Bloggers' Quilt Festival:: Spring 2012

Right out of the dryer...all crinkly and fresh!

I debated about which quilt to enter....and decided on this one. It's quiltology is as follows:

Designed by: Me, Cindy Sharp

Started: approximately April 20, 2012

Finished: approximately March 5, 2012

Size: 85"x85"

Fabrics used: basically anything crazy orange, including but not limited to selections from Half Moon Modern, Pezzy Prints, Collegiate prints; and Bella solids white, and ash grey; and bouquet print from Flea Market Fancy.

Quilter by: computer guided long arm in Kim Diamond's Pinwheel Posies design by me

My inspiration was this beautiful girl and her successful completion of a four year degree in Ag Communications from Oklahoma State University, and the occasion of her moving into her very first, very own home.

Amanda - sporting her school spirit....on her feet.

During the quilt's construction I learned a few things about myself and quilting.

Revelation #1: I ask the wrong questions. When I decided to make Amanda a quilt I asked her if she still liked orange and what color would she pair with it. What I should have asked is "If I made you a quilt, what color would it be?". Although she loves orange, she has decided to decorate her new home in a calmer pallet of aqua, grey, and white. Oops.

Amanda's new decor goal

Revelation #2: I like hand work. Not a huge surprise...but I really enjoyed making the blocks for this quilt. I tried making the petals with one of the fancy Dresden rulers on the market. It worked, but I didn't like the look of so many petals...there were 20. I ended up making my own paper template and using the newly purchased ruler as a straight edge. I sewed the petals together by machine, then appliqued them and their centers to 14" squares for the blocks of the quilt.

One of 16, this block has 12 different fabrics in it's petals.

Revelation #3: I like scrappy. I had a ton of fun finding all sorts of oranges to include in the quilt. There are sock monkeys and Pistol Pete, and chevrons, tiny scissors, crazy plaids and stripes. I was afraid that the blocks were going to glow in the dark...but the grey subdued them. Using grey thread to quilt it helped a bit too.

Photo shoot with assistance from the wind...sans border

Revelation #4: The right border makes all the difference. ...

Flea Market Fancy making a border audition...perfect I'd say.

...as do the right tools. To make the center circles I used Karen Kay Buckley's "Bigger Perfect Circles" templates, and a circle rotary cutter. Holy smokes, who'd a thought that circles could be so easy?!

Revelation #5: Well, I don't have the right words to say this, so I will just blurt it out....I can make something beautiful.

Pre-washing, a finished quilt in the sunshine.

I am sincerely proud of this quilt...I've made many...and they are serviceable...my boys love them. But this one is a stunner.

A step back...the finished quilt before it's first bath.

I hope you enjoyed seeing it! Now off to another entrant. Happy browsing.



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