"Success is not final, Failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts"- Winston Churchill
A story of making the most of your flaws.
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The piecing of linear scraps and black batting accentuate the seams. The seed stitching adds depth |
Truth: I've been lucky on 2 separate occasions with 2 different quilts to have a "negative" judging comment of: Dark fabric shadowing under lighter fabric. Yes, you read correctly, lucky to have received a constructive critique. Lucky because I used that critique to challenge myself to take that perceived "flaw" and make it a design feature. I mean why not, I'm obviously very good at it. I've done it twice- OK likely more than twice, but these 2 quilts had a judge looking at them. So instead of wallowing in self doubt, why not grab the shadows and bring them into the spotlight?
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Can you see me now? The seams become design feature instead of design flaw. |
Coincidence: A Front Range Modern Quilt Guild challenge to take a traditional block and make it modern.
Lucky me: I have clever quilty friends. We talk, we share…. we encourage and support.
Personal Goals Revisited: for 2015 I have several, 2 of which entail making quilts entirely from scraps.
Cooking up a storm: There is great Truth in Personal Coincidence, Lucky me. Using already cut scrap fabric strips, and keeping within the Guild challenge guideline (black (any shade)/white (ditto) and 1 other color), and having a great sounding board- off I went to do my own thing. I pieced, awkward angles
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awkward angles and a few Y seams |
I was pleased with my interpretation of flying geese. What I hadn't expected was the secondary pattern that also emerged of log cabins, and a new found love of dark shadows.
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Quilt front |
Title: Dark Shadows, Derived Inspiration, No. 5
30 x 22"
Improv with intent, original design.
Fabric: Top: Kona scraps in white, snow, black, coal, medium gray, shadow, curry, saffron, nano particle fabric.
Back: Black and white dots by Allison Glass
Thread: Aurifil #2021, 50 wt.; Superior Threads Metallic in silver, Marathon metallic in white and black; embroidery floss in white and gray.
Quilting: straight line, near matchstick, focal FMQ
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both cotton (Aurifil) and metallic (Superior and Marathon) threads were used |
Guild challenge: Traditional to Modern: flying geese, log cabin
Batting: Quilters Dream black, 100% polyester scraps.
Labeling: Versatranz reflective heat press- Spontaneous Threads
New to me: hand embroidery, seed stitch both on quilt and on a portion of the binding.
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even the binding got some hand stitching. |
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I ran out of "white" scraps. I guess gray will do! |