Thursday, 22 November 2012

One For the Birds

If the rain stops, and if you have a child to hold the camera, and if it is light enough at 8am - you can get photos of a quilt. If you tell the child to take lots of photos you will be lucky to get three. That's what I found out this morning. But three photos are better than no photos. And I can't do the photo op on my own because of the risk of the quilt falling on the sodden ground. I do have the other child at home for yet another sick day (stupid stomach virus!) but as she is ill, and as the weather is turning for the worse, not the better, I will persevere with what I have.

So here you have it, almost a year in the making. One For the Birds. Ta-Dah!


Okay, so the wind was blowing and you can't really see the Kona Charcoal border in the available light. But you can see the birds. And the quilting. There was always this shot instead.


Or there was the third shot, at an good artsy out of focus angle.


Stick with me, I am trying to stay upbeat here. In focus or out of focus this quilt turned out how I imagined it in my head. I backed it with a black and white, with a touch of green, bird fabric from IKEA. And finished it with a narrow border and binding in Kona Charcoal.


I would like to thank every last person who so generously donated bird fabric to this quilt. I have so many more birds, and therefore more quilts, still to be used. But I needed this quilt finished for Christmas so stopped when it was a good throw size - 50" x 62". This quilt would not exist or look near so good without all the variety of fabrics that were sent to me. So, again, thank you.

One of the fun things in the making of this quilt was finding the right fabric for framing each individual bird fabric. It sometimes took a while, and lots of fabrics were auditioned, but when I found the one that I thought was right it made me smile.


This quilt was originally meant for my brother but he passed on it so now it will be going to a different recipient. I hope she likes her Christmas gift when she opens it in more than a months time.

Susan

50 comments:

  1. Wow! This is superb S! The quilting is beautiful! I'm sure the new recipient will fall in love with it! So when do you start Birds II? Jxo

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  3. Wow from me too, it looks awesome. Brilliant quilting too. It's a pity you can't keep it to remind you of all the people who contributed, maybe the next one. Somebody is going to be over the moon excited when they open the parcel.

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  4. I love this quilt! It is so playful. Would cheer up any rainy day!! Love how you showcased all the little birds. The random placement of blocks makes it 'tres moderne'. Well done.

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  5. oh it's beautiful Susan! Love the quilting on it you clever thing! and the backing fabric is perfect! awesome and outdoor photos too x

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  6. it's just lovely. Even in the dreech light, it looks bright and cheery. LOVE the binding too

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  7. Beautiful and your PATIENCE paid off.

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  8. Utterly utterly fabulous!! Love everything about it! The quilting is just brilliant and it's so fun. I'm sure it'll be greatly loved.
    Hope the poorly one gets better very soon!
    You would not believe how very grey it is here, good job I like grey ;)

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  9. Yay another thing ticked off your to-do list. Looks great - in focus or not :)

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  10. I LOVE it! The backing is fantastic fabric! Lots of work but it is gorgeous.

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  11. Keep it! It's lovely and it's taken a lot more work than you expected.

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  12. it is perfect i am sure she will love it .....i do !!!

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  13. The photos are good, they show off the quilting so nicely and the whole quilt really. I love it and I think it will make anyone happy!

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  14. I think it looks fab, and i'm guessing it's a relief as it was becoming a bit of a mental block for you. Your brother is mad, he's passed on a winner there! : )

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  15. It looks fabulous and I love the fabric on the back. Well done! :)

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  16. it's fantastic! I bet you love it now it's finished :-)

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  17. It's great! So cheerful and bright!

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  18. It is just delightful. I envy the lucky recipient of this one!

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  19. I can't believe your brother turned it down, is he mad?! It's wonderful and I think my favourite block is the one with the three blackbirds...I hope little miss poorly gets better soon and that it doesn't pass round the rest of the family!

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  20. it's beautiful and you did an excellent job quilting it, too

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  21. I love it. And yes it is hard to get the kids to take the pictures.

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  22. Wow you must be thrilled with this, what adorable little birds! And how kind of everyone to donate bird fabrics. (I must not have known you then or you could have had some of mine). The recipient will be thrilled I am sure :-)

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  23. I thought for a minute you wrote your brother had passed on ....didn't half give me a turn! Phew maybe birds are too girly for Aberdeen! His loss and some lucky person's gain!

    Great quilting Susan and the rest - hope you do get one for yourself...

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  24. J'adore!! The quilting is fabulous x

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  25. Fabulous! I am sure she will love it.

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  26. absolutely gorgeous!! great work!

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  27. Such a fun quilt Susan. You did a great job!

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  28. Wow what a lovely quilt. So pleased your assistant got some good photos. The weather at the moment is terrible for photos, you have to grab your chances (and your assistant). Sarah

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  29. It's simply stunning. You have so pulled this off. Am glad your brother passed on this as it's better it goes to someone who will love and appreciate it than someone who would rather have something else.

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  30. Oh it is a beauty! Hope your daughter gets better soon, nothing worse than a sick child...oh wait yes, a sick man!

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  31. Your quilt is fabulous and the photographer did a grand job! I am certain your friend will love this quilt! And I am happy to have made a small contribution to it-that angry little black owl prettied up with its pink border!

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  32. she will love it! It is so gorgeous! Fantastic!

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  33. Stunning! The quilting really adds to it too.

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  34. Its absolutely fantastic Susan, no wonder you're thrilled with it. Someone will be lucky at Christmas

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  35. I trust you are disowning your brother ;-) You must be so happy with it - I love the 'extra' sashing *ahem* and your quilting is inspired. Gorgeous ta-dah!!

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  36. I love it! It's like a birds portrait gallery :)

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  37. It looks great! Get those girls both back in school and learning, as being small and photographers is clearly not an option!

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  38. Gorgeous finish Susan! Love how the birds all look like they are in little picture frames on a wall.

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  39. Woohoo, well done! It looks ready to fly away in that first pic, Anyway, your brother got a quilt last year, right? It was someone else's turn ;o)

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  40. Love your quilting on these birds - fab! I love how the birds looks like an amazing framed portrait wall. Lucy recipient!!

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  41. I think this quilt is spectacular. It is an inspiration for me to make one. Maybe not birds (you did that already) but something simliar...
    E

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  42. I love this quilt! You did a wonderful job!

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  43. Wow it is lovely! Can see now why it was such a pain to piece together, but it looks brilliant :)

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  44. If we're allowed to have favourites (with a 'u' of course) then this one of yours is mine....but it could all change in the future if you make something equally fantabulous

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  45. Utterly Utterly gorgeous. I remember when I first started following you , I was all aflutter about your wonky stars quilt and this one is even better. I love the colours and the theme. It's amazing.

    You did good Missus!

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