Monday 15 April 2013

The Teasing is Over

On and off, over the past year, you have been given less than satisfactory glimpses of blocks I have made for others in Stitch Tease - An International Mystery Quilt Bee. Let me try to explain how this bee worked.

This time last year the lovely Di - Random Thoughts of Do or Di - contacted a group of us and asked if we would like to take part in a bee together. This would be a bee with a twist though.

- There would be eight members;
- We would all designate our block or strip at the beginning of the year and make one ourselves;
- We would each make a block or strip for the other members over the year;
- We would each have a 'signature' fabric we included in every block we made;
- Each person's blocks were sent to someone else in the group to collect together;
- That person would piece the quilt top for the recipient;
- The eventual recipient of the blocks would not see them until she received her completed quilt top.

So last April I made a 20" x 30" block for my quilt that I posted to our Flickr group and which all the others would use as inspiration to make their blocks for me.

As always, my inability to take a photograph straight on is glaringly obvious.
I asked for scrappy, colourful, and white stars interspersed amongst this chaotic colourfulness. Looking at it here you may wonder what on earth I was thinking about. Trust me the year has been full of doubts on my part as well. But out of that chaos the most amazing quilt top arrived in the post last week, and maybe I wasn't as stupid as I thought. Because I so love the result.


The quilt  measures 60" x 80". Helen and I had to stand on chairs and stretch our arms to their limit to hold it up. Emily was the camera person as she wasn't tall enough, even with the aid of a chair, to keep the quilt top clear of the ground.

I have sat for ages just taking it all in. Looking at all the different precious scraps of fabric, finding the signature fabrics, and ooh-ing and aah-ing over it all. I don't think I would ever get tired of looking at it.


That leaves me with two things to say. First of a huge thank you to Di for organising the bee and to all those who made blocks for me. You ladies are awesome quilters as well as such great friends. Thank you!!!

Di - Random Thoughts of Do or Di
Annabella - Life's Rich Pattern
Hadley - Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle
Katy - The Littlest Thistle
Dianne - Quiltova
Helen - RunQuiltKnitWrite
Danny - Mommy for Reals

Second thing, how on earth am I going to quilt this beast?!!

Another photo of the quilt top -
just because I couldn't resist.

Susan

61 comments:

  1. What a brilliant way to make a quilt. Your star quilt is wonderful. As for quilting it.....I've not a clue but I'm sure others might have. Di x

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  2. Wow, it's absolutely beautiful - a real treasure and I just love all the bright colours. Have fun quilting it!
    Xx

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  3. Wow, I really love how the white stars stand out. Sarah

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  4. Stunning! All over swirls ? Have a good thunk, it will tell you what it wants :)

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  5. You must be so chuffed, it's a beautiful quilt, love the way the stars stand out so nicely against the scrappy background. Sounds like an ingenious Bee.

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  6. That is such a gorgeous quilt and what a lovely idea. Can't wait to see all the others when they start popping up.m

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  7. Wow! What a stunner of a quilt you have there! It has been a wonderful quilting journey and a quilt that you will always treasure! I think this deserves your beautiful hand stitching!

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  8. This quilt is stunning! That sounds like a wonderful bee :)

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  9. I am so happy that you love it Susan - it does look amazing and so cohesive - how did that happen haha? So proud to have contributed to a quilt for you - enjoy it!

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  10. Oh wow that's lovely. These stitch tease quilts are so fab. They all work so well you'd never think 8 people had a hand in adding bits too them.

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  11. Simply splendid! I love how the white stars work with the bright background - you clever thing! Did everyone but the quilt's 'owner' see the strips/blocks as they were stitched or did you all 'just' work from the inspiration mosaic and the initial block?

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  12. That is amazing!!! And what a fabulous bee idea. I think this quilt will be such a treasure, you'll never want to let it go.
    E xx

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  13. Wow, what a gorgeous quilt and a wonderful idea! Very special. Rx

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  14. I love it, and I'm not normally a scrappy gal, but this is fabulous.

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  15. I love it, and I'm not normally a scrappy gal, but this is fabulous.

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  16. Hallelujah Susan. Fabulous idea. Fabulous result... I could look at this for ages and ages. Whoever pieced it is to be congratulated...it couldnt have been easy.

