My initial idea for this mini was inspired by the blue trimmings packet I ordered from Umbrella Prints when they announced the 2014 trimmings challenge a few weeks ago. I ordered blue with the vague idea of raindrops in mind, and when they arrived they were absolutely perfect. To make the raindrops, I drew freehand tear drop shapes on each of the trimmings, sizing the raindrops so that they would use up as much of the trimmings as possible. I then needle turn appliqued them onto a variety of pale grey and white prints - a process I'm falling deeper in love with each time I do it.
There were a few very hairy moments piecing the sun part of the quilt - I ended up needing to do some improv y-seams (NOT fun) and one of the seams is actually an exposed seam on top of the fabric - but now it's quilted you can't actually see it so it's all good. I then improv pieced the raindrop blocks together, log cabin style. Putting all the pieces together was like doing a puzzle, and I included the smaller, heavier weight Umbrella Prints trimming at this stage (they would have been too difficult to needleturn due to the combination of size and weight.)
Once the quilt top was pieced, I needle turn appliqued the partial circle for the sun in the top corner. I pondered whether to hand quilt this one - but in the end I went with my gut and decided to matchstick quilt it, using free motion quilting. To me it fits perfectly with the idea of the rest of the quilt - and is quite reminiscent of rain sliding down a window pane. I used Aurifil 40 wt for all the quilting - I used a pale yellow around the sun rays, and then a variegated grey for the rest of the quilting. The texture is sublime - and really made those raindrops and sun rays pop.
When I matchstick quilt, I use my free motion foot, and work top to bottom rather than side to side. I started on the one seam I knew ran vertically (just off centre) and tried to keep each of my subsequent lines parallel. I did drift a little bit, but they did essentially stay in line with each other.
We have already had a few family discussion as to where this mini will live - we all absolutely love it, so it will probably hang somewhere in the loungeroom or kitchen so we can all appreciate it :o)
If you're interested in joining in the challenge, entries are open until the end of this month. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
xx Jess
How appropriate to make a quilt from Umbrella trimmings and call it Sunshine After Rain! It's gorgeous Jess! Well done on every delightful aspect of it! It's a winner in my eyes!
ReplyDeleteI love it!!! Very creative from the fabrics to the name.
ReplyDeleteThat turned out so great! Love it!
ReplyDeleteSo cute and fabulous quilting!
ReplyDeleteI really love this mini! The colors are so pleasant and the quilting is perfect. Congrats on this great finish.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! Love everything about it :)
ReplyDeleteThis turned out really beautifully! The texture is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous Jess. Love the quilting
ReplyDeleteit's so beautiful. I think it should hang in my lounge, personally. Yes - that's the perfect place for it ;-)
ReplyDeleteoh Jess, it's absolutely fabulous, I LOVE it so much! Love your raindrops, sun, low volume backgrounds and quilting - it's just SO great! Awesome work, I'm so happy it's turned out how it was in your head too.
ReplyDeleteJust stunning!! Inspiring!
ReplyDeletei just love this
ReplyDeleteIt is awesome Jess! Your improv is amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing Jess. I think you should just donate it to me as it has the same name as my blog - hehe :-)
ReplyDeleteIt turned out so fantastic! I love all the details, and it was such a fun process to see come together.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing! I love it. You did a wonderful job piecing and quilting it!
ReplyDeleteJust finished catching up after my disappearance from the interwebs!
ReplyDeleteThis piece is so gorgeous, Jess! Love the texture you got from the low-volumes and great use of those trimmings! Love love love. And your Pantone piece is amazing....
Also, totally didn't realize you were in Taz and as ridiculous a question as this is, given population sizes and probability, I have to ask: Do you happen to know anyone Pinnington in Hobart? :-)
This quilt is totally fantastic! I love the use of the small package of fabrics, the theme, the quilting, the way you left the rain and sun unquilted, all of it. I have done the competition in past years as I love their fabrics but have no time this year. It's good as this one is the one I would pick as the winner.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic project! The colors are just perfect... Yes, the whole thing is really :)
ReplyDeleteDo you and I share a brain? I'm just wondering since I absolutely LOVE everything you make, and occasionally have similar projects in my sketchbooks. OH, perhaps we are really twins separated at birth with a cosmic quilty connection???
ReplyDeleteI love this one, BTW! Could you tell, could you feel it?
I love watching you quilt!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Thank you for sharing your process.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this quilt! Especially the way you've made the trimmings pop with the dense quilting in the background :)
ReplyDeleteit's fabulous! I love the raindrops, very skillfully needle turned! The quilting really sets it off too.
ReplyDeleteI'm the opposite with the weather - the warm sunny weather actually makes me feel more depressed than winter. Good job I live in England really
Simply amazing!
ReplyDeleteLove this, and raining elephants is a change from cats and dogs :oD
ReplyDeleteEverything about this mini is wonderful ! And a great way to use the trimmings. I like that the shapes of the fabric determined the shapes of your water drops. I've got some trimmings waiting for me, hopefully I'll find time this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI have been following your process on IG. This is so lovely! I am sure you will win!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning!!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Good luck with the competition.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea and it turned out fabulous. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! And now I can't get Christine Anu's voice out of my head..sunshine on a rainy day!
ReplyDeleteThis is just stunning. Everything about it, color, composition, and quilting is perfect. You deserve to be proud.
ReplyDelete