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Monday, November 21, 2016

Baconrific



Where the idea of bacon emerged as a prompt for Bee Sewcial, I have no idea. But once I thought of it, I couldn't let it go. A food-related item seemed to 'fit' for A Quilter's Table, and well.... bacon.

In The Bacon Consideration, I gathered photos of both actual and superficial bacon, offering it up to my bee-mates as inspiration. As far as palette, I suggested solids such as Kona Brick, Brown, Mocha, Chestnut, Spice, Cinnamon, Cocoa, and Caramel. If a 'background' or more neutral element was needed, I asked for off-white or natural, not white-white. Linen, shot-cotton, leather, or any other texturally-interesting substrates were most welcome. Note that when I told the group to feel free to use a mix of 'fabrics', I didn’t expect them to embrace that so strongly. They included velvet, shot cotton, linen, raw silk, hand dyed cotton, suede, quilter’s cotton, and even fuzzy selvages! 

Here are all the blocks up on the design wall, ready for the gaps to be filled in, always the trickiest part of a quilt like this.


I really liked the mix of blocks - some quite literal with their curves and all. Some much more impressionistic, like the middle block of "bacon bits." But one thing that this circle-loving group wasn't inspired to make was circles! And it came to me that the quilt needed some pancetta blocks.


I added three to the quilt, and have heard from both fans and detractors, but for better or worse, they're in there to stay. [Watch for a tutorial for this kind of layered circle block later this week.]



For quilting, I chose four bacon-imbued thread colors, Aurifil 50wt 1103 (burgandy), 2000 (beige), 2155 (cinnamon), and 2350 (copper), stitching in wavy lines across the quilt to echo that bacon essence.



The quilt, measuring 56" x 64", was finished with a faced binding, which is my favorite method for more 'artsy' quilts like this.



And then the big question loomed - where to go for a photo shoot?

Yes, the local meat market was the obvious choice! So how many of you have stood at the meat counter to pay for your bacon and steak, and posed the question, "I made a quilt inspired by bacon, so would it be ok if I took photos of it in front of your store?" Yeah. 

Much credit goes to the hubby who snagged that empty parking spot while a car was waiting to pull in, so I could get my photos!


Even more difficult than coming up with a photoshoot location was deciding on a name for this truly bacon-inspired quilt. I kept coming back to what grandgirl told me when she saw it in progress weeks ago - "It's baconrific, grammy!" And so it shall be. [Though honestly, hubby has miscalled it "baconstein" more than once, and I'm fond of that too!] 


Lastly, many thanks to LeanneMarciFelicityKarenKariStephanieHillaryAnne, and M-R
for embracing my quirky yet distinctive prompt and working their improv magic. I for one enjoyed it immensely!

This quilt was on my Q4 FAL2016 list! Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

44 comments:

  1. I really love your quilt! If I ever get going on sewing curves, thus will definitely be one that I have to do!

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  2. Wow wow wow! It's so unique and a great example of the power of a bee quilt. I wish we had video of you asking that question at the counter, lol.

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  3. It's fantastic, as are your photos! I am truly in love and I have to say I was wondering how a bacon quilt would work when we started. Your layout is inspired too, I love the panacea added in as well.

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  4. I love your bacon quilt, and what a great photo shoot location!

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  5. I have to admit I had my doubts when I saw your original post to your special bee friends about a bacon inspired quilt but oh was I wrong. What a fantastic quilt. The circles pack a punch and add a depth and interest so I'm a definite fan. And like the other commentator I'd love to have been at the counter when you asked!!

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  6. You have my mouth watering. I love this quilt.

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  7. What a perfect ,ovation to photograph your finish! The quilted wavy lines are a great texture and choice. It was fun to follow along with this prompt and project arc.

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  8. I'm almost in tears! Love the 'baconrific' quilt and the photo shoot spot is priceless as I am sure was the look on the person's face at the meat counter!

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  9. Wow, I love it! It would be a nice quilt for my bacon-lover-husband :-)

    Cheers from Belgium

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  10. Truly one of the best quilts ever! I thought the inspiration and the final outcome were brilliant.

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  11. I am totally in LUV with ur baconrific quilt!!!
    The whole thing is so much fun and soo soo attractive!!!
    My fave are the pancetta blocks!!!
    Briliant!

