First of all, thanks to
Ems Scrapbag and
Maryse Makes Things for nominating me for The Lovely Blog Award! Very sweet of both of you, but I'm still trying to catch up around here, so will not have time to follow through. I have both of you on my sidebar link list and enjoy following your blogs very much.
I've been such a slacker, not working on this quilt for eons. Definitely no hope of having it done by July 4th weekend! I've pulled it out several times and just went sort of 'meh', not liking anything I auditioned for the next border. For awhile I seriously pondered not going any farther with it and just calling it done.
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| Auditioning the next border with applique parts and pieces |
The entire quilt has turned out so different than what I first imagined that it's been hard to get back on track. {Or even figure out what track I'm on.} Finally I decided that it would be okay to extend the cream out into the next border if I scrapped it up a bit. Very hard to see in this picture, but I actually used four different cream prints, one quite a bit lighter than the other three. Using a single cream fabric just depressed me for some reason I cannot even begin to explain, so once I realized my dilemma I went looking for ways to spice it up. {Even if I'm the only one that ever notices.} And it's not like any other color played well for the next border, no matter how hard I tried.
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| Getting the vine figured out |
So yes, it does look sort of drab and uninspiring, but when the leaves are added, it just becomes
background allowing the leaves to 'pop' and claim all the attention. A good background should never fight too terribly hard for attention. It's just bad juju.*wink
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| Adding in some leaves, balancing the colors |
I cut out all my leaves in a sort of tear drop looking shape and then didn't like them at all. Had to reshape them all to get what is basically the most traditional leaf shape there is. Then I was happy. Go figure.
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| Adding some berries |
I added berries and then took them off again. Then I added them back in again, only larger. All the applique pieces you see are bigger than what they will finish out to be because seam allowances still need to be turned under. I'm
mostly liking what I see, but still not 100% convinced. This is my
special eagle quilt? Hmmm...
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| Liking the close-ups better than the whole picture! |
I think I'm still blown away by all the
green that has ended up in my quilt. Some of it's very bright and almost florescent! Wowsers. How did that happen? All the greens I intended for use with this quilt were looking sickly and/or a bit sour so I kept pulling random greens out of the tote thinking 'could this work? Will this even be okay used with a cream fabric?' lol And then it worked. And worked some more.
The cheddar print that was going to be the background for the entire quilt has just become more and more undesirable as a color too. Too much pink in the orangey-yellow and I literally cringe every time more of it has been auditioned to be put back into the quilt. And I had such high hopes that this was going to be a very strong cheddary quilt! My taste is obviously changing or something. This quilt would never have been made by me even four or five years ago. But I'm loving the classic, sort of prim simplicity of this quilt so much that I really can't complain too much! Some quilts seem determined to go their own way and it's easier to just give in and let it happen.
One last thing. Since this quilt won't be finished by July of this year, should I change the year at the top of the quilt? Leave off the '5' for now? I'm not sure it matters as the quilt top itself will undoubtedly be finished up in 2015, if not the quilting/stitching part. Any thoughts?
looks great. the vine and date are awesome!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, Audrey. Each step of your new border is a great improvement. Thanks so much for showing the process. (Is the a corollary of the "if you still don't like the fabric you didn't cut it small enough?" This one would be, "If you don't like the border you haven't added enough elements.") Thanks for posting this inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWow - the difference once you added the leaves! I think a simple leafy wreath border suits this so well and the greens echo the green star. The date is great and so is the lovely background choice. Always good to hear your thinking in the planning stages :)
ReplyDeleteI love the leafy vine border - the cherries are a delightful addition. I think it's going to be fabulous :0) I like to put the date of the year the quilt was finished in on it.
ReplyDeleteThe five is already appliqued down - leave it. I like the repeat of the green from the inside star.
ReplyDeleteIt's turning out to be a fun quilt. I'd leave the date.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember this one for some reason - I like the leaves added to it. you could change the date seeing as it won't be this year - but only if you would really want to.
