Here is my mermaid quilt for MN Quilters challenge (20″ x 27″).  The supplied (and required) fabrics are the daisy floral, the sparkly black, and the polka dot on the mermaid.  We were also given a packet of beads, and had to use at least half the beads.  I used almost all of them, plus some additional beads.  I really didn’t think I was going to like this quilt, but as it turns out, it’s a favorite of mine already.  I pretty much never do applique, but I loved the idea of doing a mermaid with the turquois polka dot fabric.  The theme is Quilted Jewels, and this mermaid looks like she’s been harvesting jewels from the sea all night long.  I based this quilt on one from Laurel Burch’s book Legends.  Of course, I made it easier on myself by cutting the fish from a tropical fish fabric instead of piecing them as Laurel did.  She also did a lot more complicated background for the sea.  I love this book though, and the other quilts in it are just as lovely as the one on the cover.

After getting over my fears (of applique, fabric I didn’t like, of not knowing what I was going to do), this quilt was actually a lot of fun to do.  I’m even thinking of repainting one of the bathrooms for this quilt.  I wonder what this year’s challenge fabrics are going to be like?