"Spare Parts" 87" x 87"
I finished this quilt top recently. It's all made from "orphan" blocks,
(meaning parts that didn't make it into other quilts.)
It was on my design wall for three solid months, finding it's way to completion.
It all started out as an attempt to use all my orphan blocks that fit into
this color range.
The baskets are from Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran's book,
Collaborate Again.
They seemed to need a border, so I pulled out some sawtooth strips from
a block exchange I participated in years ago.
What next? I had some words I'd made from Tonya Ricucci's book,
Word Play Quilts.
"Moderation" fit the color scheme, but I saved it for another day.
Besides, the word "moderation" in this mess seemed a little TOO ironic!
I loved those green and white fans all lined up, and the Freddy chickens.
But something wasn't right.
The fans are extras from my "Eyelashes" quilt.
So I took them out, and added more spools and simple log cabin blocks.
You can find the spools and basket quilts here.
Better, but...
Still, something was not quite right.
At least I found a home for some of the fans.
I realized it needed a little calming down, so I added solid red.
I had lots of string pieced leaves, cut out years ago,
and some extra basket handles for the vines.
A couple of weekend road trips, and the leaves were appliqued on.
Now, if I just made it a little bigger, it would fit nicely on a queen size bed.
Ah-hah! I had lots of leftover blocks from the
"Organized Chaos" quilt.
Ta da!
And I still have plenty of spare parts leftover for a rainy day.
Good thing. We're having lots of rainy days around here.
56 comments:
This quilt is awesome. I wish I had as many spare parts in my boxes as you do. Usually I have only one or two remaining.
I love it. Orphans love each other. Bravo!!!
I'm glad you took "in process" photos to show what did and didn't work. I love the finished top.
I just love this, and love reading about how it evolved over time with a change of this or that element. I find that so interesting. The subtle changes to the basket handles made a difference too. Beautiful!!
Seeing your progress photos with explanations is great. It is like a class in how and why parts work together to produce a great exuberant quilt.
Your quilts alwa brighten my day . Hooray!
The happiest of quilts!!
Love it--it's absolutely joyous!
You are amazing!! Really!! Love this.
Love the wonderful burst of colour and amazing to know it's made from your spare parts.
So beautiful! Luscious colors!
Now that is a very Gwen Quilt!!!! I love your process! It turned out great.
This is why I read blogs. I saw the quilt on IG and loved it, but I really love that you explained your process here and also explained how you had so many spare parts, and how you got them to work together. Another win for liberated quiltmaking!
What a fun post. And another outstanding quilt. Always a joyful inspiration to see your work!
I love this top!!! It's interesting to see how it evolved. Its funny how all the options looked great but your final solution is so spot on, the perfect result.
Amazing quilt and fabulous colors, love it in the first sight!
Love your progress, explanations and finished funny top, congrats. XXX
Oh waking up this morning to find this post of you waiting is such a good start of the day! I love it!!!! Thanks for showing photos of the process too. So good to see why or how you made choices. It could easily make it into a book of Gwen and Freddy.
It feels good to use the orphan blocks don't you think?
Groetjes
Annemieke
Oh what a beautiful quilt top! The colors are fabulous and I just love the red!
What a great looking quilt! Love the bright and happy colors.
Greetings
This is fantastic! I could buy the pattern and you just did this on your own. Fantastic! Giid reason to hang on to orphaned blocks!
You had a lot of spare parts! And now put to good use.
The Spare Parts is great! It was nice to show the process photos. Sometimes it take longer to think about the quilt than designing it! This is one happy looking quilt!
I love this quilt! It is so much fun to see your process.
The green fans are stunning. I love it all.
I love this so much! It has everything I love - scraps, lots of color, and a nice mix of piecing and applique. I am so drawn to your quilts which usually contain red - maybe I need to add more red to my palette? This quilt makes me think of my grandmas, both quilters who were frugal and would love this quilt. And my one grandmas was an orphan! (on the orphan trains you may have heard about) Thanks for sharing!
Lee Ann, this is wonderful! Thanks for showing the progression - what an evolution. A very happy quilt. Patty
I LOVE it! What a stunner! It says "happy!" all over it!
This is wonderful!
It turned out fantastic. Like your thought process!!
So so beautiful, the solid red is binding it all together, love the leaves!!
And now i know what to do with all my orphan blocks, hang them on my designwall and see how they fits..
Amazing! I loved reading how you worked through this, so much colour & so cheerful! I really must try & use more red in my quilts too.
You have the best leftovers. I'm glad to read about your process.
That is the most cheerful grouping of orphan blocks I have ever seen! Great job!
what a stupendous, inspirational, delicious quilt! thank you for showing us your process and thinking along the way. Improv takes longer - but the results are so worth it! this is right up there with the best of the best.
Thank you for walking us through your thought process on this. It doesn't look like your normal crisp quilt tops like your recently posted flowering snowball quilt, but it turned out great. You continue to inspire so many of us.
Love, love, love your Spare Parts quilts. They are fabulous. Hugs
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
Fantastic quilt! I love, love, love all the color and motion! You really put some thought into this! Thank you for sharing!!!
Fun to see the steps in the design process of the medallion. A very beautiful top at the end of it all. I really love how the wide red border with the applique vines and leafs brings everything together. And I love your way of putting colours together. Congratulations on a pretty finish!
; )
ohh! Those reds again!!!
I particularly love the eyelashes fans. Altogether by showing the process of matching blocks to contiguous ones, you have taught a great lesson.
It's super fabulous. I love the idea that you could pull something wonderful like this quilt out of a pile of orphan blocks. Very creative!
So fun! What a great quilt.
I really love this quilt too. You've made an exciting and fun quilt. I always look forward to viewing your new posts! :)
Fabulous way to use up extras
what a great process post. I loved watch the progression and getting a glimpse of how you think. I love your fun finished quilt.
You really have successfully gotten all the spare parts into a cohesive quilt
HIP HIP HOORAY!
Ta da! It is awesome! I wish I had a such great leftovers!
As everyone has already written, what a gorgeous quilt. It's such a wonderful way to use up your orphan blocks. Thanks for showing your process as you build it. This is why we read blogs - to understand the process. Can't wait to see it quilted.
I agree with all the above. This quilt is a stunner. Your inate colour sense is what pulls your work together - your love of red and green and that you do not have fear. You plunge in. This blog post shows the importancce of a design wall for all of us. Thank you very much and best of luck with more new work. xo
So fantastic. loved seeing the progression.
I love this quilt! So bright and happy! Thank you for sharing photos of your design process.
Another beauty...thanks for sharing your design process. I always love your quilts!
Another thanks for sharing the process photos. I love where this ended up, and the way the wide red border pulls everything together. A fabulous way to use up your orphan blocks.
I love this quilt. Lately I have been thinking about medallion style quilts with lots of borders. yours inspires me.
I love the energy in this quilt. Red is such a fun color.
LOVE it! Gwen would be so proud of you and your creations......as always love your color sense! It is Fab!!
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and Happy Sewing
It looks amazing!!! I love how you pulled all your blocks together!
Fabulous process post - editing, adjusting, standing back and considering - and what an eye-popping treasure trove of orphans you have to work with! Be still my heart . . .
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