Gilding the Lily, Part 5

Gild the Lily: an attempt to improve something

that is already fine the way it is.

As you can see, I settled on a classic layout for this Carolina Lily quilt. Plain alternate blocks give those busy lilies some much needed breathing room. They are now the focal point of the quilt, without overwhelming the whole design.

Those setting squares and triangles provide large (15 ½”) areas for quilting. The 7” border can accommodate a nice design too. But here’s my concern. There’s a fine line between a classic, elegant design and one that is schmaltzy and overdone. I don't want to err on the side of over embellishment!

I found a gorgeous inspiration quilt at Feathered Fibers (Click on the photos for more detail). Everything about this quilt is perfect, from the classic red and green color combination (the right red and green) and the traditional lily pattern, to the exquisite quilting designs. If I had seen this quilt 18 years ago, it would have saved me a lot of grief!

Now, if I can just find a longarm quilter who does good custom work and can stitch like that, I'll be a very happy woman. It’s probably not too early for me to get in the queue for a summer, 2011 deadline. Send me an e-mail if you can recommend someone. Thanks!