Sunday, January 4, 2009

Still working on it

I bordered each square with varying widths of the smaller print and then placed them up on the design wall on the beach ball fabric. BLAH! No life to it. I was disappointed. I emailed the picture to a friend and she said she needed something real thin between the 2 fabrics. I had been thinking about a shot of red in random places at the edge but tried it and it didn't do anything for it. Then I cut an coral/red Kaffe print 1/4" wide and pinned it around one block. I think it might be saved.
Here is the fabric I used.
Then I decided all of the blocks needed to be the same size because I didn't want to chop the beach ball print up as much as I had done on the yellow one.
So now I am sewing 3/4" strips to the blocks. I still have to decide how wide to cut the beach ball fabric strips.
While I was making the decisions (which took hours) I decided to quilt one of my many UFO's. I need to trim it and cut the binding. I think I will finish the binding by machine since it will be used on a twin size bed.

24 comments:

Jean said...

What a great idea...the red is going to make it show up on the beach balls...I can't wait to see it.

Kay Koeper Sorensen said...

I certainly agree with your decision of adding the thin stripe around each block.
It is going to be a REALLY great piece.
K

Barbara Strobel Lardon said...

Perfect. It is nice to have friends when you can not see it yourself. :)

antique quilter said...

OH I am loving this one!
so glad you decided to use the beach ball fabric :)
Kathie

Vicky F said...

Hi Wanda,
Yes, this quilt can be saved! Love the coral/red Kaffe fabric.

I agree, deciding what to do with a quilt at all stages is the most difficult part. And you can't rush the process or you won't like the end result. That's why we "have to" spend hours in the fabric store mulling over fabrics; it's good for our mental health!
Vicky F

SueR said...

Definitely...exuberant! The red border looks good.

Browndirtcottage said...

Yes....I can't wait to see them all with the red edging you are going to add....carry on!

Diane said...

What an improvement that narrow strip of coral makes! The blocks relate even more to that fabulous beachball fabric now.

Anonymous said...

The window frame of red/coral gives the illusion of looking into the beach ball fabric and then seeing it far away in the distance with the illusion going even further into the blocks! It makes all the difference!
Yes, that waiting-for-inspiration-to-strike is soooo important. Creativity just cannot be rushed!
Looks good!
T

Sharon said...

Wow, that coral/red fabric really makes a difference. Lookin' good!
And I really, really like your rail fence quilting project! I agree, simple quilt designs are often the best.

Eva said...

If I had this on my sofa and came in, the view would brighten up my mood in a wink.

Dianne said...

The red/coral edging is just inspired...really makes the quilt sing, I think.

And the rail fence quilt is lovely. Do you remember what fabrics you used? They ARE lovely together...

Carmen Rose said...

I love this! I'm working on one right now that I'm just fighting with so maybe I should post photos and someone can inspire me with just the right thing to love it again. I love the lil bitty border!

TB said...

Yes, the solid separator. When I saw yesterday's post, I initially thought of that, and then decided that the two pieces looked good, at least close-up. But the red piece between really looks good!

Jeri said...

wow - love the addition of the coral strip on the blocks! It really unifies the quilt blocks. Great idea - you are always an inspiration to me!

Anonymous said...

Yesterday LC said, "It looks a bit like the blocks are floating on the beach balls, perhaps because of the small shadows created where the fabric lifts a bit on the design wall." I think the shadow is perhaps what had been missing, but the new coral/red strips are filling in the shadow area. Would it play onto the shadow idea more if one side and the bottom had slightly wider strips than the opposite side and top?

Sarah Stevens

Paula said...

Awesome! I thought the quilt was too busy...but then, once you put the red, it really helped. It was too busy, the eye just needed a resting place. It really looks good.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

Can't wait to see the final product! interesting to say the least, you have a way with color.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

jovaliquilts said...

Wow, truly Decision City! Guess it's too late now, but I was wondering whether instead of increasing the width of the lighter background, you might give varying widths of red border to each. That punch of red was a brilliant idea on the part of your friend.

hetty said...

It's amazing what a difference a little strip of red can make! This is going to look great!

Anonymous said...

I agree "Less is More"... The border on each block brings out even more color in those exciting pieces.

J~MT

Cathi said...

I like that thin strip of red around the block -- seems to be what it needs!

Tine said...

See, you lay out your blogs, and you say it doesn't look the way you want it to...and I am thinking "but it looks wonderful!".
Then you show your solution to the problem (the one I couldn't see), and I see what you mean!! It is so much better with the narrow border... The blocks are so striking, and now they really stand out :)
I am learning so much reading your blog!

Joyce said...

It's looking better and better!