This quilt came about from a small bag full of shiny metallic thread I had been given. Each piece was no longer than 12 inches, most were only a few inches long. Too pretty to throw away, but what was I going do with it? I ended up making fabric from it. Then I imaged a tree full of these stringy metallic leaves. But as I started planning, I decided I wanted yellow, green and red leaves with just a few of these shiny leaves.
This tree kept evolving! I cut the red, green and yellow, then decided there weren't enough leaves and that I needed more colors. I added purple, peach, orange and different greens. There's one or two blue ones, but many of my blue fabrics blended in with the background. In a way, it's a ROYGBIV quilt in reverse (ORVIGY?).
Once I assembled the tree, I decided I wanted to try trapunto. So I stuffed the leaves, the trunk and branches. The process made it trickier to quilt; in the end I was quite happy with the results.
I quilted under the tree with green like grass. I was thinking of breezes when I stitched the sky... although that's not really what it looks like. Oh, well.
The last falling leaf was stitched on after the rest of the quilt was finished. I simply tacked it on.
I tried a lot of new things with this quilt. When I finished it I decided I needed to keep it. I've had several friends tell me if I get tired of it they'd love to take it home.
I used the last bit of glitter for the label. It's the best photo of what the glittery leaves actually look like on the front.
Quilt Measurement: 26" x 30"
Technique: machine pieced and quilted on my Singer 15-91
There's already a bunch of really cool quilts posted at the festival. Be sure to check them out!
You can add my name to the list of people willing to re-home this quilt. It's a fun one!
ReplyDeleteYour metallic leaves remind me of the rainbow fish book. My kids loved that one when they were little. So many beautiful colors.
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt. Love the way you used the threads. The leaves look lovely.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the quilt before reading and liked very much the way the stitching swirled like a breeze. Then read that you're not so sure about that. It does work!!
ReplyDeleteI do like trapunto, and your idea of using it here.
My name too, can be added to that very long list of people who would like to acquire this fun quilt if you ever tire of it. -) This quilt is filled with fun, imagination and colour. What a brilliant idea to make fabric from all those itty bits of fabrics. The quilting pattern is cool....you are quite the quilter, aren't you. Fabulous quilt, Sally!
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring quilt. But can I say, I adore the label!!! Very clever use of the leftover bits!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt! I love the rainbow leaves on the blue background.
ReplyDeleteI really love this quilt, Sally! The colorful leaves, the blue background, your quilting - just love it. I actually remember seeing it before, and wanting to make one just like it! (Haven't done it yet, though!). What size are the leaves?
ReplyDeleteI love the evolution of this quilt. It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI have a thing for trees, what a wonderful one.
ReplyDeleteI love your well seasoned tree. How creative!
ReplyDeleteLove all the colors in your leaves!
ReplyDeleteHi Sally, that's a really great quilt, and so many new things that you tried. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThis--! I have a thing for trees--adore them, believe there's a nymph, sprite, or dryad, or perhaps a wise old faerie who is their guardian. I also love to hang quilts in them when I do my finish post! But ah! Your tree! The leaves! Fabulous, just fabulous, and then trapunto! And the quilting is wonderful. :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't you just LOVE how some project evolve?!
ReplyDeleteThat's quite an amazing quilt. Thanks for sharing the process of making it. I found that so interesting.
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