Blogger's Quilt Festival: Applique entry

I never thought I'd have an applique quilt to enter in the Blogger's Quilt Festival (or any quilt show!). Applique is not usually my thing. However, this spring, I designed the "Home Is Where You Make It" quilt using Paintbrush Studio's Leather collection as inspiration for the Row by Row Experience. Now I'm entering it in the Applique category of the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

This quilt measures approximately 48" x 65".

I designed this quilt, Linda Smoker created the full-size templates for me, and Diane Oakes quilted it (with 9 different colors of thread!). 

The theme for this year's Row by Row Experience was "Home Sweet Home" and I took this theme a little outside the box--after all, home is wherever you are. While I am not a snowbird, and likely won't ever be--I like winter too much!--this quilt is a nod to the snowbirds of our country. 
Row 1: At home in the neighborhood (complete with camper)
Row 2: Snow begins to fall--time to leave town!
Row 3: On the road. And on, and on, and on. 
Row 4: Setting up "home" near the beach
Row 5: Relaxing on the beach. 

Beyond the fabric colors, I tied the different rows together with small details--the birdhouse and bird, the quilt on the clothesline, the flowers...
See more photos of this quilt here.