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Saffron Boutis Window Shade


This saffron window shade is the second version of my Parisian rose window boutis. As in the first wall hanging, this one is also framed with free motion quilting.


When I originally designed the pattern, I made two versions of it. One on a white batiste, which became a wall hanging, and the second on this ochre coloured batiste.

Using the same technique of reverse applique for finishing, I framed it with a 1/2 inch brown border before being setting into the background.

Because this piece will be illuminated from behind, to do it justice I felt it should have another section of boutis, where light from the window could work it's magic. I made a smaller version of the same pattern, using only the center  rosette. This was also framed with the brown border.

This done, I felt it needed even more definition so I added another saffron border before placing it into the lighter yellow background fabric which would be finished with machine quilting.

With the top completed, the batting was placed on the wrong side, keeping the areas beneath the boutis free. To keep the batting from shifting during construction, I basted it into place close to the edge of the circle before layering the backing fabric on top.

Keeping the boutis exposed, the backing fabric was centered over the boutis and hand appliqued into place.

The back of the finished window shade, measuring 14" x 25", shows both areas of the boutis exposed.

And here at last with front side up, (below), the completed shade is hanging in a window allowing the light to work it's magic. As you will notice, the lower rosette was stitched onto a different type of cotton batiste. Although the 2 fabrics looked almost identical in colour as I was working with them, the difference in quality became very apparent against the window. The top rosette was stitched on a better quality, finer fabric than the lower rosette. But that having been said, I don't mind the richer, deeper gold that shines through the lower boutis.


Comments

  1. The shade is so lovely with your hand and machine stitching looking so beautiful. Just the thing for light shining through it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Cynthia. I like both hand work and machine quilting, so using machine quilting to finish smaller hand work projects like boutis is a way that allows me to use both methods.

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  2. Wow. These are absolutely lovely! When did you find time to do all this? Beautiful Boutis and lovely quilting as always!

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    Replies
    1. This is one of the only things that I have worked on in the last few weeks. It was so close to being done that I just had to go for it and finish. At least one thing to check off the list.

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  3. Another beautiful design, and beautifully executed too! I like the combination of FMQ and boutis. I think it really expands the range of suitable projects for boutis, as you have demonstrated once again!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Monica. I'm finding that I've been combining machine and hand work on a number of projects, (like hand applique with FMQ). Not only does it give me the opportunity to use both techniques, but as you noted, it also makes larger projects possible in a reasonable time frame. I'm working on several more pieces which will be finished in the same way.

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  4. Fantastische Boutis und so gute Idee, aber viele Arbeit.Danke of Dein Besuch und nette Kommentar.Ich erkläre Dir etwas; meine Arbeit "tread" in Englisch bedeutet of Deutsch"Lauffläche".Wir sagen in Österreich "Tischläufer" beide Worte sind fast gleiche.Schöne Große aus Wien.

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    Replies
    1. Vielen Dank für die Übersetzung. Jetzt verstehe ich. Ich mache auch "Tischläufer" von Zeit zu Zeit. Danke auch für Deinen Besuch.

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