Day 365 – Infinity Tree
It’s official! Here we are at 365 designs!
This was the original goal I set out to hit way back on August 14th, 2009. The project ended up taking a full year and a half longer than I expected, but now that we’re here 365 designs just doesn’t seem like enough!
So just to clear up any confusion – THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE ENDING TODAY!
I plan to continue posting designs until they stop popping into my head. Whether that will be at 500, 750, or 1000, I have no idea, but I’m having too much fun to stop creating and sharing these designs!
Of course, now that this original goal is complete, I want to improve the project, making everything more accessible and less overwhelming. More details will be shared on the upcoming developments very soon, and we’ll kick off several new free motion projects starting January 1st.
Now enough waiting – here is design #365 – Infinity Tree:
Infinity Tree is a combination of several of my favorite designs and captures one of my favorite types of quilts – landscapes. This design takes it up another notch by allowing you to quilt free form trees right into your quilts, filling the space with their branches on one side and tree roots on the other.
It’s hard to describe exactly how this design is quilted so let’s see it being quilted into a small quilt square:
Difficulty Level – Advanced. This design appears very complex, which can be misleading because it’s actually a combination of very simple textures put together in a logical way.
First start with a single wiggly line running through the middle of your quilting space. Expand this wiggly line with a row of Calm Sea to create hills in the background. Now stitch a tree growing up from the hills. Don’t worry about getting every branch perfect. Just allow them to flow organically up and out from the central trunk.
Stitch back down the other side of the tree and down into the ground. Fill in a row of Pebbles all along the bottom of the wiggly line to a rocky ground. Stitch below the tree and branch out with a network of Tree Roots. Twist and wiggle and interconnect these roots until they fill the bottom space completely.
Design Family – Edge to Edge. Technically this design is stitched from one edge of your quilting space to another, making it a great choice for the borders of your next quilt.
Directional Texture – 2 Directions. Infinity Tree has such a complex texture, it’s really hard to put a single label on it. Technically it does have an obvious horizontal texture created by the initial curving line that will always catch your eye.
Suggestions for Use – If you have always wanted to create a landscape quilt, now is your chance! Stitch a large scale Infinity Tree onto plain fabric and allow your imagination to run wild with all the things you can do with thread!
If you’re looking for a really unique border design, this is a great choice. Imagine the effect of 50 trees sprouting from the edges of your next quilt!
congratulations on meeting that goal! what a great Christmas gift for you and all of us readers! Thanks for your generosity!
Hallelujah! So glad to hear it. I was really beginning to worry. You are a gift to us all and we appreciate you so much!
Merry Christmas!
WOW, what a great finish and that you KEEP going is GREAT!! awesome. Merry Christmas!
Congratulations on reaching your initial goal. I'm so glad to know that you are planning to keep doing it. I'm always exited to see a new design. All best wishes and a Merry Christmas.
Congratulation on hitting 365!
Yea! What an accomplishment Leah:) I' so glad you will be continuing in whatever fashion works for you. I enjoy your posts and visit your blog every day. Best wishes to your and your family for a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!
LauraT
Congratulations on reaching the 365 mark! And thank you for inspiring and encouraging so many quilters to brave the world of FMQ! This design is perfect for this landmark! Looking forward to many more in the future.
Merry Christmas.
Congratulations on finishing such an ambitious project, and a big thank you for sharing!
A wonderful goal reached, but I know that your creativity will be expressed and enjoyed for many more days ahead. Thank you.
Also, much joy to you and your family this Christmas.
Well done Leah and thank-you for your amazing generosity with this project, your enthusiasm is wonderfully uplifting.
Congrats! What a perfect design for your 365th design! Looking forward to next years designs!
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
What a talent! It's splendid really. Merry Christmas!
I have loved this website. Thank you so much for the major committment. I enjoy the patterns and have used many, but also enjoy the reviews, design discussions, and recipes!! I'm thrilled its going to coninue.
Congratulations – what an achievement. Thank you. C
This tree design is awesome….I am so glad you will be continuing with more new designs!
Yippee! What a beautiful design for #365. I'm glad you will continue to inspire us. Thanks Leah and family.
Thank you for sharing your talent and gifts. May you have a happy holiday season with your family. Congratulations on meeting your goal!
Hi Leah.
Congratulations on the 365 design and thanks for sharing it with everyone. Thanks to your work I lost my fear to do anything when it comes to quilting, I learned that I can make the rules myself and my technical limitations only are my border. Thank you.
Happy Holidays to you and I wish your family a prosperous 2012.
Kisses from espiralcaracola.blogspot.com
Congratulations.Thank you so much for gibing the quilting world such a present. This is a wonderful accomplishment and how fitting that it is Christmas already here and the design is the Infinity Tree. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
Congratulations!!! You are amazing!! Thanks so much for providing endless designs, and inspiration for quilters.
Congrats to you! What a remarkable achievement – you are one very talented gal!
You have contributed so much to the on-line quilting community. Congratulations on a fantastic achievement.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and continuing success.
So excited to see you reach this goal and looking forward to the designes to come!!!!
Congratulations! Your quilting is amazing. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Congrats Leah!!! The Infinity Tree is a wonderful "end of challenge" design. I would bet Josh is fixing a yummy Christmas dinner.
