Luminaries

With the beginning of Advent, I started to see luminaries made of paper bags here and there, and the added 'light' in this season has really been a blessing. I confess, though things in our world still seem dark and uncertain, the light has certainly given me some much-needed hope. 

I don't often infuse my quilting with any real meaning, but after attending (virtually of course) worship at my church on November 29, the first Sunday of Advent, I was really touched by the many ways leaders had shared the light of Advent through their individual gifts... through music, art, video, and the spoken word. It suddenly felt necessary for me to take a pause to create light myself, through the gift of my quilting.

Rummaging in my scrap basket, I happened upon a scrap that set me on my course. Truly, it was just 1" wide by about 14" long. I'm not even sure what the actual name of it was, but it was from an older line of Melody Miller's - probably in the Cotton + Steel days (please remind me if you know!). But immediatly when I touched it, I saw it as sparks of light. Of course you'd think I might have focused on Advent candles, but it was luminaries that were on my mind, so that's where I continued on.

So adding white fabric around each 'spark,' I created a handful of fabric luminaries. Since they are most often used to line a pathway or sidewalk, I arranged them in a long curve, with a background of dark blue, gray, and black improv stripes to signify the night sky. 

The finish measures 15" x 28", and the rectangular shape was intentional to emphasis the 'path' or journey of Advent. (For those who aren't familiar with the meaning of Advent, it's all about the 'journey' of the weeks leading up to Christmas and the birth of the Christ child.) For backing, I found the perfect blue in my stash - please remind me what it is too! I should know, but there was no selvedge, and the name is escaping me. Anyway, it made me very happy to find it and be able to use it.

But honestly, it took the addition of quilting to really make my vision more obvious. I used  several different Aurifil 50wt threads - #2140 [Mustard] for the pathway lined with lights; #2730 [Delft Blue], #2784 [Dark Navy], and #2692 [Black] for the night sky. And then, even after I'd trimmed the quilt post-quilting, it dawned on me to add several lines of quilting in Sulky Metallic #142-7007 [Gold] along the lit path. Not sure you can see it in the photo, but it was the perfect finishing touch.

That and the faced binding, I should say. This little quilt called out for it, and I was happy to oblige. It makes it seem like the journey just continues on.... as of course it does.

Peace to you, my friends. May you see some light along your way this week....

Let It Be

After my last couple of quilt projects being created from repurposed fabric, I found myself in the mood for scraps. Usually that will mean heading straight to the scrap basket full of print scraps. But my solid scrap bin was also overwhelmingly full, and that's what called to me this time. Specifically, scrappy stripes.

I love stripes, and there's no shortage of stripes, especially improv stripes, amongst the many quilts I've made. For this project, I came up with a simple block design - basically a slab of coordinating stripes, finished with a strip along the left edge in one of the stripe colors. For a long while, I just worked at filling my design wall with them, a variety of all shapes and sizes, all mandated, of course, by the scraps themselves.

So eventually I had pretty much filled the wall with blocks, and used up the scraps that would work. I mentioned on Instagram that I had no idea what was next, and the overwhelming response was one of 'leave them just the way they are!' Well that wasn't totally a bad idea, but there were gaps here and there so I set to filling in the gaps with 'design wall gray' aka Kona Overcast. Kind of crazy, maybe, but I really liked it! [Below is the 'before filling the gaps' photo; the next is the completed top.]

The most unusual thing about this entire project is that once I got all the blocks together, the quilt 'top' was nowhere near square. And the notion that that was ok began to grow.

A backing was pieced from stash, with the majority share-holder being a long-hoarded (since 2012!) Jay McCarroll Center City print. Even now, I'm kinda sad it's 'gone' but then again, it suited the quilt so well.

For quilting, I did a horizontal-ish organic straight-line using a variegated Aurifil 50 wt #4653 [spring prairie]. It actually felt pretty perfect, obvious but subtle amidst the array of color.

Binding was a little wider than my normal 2" strips, as I had some jellyroll strips that suited the quilt perfectly. I used six shades of blue and green loosely coordinating with the blocks they touched. And happily the slightly wider binding felt like a serendipitous choice. And by the way, there were curves. Meaning I chose not to trim this quilt 'square' in the least, but followed the edges of the blocks on each side. Trimming off any more than necessary bits of the striped blocks seemed totally inappropriate and unnecessary this time around.

