Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Bold Expression





I've had this quilt on the wall for about a month.

  I kept adding blocks, but I didn't like it, and I wasn't having fun.  





I was trying to make my own version of this quilt from the Bold Expressions Show.  

Lesson number one:  You can't make someone else's improvisational quilt.  Duh!






Buffy came over today.  She didn't like it, and I was so relieved to hear it!

We started throwing old tablecloths up on the wall and the excitement began.

Lesson number two:  Find a really honest friend and listen to her.




"A Bold Expression"  70 x 79"

A few hours later, this quilt top was all done!  

Lesson number three:  If you don't like it, cut it up and add outrageous fabric.









  




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41 comments:

  1. Ailsa (Cape Pincushion)September 29, 2012 at 11:51 PM

    WOW! It looks amazing, those table cloths have added so much zing to it! Wonderful!

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  2. Cathy @ CabbageQuiltsSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    OMG that is INCREDIBLE!!! I love what you have to it and how it ended is amazing. I esp love the different greens and yellows and salmon you have added. Wow, I so love this quilt!!! xo

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  3. MaritSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    What a transformation! I love how sunny and summery the quilt turned. Lots of great contrast and breathing space for the lovely string blocks. I can imagine you both had a great time in front of the design wall.
    I would say you really made it into your own signature design, vibrant quirky and beautiful!
    ; )

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  4. LCPSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:26 AM

    Yes, this is much more you. The original may have inspired but the essence has to be yours. The table cloths made it work.

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  5. Teje KarjalainenSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    Hi! It was good you listened yourself and your friend! Now it became so different and amazing! Great lesson to alll of us! I really love the busyness and all the mixed colours! x Teje

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  6. MareeSeptember 30, 2012 at 1:02 AM

    Wow that is amazing - it really zings now.

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  7. Helen in the UKSeptember 30, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    Glad you and your friend found a way to revive this one - it's so bright and zingy :)

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  8. anhaga sae / lisaSeptember 30, 2012 at 3:16 AM

    That's gorgeous, love ALL that colour!

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  9. antique quilterSeptember 30, 2012 at 3:32 AM

    wow I need to come take a class with you and Buffy!
    I would have loved to be there to watch your fabrics flying and to hear what you two were saying!!!!
    beautiful transformation, ah its all about those fabrics :)
    thanks for sharing.
    great way to start my day!
    inspired
    Kathie

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  10. Julie FukudaSeptember 30, 2012 at 4:09 AM

    Rule #1, make your own rules!

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  11. Sujata ShahSeptember 30, 2012 at 4:23 AM

    Good thing we have friends who can say it like it is. I love what Julie said.. Make your own rules. I absolutely love your version. It has a nifty touch that's quite noticeable. Great collaboration.

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  12. UnknownSeptember 30, 2012 at 4:30 AM

    Great lessons learned and a fabulous quilt came from it all!!

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  13. Victoria Findlay WolfeSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:19 AM

    hehe! Love it! It's very Nifty now! ;-) Beautiful!

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  14. BrendaSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:35 AM

    it's fabulous and it's a good example of how playing off each other's creative energy results in great quilts. woo hoo!

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  15. reganSeptember 30, 2012 at 6:30 AM

    I'm loving lesson number 3.....it made a world of difference! I love it!

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  16. sew.darn.quiltSeptember 30, 2012 at 6:54 AM

    You've definitely put the "B" in bold with this quilt I must say that it does grow on me each time I look at it!
    Well done! Good for you not stuffing it in a bag or box and forgetting about it.
    Your lessons are spot on as well! :O)

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  17. YankeeQuilterSeptember 30, 2012 at 7:27 AM

    Great "lessons!" thanks for sharing...love the result!

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  18. bethSeptember 30, 2012 at 7:32 AM

    Friends and Fabric...who could ask for more?? ;)

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  19. Tonya RicucciSeptember 30, 2012 at 7:34 AM

    hee hee, you have the most outrageous fabric of anyone I know. woohoo, for having fun and good friends

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  20. KimSeptember 30, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    Oh yes this is you. I can still see the inspiration from the work that got you started on the quilt. If I saw this quilt somewhere else I would think it was yours! Nicely done.
    I agree with Tonya too...your fabrics choices rock!

