Wednesday 23 May 2012

Better Late Than Never!

Prepare yourselves for a photo heavy post because I am so proud of this finish. It only took way, way longer than it should have. Way back last summer I was busy cutting up fabric like a maniac when I won the Go! Baby and sent Drunkard's Path blocks to all my bee pals to piece for me.

I went with tons of colour. Nothing but colour. I love colour. You guys will have figured that out by now. Off they went for the beginning of September and back came all these gorgeous pieced blocks. And I laid them all out on my kitchen floor, took a photo and lost faith.

Yes, I totally thought what the hell was I thinking putting all these fabrics together. I looked at my vision and did an internal scream. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it. I thought I had just created the crappiest bee quilt ever. So I picked up all the blocks, stacked them up and put them away. And ignored them.

Well, wine may become finer over time. Apparently so can quilt blocks. Because the quilt I fell out of love with in the autumn has become this -


Now I know this will not be everyone's cup of tea. A complete lacking of negative space, somewhere to rest the eye. But me - I like it. It's in your face and over the top, yes, but in a good way.


I chose one of the DP circles and stitched in the ditch - sort of, because getting the walking foot to move around that little circle was a bit of a task. Then I did concentric circles for the remainder of the quilt. I use a 40w variegated Aurifil thread in gold. I have never tried quilting like this before but some of the lovely talented quilters I know have been inspiring me to take myself out of my comfort zone and to try something new besides stippling. So I did and I think it was the right decision for this quilt.


As much as the front is a shot of unrelenting colour, the back is the polar opposite. The only colour is provided by the signature blocks. I framed the smaller ones with Kona charcoal to bring them up to size with Judith's which worked out into a look I loved and I think works really well with this Ikea monochrome print. I used the same charcoal solid for the binding.



What I love most about this quilt most is the contrast of the front to the back. I think that any other backing would have competed with the front, but this one compliments it.


I just love the constrast. It was when I brought the two sides together that I went from being doubtful about this quilt to thinking that maybe I had done the right thing for a quilt for me. (Phew!)


The quilt measures approximately 72" x 48". I thought about making it 60" x 60" by making another block myself but then I would have had to change the backing and I didn't want to do that.


That's it. My very first bee quilt. But not my last.


Susan

47 comments:

  1. Oh wow I love all the colour and how it just screams summer at you. I love the backing too. I really covert that fabric every time I see it. Drat no ikea for miles!

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  2. OMG it's fabulous. I love the contrast of the back from the front. The bee blocks are gorgeous. The quilting is absolutely perfect and the back is pure genius.

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  3. I love it and I am so glad you finished it. The quilting really completes it and you are right, the back is prefect with all that colour.

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  4. LOVE it! Great job. The back is just as fabulous as the front and I love the signature blocks! Yummy!

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  5. This is 1000% gorgeous. I love the contrast. I'm thinking of quilting a quilt in circles. Any tips?

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  6. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

    And if I'm not mistaken, thats my purple block in the middle of all that fab quilting. Which makes me go weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! all over again :o) Big loves susieQ xxx

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  7. oh this I totally love and well done you for getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new! This is just too gorgeous words actually fail me!! x

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  8. What am awesome quilt! I love that there is so much to look at, you are always finding something new to catch your eye! Yay for your first bee quilt indeed xx

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  9. That's not in your face - its perfection!!!!! Stunning Susan x

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  10. Love, love, love it! Love how colourful it is and the backing is perfect. Your signature blocks across the back are inspired, the framing is gorgeous and works brilliantly. And your quilting looks great. Glad you are happy, you totally should be :-)

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  11. Super finish on this one. Thanks for sharing the back, great inspiration.

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  12. It's fabulous, both front and back. I love the circular quilting. did you break thread with every round?

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  13. Its wonderful :-) The quilting and the backing really complete it dont they (okay so duh of course a backing and quilting would complete a quilt... not what I meant) I mean wot you said with bells on. Love it. Gonna go to Ikea for me? ;-) xxx

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  14. well that is one fine quilt and the quilting rocks! Love the back!!!!!!!

