Friday, October 29, 2010

Blogger's Quilt Festival!

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Intersection{s}

Welcome if you are finding yourself here by way of the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  My favorite quilt right now is my most current quilt.  Isn't that how us quilters typically are?  So here's the story behind the quilt:

Life, to me, appears to be a series of intersections. Go straight, watch out for oncoming cars and innocent bystanders. Turn left, turn right, reverse to turn around. However, no matter what you do, always stop and think before choosing which way to proceed.

When jealous... turn to generosity

When angry... choose to love

When bitter... reverse and forgive

When you are in the dark... use your lights

When lost... use your map

When overwhelmed... slow down, yield, and proceed with caution

When running low on fuel... be resourceful

When in need... give

When in doubt... be creative

I always try to be honest and real here because on a blog there's nothing more sterile and boring to me than, "here's my perfect self, with my piles of pretty fabric, and my pile of perfect quilts...".

If I were to rephrase that it would be more like, "here's That frazzled Girl, with piles of scattered fabric, and a stack of finished quilts because I'm too {anxious, upset, nervous, angry...} to sleep". The finished product may be nice but believe me, I'm just as much of a mess as the next person. ;)


The second phrase has been more and more true as of late and it sucks. Just being honest. Decisions are tough, especially when there are other drivers at the intersection and you are waiting on them to make their own independent {hopefully right} choices before you can proceed.

So I wait. And I create. That's where this quilt came from and I love it. The quilt itself is for a very special baby but the pattern is something I designed and want to make over and over because of how my thoughts wander when I quilt it. Slow down... turn left... turn right... yield... U-turn... if there was ever a quilt perfect for free motion meandering quilting, this is the one. At least for me... ;)
 
Free motion quilting and the antique crinkles...
It measures approximately 50" x 50" and it took me all of a few hours to quilt it. A few hours where my mind rested and nothing mattered but the quilt, the curves, the stitches and the hum of my machine... competing with the screeching sounds of Phinneas and Ferb. Hey, I didn't say that it was a few hours of perfect peace and quiet!

The colors; pink, green, and orange are outside my normal scope and I love the combination.  The fabrics are Nicey Jane, Good Folks, Modern Meadow, Love, Hope Valley and the solid is Kona pale flesh {which makes me gag each time I think of that name}.

Striped goodness...
I bound it with a plaid from the Modern Meadow line which is a super easy way to get a striped binding without having to cut bias strips.

A pieced backing...

The back is pieced from more Nicey Jane, Hope Valley, Love, and Kona...


I'm releasing the pattern today too!  All you need is your favorite jelly roll and a few yards of a coordinating solid to make this quilt top.  You can instantly download the pattern here

Thanks for visiting today... now I'm off to go look at everyone else's beautiful quilts!

46 comments:

Jenni said...

Love, Love, Love this quilt. When I saw it, I was hoping you would make a pattern for it, and was so happy that you did. I've already bought it. Thanks so much!

Rebecca Johnson said...

Ahh its perfect!! This is my first festival and im so excited to check out everyone's quilts!! xx Of Course...Yours was my first stop!! xx

Carla said...

You have a gift, my friend! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!! LOVE!

Elizabeth D. said...

Awesome, congrats on the pattern! I really adore this quilt, and the way you wrote about it today gives me even more appreciation of it :)

Me? A Mom? said...

that's a great story! i love "when in need, give." So true.

Kelly Meanix said...

Very cool! Love the pink too!

Victoria Paige said...

I think I've told you this before, but I just absolutely love your no-nonsense approach to blogging. I love how you have vowed you be you, whether it be on a good day or bad day.

Your quilt is beautiful, too. On my next quilt (which I'm working on now), I am going to attempt a pieced backing as well. Any tips?

snippetsandyarns said...

Oh yes, I do love this quilt. It is beautiful!

~ Meagan

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

It's a beautiful quilt Jennifer with a great (and honest) story. Thanks for sharing.

live a colorful life said...

This is still one of my favorites, and it was good to read the story again. Thanks, friend!