Blessings upon your head!
Mindy
Congratulations Leah! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!
Leah,
Thank you for sharing all of these free motion designs. You are helping my quilting to become so much stronger – and me to become so much braver as I quilt! I am glad to hear that you will be continuing, as inspiration strikes. All the best,
Heather
What a great design for day 365! Thank you for sharing each one!
congrats on the 365 Leah!!! I love this one… what a nice way to finish off,eh. It is pleasant to look at; peaceful…Merry Christmas
Thanks for this fantastic gift. You started on my birthsday and finnished on Christmas Eve.
Congratulations and Merry Christmas!
WHAT s nice Christmas present to know that you will continue on your FMQ journey. I hope you continue to be inspired and moved to explore new designs. We will benefit from your adventure. THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO GENEROUSLY.
NONNIE
Well done you!! I love your site and check daily for inspiration.Please don't stop.
We love you! – oh and by the way Merry Christmas!!
Cheers
Linda
Taupo
NZ
Yay! I was getting tense as you got closer to 365..LOVE infinity tree.Dreaming of how I'm going to use it…..
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your landscape/tree is beautiful.
A Merry Christmas to you and your family; we'll look forward to next year's new patterns.
What a GRAND design you have for your goal of 365…. so glad you are extending the designs… I have had much pleasure in following your creative ways. Quilting will have to wait this day for family food and fun…
Dear Leah,
Thank you so much for all your designs. I am grateful and awed by your perseverance and mastery- also by your generous spirit. I enjoyed the books I bought from you. I am determined to get better. I just love the tree- now can you do a pine tree silhouette?
Merry Christmas to you and your family. You are a true gift!
Linda
Since I just discovered your awesomeness (I live under a rock), I am thrilled that you are going to continue. The Tree is wonderful. Have a very Happy Christmas surrounded by those you love.
SallyKingemail@gmail.com
Congratulations on this milestone – who care's what the next one is, I hope your creative spark lasts forever
have a great Christmas – richest blessings to you all
This is beautiful Leah and thanks for shareing it with us. Makes me want to go quilt something and I still have gifts to wrap! Merry Christmas!
COngratulations on such an achievement. It's now Christmas Day afternoon (down under) here and you're coming into Christmas Eve, have a happy one,
cheers.
Yippy you made it! Congratulations and thank you for sharing all this talent. I am always inspired by what you come up with.
The Tree of Life is one of my favorite Celtic designs. This image is so reminiscent of the tree of life. It seems fitting to have this as your 365th design. I so appreciate the work that you are doing and the gift you are giving to the quilting community. Your gifts are beyond the quilting designs, but in sharing of yourself. I think you give people the courage to chase dreams and to become the person one has always wished to be. A person doesn't have to settle for what life dishes out; one can choose from many dishes at the groaning table of life. One never has to have a dish one doesn't enjoy. We are lucky to have you. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
Congratulations on the 365th design posting. I follow you since you began this project and I admire you very much for being very persistent and sharing everything with us. I'm looking forward for everything you come up with. Christmas Wishes to you and your family from me and my DH (who knows you too, because he sits next to me with his computer and sees the videos when I play them :o) from Germany
Congratulations! Your designs are beautiful. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
What a wonderful "job well done" Leah you are amazing, dedicated, talented and an inspiration to many. I know you have encouraged me to go from just meandering to really quilting some of your wonderful designs. I also do zentangles, and have incorporated your designs into them as well. Congratulations! What a great way to close 2011 and a bright future awaits in 2012.
Congratulations on hitting 365! What an amazing accomplishment. Thank you so much for sharing your creative gift and inspiration!
Leah such a beautiful design for our 365th…thank you so much for sharing your talent with us and teaching us not t o be afraid of FMQ….Merry Christmas
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments. 365 FMQ designs is absolutely amazing. They are all so beautiful. And, I'm very happy to hear you are continuing on with creating more FMQ designs.
Thank you for all you do to make our quilting world so wonderful.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Fabulous Leah – as always! Thank you so much for these web postings, sharing, and continuing on. I'm still working on doing the beginning patterns – know I will be ready to do them all once I finish those!
Thank you so much for sharing with us your creative genius! Your honesty and encouragement for everyone to keep trying in their quilting and life is wonderful. I love # 365 because for me the image of your tree from the roots to the fruit embodies the journey we are all on. I wish you all the best in 2012! Let's go quilt!
woo hoo!!!! congratulations on reaching 365!!! I'm so happy you are not stopping at this number, thank you for all of the inspiration.
Thank you so much for sharing all these designs and you expertise with us. My favorite design changes every few weeks but I think Infinity Tree may be my all-time favorite. I've learned so much from you. Words cannot convey how much happiness, peace and prosperity I wish for you and your family.
Thanks for all the great designs and the constant inspiration. I love the leafy and swirly designs the best but all bring something new and fun. The tree is amazing!!! I'm so glad you don't plan to stop anytime soon. Happy New Year (of quilting).
You did it!!!!365 paterns. Congratulations. Thanks for all those lovely quilting paterns. You are the best.A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. From Belgium.
Congratulations! And what a beautiful design for Day 365. Thanks for inspiring us and opening. A whole new world of free motion quilting.