Here's a quilt. A fun quilt. A rainbow quilt. I started making this one to go on my daughter's bed over a year ago. It was supposed to be part of the Rainbow Birthday, but things got away from me and I didn't get it finished in time. So I put it on hold for a while but then pulled it back out and got it done. And wouldn't you know - on the day I finished the top I had a brilliant stroke of genius that made this quilt...unnecessary? Extra? Superfluous? What I am trying to say is that I had a better idea for a very similar quilt that I just had to make for my daughter instead. So although I had finished the top, I knew this quilt would not be living on her bed. And it's totally OK because the other idea is WAY better. You'll see. Eventually...
So bright, fun, random loops seemed like a good idea at the time. And looking at it now, it's sort of a nod to the fact that I can't quilt uniform loops (hehehe). I was really trying to make a different design work...but I just couldn't wait long enough for the right inspiration to strike 'cause I was on a birthday deadline. So I just whipped this design out lickety-split. I got out my bamboo tablet and pen and started doodling! Soooo much fun! Of course I used inkscape to design this. Should I just stop saying that and we'll all assume that every quilt I make is designed in inkscape unless otherwise noted? Hmmm...that would be a good idea...except those new to the blog are going to be so confused. OK. I'll just keep saying it. I love inkscape! :)
What I didn't love were the 50+ pages of loop sections I had to print out and tape together so I could trace each row of loops onto fusible web. Oh, the sacrifices I make for quilting. :) Anyway, once I had all the loops traced on the fusible web, I ironed them to the fabric and cut them out. After all that was done, I laid the loops on the white background fabric, positioned them and ironed them on. At one point while doing this I found a baby bark scorpion (and when I say baby, I mean the size of my pinky fingernail) crawling amongst the loops. Yikes. Luckily, no one was killed. Oh, except for the scorpion. I made my husband catch and dispose of it because those little buggers give me the heebie-jeebies! And once all the scorpion drama was over, I stitched all around the edges of the loops with a blanket stitch in matching thread. :)
For the quilting, I decided to do straight lines in the background. I contemplated stitching right over the top of the loops but I knew it would make the loops pop more if I left them un-quilted, so it would be worth it in the end! I had to keep reminding myself of that fact because of course this took FOR-EV-ER since I had to stop and start every time I hit a loop. Quilting like this is so simple and repetitive though... I can totally watch/listen to tv shows while I do it...so this quilt will forever remind me of Veronica Mars...love love love that show!
I bound this in white and backed it with bright pink minky as requested by my daughter. This quilt will most likely end up at a raffle. It's rare that I make a quilt with no purpose in mind, or that doesn't somehow get given away shortly after its creation. But when I do...raffles eventually happen to them. I briefly considered selling it, but it is kind of a weird size...I made it specifically to fit on my daughter's captain's bed without covering the drawers so it is not a twin size - it's more like 55" x 82".
My cute friend Christine went with me to take some quilt pictures at this sweet building in downtown Las Vegas 2 days before I moved. Nothing like an impromptu quilt picture adventure when you should be packing and cleaning! :) Yeah, the quilt is so small you can hardly see it...but this building is so cool...I couldn't resist! So fun!
And this is totally not a home decorating blog so this is kind of random, but I just decorated my mantel a couple days ago and I love it so much I had to post some pictures!
My mother-in-law was in town for a few days and we shopped like crazy...you know the kind...where you scope it all out the first day and make a big list. Then you go back the next day and buy one or two of everything, bring it all home...arrange it on the mantel...rearrange it...rearrange it again...then take most of it back. Then you buy more stuff, take it home and tweak it all 'til you like it. So so fun! And I'm sure the mantel decorating experts will have a thing or two to say about visual weight and grouping and all that stuff but I so don't care...it is amazing in person and so fun to look at!
The straight on picture doesn't show the depth very well so here is another shot. I got most of the stuff from Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx and Ross. And let's just say my husband was not on board with this little venture...luckily I had his mom in my corner! He vetoed lots of the stuff we brought home the first time and hated the color of green...but now that it's all done, his protests have ceased...I think he secretly likes it. :) Yay for decorating! Now all I need is a matching throw quilt to drape over the back of the couch...
Oh...and I almost forgot...this is my Blogger's Quilt Festival entry! :)
Impromptu quilt picture adventures are the best! So glad you stuck with the quilt, this is adorable. Cute mantle too!
ReplyDeleteThat's a fabulous quilt - so clever. So effective!
ReplyDeleteSuch a colorful and unique quilt. I have never seen anything like it (though I bet it will inspire many others to try something like it!). And that building is fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt. What patience and perseverance to 1-create the pattern and applique it and 2-quilt it like you did. But it all works wonderfully! And it's very FUN!
ReplyDeleteAnother winner - very interested to see how this design inspired the upcoming bed quilt, too.
ReplyDeleteI just knew you would have another wonderful BGF entry!! I love everything about it but I just kept thinking of all that applique-even by machine, LOL It's seriously super duper cute! Love that mantel in it's new dressing!!
ReplyDeleteThis is nothing short of amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd here I thought, oh, you are so smart to straight-line quilt the white then add the doodles on top! hahaha Noooooo... awesome quilter Cynthia would never quilt so unimpressively. Awesome quilter Cynthia quilts only impressively! And I am properly impressed! What a fun quilt idea for a child. Loaded with tedious prep. I am always in awe of your quilting adventures!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely awesome. Love what you did with it.
ReplyDeleteLove the mantle! Great job - and a scorpion - Yikes! This is my first time to your blog and I've never heard of inkscape - so thanks for introducing me. AND last but not least BEAUTIFUL quilt!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and well worth all the effort you went through to make it. It's just so fun of a design that it can't help but make you smile!
ReplyDeleteSo creative - love this. Can't wait to see what you came up with that was even better! And what a neat building for your photo shoot.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt, such a great design!
ReplyDeleteseriously cracking up at the comments about your husband and the mantle. My husband had serious issues with my decorations on the mantle as well. So many things within the house he doesn't care about, and that thing he took issue with!? I love your mantle, it turned out beautifully!
ReplyDeleteAs for the quilt?? That's amazing too. Thanks for sharing your process as well. I was wondering if you had done the quilting before putting down the applique. I can't believe you had the patience to do all those lines! Can't wait to see what the quilt was that was a better idea than this one!
Such a fun, adorable quilt!
ReplyDeleteOh my, Cynthia! This is really cute and imaginative. I can't believe you had such amazing patience to put this quilt together and quilt it the way you did (similar to crocheting a really big afghan). This is such a fun way to make a rainbow! I love the closeup photos the best. From what I can see, you used some cute patterned fabric for the "doodles," and the photos don't do them justice. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour mantel is great! I love the colors and different textures, and the clock is really cool. Great job, again!
Super cute as always!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt. Not sure I'd have the patience for that. No, I'm sure. I wouldn't. Those buildings are awesome and your mantel looks lovely! You have a great design eye.
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative. Love the doodles! You applique is perfect.
ReplyDeleteYour creative genes flow through to your decorating too. Love your style
Such a fun quilt and the photo with the building is so cool! Great work!
ReplyDeleteI've just found your blog, Cynthia, and I love your quilts so much! They are gorgeous and very unique, and I love your use of colour. I find myself really wanting to use solids more and more (unfortunate, considering the size of my prints stash) so I'm really drawn to your work. Your quilting is fab - are you doing that on a domestic machine or do you have a longarm?
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