I love applique quilts and have made several applique sampler quilts. I am always eager to learn new techniques.
When I saw Sandra L. Mollon's Seasons of Life Quilt: Techniques and Patterns for 13 Baltimore Album Quilt Blocks it was so beautiful I wanted to learn more. I loved the seasonal blocks, the variety of patterns, the doves and vases of flowers, and how she added adorable small animals- bunny, squirrel, and hedgehog--into the blocks.
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| Seasons of Life by Sandra Mollon |
Her Seasons of Life quilt is in the permanent collection at the National Quilt Museum.
Now, Sandra offers all she has learned over her years of quiltmaking and teaching in this wonderful book.
She explains how to use successfully use silk fabrics in applique and the tools that will aid you. Learn how to make prepared-edge applique and glue for placing the pieces.
You will find detailed instructions with photographs showing how to make pieced leaves, folded rosebuds, rickrack flowers, ruched roses, yo yo flowers, and beaded berries. I love her idea for fringed flower centers and can't wait to try it.
Learn how to embellish your applique with embroidery stitches and how to use ink and colored pencils for added dimension.
Student quilts illustrate ways to make your Seasons of Life sampler your own. Some kept Mollon's medallion layout while others used twelve blocks for a smaller quilt.
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| Flora and Fauna by Lora Zamk |
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| Remembering Mary by Judy Green |
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| Flora, Fauna, Butterflies, and Bugs by Beth Butura |
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| Seasons of Life by Tina McConnell |
Each block pattern is presented with a photograph of her original block and a detail of the applique. She describes the fabrics she used and her method of assembly and embellishment.
These small photos don't do the quilt justice! Visit the publisher website where you can click on the photos to enlarge them at
Mollon's masters degree in Biology from Central Michigan University shows in her eye for detail and precision in recreating in the flora and fauna in the quilt.
These patterns are challenging. But if you follow the instructions, you will create a drop-dead gorgeous quilt! Individual blocks could also be made for pillow tops. Or, make wall hangings with the three blocks from one season, or a four block quilt using one block from each season.
I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Discover more of Mollon's quilts at her gallery on her website:
Seasons of Life Quilt: Techniques & Patterns for 13 Baltimore Album Quilt Blocks
Sandra Mollon Book ( $29.95 )
eBook ( $23.99 )
112 pages + one 16-page pullout
ISBN: 9781617459610
UPC: 734817-113966
eISBN: 9781617459627
from the publisher
Take on your next quilting feat with a champion quilt! From expert quilter Sandra Mollon, recreate the “Seasons of Life” quilt, which is now a part of a permanent collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Learn techniques for incorporating unusual fabrics, creating dimensional flowers, as well as shading with inks and embellishing blocks. In true “Baltimore” style, each of the 13 blocks features a different tribute to nature in highly stylized fashion: baskets, wreaths, flowers, leaves and vines, and small garden or forest animals. Appliqué each block for your very own stunning creation.Learn tons of techniques with appliqué, embroidery, ribbon work, beading, and more!Includes full-sized pattern and instructions to the award-winning “Seasons of Life” quiltMake 13 unique blocks with a pieced and scalloped border encircling the blocks
Meet Sandra
Sandra is an award winning quilter living in Northern California. She has been quilting for over 30 years, and teaching for 18 years.Sandra began as a traditional quilter, specializing in hand appliqué for a couple of decades. You can see a few of my quilts in the book, “500 Traditional Quilts” by Lark Publications. She is currently working on a book to be released in 2021 with C & T Publication for her original designed quilt, “Seasons of Life.She has had many quilts juried into large international and regional juried shows. Her traditional quilt, “Season’s of Life” won a major award in 2019 both at Road to California (Outstanding Large Quilt), and at the 2019 AQS Paducah show it won a purchase award and is in the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY.Additionally her work in art quilting has wonderful many place awards, a “Best Pictorial” award and a 3rd place award in 2019 at PIQF, a 1st Place in Wall at MQX 2019, Best of Show Award and 1st place at the RCQG show in Sacramento Ca, 2018, and a 3rd place at Road to California in 2020.She enjoys teaching as well as working on her art, and loves to travel and meet new people.
