Here's a quilt. If I tell you how it came to be, promise you won't judge me. Promise? Ok. I'll tell you. Last year there was an unfortunate series of events that led to one of my favorite people in the family being removed from said family. It's a long story, but here, I'll spell out the short version for you: D-I-V-O-R-C-E. It was the first one I had witnessed up close. It was not pretty...the scandal...the he said-she said...the rumors...the negativity...it was hard to watch. It was hard not to be drawn into it. The whole thing made me really angry and resentful. I'll admit, I did my share of schmack-talking. Ok, probably more than my share. I discussed it with most of my friends...all of my family...some random strangers...I couldn't stop talking about it. Enter: the other woman. This was the awkward part where everybody tried to pretend it wasn't weird. Lots of fake smiles...lots of Oscar worthy acting. Welcome to the family...
I swore I would not be going to the wedding. But I couldn't not go. I am the most passive aggressive person on the planet...it's one of my many flaws. :) So when they told us the wedding would be in California, I decided I needed a reason to be happy about going to California. And then it hit me. Yes. I would make a quilt and find a pretty spot on a beach to take its picture. Paradigm shift! I probably shouldn't have brought quilting into it, but quilting had gotten me out of a rough situation before...why not this time too? I secretly wish my motives for making this quilt were more pure, but truth be told I made it so I could take a picture of it on a beach in California. I made this quilt so I could look forward to the trip rather than dread it. So there you have it. Remember you promised you wouldn't judge? Ok, good. On to the quilt!
Oooh, ahhh...I'm loving this scrappy but organized style of quilts. I seem to be making a lot of them lately. This one uses 5" charm packs cut in half or a jelly roll--quite similar to the PB&J quilt and the Scrappy Hearts quilt. For this type of quilt I like to use a design wall to lay out all the fabrics to make sure the prints are evenly distributed. This makes it a tiny bit more time consuming, but it's worth it!
The fun beachy fabric I used for this quilt is Horizon by Kate Spain for Moda fabrics. I absolutely love it. Blues and greens are always my favorites, and these prints are just fun! There was a nasty rumor going around that these are "old-lady" prints, but if they are, I'm thinkin' she must be a really cool old lady! ;)
For the quilting on this I used a swirly and fast pantograph called Harbor Wave. It reminds me of rolling waves...totally perfect for this quilt.
For the backing...I finally got to use this beautiful blue Nature's Palette leaves fabric that I had in my stash...oh yes...this is stuff I got in a clearance score years ago. And this, friends, is the reason we must all have a stash. You think you will never use a fabric, but then lo and behold, right when you need it...a perfect little gem peeks out from your massive fabric pile and says, "here I am and I match perfectly!" :) And of course, matching blue binding. This has to be my favorite color of blue EVER.
And of course, on the rare occasion that I must add a quilt label, I can't help myself-I have to make it cute. I used the same method as always: Made the layout of the whole thing in Inkscape, printed it out on paper and traced it onto fabric backed with fusible web using a fine point Sharpie marker. And then yes, I cut all those tiny little pieces of fabric, ironed and sewed them on. And why did this quilt need a label you ask? Well...
...because it is featured in the Winter 2015 edition of Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine! (And they make you put a label on it!) That's right! So if you were thinking you might like to make this quilt, you don't even have to wait the 2 years it usually takes me to make a pattern! There's one in the magazine! ;)
So shortly after I returned from California-and the day before I was planning on posting this quilt here on the blog, I got an email from MQU's editor asking if I had any quilts I wanted to submit for publication. Since I had this one already done I submitted it and they took it. I have been waiting patiently ever since then (August) to finally post on it!
The fate of this quilt has now been decided...it is going to be raffled off at my cute friend Teresa's annual charity Fish Fry...as soon as I am done using it to stage my house to sell...
...yes we are moving again! :) And because I know someone will ask, yes I made the wall hanging too. I copied this SUPER cute quilted wall hanging I saw on etsy a while ago (it sold, but you can still see the pictures-click on the close-ups because the quilting is awesome too!) Anyway, to make my wall hanging, I used a Silhouette Cameo to cut out all the circles in solid fabric and then I liquid starched them onto a white canvas (just like this alphabet wall hanging I made a couple years ago). It took me about 4 hours plus drying time.
And...the aforementioned beachy quilt picture taken at beautiful Carmel beach. Thank you, quilting, for once again making my life a little easier. :)
Pattern for this quilt is HERE.
I LOVE all the stories behind your quilts :D That one is so cute! I love that you are using them to stage your house too! All the quilts you have given me were used to stage mine and they REALLY helped it sale!
