanks for showing how it evolved and for the back-story; it's always nice to learn this stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your quilt is just beautiful, nice job!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's awesome: both the piecing and the quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an amazing, amazing quilt! Congrats to your son...I'm sure you are so very proud!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The quilt is so beautiful and the quilted helicopter could not be more perfect! Congratulations on the finish and to your son for his commercial rating!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow--what a fantastic quilt! The FMQ is just exquisite, and enhances the overall design perfectly. Congratulations on a wonderful, breathlessly beautiful piece of work!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Absolutely A-mazing!! Both your quilt and the quilting on it! I keep going back to it to have another look! Great job Helen and thank you for linking up with me at Monday Makers!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gorgeous quilt and amazing quilting! Just WOW! He must be thrilled.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the colors here, and the quilting is awesome! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Helen, the quilt is amazing and so is the young man who inspired you. Both quilt AND son are accomplishments that you should be proud of! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. The quilt is AMAZING! What an incredible job you did - the fabrics, the design, the quilting (that helicopter! OMG!) - and most importantly, how much it's personalized for your DS - it's a gift that he'll always treasure!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Amazing quilt!!!! Soooo eautiful. The colors, the pattern of fabrics: great. But it is the quilting that makes it a gorgeous quilt. I love it. What a great gift to your sun!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. OMG, Helen! This is fabulous! You are a true master! I could look at this quilt for hours!! Love the colors and your decision to use diamonds was brilliant! The quilting is fabulous! Your McHelening (see what I did there, Karen says in her new book that you should add your name to the end of the Mc and make it your own!) is wonderful, the helicopter and the movement is spectacular. I'm just going to sit here and look at it - so much to see, such a beautiful labor of love!

    Congrats to your son on such a grand achievement!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations to your son Helen and an even bigger hurray for his quilt. You've done a fantastic job on it - great fabric design and even better quilting! Wow - thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Well, you have one lucky son. I hope he treasures this quilt for life. Your design is brilliant. Using a simple shape you have managed to give such an illusion of sea and air with wonderful use of colour shaping. And of course the quilting just makes it. It adds so much movement and dynamics not to mention texture. I love the rotary blade quilting - that works really well. You may be proud of your son, but I hope you are both proud of this quilt. It is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats to your son and congrats to you for this amazing quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  23. This quilt is stunning! The detail in the piecing and the quilting is incredible...seeing it has made my day! I want to leave my day job and go home to quilt now...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congratulations to your son! That is a huge achievement!! Your quilt is really amazing!! What you've done with your quilting is brilliant. I bet he's proud of his clever quilter mum too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your quilt is just too much for words. Fabulous !! Congratulations to your son also, I am sure he will treasure the quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow! That is just a masterpiece!! I LOVE the helo in it - did you draw that? What talent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I drew it out first on paper then once the scale and details were right-I drew it on the quilt to be quilted..

      Delete
  27. what a fantastic gift for him!!! you did such a wonderful job on the quilt...I love the quilting you added...I would to have known just what to do for such an effect!!! stunning!!!!,

    ReplyDelete
  28. Just wanted to comment on all the incredible replies and emails that I received from this quilt. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the nice comments. Thank You All!

    ReplyDelete
  29. This piece is simply amazing! The fabrics, the piecing and especially the quilting! I can see why you will find it hard to part with this beautiful quilt. And the photos are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Congrats to your son ~ such a special quilt for his love of flying!
    The quilting completes the story and brings its beauty over the top!
    Beautifu

    ReplyDelete
  31. That quilt is awesome! The quilting is so great, what an wonderful way to commemorate this new chapter in his life!

    ReplyDelete
  32. What a beautiful and unique quilt! Your son will always treasure this!

    ReplyDelete
  33. The quilting on this project is phenomenal! What a lovely piece.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wow!!! This is a really amazing quilt. I love the colors in it, but the quilting is over the top. Fantastic design through and through. Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a beautiful quilt. It's a wonderful way to commemorate his achievement.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Bravo,bravo,just awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wow! What a spectacular quilt! And congratulations to your son!! Woohoo!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Amazing! What a beautiful quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a beautiful and thoughtful gift. I love how subtle the top stitching is. Thanks so much for sharing at the Make it Monday Party! Hope to see you again next week.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love your beautiful quilt :-)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wow! The quilting on this is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  42. You did an AMAZING job on this quilt! Hoping over from NNT.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This quilt is breathtaking! From the colors you used to the amazing quilting you really brought this vision to life.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Exquisite quilting -- I admire those of you who have the patience to incorporate such intensive quilting into your pieces!!

    ReplyDelete
  45. What a special quilt. So beautiful in design, colors and free-motion quilting.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Your quilting is absolutely fabulous!! Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Archives....as now I have quick reference to it! LOL!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing you are Helen, I just keep showing this quilt to everyone I know. This is art!!!

    ReplyDelete

Thank You for stopping by and leaving a few words. I will answer questions for all to read or you can email me privately for a private response. Either way I will answer you soon. Till We Quilt Again, Helen