umbrella prints trimmings challenge 2016

 Here's the packet of trimmings I ordered from

Umbrella Prints in Australia.

I enlarged a star map of the Orion constellation, 

with help from my college sweetie and husband of nearly 37 years. 

He's an amateur astronomer and I welcomed 

his collaboration on this project.

I marked the stars on some black Kona cotton with chalk. 

Basting the reverse applique "stars".

Stitching the Umbrella Print fabrics under the Kona.
The pink basting stitches were then removed.

Once all the stars were sewn, I pin basted the top, batting and backing together.
 I drew some parallel chalk lines to guide the random quilting lines.

Once the background quilting was done with black thread,
I connected the stars with white quilting lines.
Orion's left shoulder is a "red star", often viewed as 

an orangey red in the sky. I embellished Betelgeuse with
some embroidery floss. 

Here is The Orion Nebula found in Orion's sword,

created with tiny French knots, using white embroidery floss.

This is the completed wall hanging, over our bed.

One of our favorite constellations, 

we watch Orion move across the night sky here

in the Green Mountains of Vermont during the winter months.

(Try as I did, I just could not get a sharper image of the whole piece.

I hope the more detailed pictures will help 

give you a better idea of the work).

Be sure to check out all the other wonderful submissions

 here. Show all the crafty people some love!

To see my submission from last year, look here.

To see beauties from 2015, look here.