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  15. Susan that's absolutely fantastic. If you can't put all those colours together in a quilt - where can you put it? And the backing is perfect.
    I was in Ikea the other day, and they have some fabulous fabrics in stock now

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  16. It's brilliant Susan, a happy quilt and the back is just great, I love the signature strip, it's like a roll of film. Congrats on finishing.

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  17. This one is absolutely gorgeous! I love the circles! Well done!

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  18. Leave it to me to be awkward annie! Hadn't quite got the hang of uniform siggys at that stage! This is so beautiful Susan - it would be lovely hung on a wall! And the quilting is fantastic! Jxo Btw, forgot to say yesterday that your hair is beautiful! Jxo

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  19. Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! I love it, Susan! I have been waiting for (what seems like) forever to see this beauty finished and it was TOTALLY worth the wait. Gorgeous finish, Susan.

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  20. Yeah you ! I LOVE it! But you must have known that - full on colour, two beautiful sides and marvelous quilting - what more could a girl ask! Hope you are keeping this one!

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  21. About bloody time - but I love it!! perfect quilting and backing indeed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  22. A Stonker! Brilliant quilting, and now, what was all the worry about all those colours together back at Festival last year! :) Gorgeous!

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  23. I love the colours all together - fab! The quilting is so good. I love those circles. Di x

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  24. wow Susan, this looks fantastic! Love all those colours and the quilting finishes it off perfectly

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  25. Oh wow, so fab and colourful! Love it front and back, the framed siggys were a fab idea!

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  26. i love all those colors just my kind of quilt

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  27. what an absolute triumph of a quilt, the colours and blocks on the front are fab, the backing is fab and the quilting is fab too. guess what I'm saying is, I love it!

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  28. Fabulous Susan!! I love the variety in the blocks, the bright colours, the backing AND especially the quilting! I admire the guts it took to try those circles!!!

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  29. Can't believe you worried about this. It's so much fun - just like you! Your circles look fab - much less wonky than my arcs - the quilting looks great on the back too.

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  30. What a stunning quilt. It so so bright and vibrant, and the backing really does complement the front. Great job!

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  31. It looks fabulous! A real riot of colour :)

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  32. Absolutely fantabulous quilt. I love all that colour.

    This quilt is totally you Susan. And if you get sick of it - you can always send it to me!

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  33. Looks amazing Susan - love the quilting too!

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  34. Beautiful Susan!! A good time to finish such a summery, bright quilt! The blocks are fabulous and I love the back x

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  35. Amazing! the colours are wonderful...very summery! and the backing with the signatures is a great touch. But the quilting for me is the magic in it... beautifully executed and a real compliment to the quilt!

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  36. I could spot this as yours in a line up! Must be lovely to have it done - just before you meet your fellow bees! I love DPs as you know and colour!

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  37. It's fabulous!!!!! I love everything about it but especially the fact that you're (rightly!) pleased with it!

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  38. I saw this on flickr and just love it! what a beautiful quilt.

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  39. It's lovely, I think the frames around the blocks become the negative space in a while. The backing is perfect for it too :)

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  40. It was worth the wait, gorgeous!

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  41. Oh blimey, I have a busy week and I miss this! I think it's faberoony, and I shall always remember that you are the lady who got me to sew curves! x (you are bringing it, right?) x

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  42. I saw that ikea print on another quilt (might have been one of yours) and loved it looked it up online and found that you can only buy it in store. So I went to ikea (and I hate ikea too big and too boxy) hunted for material as I did not know they had it and go figure they did not have it. So I have ikea fabric envy and just had to share that with you.

    http://richardquilts.blogspot.com

    P.S. The quilt is cute.

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  43. Oh how did I miss this?! It looks fabulous, I love those bright colours and the siggy blocks on the back are just the perfect splash of colour on the back!

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