When my dad gave back this quilt it reminded me that I had started another one about 10 years ago. While I was cleaning the basement I came across the box with the parts in it.
Here are a bunch of blocks already sewn.
Here are the rows that make the blocks, waiting patiently to be sewn.
I used some of the blocks to demonstrate how to sew a quilt together for a class years ago. 
I admire the people who can make all white and cream and beige quilts, what I call Vanilla Quilts. Somehow I just couldn't stick with this one. Maybe the name of my blog explains it all. I am going to make one more effort to sew this quilt together so wish me luck. 
37 comments:
I once made a white and cream Steps To The Altar quilt for a wedding gift. Seemed like a great idea. Boy, was it blah!
The reason you didn't finish this one is possibly that you like more "colour" in your quilts. It is very pale in the photos. Also remember that styles in fabrics change and looking at "second favorite" quilt on the right of the post, it says it all. That's why you didn't finish it. Not to worry, put it back in the box and one day you may feel like it.
I've recently finished one in a simple rail fence pattern as a wedding gift and I love it!
OOO- a banner for your church or an alter cloth, clery collar or maybe a wonderful background for some colorful applique.
You could always sash it with some brights...
I love vanilla quilts and I am wishing you luck with yours as I'm betting it will be smashing!
Funny, I think that it definitely has appeal, but like you I don't think that I could work on one either. Has to have lots of color for me.
It would make me crazy, too, but I can see you "snaking" some bright, gorgeous colors throughout it and coming up with another one of your fabulous quilts!!!!
Good luck! I think it could look very elegant!
As has already been said, adding some sashing stripes in Exuberant Colors would give it a lot of zing and maybe help you find a way to finish it. you could even alternate those blocks with some brilliant ones. That would make nice quiet spots in the sea of WOW.
What I would do it put it all together and then applique bright flowers on long stems coming up from the bottom. I have a pattern for one just like that, on one end is a sunflower that is taller than all the rest of them. With the color of the flowers and the greenery it comes alive.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
I agree with the blandness of this (I wouldn't want to be working with it), but it can definitely be salvaged. It'd make a great background for a large applique of something that exudes color: big, bright flowers, as karenfae said, or a colorful bird, jazzy rickrack, for example. Maybe colorful alternating blocks, or cut these up and sew them back together with colorful blocks.
You'll think of something; I have seen your work.
I definitely agree with some of the other commenters that I can see this becoming a background to some bright applique, or runners of bright cord couching? I don't think it's one I'd be able to work on--I can't help it, but the first thing I thought of was "how long would it take me to spill something on it!?"
Can't wait to see what becomes of this one. :)
You know what they say "when you have a lemon make lemonade". Either that or you can give it to someone that likes bland.
Louise
Definitely not your typical quilt, Wanda -- I know it's harder to finish those projects when your heart isn't totally in it. I'm jumping on the background bandwagon -- use this to showcase the all the colors you do so well!
I'm always gathering lots of creams (never white) for backgrounds because most of my quilts are "scrappy" but I couldn't bring myself to do a whole quilt in just "vanilla" fabrics.
They've said it all, but those were my thoughts too. Just do your thing, Wanda!!!
Hi Wanda,
Who turned off the color?
The first thing I thought of is make it an ice cream quilt. You know, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.
I did a baby quilt for someone once who requested all mauvey pink and greys to go with her grey carpet that ran through the house (probably grey walls, too).
I was never so glad to get that blah thing out of my sight!
Vicky F
I see others have made the same suggestion I was going to make which is to use it as background for bright applique. I can picture bright flowers and leaves on that quilt.
I love the vanilla fabrics, but they're not at all what I would expect to see here. :) I thought something was wrong with the color on my computer monitor!
Oh, if you make it in a king-size it would look fabulous in my bedroom! It has lots of color and needs a soft colored quilt!
(My husband loves these colors, or lack of color... he has a vanilla vehicle, always orders vanilla ice cream, etc. I tease him a lot about being the vanilla man.)
I like the idea of using a "vanilla quilt" as a background fabric. I started one once using strips but it's buried away somewhere...another UFO. Yours is really lovely and it will be fun to see the finished "product."
I've seen some beautiful neutral quilts, and I made one top that I'm fond of (but I added orange sashing...) How about adding in occasional/random dots of color -- perhaps in the darker sections?
When this top is finally assembled, I'm guessing it will SO show off your skills in fabric choice and color (texture) placement ... no distraction with color, but a study in form and design ... it takes great skill to carry off what you're showing us.
Hope you'll show us progress photos and share your thought process ... being outside "our box" is a stretch for the soul (as well as being a massive brain-teaser).
So many possibilities exist in those "found" pieces.
:-)
Ha! I remember when you made up kits of these fabrics at the quilt shop. We all had to have one. Mine is still tied in a tidy bundle. Not only are the fabrics boring to you, but the repetition of the nine patch is dull. I'd nix the "radiating" idea and randomly mix the light, medium and dark values. How about interspersing a few other pieced blocks like simple stars, shoo-fly, hourglass, etc. to break up the monotony (or would this be putting more work into a project you just want to finish?)
Those creams and whites would make a great background for your hand dyed fabrics...create a scene with applique and it will be absolutely STUNNING!
I'm a neutral quilt lover but have never made one. I have been drooling over the photos. It makes me want to go shopping for more neutrals and start one of my own. You could always send me the blocks and I would have a great time with them. LOL
I usually play with the purples and oranges myself, However I purchased a kit that has nothing but vanillas and creams. I had planned to make a vanilla quilt for my husband who loves beige on the walls. The variety of blocks and sizes is great. I mixed the forty FQs that came with the kit with my own background beige's for my taste in variety. We separated and now He has painted the Kitchen orange. Go figure.
I think this could be beautiful and elegant. But it's not you, nor me! Too vanilla for sure. I'm with QuiltDivaJulie. I'd love to see what you do with this, and teach us more of your magic as you go along.
I love the quietness and elegance of these "plain vanilla" blocks. The completed quilt will be quite stunning, I think. I'm really interested in seeing what you do with these.
I did not read what the 30 other commenters left for you today. But I love the neutral tones, it is very soothing to me. I can see this one as a Victorian quilt with an eyelet dust ruffle.
J~MT
I wish you luck. Hang in there, I know you can do it!
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Had to laugh at the label card on your container.
Looks just like mine labels!
I call that no darker than sand.
You could always put it together with a blue, orange, or even red sashing. Get your colour fix that way?
Yeah, this is very different than what you normally do. But different is good! Maybe after all this "non-color", colors will seem brighter! I do think it is beautiful though..I wish you luck!!!
oooh I'm with you on this one - colour colour colour! I can't bear black, white or beige :) good luck. Maybe you could sew some bright batik sashes inbetween :) ali x
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