ReplyDeleteOh and I forgot to to say CONGRATS on getting into Modern Quilts!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love how quilting was there when you needed it. The finished quilt is beautiful - even more than the beach it was photographed on! (I live here in California, but I'm not a big fan of the ocean. Huge fan of your quilts, tho.)
ReplyDeleteI'm only getting one photo loaded, so I'll be back when my internet loads photos better, but I see the whole story. So sorry about the big D. Nothing takes the mind off unhappy like quilting play. Okay now let's talk about those "old Lady" prints...hahaha. I burst out laughing when I read that paragraph. Smaller bits of those prints look way more better than large blots of them. You're right, I'm a LOT younger than my age says. I love your quilt design choice for those awesome cool colors old-lady prints! **back later to see your photos**
ReplyDeleteLove all your photos! And the backing really is perfect. Beautiful quilting,as always. Wow, you found an empty beach in Carmel!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful quilt, and I love the story behind it. Quilting always makes hard things better! Off to find a copy of the mag, as I just might need to make one if my own!
ReplyDeleteWell darn, you're gonna make me go spend some money aren't you!!! I might have to go look for the magazine!! I love the quilt and I love those fabrics-I never heard they were old lady prints, LOL Is that only 1 charm pack? And how big is the quilt?
ReplyDeleteTo me it doesn't matter the reason, just matters that you made the quilt!!
No judging here - I think it was a great idea! And it's a terrific quilt. Hope my subscription hasn't run out before this issue. :D (and I'm so sorry your family had to go through that - it's awful, even from the ringside)
ReplyDeleteA great story! The publication of your quilt is a wonderful honor!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love that color blue, too (ever since we used to fight over the "cornflower blue" crayola crayon) :) You want to help me stage my house??? I'm not selling it, but having it look all cute like yours certainly couldn't hurt! :) Love you!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being published! The quilt is beautiful. The story behind it not so much. I've been down your side of that road and completely understand. Glad you had quilting to help you.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the quilt being published. It is beautiful. Must find the Magazine now. I have some of that fabric too (somewhere).
ReplyDeleteAs for the reason for the quilt.... if you did yoga to stay relaxed and cope you wouldn't give it a thought. If you ran or biked for same you would use those activities to cope. So you quilt....it is all good.
Where are you moving to now?
Of course I love it and that fabric line is anything but "old lady". I should know too since I made a quilt with those same fabrics for Moda Bake Shop in November. I think there is nothing wrong with making a quilt as your excuse for having to deal with that tough situation. Quilts are meant to provide comfort and I'm sure it has provided plenty of that for you. Congrats on the publication. I've got that issue and haven't had time to go through it yet. I will make the time now.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I love everything about this post! LOL! No judgement on how it came to be. I truely believe quilting is theraputic and you used it in just that manner. And I must say it looks stunning photographed on the beach like a bunch of beach glass! I bought a FQ bundle of this line. I was surprised at the prints (I bought because the colors are right up my alley) but I like them! They are a bit different for Kate Spain though. This is a beautiful quilt and looks fantastic in your staging. Good luck with the selling of the house! and congrats on the magazine feature!
ReplyDeleteLoved the quilt..as did my daughter (now begging for one). Only problem is that
ReplyDeleteliving in Australia I can't get a copy of the pattern. Tried to order one online but I
objected to paying $30 just for postage. Is there any other way to get a copy of the pattern?
I'm a German Quilter and I love your modern Quilts!
ReplyDeleteLovely Greetings from
Ucki
Cynthia, just sae it in person tonight. We are so grateful for your gift each year! Thanks for your generosity. coming back to Rochester? ( I hope we could meet if your do) Kathy, a friend of Teresa.
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt & congrats on the magazine! I love the colors, the pattern and the quilting. It looks really awesome on the beach. Sorry about the reason for the quilt. Hope things are going well in the new place! Love you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this quilt. I purchased a kit and the instructions was missing a page. The shop was not able to provide the missing page or indicate where the pattern came from. Now I can sew this quilt!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this quilt, it is gorgeous! Congrats on it being featured!!! How can I get the pattern? The magazine doesn’t have back dated issues available anymore :/ . I would love to make this quilt for my mom but I’m new at quilting so I don’t know if I could make it without a pattern .
ReplyDeleteI would love the pattern. How do I find it?
ReplyDeleteWould like to know how to deal with all the bias edges around Horizon charm quilt. I'M SUPER nervous it'll end up very wavy...please advice...long-diatance fan from Queensland, Auatralia. Carol
ReplyDeleteHi! Usually after I cut the edges, I very carefully stitch around the whole quilt, about 1/8th inch away from the edge, being careful not to stretch it. Hope this helps!
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