So finished, the quilt measures, starting with the top and moving clockwise: 70" x 55" x 67" x 50". I can honestly say that creating my wonkiest quilt ever was nowhere in my mind when I started out a few weeks ago. But does it make sense, or what? To me, in these times, it totally does.

A little postscript if you will... I did a little poll on Instagram. Just fun to see where other folks are at.

Interesting, no? I think so. And glad, this time at least, I just let it be.

Linking up with Meadow Mist Designs' Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup!

Digging Deep

Not really sure why, but after my last two repurposed clothing quilts, I was really in the mood for a scrap quilt. And since I have an idea in mind for a quilt with my print scraps (here's looking at you, Erica/Kitchen Table Quilting's #plaidishquilt2), I thought why not just see what I could do with my solid scraps. And to be honest, though I use my solid scraps plenty, I'm not sure I've actually tried making an entire quilt from them.

SOoooo, I came up with a block idea that used the improv stripes I love so much. Basically, for each block I choose one stripe color that remains (pretty) consistent (in the case above, the gold); and another stripe color that is contrasting BUT might be in various shades of one color and/or a mix of colors (the green and blue), or at least is a combination of colors that I like together. Once I sew a bunch of stripes together, I add a strip along the left edge, and trim all sides, though this is random, and some edges I have left curvy. My 'rules' aren't hard and fast, and obviously, my blocks are turning out a variety of sizes, all depending on the scraps I pull for that particular block.

For now, I'm just filling up my design wall, having no idea at all how I'm going to pull everything together. Time will tell. But for now, I'm just enjoying this process, and when I don't anymore, I'll stop. Simple goals for complex times, right?

Showing Off Improv Stripes :: Two

You guys! I'm just so enamored with all you've created with your improv stripes!  If you missed the first round-up, look here. Then sit back and check out this batch. They are stunning!

Andrea/andreanaeht

Audrey/audreymarie_km

Tina/barkinghen

Cindy/clammon

Ellyn/ellynz (blog post)

Giovanna/jonik71

Evie/landry.evie

Laura/llinkshwk

Beth/lovelaughquilt

Martina/malu27117

Martha/mjemyers

Oggi/ogginelle

Erika/quiltsanity

selinaquilts

Wow, right? I think I've shared all the current finishes between this post and the last, but if I'm missing someone, please let me know! And keep them coming and tagging them #improvstripesqal cuz we want to see them!

Showing Off Improv Stripes :: One

Well it's been just over a week since the soft ending of the Improv Stripes QAL, I've shared my own variegated finish, and it's high time to start sharing what others have created! I'll note each maker and link back to their projects so you can read all about them!

Kathy/_duchick_

Lynnette/fabric.frenzy

Katy/katyquilts (KatyQuilts blog post)

Beth/lovelaughquilt

Maree/maree_rogers

Margaret/margaret_pw

Marla/pennylanequilts

pennysillin

Wendy/piecefulwendy times two!

Kathleen/quiltmunnster

Sharon/redapplestitches

Roxanne/roxiquilts

Aren't they terrific? I love the variety - in the stripes, the palettes, and the types of projects. I'll be back soon with more to share!

variegated

Well the last two weeks have reminded me just how fun a quilt-along can be! The Improv Stripes QAL, over 90 participants strong, has been a fun ride, and it's been so delightful to see folks try improv for the first time, fall in love with stripes, and explore their own designs.

I created my own "variegated" by culling all my gray scraps and combining them with a bit of a wild solid color mix - just what appealed to me at the time. After trying several different layouts, I settled on this one - that if you start with the dark blue block and let your eye travel right then down - creates a sort of a spiral. At least it started out that way!

When it came time for quilting though, I went with both horizontal and vertical organic straight lines, creating a grid in several sections. Just for the fun of it, I used a handful of colored threads though that's not really obvious unless you look close.

Measuring 32" x 35", this one was especially enjoyable as I was sewing in community. Can't beat that!

This quilt was on my 2017 Q3 Finish-A-Long list!