Terriaw said...

this is a beautiful quilt! I'm so happy to see you shared this one today because I am thrilled to know your thought process behind this one. Wonderfully well said.

felicity said...

So, so lovely. And creative. Another winning design, Jennifer. I really love this quilt.

Agnes said...

This is a great design! I love the story that comes with it, it rings very true. My sister has asked for a fuchsia themed quilt - this might be just the one!

Belinda said...

Love the quilt & it's story! Will be putting the pattern on my wish list :)

Carol said...

Your quilt design is gorgeous. I enjoyed reading the thinking process behind it.

amy smart said...

You know I love this. :)

beth said...

what a great quilt and story to go with it!!

Madame Samm said...

Love it Jen, it reminds me of cotton candy at a fair..you just never know where to go next..
not the eating of the cotton candy..the fair lol

ScissorsandThread said...

I found your blog around the time you started doing the Quilting without Obligation posts and I really related to them. Love this quilt, the colours, patterns and am adding it to my never ending "would like to try some day" list!

Becky said...

Beautiful! I've been wanting to do a monochromatic and haven't been able to commit, this is a lovely pattern for that.

Chris said...

I love your intersection analogy for your quilt. It is a beautiful quilt.

Kathy said...

What a great quilt. It is a wonderful design and an interesting explaination of its meaning.

Aunt Spicy said...

The front is lovely, but I am smitten with the back, is the green colored fabric the kona? do you know the name?

Miri said...

Terrific quilt! Love the back!

Allie said...

Not only do I love this quilt, I love this post! Um yes, the pink Kona is so pretty but ugh that NAME!

Rene' said...

Great post. Really pretty quilt. Thanks for sharing!

Kit Lang said...

Very pretty - thanks for sharing!

Marit said...

Love your design and your choise of fabric, too. You are a talented designer, Jennifer! Please keep sharing...
; )

Angie said...

Beautiful quilt - I love the pink with a mixture of the other colors. I also like the name of your pattern, intersections --- as that is exactly what life is full of!

Bev said...

I love the quilt. And your blog. You write things that touch me. I started seriously quilting a year ago as "therapy" also. I have been going through some rough times with my "in-laws" and my husband's cancer and sometimes I just have to sew. Not think about anything else...just color....and fun... and creating! It is great therapy. Love that it works for you also. I'm not the only one.

Amelia said...

I love this quilt and the meaning behind it! Thanks for sharing Jennifer!!

Karen said...

Beautiful quilt. Love the colour choices and your pattern design.
I enjoyed reading the story behind it too!

Annette said...

I had to laugh at your 'gag' comment! What a name for a fabric! I totally agree on the gag-factor of a name like that ;)
Beautiful quilt, great story, thanks for sharing!

Leslie said...

this is a beautiful pattern!! great story...thanks for sharing.

Christine said...

So Pretty!

SplendorFalls said...

Great quilt and amen on the not being perfect!

Mama Mel said...

What a lovely quilt with beautiful colors! :)

QuiltSue said...

That's just a beautiful quilt, and I love the story that comes with it.

daisy said...

as always, i love your work and your wisdom :)

mngirltx said...

Very cute!

Vicki said...

what a great quilt! the pattern is adorable.

Em said...

I love your realness, That Girl! I have found that blogs cheer my spirits when I am feeling down and to sit down and post or go to other's blogs is an instant smile. Thanks for reminding me us of our human side!

P. said...

What a pretty, restful quilt! I love the pattern. Thanks so much for making it available. I love that you used so many different fabrics, but it all works and isn't overly busy. Nicely done!

pinsandneedles said...

Very pretty quilt! Love the color choices and I especially love your take on life's intersection and choices. Thanks for sharing!

Cynthia said...

I love your quilts! So pretty and fun! And I can certainly identify with the piles of scattered fabric, quilting instead of sleeping, frazzled mess! My sewing room looks like a bomb hit it, and I am so glad I'm not the only one! :)

Eileen said...

wonderful quilt. love the colors and the design. your philosophy is great and a good thing to contemplate. thanks so much for sharing and have a great day

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