    Happy Sewing......I hope I get to meet Buffy the quilt slayer one day.

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  21. O'QuiltsSeptember 30, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    Great job with the sashing!!

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  22. JulieroseSeptember 30, 2012 at 9:57 AM

    Great save!! A good friend, indeed!! I always tend to hide my pieces that I don't like in a box on a shelf--but this really turned out super!! Julierose

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  23. Quilteuse ForeverSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    Great lesson indeed! Your incredible gift is to be able to reconsider your work, cut it, remake it... and finally get such a result!
    I also gave a try at reproducting an improvisational quilt and it gave nothing, the magic was gone...

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  24. smazoochieSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:33 PM

    I liked the first one but it was a bit of a knock-off. This one is all YOURS!!! (well, maybe a bit of Buffy, too)

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  25. audreySeptember 30, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    So very true. Even if you had made it exactly the same with identical fabrics, you wouldn't have liked it because it wouldn't be you. Congratulations on finding the seeds to water and grow into such an outstanding version of the original! You are an inspiration.:)

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  26. ChrisSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:39 PM

    Fab-u-lous!!! Nothing like going with your gut - to thine own self be true, and all that stuff - and outrageous fabric is always good too - love the lime green in there - pears, I think - delicious!

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  27. UnknownSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:13 PM

    Wow!! I'm inspired...the inspiration keeps rolling on, isn't it wonderful? crossing oceans, travelling through time, we're all getting a buzz from this method that these wonderful quilts encourage us to use. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  28. MeredithSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:34 PM

    You could call it "Your Bold Expression". Since now it's yours.

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  29. JanOctober 1, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    Fabulous. I love Plan B's.

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  30. Mary KeaslerOctober 1, 2012 at 3:48 PM

    "B" as in BOLD
    "E" as in EXPRESSION

    "Y" as in YES, you can get
    "O" as in OUT of the box
    "U" as in USE your own imagination for a
    "R" as in REINTERPRETATIO for an
    "E" as in EXCELLENT piece.
    "L" as in LOVE what you have done
    "F" as in

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  31. Mary KeaslerOctober 1, 2012 at 3:49 PM

    OOPS
    "F" as in FABULOUS quilt

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  32. QuiltdivajulieOctober 1, 2012 at 7:33 PM

    You are so right (you cannot make someone else's improvisational quilt) -- listen to YOUR heart! (I keep reminding myself, too)

    Congrats on another fabulous finish!

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  33. AnnieOctober 2, 2012 at 2:25 AM

    Love it, sometimes I look at quilts for ages before they come alive.

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  34. RachaeldaisyOctober 4, 2012 at 3:41 AM

    LeeAnn, It's brilliant!!! Absolutely wonderful!!! It deserves a standing ovation!!! Truly beautiful!!! I received my copy of the Bold Expressions catalogue yesterday.. I haven't opened it yet because I'm saving it up until I have some quiet time on the weekend to savour it.

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  35. Selvage QuilterOctober 5, 2012 at 8:52 PM

    Oh I love how it came out! Bravo!

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  36. Selvage QuilterOctober 5, 2012 at 8:54 PM

    P.S. That is definitely outrageous fabric. Wow. I'm feeling faint. Hee hee.

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  37. Teresa RawsonOctober 6, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    I love your bold blocks...both before and after slicing. Either way, a very exciting project!

    In stitches,
    Teresa :o)

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  38. EmOctober 6, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    This is so YOU and wonderFULL!!!! Love it!

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  39. MulticoloredPiecesOctober 7, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    Admittedly, one can only say WOW! This quilt has so much energy, it dances on it's own, in fact, it might fly off the wall. A magic flying carpet?
    best, nadia

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  40. DeepakOctober 9, 2012 at 3:28 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  41. UnknownOctober 9, 2012 at 3:57 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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