May 22, 2010

My kind of quilt festival

This online quilt festival got me thinking...I have a quilt I've never posted about here! I just searched through my prior posts and I didn't see it. Though I did see this one which was made with its scraps.


I completed the quilt in 2005. This was the fourth quilt I started, and the third I completed. I was interested in testing some boundaries, and wanted to play with solids (which also happen to be cheaper and this was a very tight time for us financially). I didn't have any use or recipient in mind when I started. To my eye now it has similarities to the "Love Beads" pattern in "The Modern Quilt Workshop" however I'm 99% sure that I hadn't seen that book when I designed this quilt. The original intent was squares with rounded edges, not circles. The squares were to have smaller squares inside them. But when I went to assemble the quilt that didn't work out and eventually I ended up with plain circles.


The circles were not appliqued, they were quilted on in a spiral pattern after the quilt sandwich had been assembled. The edges were left raw to fray. I quilted the background with vertical lines and stars. The back was pieced of nearly every solid piece of fabric I had. Sometimes I like the back better, maybe because the quilting is easier to see. That block of mustard yellow really thrills me.


This quilt was a study in problem solving. It gave me some confidence in trying new things and lots of practice in free motion quilting. I don't particularly like the color scheme anymore but it still has an impact on house guests - it gets more attention than other quilts that I put way more time into. It spent a couple years on our bed, but now is our "outdoor quilt".  Even though it does not reflect my current aesthetic, it has a special place in my heart. And in my backyard.


What a great online quilt festival! I appreciate the kick in the pants to share this quilt with you.

23 comments:

O'Quilts said...

Very nice

wishes, true and kind said...

Gorgeous quilt! I love the colors and the simple design of circles and lines! Very effective :)

In Awe of Applique said...

Loving the circles, it has a sci-fi feel to it, but I love the solid colors, beautiful!!!

Quilts on Bastings said...

Gorgeous - great colours - love its simplicity!

Lynne (Lily's Quilts) said...

That's cool - I love the colours, the circles, the sewing in circles and the backing too.

CraftyMummy said...

Such a simple but eye-catching design. Gorgeous!

Craft-aholic said...

This is so cool! I love the color combinations and the way you applied the circles. Wonderful!

Brenda said...

lovely.

Megan said...

Really cool quilt. I love it!

BJ said...

Great quilt. Good job!

Deborah said...

Beautiful! I love your work!

Rosalyn Manesse said...

I love the quilt, it has so much freedom

Dawn N. said...

beautiful quilt!

Dolly said...

I'm awfully glad that you remembered this quilt.
It's so inspiring........I don't know.......it's goes inside my head and sets it spinning. I may want to do something very similar. Thank you for this post !

janssen designs said...

such a wonderful quilt!! i love this style!

Mary said...

I like the simple circles and the quilting. Nice job.

Allie said...

Great quilt and a fun story to go with it!

AnnieO said...

Great quilting journey you took with this project! It will always stand out from that time in your life. I like pieced backs a lot and have recently gotten more interested in solids. Thank you for sharing your quilt's story:)

Laurel H. said...

This is a great quilt; lots of creativity and originality in it!

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

It sounded like you had a fun time in creating this one. I aspire to actually complete a bedsize quilt! only have done miniatures and one wall hanging!...so many to complete! I want to try free motion quilting. I've only done hand quilting.

..I am off today from work, so will hopefully get to some others on the quilt fest. I have some drawing orders to work on and of course, cleaning house... Now that our children are grown and my hubby and I are empty nesters, I can't be a "stay at home mom", but I would love to be a stay at home wife :o)

Blessings & Aloha!
If you have a moment to come over, please let me know by leaving a comment at my post. It was fun meeting you!

Kimberly said...

I love your use of solids. I have an unreasonable fear of them. :) I think one of my favorite things about this quilt is the frayed edges on the circles. So lovely!

Eileen said...

great quilt!! wonderful colors and layout--thanks for sharing

patricia belyea said...

Very powerful. Gorgeous.

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