Three dimensional quilting

Sew Sweet, where I work every Thursday, is famous for their three dimensional quilts.  Almost all of their Shop Hop quilts have been 3-D.  Marta, the owner, has designed over a dozen patterns that are 3-D including the shop's current Block of the Month.  

I help Marta put her ideas into pattern form and wasn't familiar with making a square (the center medallion in the pictures above) 3-D so I made a block of my own so I would know how to write instructions.

I thought it would be fun to use fabrics that I don't normally use.  These fabs have metallic outlinings and are absolutely gorgeous, they just aren't what I usually pick when selecting fabrics.  I was hunting all over the shop for a background when I got the idea to use black.  I like the contrast and I think it showcases the fabrics real well. 

I'm quite frustrated that the pictures DO NOT show the 3-D elements of the block!!  Every edge (the longest) is folded in half diagonally and raw edges are sewn in the seams, creating a 'pocket' or a three dimensional look.

Here are some of Sew Sweet's other dimensional quilt designs that I've shown previously, but are a better representation of the technique.

Every half square triangle in every star block is three dimensional as are the small rose buds that border the quilt.

The geese are all made using the folded 3-D technique.