Majesty, Medallion IX finds its life in my hands.

I love hand quilting my pieces after I've stitched them by hand. They get softer and richer as I go. Stitch by stitch.

I get to know them intimately.  I know every curve and point. Stitch by stitch.

I love the convergence of the fabric's design with the pattern's design, discovering gifts where all the layers of design sweep and sway together. Where a splash of color hits perfectly. I feel the movement of the piece, and it takes me along. Stitch by stitch.

The piece comes alive, gaining depth and dimension and an inviting softness; kind of like the face of a kind-hearted elderly woman. I know you've seen this face.  A face that's been shaped by sorrow and laughter, and softened with wisdom and compassion. (I hope my face looks like that when I'm elderly)

I began quilting Majesty, Medallion IX in the ditch, as I do with all my designs.  For many I stop there.  But Majesty began talking to me.

Majesty asked for more. 

The buttery vanilla background beckoned. It wanted to be quilted with sweeping lines, fragments of lines, that complemented the pattern's curves.  The crowns asked for texture that arced into a pointed petal and arced back out from it.

As I quilted I could feel the piece become rich and whole. Soft, tender, inviting, peaceful. A quiet joy that draws you in. Settled and solid, yet fully alive.

Amber waves of grain.

Purple mountains' majesty.