The center portion of the quilt top is complete. (Aside from trimming threads.) In the picture, there's some of the muslin backing visible at top and bottom, but that will eventually be covered by the border. The tree in the center is an olive tree. The fabric comes from all over--most of it was donated by kind souls working on the project, but a little of it was specially ordered (none of the shades of green I had on hand were right for the leaves) and a bit more of it comes from my own fabric stash (the pool of water has a bit of my wedding dress fabric).
This is a detail of one of the two cities in the upper corners of the archway:
and a detail of the tears/drops of water that fall from the flames.
The next step is the creation of the border! I have put together a sample for what I imagine it will look like. From panel to panel, the different silhouettes keep a path of exchange going around the quilt. As one receives, so she gives in the next panel.
My hope is that the next group we have will help create this border, putting a little of themselves into the silhouettes. Then we will have our "Chain of Quilts", our "Quilters Without Borders" that surround the message of peace and hope in the middle.
