LIFE'S ORCHARD

I have always loved the "Tree of Life" block.  I have seen it done in many ways.  This little quilt I am calling "Life's Orchard" because it is a Tree of Life block in an orchard setting.  This pattern came from Bonnie Hunter's book called "Leaders and Enders".   She titled this quilt "Crabapples".  I changed the name of mine to Life's Orchard to keep the word Life in it.  I made a few changes, but, overall, it is by the pattern.

I started with lots of 1.5" squares and started making them into 9-patch blocks.  I did not count how many there were.  What I do know is that I have used up some very ugly fabrics.

I started this project as a leader/ender while I worked on another quilt top.  Eventually, I was ready to get serious about finishing this one so this is what it looked like as I started connecting all those leader/enders.

The tree bases are paper pieced.  I used many of the dull greens that I have had for a while.

The sashing and cornerstones came from my stash too.  The red/white dot (it is not quite this bright) fabric is very old and the gold cornerstone fabric is from a Jinny Beyer first collection I purchased in the 80s when I first started quilting.  I bought the complete line of her fabric at that time in fat quarters.  I think it was something like 108 fat quarters.   I am still using them.

On-point settings are my favorites .

Put it all together and add borders.  A small inner border,

then a pieced middle border,

and finish it off with a wide outer border of chocolate brown. 

Another finished quilt top for March.  It will be quilted as soon as I can get it on the machine.


                                       -sandi