Marsala 2015, Big and little

I'm not one to pass up a challenge and in a color that I'm comfortable with.
So comfortable that while creating, I generated scraps for another….
3 Marsala projets, 1 Big, 1 little, one still a WIP
Here goes…..

The  {big} QUILT

"Chihuly Days and Nights"

Front

Size: 66 x 52"

Fabrics: Top all Kona 100% cotton solid scraps in: Cinnamon, Cocoa, Crimson, Brick, Garnet, Burgundy, Mahogany, Paprika, Curry, Lagoon, Aqua, Pomegranate, Chinese Red, Glacier, Tangerine, Flame, Nightfall, Prussian, Cyan, Turquoise, Ocean, Surf, Caribbean, Mediterranean.

             Back: see top- pieced from scraps, playing with the day/night theme as well.

back

Batting: 100% warm and Natural

Thread: Top (Auriful 50 wt 100% cotton in 2460, Superior Metallics in Red #N62, Bronze #N59 and 

                     Copper #N56)

             Bobbin (Aurifil 50 wt 100% cotton in 2460)

Binding: 2" pieced straight of grain

Quilting: Bernina modified stitch No. 4 stretched and widened, walking foot.

Quilting adds texture

Derived Inspiration: The Chihuly exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens was a feast for the eyes and I visited it three times, both during the day and at night. The colors, shapes and patterns really made an impression on me.

front improv piecing details

back details

I purposely kept the quilting textural since the piecing is busy. I used "Marsala" as the negative space and the canvas to showcase the improv pieced quilt blocks. I drew again from a 2014 bias and added gradations of Superior Metallic threads in 3 colors to one side of the quilt. The binding is pieced, but subtle. Again, like the quilting a cohesive component but not what the eye stops on. I wanted the "blocks" to remind me of the exhibit during both daylight and evening hours and hope that I achieved that when all was said and done. 

Details, small improv triangles  at quilts edge and a detail of the wavy quilting

Which then brings me to the second of my Pantone Color of the year entries…….

The {little} Quilt/Pillow

Front

"Storm Coming"

18 x 18" square

Fabrics: remnant scraps from "Chihuly" quilt above

Densely FMQ changing threads to match the Kona fabrics, Aurifil threads in multiple colors, Superior metallic thread in a blue/peacock. 

FMQ, metallic threads in blue/peacock at top

more FMQ, each section quilted differently.

2" straight of grain binding in a colorful stripe

Fusible batting

Couch sitting (it is a pillow after all)

And the FINAL Marsala Project, I promise, a work in progress from an amazing talented group of Bee Sewcial Quilters- I'll give you the basics, pretty much just the top, as there is way more to come on this quilt, so much so, I don't even have a name yet…..

Bee Sewcial- January quilt top
62" x 68"
This will be mine to keep, as January was my month. The inspiration, once again was the Chihuly exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The talented ladies of this group were asked to work within a color palette and with a set of photos for inspiration. Improv was the "flavor" of the month and everyone worked from solid fabric from their stash.

closer view

Miraculously enough, and even with all the crazy "Y" seams  and oddly shaped "blocks", I only had a minimal amount of trimmings.

 I used every bit and piece made for me by these talented ladies.

a block from Hillary scraps and a few extras

 Let me introduce the group: Leanne (shecanquilt), Debbie (aquilterstable), Hillary (entropyalwayswins), Kari (quiltsforthemaking/crafthappy), Melissa (weshallsew), Latifah (latifahsaffirstudio), Felicity (felicityquilts), Diane (randomthoughtsdoordi), Marci (marcigirldesigns) and Me!

Did I mention I like Marsala????

I am linking this blog post to Adrianne On the Windy Side and Play-Crafts  for the Pantone Color of the Year Quilt Challenge. Please visit and see all the wonderful and creative Marsala quilts, big and small! Pictures on Flickr and IG (#pantonequilt2015) as well.

Happy Birthday Bob!

My father in law turns 80 in a few days. He's a great guy and most deserving of his own quilt. Actually a quilt is not nearly enough of a thank you for all he has done for me, but it's what I do best and I want him to have one. I didn't make a giant quilt. This one is for him alone. He can use it while siting in "his chair" or even bring it to his favorite foot ball (CU) or field hockey (East HS) games. I want it to be a quilt that travels with Bob. His favorite colors are not necessarily my favorite colors but they did make a pleasing mix to work with and it's what he likes.

Palette: Tan/cream/2 tones of gray/ navy. I used Cotton&Steel fabrics and their complimentary solids and did some improv with a quarter log cabin "theme" more or less. I snuck in a bit of metallic and linen and quilted it all with a light tan cotton thread. Understated,  timelessly classy with a surprise here and there. Just like Bob.


"Four score"

60 x 60"
Fabrics (top): Cotton&Steel:
             (back): longyi in 100% cotton plaid. Remnants of Cotton&Steel from the top.
Thread: Aurifil #  50 weight 100% cotton (matched top and bobbin)
Batting" 100% cotton warm and natural
Binding: 2" straight of grain

the binding and the quilting

Quilting: Modified Bernina #4 stitch stretched 5 x  quilted on my 820 with a differential feed foot.

pinned basted and ready to go quilting

New: The backing plaid fabric comes from Myanmar. It's from a traditional longyi and was purchased by Bob on a recent trip. I thought it would be a nice reminder for him to have on his quilt. I washed and pressed the fabric prior to use just in case it was prone to shrinking. It's a loose weave and incredibly soft. The simple understated plaid is not unlike some of Bob's casual shirts and it was almost big enough to cover the entire back.