Monday 23 June 2014

Garden for Birds 2

Oh my goodness, I finished a quilt!  It feels like a very long time since I had a finished quilt to share with you, and I've been missing the feeling that comes with finishing something.

Anyway, a bit of history.  This quilt originally started out as a quick design sketch (yep, I am really great at drawing...).


And then I made the first version, for a friend's baby, in kind of similar colours to the original design (although a number of things changed).

Garden for Birds Quilt

This latest version uses a completely different colour palette (inspired by this quilt which my friend Anne has been working on) and the design has changed yet again.  I've been working slowly on this quilt for a while (you can see my WIP post from early June here) but this weekend I really needed to get it finished.

Garden for Birds 2 

I'm teaching this quilt over a series of classes at Nancy's Embroidery, so I simplified some of the elements to make it more suitable for beginners.  I also added a greater variety of blocks to cover a variety of different skills.

Garden for Birds 2 

I really had fun with this version - for example, those gingko leaves are reverse appliqué.  I cut the light part out of the fabric, put the green fabric behind, and machine blanket stitched it in place.  The two tone binding was a last minute choice - I really wanted quite a plain binding to calm the quilt down slightly, but I still wanted enough contrast so you could actually see the binding.  The light/dark split was the obvious solution (the light grey looks solid, but is actually the grey crosshatch from Architextures).

One thing that I was not very happy with in the last version of this quilt was the quilting.  Ultimately I didn't feel like it improved the quilt, and kind of only added to the chaos.  For this version, I really wanted to avoid that and went with a simple crosshatch pattern for the quilting.  I love how a crosshatch adds instant softness to a quilt, and in this case it totally does not distract from the piecing and appliqué.

Garden for Birds 2

I found a couple of garden themed fabrics in my stash that were just perfect for the backing.  I especially love that green fabric - I wish I'd bought more (and may have to hunt more out!).

So this quilt will be hanging out at Nancy's for the next couple of weeks, before I take it off to be entered in the Capital Quilters' exhibition.  Wellingtonians, if you'd like to make your own version, I believe there are still places in the class and you can get all the details on the Nancy's website.  I think it will be a fairly challenging class for a beginner, but if you come ready and keen to learn, you will learn a lot.

Quilt Stats
Pattern: my Garden for Birds pattern
Finished Size: approx 36" by 42"
Fabric: many
Backing: Petunia in Pink from Little Azalea by Dena Fishbein, Field Day in Green by Josephine Kimberling for Blend Fabrics
Binding: Kona cotton in Steel, Architextures grey crosshatch
Pieced and quilted by: me

I'll be linking up with finish it up friday at crazy mom quilts.

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16 comments:

Elmosmate said...

Your quilt looks lovely, can't wait to see what your students come up with. Liking the grey version the best :-) I was just looking at my pile of trimmed fabric for tiny churn dash blocks and thinking about getting back into my Midnight at the Oasis quilt.

Becca said...

Your quilt reminds me of a round robin quilt. I love all the different blocks. It could be a way to use up some orphan blocks, too. Thanks for sharing.

vagabondindigo said...

I love this. I am enjoying your use of prints and this is a very imaginitive way to make a sampler quilt without making it look like a sampler quilt. I love it, time to go do some sketching of my own!

Cassandra said...

This is gorgeous, and I think it's a fabulous way to teach a whole range of skills. I love the different colourways too, they both really have appeal. Wish I was closer and could take the class! :)

Hettie's Mum said...

Wow! this is lovely too! I really like how the grey adds a soothing and calming effect yet it remains colourful cheerful and whimsical. Neat.

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

This is a lovely version of your original .. wish I could be one of those lucky ducks in your class!

Molli Sparkles said...

This is just so wonderful. I love that it is your own design, and you've made it into something really special and constructive for others too. You might have a sellable pattern on your hands! Look out!

Karyn said...

It is very pretty. I particularly like the contrast provided by the grey section. Nice work!

Anna@Domestic Quilting Joy said...

Oh so beautiful Adrienne. I love the colours, think the ginko flowers are particularly special and agree the hatching is a great quilting choice.

River Gril Quilts said...

So beautiful. I love the colors and all the different elements and the diagonal quilting. So lovely.

MarieHelene said...

Both quilts are nice, but I prefer the first one due to the bright colors and better contrast between the colors. The new pale makes it difficult to identify the birds. To me, the choice to use several different blocks also add chaos, but if it is for teaching there is an argument. All in all I find the original the very best of many many quilts.

Jill said...

I love the story that the quilt tells. It's more than just a geometric patter. Really nice!

Cille said...

It's magnificent... Both versions is good, but this one has a great sharpness in the color scheme. Love how the ye is always catching a new little detail.... Lovely, lovely, wonderful quilt

nicole said...

They're both fantastic, but the colour palette on the new one is just gorgeous!
And i love the crosshatch quilting... perfect :)

Micki @ 2 Dogs Studio said...

I like both versions. Very cute layout and colors. The little birds are adorable.

Christine S said...

This is beautiful!