Monday, February 10, 2014

Success............

I did it!  Final decisions, and the top sewn together.  I made one new block yesterday morning and then moved a couple other blocks to new positions and was finally happy.  I'm guessing that there are probably 100+ different batiks in this.  The color is a little off in this photo and the oranges and bright pinks aren't as neon in real life.
For the new readers of my blog, I am always mentioning clean up cuts.  I explained them way back here in 2007, a month after I started my blog.  I don't cut the 1.5" and 2" strips any more though because I have enough bins full of them.  Anyway, my point is that using clean up cuts- they are crooked, angled, different widths - adds to the wonkiness of the blocks as you can see in this close up.  The colors are truer in this photo.
I finished this top also.  It was a challenge for me to make a successful pastel quilt.  I work with pastels all the time but usually am adding them into more saturated color fabric groupings.  I must admit though that this is a lively group of pastels!

40 comments:

Sewing Junkie said...

Success on both parts. Using up leftovers is very inventive. I like the look and I'm guilty of cutting a more frugal slice and pitching. Will have to rethink this process. So many times we need to think outside of the box as you have. Chris

Plum Cox said...

What lovely quilts! I'd forgotten that you used your 'straighten up' strips, and was wondering how you got the variety of line and angle! Thanks for sharing.

Gene Black said...

I have a bad tendency to cut as narrow a clean up cut as I can. then most, if not all, of it goes in the trash.
Maybe when I have a bigger studio that can change.

Beth@IHaveANotion.com said...

I'm with Gene... as narrow as I can get away with.. because invariably I need more of the fabric... not less as I use it up!!!!! But there have been a few times, that evening up the edge has taken more than I would have liked from the big piece!

Mary said...

I was admiring both these beautiful tops when my eyes glanced to the right and saw your weather gadget showed a balmy -14 degrees! Yikes! Stay warm, Wanda.

Marle said...

So lovely quilts!

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

I love both of them and all the use of so many colors!I always hate when I hear of people throwing away pieces of fabric because they feel it is too small or too narrow to use.

suemac said...

Wow. That is a lot of different fabrics in one quilt. Nice.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Both look fantastic! I turned the dark to light one upside down and liked how the color faded down from dark. Thank you for linking the clean cuts idea. It is one I will use to build up my strip stash.

Anonymous said...

I like the darker one because I'm a sucker for "darker", and the lighter one for its changes of direction. Both are grand.

Frebblebit

Brenda said...

wow! they are both great and it was fun watching your progress.

Elaine said...

You blended the light to dark one beautifully and the pastel looks like summer on the porch. Lovely, lovely-knew the end result would be perfect and it is!

Gina said...

love the quilts. Remind me of looking at a freezer in an ice cream parlour. All those colours and flavours xxx

Monica said...

A triumphant finish, Wanda! Great work. :D

Patty Cramer said...

Awesome Wanda, Love it. Are you quilting it or leaving it as is? Wonderful, no doubt!! I think you never sleep - I can't sleep, but I'm not quilting, I should be!! I'm cleaning and organizing - BORING!!

Debbie said...

Outstanding! Love both of these....your color work is always a delight to see.

Vicki W said...

I think they are both really successful!

Sheila said...

Awesome pieces of ART! I LOVE them.

Julianne said...

Oh Wanda, they are gorgeous! You are so inspiring with those colors! Makes me wish I could stay home from work and sew sew sew!!

cottonreel said...

I truly love this quilt
A great wall hanging , I would quite happily sit and stare at it for a long time
Beautiful

patty a. said...

Two beautiful quilt tops!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

I like them both! The first makes me think of a very colorful rain. Just beautiful, as always!

Quiltedtime said...

Looks fantastic, Wanda. You sure got all the colors in the right place.

Alice Turcotte said...

Love the scrapy quilts. I am working on my first quilt and appreciate your referencing 2007 blog for the tip. Will definitely keep it mind bec I do want to try the scrapy quilt for myself. Thanks. Alice

JJM said...

Both so pretty all stitched and pressed. Great Monday post Wanda.

JJM

Julie Bagamary said...

Beautiful as always!

Andi said...

You nailed the layout! Looks terrific.
~Andi in AZ

Vicky F said...

Hi Wanda
Wow, I really like both of your toned-down quilts. Most of the low-volume quilts I have seen seem "meh", but yours are fab.

How are you holding up this very cold winter?
Vicky F

Unknown said...

beautiful job...they both are fabulous.

Needled Mom said...

Those are gorgeous, Wanda. Your work never ceases to amaze me.

Mystic Quilter said...

Two wonderful quilts!

Brown Family said...

Very pretty.

Unknown said...

Wanda, they are both absolutely fabulous! I don't know which I love more.

Charlotta said...

Beautiful. Success is right!

dls said...

LOVE this! Need to go back and read about your "clean up" cuts…..the wonkiness is the best part!

Lin's Quilts said...

They're both outstanding! Negative 14, eh? Such fun!
linsquilts.blogspot.com

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Gorgeous! Both are amazing.

Alice said...

I've wondered how you have so many scraps and so ready for another quilt. You are a genius. I'm usually buying the fabric I need for a project. Do you buy 1/4 yd more for the scraps? The thought of cutting so many fabrics to do a scrappy quilt has always stopped my in my tracks. I must change the way I'm buying fabric. My favorite is the wonky squares. Thank you for enlightening.

Paige said...

Ahhh, clean up cuts...makes total sense. And I love the wonky-ness!

Kim Reiter said...

You inspire me with every post! Happy new year, and continued success in 2016.