The Cottage Journal 03.10.2021

Spring is officially just a few days away, but this week the weather has made me think we’ve already arrived. The sunshine and 60’s and 70’s have encouraged my day lilies and peonies to start their push up through the soil, and I’m seeing signs of budding leaves on the honeysuckle and spirea. Spring weeds have begun to sprout as well, but that’s a story for another day! All of this new growth in the garden inspired my Easter Buds Quilt – a very sweet and shabby chic quilt with a vintage vibe.

The quilt block in this quilt is called Magnolia Bud, and was first published in the Kansas City Star in 1932. The pink/lavender and blue checked fabric is a vintage find, as is the tablecloth that I used for the back of the quilt. I fell in love with the spring pastel colors and the white outline stitching of the tablecloth, and was tickled to incorporate it into an Easter quilt! The machine embroidery in this quilt is subtle in the solid lavender buds, but I love the intricate stitching of bunnies, chicks, and eggs. There’s lots to discover in this quilt!

Easter Buds Quilt by Katie Longsmith, 2021 / Size: 56″ x 70″ / vintage and new fabrics / Rabbits and Chicks machine embroidery design by Kreative Kiwi / folk-art lilies quilting design