Monday 21 January 2013

A Letter from Lotta Quilt

In December, I was lucky enough to win a charm pack of Lotta Jansdotter's latest line, Glimma, from the lovely Becca from Bryan House Quilts.  Becca was really kind and sent it express, so it arrived just before Christmas.

glimma charm pack

Before I show you what I've done with this beautiful fabric, I wanted to share a bit of the design process, how it doesn't always go to plan, and how sometimes ideas come to me in the strangest ways!

Ever since I saw this envelope quilt and this envelope quilt from If She Sleeps...,  and this version by Hyacinth Quilt Designs, I've really wanted to make an envelope quilt.  I thought the little samples of Glimma might be just the thing, and I even mocked up a draft layout in TouchDraw.

Then I realised that I didn't want to set the prints on point, and that would mean cutting down the charms significantly.  Since I can't bear to waste fabric, and I really wanted to showcase these charms to their best advantage, I was stumped.


And then, the other day, I was blow-drying my hair (I told you ideas come to me at strange times) and watching out my bedroom window, and I saw a courier delivering a large envelope (not fabric, sadly). A lightbulb went off in my head - there are lots of different types of envelope.  What about a quilt showing the front of a large envelop, rather than the back of lots of small envelopes?

envelope quilt

This simple little quilt took about an hour to whip up - I already had the text print (Memoir in White, from the Madrona Road collection by Violet Craft for Michael Miller) and the Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen in black in my stash.

glimma text linen

I am not totally satisfied - I was too swept up with enthusiasm to pay a lot of attention to colour placement, and I think the "address" part would stand out more if I had surrounded it with some of the darker prints.  Never mind - I have an idea of how to improve this part with a quilting design.

I have to say, I thought I would love this collection, and I do.  I will definitely be buying yardage when it becomes available.  Quite a few other bloggers have been playing with Glimma too - check out these fabulous quilts from Fresh Lemons Quilts, Film in the Fridge, i'm a ginger monkey, During Quiet Time and Rossie.

So, I want to know, do you get quilt ideas at random times too?

Linking up with Plum and June (this week hosted by Heidi at Fabric Mutt),  Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday, and Sew Cute Tuesday at Better Off Thread:

Plum and June

Fresh Poppy Design
Better Off Thread

8 comments:

Megan said...

I love your block! Waiting in my car at traffic lights often seems to be when ideas for all kinds of things drift into being.

Susan said...

Great block, although I will say, an envelope quilt of some sort would be awesome! My ideas slowly develop rather than come to me in an instant, like yours!

Martha said...

I Love your block. I do get my ideas in the strangest ways too, when I'm driving, or at work as I'm thinking debits and credits I start to drift and fabrics and pattterns take over.

Anna said...

I have seen Glimma all over the blogosphere and I love it already! Love the idea of envelopes....

Kirsten said...

I love what you have done with these fabrics - I usually get ideas in the middle of the night!

Heidi Staples said...

Gorgeous -- I love Glimma! Yes, I get a lot of ideas in the shower myself. Funny how that works out... :)

Seraphym said...

what a great idea! looks fantasic

Janice @ Better off Thread said...

Glimma is so cute and I like your envelope idea. i adore those envelope quilts. I get ideas and they take over my brain until I get a chance to sew! Thanks for linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday:)