Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Stars of Summer

The story of this quilt actually began last winter, when Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts held her Solstice Stars SeriesI told you last week how I recently dug those stars out of my stash, switched them up a bit, and began to actually make a quilt out of them.
Using one of Faith's suggested layouts, I hooked them up with two coordinating solids: Marcus Fabrics Royal and KONA Zucchini. Though a little nervous about my choices at first, it was soon evident, to me anyway, that they were just right for the look I was after.
So piecing was quite easy, and before I knew it, I was quilting. I'm usually a one-direction-straight-liner, but with so much solid fabric, I decided to stretch a bit. (Plus I'm so impressed when I see different kinds of quilting in a quilt, so this is my beginning stab at that.) So it's horizontal in the blue and vertical in the yellow-green. Then in the white I did one big zig-zag down the blocks, and then echoed from there, the stitching throughout at 1" apart.
Then on to binding of course. And I gave you a little hint of where I was heading, but I'm not sure anyone caught on. Carla and Kelli came close.
But it's not quite scrappy. I call it pieced, though of course any binding usually is. Coordinated binding? Whatever, I thought the quilt called for it, and I like it. Just the right finishing touch.
Measuring at 48" x 60", naming this one was a bit of a struggle. It doesn't seem fair to call it a Solstice Stars quilt, since I only used four of the series stars, subbing in a Quattro Stagioni Star for one of them. But today IS the summer Solstice, after all, as Toni so kindly reminded me. So I'm thinking The Stars of Summer is a good compromise.

Thanks to my mom for sharing her lovely garden, and assisting with my photo shoot . . .
 

Linking up to show off fridaysew & tell Friday, {sew} Modern Monday, and Fabric Tuesday


This project was on my original post for 2nd quarter, so I am linking up with Quilter in The Gap's 2nd Quarter Finish-A-Long linky party!

45 comments:

  1. I absolutely LOVE the way you did the binding and quilting on this one, Debbie! Well done!

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  2. This is stunning. I love the quilting and the colours and the binding! And your mom has a beautiful garden.

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  3. Just beautiful. I really like the varied quilting lines, and of course your trademark pieced binding is just the right finishing touch for this great project. And the little peek of the backing looks like you found something that coordinates perfectly.

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  4. This quilt has a touch of the moden with its fabulous solid colours and a touch of the traditional with the beautiful star blocks! An all-round winner!

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  5. Debbie, this quilt is beautiful! And your words about it are lovely too. Your experiment with stepping outside your straight-lines-one-way comfort zone is a roaring success!

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  6. Your Stars of summer is just beautiful! I even love the background fabric you´ve jused. Nice pics and a perfect place to present your quilt!

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  7. Just gorgeous. I love the solids you used and the quilting is perfect!

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  8. I love your new quilt... Just gorgeous :)

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  9. Spectacular! Well done...and there's nothing better than finishing a little project that began with such gusto and ended up in the wip pile. A wonderful finish with a little bit of layout improv to boot!

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  10. This turned out terrific, Debbie! Stunning, really!!

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  11. Yep, perfect for the summer solstice! Love how you did the quilting on it :o)

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  12. It turned out just beautifully, Debbie! I love all of the special details (each section quilting in it's own direction, great matching binding, wonderful color choices.) It is an all around beauty!

    Really pretty pictures, as well =)

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  13. There aren't words to describe how lovely this quilt is, Debbie! The solids you chose are just perfect to highlight those stars. And the quilting - WOW! Absolutely love it. It makes the quilt!

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  14. Beautiful quilt, Deb. I adore the color palette, and your quilting choice is just perfect (as usual!). I think this may be my favorite quilt of yours to date.

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  15. I love the palette you chose - those solids complement your blocks perfectly. The quilting looks fantastic too. Superb!

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  16. i love the quilting and the binding is so perfect. i really love it! xo

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  17. The Stars of Summer is gorgeous! I just love how you used binding to mimic the solids in the quilt top and how you changed up the quilting on different sections of the top. Wonderful job - and great photo shoot! :)

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  18. So beautiful, Debbie! The solids you chose are just perfect, as are the varied quilting techniques. I love the combination of the pieced stars and the solids. And how perfect is that backing? I have some of that print and just love it!

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  19. Oh that quilt is so lovely! I just love the quilting too! I have become such a big fan of straight line quilting and just love how you did the sections. The stars and colors are beautiful. Your mother's garden for the pictures - perfect!

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  20. I love your quilt! I was looking at those stars yesterday and thinking how I'd like to make a quilt - your post inspires me to make that a reality. Beautiful quilt, beautiful photos!

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  21. Gor-geous!! Brilliant quilting and binding ideas. And I love the backing fabric.
    Lynne

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  22. ...........and there it is! Lovely Debbie, and the quilting is fabulous : )

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  23. What a great idea on the binding and the quilting. On another topic, I'm asking various bloggers about their sewing machines. Do you mind telling me what you have and if you'd buy it again? I'm collecting information for a December purchase. Thanks!

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  24. Debbie, I love everything about this quilt...the fabric selections, the layout, the quilting and the binding! Beautifully done.
    Amanda

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  25. The quilt is amazing! I love how you quilted it, I'm sure that'll add extra texture to it.
    Great choice on the name =D

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  26. So beautiful Debbie - love the matching binding and the quilting!

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  27. Beatiful! I love this! I didn't do the QAL b/c I don't really like the look if sampler quilts, but I really like this. On to my someday list! Love how you coordinated the binding also! Just perfect!

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  28. I love it! Especially the quilting! The binding is fun too how it matches the different sections. It was a neat idea!

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  29. Oh, I'm so in love with this quilt!!! I would never have thought of this layout for the stars in between broad sections of solids, and it's brilliant! This set of photos belongs in an amazing book - the pictures are first-rate of this fantastic quilt!

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  30. Debbie, this is great! Such a clever use of your blocks, and the solids are perfect! I'm envious of your patience with the coordinated binding.

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  31. Debbie, I can't tell you how much I love this quilt. The quilting is perfect and the matching binding is out of this world! Girl, you did good!

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  32. Debbie it is gorgeous!! The colours together are yummy and the co-ordinating binding is perfect! [jealous]

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  33. What a beautiful quilt! The name is perfect as are the solids. Very creative quilting, It looks mavelous!

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  34. Debbie, this is so beautiful. i don't think i've seen Kona zucchini before, but it does look absolutely perfect.

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  35. Debbie,
    What a pretty quilt in both pattern and colors, and your quilting is effective and interesting, not distracting - really awesome! I saw your post linked on Pieceful Life. Cheers!

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  36. This is such a pretty quilt! I've always loved those stars, yours look really beautiful!

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  37. The whole shebang is fabulous, but the colors are knock me out awesome.

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  38. Love the quilting and the photo shoot on this one!

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  39. Debbie, the colors are gorgeous! Great quilting, too!

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  40. This is really lovely -- well done!

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  41. I really love this quilt! you did a fantastic job!

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  42. That is an absolutely beautiful wuiltM. I love everything about it but especially the quilting!

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  43. another stunning quilt! so beautiful!

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