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  12. I, too, was uncertain about how successful a bacon quilt could be. I should have known better. It's fantastic, Debbie!

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  13. The three circular blocks definitely belong in this quilt. I love the photo shoot in front of the meat market. The little touch of a purple toned fabric in there makes it more interesting too. Maybe that is just my monitor making it look purple.

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  14. This is awesome! I love everything about this, from the idea to the execution. I'll think of your quilt now every time I drive to Kingman AZ to visit my daughter, as they have a hill with striations of the colors in your quilt, and they called it Bacon Hill. I'll have to find a photo and send it over. I do have to say that it does remind me a lot of the Southwest, and the red rock canyons in Southern Utah. Great photos in front of your butcher's shop!

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  15. Crispy, cracklingly good. It is just amazingly delicious! An excellent interpretation of the theme.
    Jo x

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  16. That is a great quilt! While I was reading your post one of my friends kept coming to mind. He has experimented with different flavors of smoking bacon, this would be a perfect quilt for him!

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  17. you already know how much I love EVERYTHING about this quilt! and the photo shoot? perfection

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  18. I have followed along with your bacon progress! What a great photo shoot! This is a testament to your bee and your creativity!
    Thank you for sharing

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  19. This is amazing!!! A bacon lover's dream. What a way to execute a concept.

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  20. I have loved this from the inception. You and your bee did a fantastic job of bringing this to life.

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  21. Love it and am looking forward to the tutorial! I have been pondering making a 'pancetta' type block but have been too lazy to figure it out so will love following your instructions. :)

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  22. Well now I'm hungry. ;) Love it, every single little bacon bit. Especially the photo shoot! You're braver than I!

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  23. This quilt is amazing Debbie ! Such an original idea and a creative result ! And thinking of you at the meat market made me laugh ... :-))

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  24. The addition of your pancetta blocks was truly inspired, that took this quilt over the top,
    Caltexgal@aol.com

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  25. This turned out fantastic! Wouldn't have thought that! Nice photo shoot.

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  26. I love it. I can't imagine you have a detractor from the circles because I think they're a perfect eye-catcher. Fabulous. Love the photo shoot location! I'm sure many meat markets would hire you to stand outside their shop and model your quilt!

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  27. Brilliant! The theme, the blocks, your pancetta! I love that there's different types of fabric in there too. I'm a vegetarian but I like this bacon!

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  28. It's wonderful! I love the pancetta slices! I'm going to have to try your circle technique.

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  29. I just cannot believe how gorgeous this turned out! I have to admit, I would have had a really hard time coming up with a block given that prompt - but your beemates just nailed it! I love everything about this quilt - the colours are amazing, the improv blocks (that pancetta!!), the faced binding. And the photos in front of the meat market - come on!!! Love, love, love!!

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  30. Of course you needed eggs! We must live in the same area-I love double D meats, especially the sauces!

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  31. I watched with interest as I saw these blocks pop up on Instagram. Couldn't have imagined where it would go. You did a marvelous job of puzzling it together. The circles were just the right touch. They make it!!

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  32. I love this quilt! Love the odd-ball prompt, and your bee-mates came thru - it really does look like bacon! Of course, this is the perfect spot for your photo shoot. This makes me smile!

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  33. OMG this might be your best one yet, at least after the modern mood one. That will probably always be my fave! I just made myself a new bathrobe and the main fabric is blue with white writing that says STAY CALM and EAT BACON.

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  34. The pancetta blocks are perfect for your quilt! And you photo shoot is fantastic!

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  35. Love the bacon bits in the middle!!

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  36. wow! what a wonderful quilt - love the richness of the colours & your circles.

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  37. I can almost smell the bacon frying up in the pan! What a fabulous quilt! And I love the pancetta blocks and what they add to the project! Woot!

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  38. You know I love this quilt. And I am now here, working backwards from then end, to add a comment on behalf of the FAL hosts: Thank you for participating in the FAL, on behalf of the 2016 global FAL hosts.

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  39. Your quilt is outstanding ! The design is very creative and innovative. Thanks for these great photos.

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  40. Love the back story to the finished Piece!

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