ReplyDeleteI'd leave the date the same as the year you finish the top - 2015. I think that is probably what the early quilters did. Like the cream borders; they play up the rest of the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI have a quilt that has a prominent 2011 on it and I finished it in 2013. I'm okay with putting the date when you're working on it. I also have a quilt now that has 2015 on it and its not looking hopeful for a finish this year, but I can't change it because I've already cute away the back of the 5. Oops.
ReplyDelete:)
I really enjoyed this post, reading through your design process. It is so interesting how fabric makes us feel. It is such a great moment when we can finally say "Yes! That's it!"
ReplyDeleteIt s beautiful! And your design process is so interesting. I see what you mean about the cheddar, not strong enough to carry the whole quilt. The cream is classic and looks great. I d only change the date if I finished it later than 2015, finished the top, I mean.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful! Those leaves and berries really finish it off nicely. It all works together with that sense of whimsy that you give to all of your quilts.
ReplyDeleteI love it , the idea of the vine is great! And I love the fresh greens that you are using.
ReplyDeleteThe vine and leaves are fabulous! They'll be a real labour if love! Such a stunning quilt, one to be really proud of :)
ReplyDeleteNot only am I mostly liking what I see but TOTALLY liking what I see!
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful!! And I love the berries! :)
I would leave 2015 - if it was mine. ;)
Best wishes!
Love the greens, it's coming along nicely!
ReplyDeleteI would leave the date as is.
It is such a wonderful quilt! You could maybe have it done in 2015.......
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love this quilt. I totally understand your dilemma of "how did it end up with these soft colors when I really wanted it to be bold"? So many times we change mid-stream and things come out so very different from what we had planned. This one is amazing. They'll be plenty of time for cheddar in the future! And as for the date, I am still working on a quilt that is dated 2012 in the center! Have fun quilting today.
ReplyDeleteI love the way this quilt is turning out and the crazy greens are just exactly what you see out in nature and they all go so well together! As for the date I think you should leave it and then on the quilt label you could add a quilted date if you want that part documented as well. Cant wait to see what you decide.
ReplyDeleteThe scrappy cream border is a winner Audrey. I love all the leaves, such a statement!
ReplyDeleteTake your time and keep the date as is. It's going to be gorgeous no matter when you finish.
That last border j seems to finish the quilt. Glad you added the green leaves without the berries. I would leave the 2015 as the year you started the quilt.
ReplyDeleteThe leafy vine border is a great choice. It surrounds the center medallion and draws your eye in. The green is cool and calming and the whole look reminds me of the design on the old wheat pennies. Keep the date. It's just part of the quilt's story. The finished date can be on the label.
ReplyDeleteQuite amazing and absolutely gorgeous mix of color and pattern! Keep the date : )
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is fabulous, some things just evolve over time. Love the bright greens, they just add that pop. I am not a matchy person at all so the eclectic use of fabrics is very interesting to me. I too would leave the date the way it is to commorate when it was started. Robin Hawkins www.heresmyhart.com
ReplyDeleteYour post made me smile. I go through these same trials as I change/design. Maybe we all do. But I know I can sometimes drive myself nuts! Using the digital camera is great for stuff like this. You can take a photo, change it, take another photo, etc. What about if you took off the berries.. and put some gold stars among the leaves? Just a thought. I would leave the 2015 since that is when most of the work was done on this piece. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWow! It's stunning! I appreciated hearing all about the process. It's encouraging.
ReplyDeleteI love the scrappy border, the green leaves and the date!
ReplyDeleteWonderful watching this grow. For what it is worth, I just Love what you have done with this border. It has softened the whole quilt. Besides, eagles sit in trees, and some breeds even nest in them, so the leaves are perfect. I'd leave the date. It is the year you have done most work on it, so who cares if it isn't finished this year.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the leafy green border. I always like leafy designs. You know, I always connect eagles with Baltimore quilts, which you don't see done with cheddar usually. Maybe the chrome orange is a more recent dye? Which is my way of saying that cheddar doesn't feel right here to me either. I definitely think 2015 would refer to the whole year, not just the fourth. Unless you have a specific plan for it, next year. Looking good!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I found your blog, this is wonderful!! I'd leave the date, it's when you started it. Great job so far.
ReplyDeleteI love the green in your quilt--unexpected, but very effective!
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