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  17. Well blow me down, that is totally, brilliantly beautiful!! What an amazing bed quilt it would make.

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  18. no idea on the quilting but WOW! it's beautiful! I love all the stars in it :)

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  19. The placement of the blocks so that the stars cascade is bloomin marvellous

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  20. *gasp* gorgeous!! So so pretty :)

    Rachael

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  21. Oh wow, it is beautiful, can't wait for next years to start, yay! Quilt it really simply, i'm sure you'll do a great job!

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  22. Wow! That is awesome! I need to find a bee like that :)

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  23. Wow I am amazed how well they work together, what a great bee!

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  24. Wow! Love! And you now have your very own wonky star quilt! Perfect :o)

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  25. Beautiful...and what fun!!
    I am actually going to Marrakesh next month and staying at Annabella's Riad! (I think I found her through your blog!!)

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  26. I am so glad you like it and as I have said to the others, I am so happy you were and still are a part of this group. It has been a wonderful year getting to know you

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  27. Oooh is it wrong of me to say that I love yours the most? I shouldn't but I do love it so!!
    Nice job everyone.

    Ps thx for the long message! Just off to bed now but will reply tomorrow :)

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  28. Yes, it is just stunning and you'll be able to tame(quilt) the beast I'm sure!

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  29. I so super loved putting this one together. The whole time I was thinking, "Well, why didn't I think to do something as cool as Susan??" Love your top and love that I was able to contribute to it!

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  30. Incredible! Great idea and lovely execution by your bee pals!

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  31. Stonking quilt!!!!! Lots of gorgeousness being stripped back today!

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  32. I LOVE this! What a precious treasure you have here :)

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  33. Absolutely stunning - love the colours and the design

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  34. Gorgeous quilt - no ideas on how to quilt it though!

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  35. It's really amazing - i LOVED doing this one!!!

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  36. It's fantastic! I have loved visiting and seeing everyone else's too! Great results all around.

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  37. Absolutely stunning, and I'm sure you'll think of a suitably great way to quilt it!

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  38. Oh wow, it came out with a whole range of star sizes, it actually looks like we were organised lol I do love how it came out anyway :o)

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  39. Can't help you at all, I'm afraid, other than to tell you what you already know....It's STUNNING!! X

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  40. It was great fun to make, and I particularly love that Hadley snook in a non-white star!! Thank you for my beautiful quilt too!

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  41. Susan, this is so beautiful! A brilliant combination of colourful scrappy goodness with the sprinkling of stars makes it glorious. Your friends did a wonderful job.

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  42. Well if I couldn't take a liberty with yours!
    Love it - I enjoyed your block the most, no stressing required xxx

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  43. Oh, it's so lovely, delightfully scrappy and I just love the varying sizes of the stars. The ladies did a great job.

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  44. Love the stars! I'm so looking forward to joining this talented group for year 2 and getting to know you all.

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  45. wow, that is one beauty. I would probably not try to make a statement with the quilting as the colorfulness of the quilt would probably hide it anyway, it's a keeper regardless how you quit it. :)

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  46. It is really beautiful and such a lovely collection of special fabrics. What a fun bee.

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  47. I am loving looking at all these quilts and the sheer inventiveness of all the blocks. As to quilting...I think the stars need to be a feature but not sure how.

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  48. What a fun & beautiful quilt! I love the white stars! I think I would probably hand quilt those stars, with echo quilting, working inwards (if that makes sense) and then machine quilt celestial swirly bits in the scrappy sections. Such a fun project I'm sure! Well done all!

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  49. stunningly beautiful those stars sparkle!

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  50. stunningly beautiful those stars sparkle!

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  51. OH MY GOODNESS I AM SO IN LOVE WITH IT!

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  52. Completely and utterly gorgeous. The scrapiness is pure eye candy!

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  53. This is fabu-licious! and very you :) x

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  54. Oh, it's breathtaking Susan! I love it! I follow all your blogs, and you're lucky to have made such lovely friends. You're all lovely friendly ladies who respond to my comments. Hmmm how to quilt it? Maybe a large meander in the coloured bits, so as not too take away from all the fabric scrappy gorgeousness and highlight the stars.

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