Arizona Cactus Table Topper Set
Enjoy 25% off the Arizona Cactus complete set for the month of August. Stop by the Design Store to take advantage of the sale! Keep reading for pattern details, tips and tricks!
The Design:
Many of you know that I worked for Judy Niemeyer for several years. I was working for her during the time frame the Cactus designs were being produced and I fell hard for this little block! I have two table runners and a bed quilt from this pattern. I immediately set to dreaming up designs for this set and produced some of my first and most favorite designs!
When I got this little sweet little table topper from CI Sue Wilson to quilt it gave me a chance to work with a new layout. Her beautiful RJR Fabrics were so feminine and immediately had me thinking of delicate pretty designs to enhance them!
As we all do, I have grown and enhanced my techniques over time. This is one of my early creations so the style is a little different than my current flavor but I hope you all still enjoy it just as much!
***Note: All Peak to Prairie Quilting pattern sets come with Placement Layout sheets to help you navigate the pattern names. There can also be additional information on these sheets so please look them over before starting your quilt! ***
I start almost every Quiltworx quilt with Stitch in the Ditch. I use monopoly thread and work my SID through the WHOLE quilt, getting it into one piece. Then I go back and work each color of thread through the whole quilt.
Spikes, Spikes, Spikes!
If you watch my current work you all know that 99% of the time I leave my spikes to POP. I love the varying density this gives to my quilting, I love how it emphasizes the spikes and makes them a focal point, and I love the clean look this gives to a quilt. However, there are times when you just want to quilt those little buggers down . . .and not do all that SID! This set of flames gives some nice texture to these spikes without overpowering them. Easy to place, manipulate or divide as needed you can fit them to the craziest piecing!
Most of the time when you are working on small projects like a table topper time is a factor. Who wants to pay their quilter hundreds of dollars for a small piece like this? And we all know some of these small projects can take just as long as the big ones. This little swirl design places nicely over the little spikes and saves a ton of time!
The spike background swirl is also easy to place and manipulate. If needed you can easily divide close to where a new curl comes out from the previous one. There is only one line of stitching at these points and makes for the easiest manipulation.
Feather Fun:
Now that we have those pesky spikes out of the way lets have some fun! Oh how I love me some feathers and these whimsical little designs have a special place in my heart! Both are easy to place, and fun to look at! While this might be the set they are designed for I have used them over and over in different quilts!
There is no better finish to a quilt than a feather border! This simple swooping feather with curl accents is fun and artistic. Originally designed for a 4″ border, it will come in handy over and over. Make sure you SID along the outer and inner border to give a nice straight finish to your quilt.
The End Result:
