The Backs

When I shared a recent quilt finish, I was gently scolded for not showing off the quilt's back. I suppose I only do that when I do something I consider especially creative. But that doesn't mean I don't like the back. In fact, sometimes I like it alot. At any rate, here's some 2014 quilt backs you haven't seen . . .

Radiancy got one of my very favorite prints - Newspaper Strips from Carrie Bloomston's Collage.

All the prints in the front of Still Swooning were from a fat-eighth pack of Anna Maria Horner's Dowry. So for the back, I pieced together strips of 3 pieces of the same print in different colorways.

With Aurora {aka Northern Lights} being all in solids, for the back I chose 2 stash prints - Cat Mint from Catnap by Lizzy House and Metro Living Ring Dots in Pewter. Simple, but I like. Seriously, I could back just about every quilt in Metro Living Rings.

Lastly, ástərisk got a single piece of Madrona Road by Violet Craft. I confess I was a little sad it took all I had, but it was a good fit. (Random: note how the faced binding shows off on the back more than a regular binding.)

So there! True confessions revealed. Nothing earth-shattering, but now you know. Sometimes I have the time, energy, and inspiration for something more unique, but usually my quilt backs are pretty basic. Just for fun, here's a link to a Quilt Backs Pinterest board where I add ideas as I come across them. If you have a favorite go-to quilt back, I'd love to hear about it!

Radiancy

Ten days ago, I had no idea what I was going to create for the 2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge. But suddenly an idea came to me, I couldn't let it go, and the vision began to fall into place.

Doing this piece brought a couple of things together for me. I'd been wanting to do another linen + cotton quilt for quite some time - ever since the Zakka Block Quilt I made in the Zakka Along 2 years ago. And I'd also been wanting to try my hand at a Supernova a la Quilting Modern. So this became the perfect chance to do both!

As I was cutting some beautiful natural Essex for the background, I knew I wanted other bits of color in with my Radiant Orchid. During a piecing-break, I rummaged in my stash closet and realized the Newspaper Strips from Carrie Bloomston's Collage would be a perfect backing. On the floor basting, I was thinking ahead to the thread - the most brilliant Aurifil #2535 (Fuchsia) - and the quilting - a design both awesome and intimidating. And of course, while quilting, I was thinking ahead to the binding and how I could tweak the norm just so.

There was some risk in this one! The mix of colors for one. Though I'm definitely a purple/amethyst fan, orchid was a bit more "out there" for me. And adding in those bits of gold, teal, and gray . . . well I wasn't totally sure at first if they would "work". Another stretch was the improv! I've dabbled, but still feel tentative. Guided by the photo in the book, I build it as I went, piece by piece on the design wall. I confess it made me giddy! And lastly, that quilting. Oh my goodness! More than once through the process I stood back warily questioning what I was doing. But in the end, I think it suits the supernova just fine. ETA: And for the record, I was totally inspired by this quilting design by Anita Shackelford. 

So there's that! 30x36" of Radiant Orchid and then some. Another journey of sorts, and some very satisfying creating. Isn't that just the best?

   

If you'd like to see my Pantone challenge projects from previous years, here's Tangerine Tango and Emerald. Linking up with Fabric Tuesday. Also linking with the 2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge.