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Monday, March 26, 2018

Still Looking Up

From the day I thought of using "Looking Up" as a Bee Sewcial prompt, I loved it, and there was no looking back. A stall, perhaps, but no looking back.

Looking Up :: 75" X 60"

I spent weeks looking up and taking inspiration photos, though I knew my bee-mates would easily find their own, just by taking a moment to look up wherever they might be. And of course, they did!

In the photo above you'll see [top to bottom, left to right]: "Storm" by Leanne/@shecanquilt, "Perception" by Silvia/@astrangerview, "Bridge" by M-R/@quiltmatters, "Dormant" by Stephanie/@spontaneousthreads, "Timber!" by Hillary/@entrophyalwayswins, "Ceiling" by Felicity/@felicityquilts, my own "Swinging", "Fascinating" by Marci/@marci_girl, "Aspire" by Anne/@playcrafts, and "Redwoods" by Karen/@capitolaquilter. Each block so unique and individually inspired.... I've spent alot of time looking at them and appreciating them.


I also spent alot of time fretting over how to puzzle the blocks into a whole, and at long last settled on an improvisational sashing using Kona Overcast, which besides being the perfect color, just added to the sentiment of the design prompt.

For quilting, I used Aurifil 50wt #2600 (light gray) to create a free-form mesh inspired by the power lines on our street. So mostly there are groupings of parallel lines angling across the quilt, grounded occasionally by a trio of vertical 'poles'. It was one more aspect in keeping with the theme, and I love the idea still, though the execution left some empty spaces larger than I would have liked, many of which were secured by just following the lines of the fabric. It all worked well enough for me to be satisfied for trying it, knowing just the same that another choice might have been better. I can live with that.


This one called to be horizontally oblong, and why not? Measuring 75" X 60", I finished it off with a faced binding. Though pulling my bee-mates' remarkable blocks into a cohesive whole nearly did me in this round, I love the finish for the thoughtfulness that went into it, for the admission (by me) that indeed, the struggle can be real, and especially for the reminder, as always, to pause for just a bit.... and look up.

This project was on my 2018 Finish-A-Long Q1 list.
Linking up with Finish It Up Friday and 2018 Finish-A-Long Q1 Finishes!

20 comments:

  1. Love the thought process you all put into this quilt! What a great way to challenge yourselves and what a wonderful result!

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  2. So much thought went into this by all of you. I love it

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  3. This has been a fun quilt gestation to watch. The baby is beautiful!

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  4. I love the inspiration for the quilting also came from looking up. I always look forward to seeing both the blocks and finishes that you all create.

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  5. Oh Debbie its really fabulous! The quilting is the crowning jewel! I love your quilt story and the sentiment it evokes! It is a good messagw which I need to remebmer , especially at this particularly difficult time in my life.
    The resulting quilts from ur bee are consistanly wonderful. It is evident that the connection between you all is strong and its a lovely thing to witness. Strong creative woman working in unison and supporting and strengthening one anothers vision! You are lucky to have these relationships!
    Keep up the great work and thanks so much for sharing and inspiring me!

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  6. All such gorgeous blocks--and together they make a lovely quilt...hugs, Julierose

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  7. Truly an inspired and inspiring design!

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  8. Very thought provoking. Definitely takes one out of the box. Creative and interesting! Like a quilt poem.

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  9. Congratulations, great design and finish.

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  10. This was a favorite prompt of mine! The quilt is amazing, just amazing!

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  11. Such an amazing finish! I love this bee’s prompts and how much thought and consideration is given by the members when piecing the blocks and then putting them together. I follow most of you ladies and I’m always amazed to see how the blocks I saw individually all work when put together. Truly inspiring!

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  12. Even if you had to pause and struggled a bit inbetween, the quilt looks amazing. I would rather say it was refreshing to see a human process with all its ups and downs. The quilting idea is genious.

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  13. Wow!!! What a neat quilt! That would be a fun bee prompt - challenging, but so fun. Love that last photo with all that "Look up" above it.

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  14. Goodness! I love thus quilt so much. It truly shows your artistic abilities and eye for looking up.

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  15. This is fabulous! Love your quilt story.

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  16. You definitely did these blocks justice, Debbie! GREAT finish!

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  17. Great quilt! I love the way you arranged the blocks. It flows really well.

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  18. Wonderful quilt! I have been following its progress from the prompt onwards, and it is so great to see how each bee member interprets the brief so differently, and then how the results all come together again in one themed quilt. Congratulations on a brilliant finish!
    And on behalf of all our hosts, thank you for joining in the Finish-A-Long!

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  19. I love that you included the title of each block in the post and wow, the sky sure did get on board with the theme during your shoot. Congrats on another wonderful BeeSewcial finish. A true inspiration

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