Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

For the last few years, I have been enjoying the beautiful quilts that pop up during Bloggers' Quilt Festival. Finally this year I have the time to participate!
Amy's Creative Side
This is a new finish, and one that I'm especially proud of. My step brother recently got married in Phoenix, AZ. As soon as I found out that he was engaged, I starting thinking about quilt designs. I initially thought of using some cute camper fabric to make him and his (now) wife a quilt to keep in their vintage Streamline  camper. But it seemed too kitschy for them, so at the last minute I decided on a color stack of Aviary 2 by Joel Dewberry.
I had less than a month to make the quilt, plus pack up our house for a cross-country move! So I quickly got started on the design, even before the fabric arrived.
My first thought was to make a square-in-a-square quilt, as the set of solids and prints work well for that design. But then my mind drifted to a brick layout. Soon I had combined the two ideas, only to realize that 10 fat quarters were not going to stretch very far. That's when I started to envision a brick path, with solid on either side. What better style for a wedding quilt, than a path?!?
And that is how "What Lies Ahead" was born!
(The quilt is wrinkled and wonky in the photos because it was packed in my luggage for nearly a week before I shot these pics.)
 The solids are Free Spirit solids. Having only worked with Kona solids in the past, I was excited to give these a try. I really liked working with them! I love the almost dusty appearance in the coloring, and they are very soft.
 I intended to use the cream solid for the background, but I couldn't find enough yardage online. I ended up using the Camel color, and I'm really glad that I did.
 For quilting, I went with simple straight lines using a thread that matched the Camel solid almost perfectly. (Total coincidence, that's what I had on hand!)
 Gifting a quilt always makes me nervous, and this was no exception. I had never been to Phoenix before the wedding, nor did I know what my step brother's town home was like. Had I known much about the culture or his home, I don't think I would have considered gifting a quilt! The Phoenix area doesn't seem to have embraced handmade goodness like other parts of the country, and my step brother's house is very modern.
I'm happy to say that they loved the quilt, though! They even commented that it looked like something straight out of Anthropologie. That I will take as a compliment. ;)
(For those of you who follow my blog regularly, we are officially moved to Seattle! I apologize for missing the April "Pay It Forward" giveaway, but I do have something in the works for May. Stay tuned!)

27 comments:

Amy said...

the quilt is gorgeous! I now have an idea what to do with my Aviary.. I love the label on the quilt.

felicity said...

How beautiful! I am really digging the idea of pattern surrounded by solid fabric. And the name of this quilt is absolutely perfect for a wedding gift.

Kerstin said...

I love your quilt and your quilting! And your kind of label :-)
Viele Grüße
Kerstin

Suzanne said...

Yay! Am glad you're back to posting after moving :)

{Leila}Where the Orchids Grow said...

It's a beautiful quilt!

Little Island Quilting said...

I like the randomness of this quilt...if that makes sense!

Elizabeth Dackson said...

Wow, this is beautiful!! I adore Aviary, and I adore the way you put them together here :)

mathea said...

I really like this quilt - the symbolism of the path is good, the brick layout and the beautiful fabric all work so well together. And your label . what a great idea to make it triangular!

Kriza said...

what a wonderful gift for the newly weds, I like the symbol of the path too.
Kristina
www.priscillacraft.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I get nervous about gifts too! It's a lot of work to put into something and then if they didn't like it...but that hasn't happened to me yet. Glad your quilt was loved.

Liz, Quilt Adventurer said...

What a beautiful quilt! I love the way you put the design together, and the way the colours came together. I've gifted a few quilts too (baby quilts), and have to make myself say each time - once it leaves my hands, it's out of my control!

MadeByMeaghan said...

This is beautiful! I love the camel color as the background!

Lee said...

Beautiful! And this is one of my very favorite fabric lines right now!

noga quilts said...

What a great quilt! Wonderful design and colors! Lucky couple who got this quilt.

Christie describeHappy said...

That's such a great idea for a quilt and I really like how you embraced all the curve balls you were thrown! I know what you mean about being nervous to gift a quilt and so happy to hear it worked out! Hope the unpacking goes nice and quick!

Sara @ Sew Sweetness said...

Eeek! I love this! It's the first quilt I have seen with these fabrics, and it looks awesome! What a wonderful gift!

Jen said...

I love this quilt! I am already thinking of what fabrics I want to use to make one like this!

Katie B said...

Beautiful quilt!

dot•dot•blog said...

I love the little Addy feet sticking out below the quilt in the first picture :)

Debbie said...

Welcome to Seattle! I love your quilt - really nice!!

stitchinpenny said...

I love the quilt. You did a wonderful job. The colors work so well together that you have to call the fact that you had to use the camel seredipity. It is great.

Cathy said...

beautiful quilt and modern!

Kristie said...

This is AWESOME!!! I love the name, and it looks amazing. May have to blatantly copy :-)

Nadine said...

Gorgeous. Very good use of colours. I'll have to get my hands on some of that fabric, it's stunning.

Wendi said...

I live in California and I too feel that this area/state has not embraced homemade goodness either, but your quilt is beautiful, and does look like something from Anthropologie, which is embraced. I'm not surprised they love it!

Karen said...

I enjoyed reading your thoughts on planning this quilt. Trying to do something to suit just right does involve lots of changes. Your quilt looks wonderful and I love the name you chose.

Jenniffier said...

Oh my gosh. That is amazing! It looks wonderful! Anyone who doesn't love it is silly!