I have been playing with a few ideas as to how to improve this red and green quilt- Some ways that have come to mind are to take it apart in places and add some leaf fabric in the main body( sorry, I have no new photos to add today) or just add the leaf outside border and then applique some leaves across the body of the quilt.( I did look at Christmas fabric for it but I only have one alternative that I didn't like as well as the leaf fabric.)
Then a blog friend Robyn from Daisy Quilt suggested another alternative- I could slash it..(Click on Robyn's name and you will find out more about slashing quilts)
Now I am not sure I have it in me to slash one of my quilts, but I am considering it... It is certainly out of my comfort zone but not an impossible alternative... Hmmmmmmm
My wonky tiles quilt has grown into its king sized form- it has gone from 48 to 99 blocks and now has the borders on it( I may add one more two inch border yet) and then the top will be finished. I went and got backing for the "Wonky Tiles" other day- You need a lot of fabric for the back (about 9 meters). I don't usually buy 9 meters of fabric and our local Fabricland(sort of like Joanne's)had a 50% off sale so I found what I was looking for backing. I will be spray basting it one day later this week once I get the borders on a couple of other quilts so that I can do it all at once.
And now for some blogs who are hosting Giveaways:
Vicki at Feline and Fibre Art is having a 100 giveaway post. She has posed some interesting questions to think about - One of the things I love about Vicki's blog is her cats - She has an orange cat just like we do. What is it about Cats and quilts? They sure do love them!!!
Rosa is a new blogger to me but she is having an interesting giveaway too... I will be visiting her blog again.
Julie is celebrating her 500th post and giving away some patterns. Go and check them out. I have been reading her blog for quite a long time and enjoy her quotes and posts. I hope she will write many more blog posts.
gran is a wonderful needlewoman who enjoys cooking and embroider. Gran has a terrific giveaway and has only recently started her website. She will draw a name in the middle of the week so you need to go there quickly. She is one talented lady...
I am sure that there are other giveaways out there - there seems to be a great number of them going on just now. Some people are clearing their collections of patterns and fabric or offering up some special things that have collected for a giveaway. Many are celebrating blogspot milestones. They are all a talented group of quilters who are sharing their love of quilting with others. Thank you for your generosity and passion ladies- it inspires us all.
The August challenge goes on- I have the borders chosen for the Winding Ways quilt and will look for ones for the The trip around the World and then there is the Slasher Quilt LOL.. Maybe I could turn it into a Halloween Quilt LOL
Hope you all are making progress on your August finishes..
Our mail brings some interesting things these days. I received a lovely package from my blog friend Michelle who had hosted a giveaway. It is a wonderful wallhanging kit that has some applique in it. I will try and make it up to show you all. Do go and visit her blog- She is lovely lady who is expecting a baby soon. She lives in my neighboring province- home of the Cyprus Hills.
Speaking of Cyprus Hills, my spouse returns this evening and the time is rushing towards fall- soon I will switch from quilting to teaching my little children. My kindergarteners will be excited and full of wonderful ideas and they will change the rhythm of my life from quiet to hectic and busy but we will have lots of fun together singing and learning new things ... Such is the ebb and flow of life as a primary teacher...
Until next time- Happy Quilting,
Warmest Regards,
Anna
28 comments:
Slashing certainly is drastic. I have never done it as of yet. It wouldhave to be on a quilt top I really didn't like and couldn't see any other potential or use.
For your red & green quilt top what I saw was the possibility of using it as the background for a Christmas applique design of some kind. Not sure what because that really depends on what you like about Christmas, but it could have possibilities.
I don't know about the slashing. What about appliqueing some yellow stars scattered over the top?
OMG! I think I'd stick to the appliqué idea. I'm not sure I could chop up a quilt either.
I have no suggestions because I don't know much about things. Being basically a stitcher....I would probably embellish it. It would take me years but, I'm known for my long-term projects. I'm sure you'll decide the perfect thing. Wonky Tiles is great! The colors with that pattern....take hold of you and say "hey...I'm here"! I love it!! Your last sentences about being a primary teacher....touched my heart. My dad taught History and philosophy of education for 35+ years..as we kids said...teaching teachers how to be teachers. And you are one of the rare ones that he would have been proud to send out into the world. Teaching isn't your job...it's who you are.
Hi Anna, so funny reading the comments on slashing... it certainly does feel drastic and the first time is very scary.
...but sometimes it really adds something else!
As I said 'just a thought' and maybe something different...lol
I'm sure whatever you do will be exactly right.
Will look forward to seeing 'your choice' :D
hugs
Robyn xx
I'd say go for it and slash away. I have slashed lots of little things but never a whole finished quilt. Could be interesting.
I was a primary teacher for many years and the first day of school is always a blast with little kids. They are such keeners. I guess in kindergarten they are more scared than keen a lot of the time.
I have slashed many a finished quilt top, but never a finished quilt. In my mind, if a quilt top actually progressed along to become a quilt than something in it charmed me. Perhaps, it was the freedom of sewing anything I like or felt like I needed to make, perhaps it was the frugality of saying 'this is good enough as it is' or perhaps, in some part of me, I just plain liked its simplicity or uniqueness.
I would say, applique if need be, but I know someone could use it and still love it just as it is. Each quilt's journey is still part of us, and who we are in this place and that point in time. I'd be willing to bet that you have a family at school in need who would snatch this up in a heartbeat!!!
I would definitely NOT slash your red and green quilt. I would hand it off to a skilled long arm quilter and explain what kind of "feel" I wanted it to have (romantic, festive, contemporary, traditional...) and allow the quilter to work their magic. I know what my quilter could do and I'm sure there are many others who would relish the open-ended challenge of "surprise and delight me" ~ there's so much potential in that quilt top!
p.s. Thanks for the shout out!
Why not just quilt it.?
You could quilt it quite heavily and simply and I would even be tempted to try a green and red variagated thread on some scraps if you have some.
If you have left over fabric I would make a quilt sandwich and play with some ideas. it is the quilting that usually brings it to life.
I would applique Christmas-things on it, randomly, or even a silhouette of a Christmas scene.
If you were ever thinking of slashing a quilt I think this quilt would be a perfect one to slash. Might be fun to reinvent it!
I say - go for it :)))
if you don't like it anyhow why not go for the slashing. you could do it a number of ways and then sew it back together and see what you have, you could always add some applique after that.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
SLASH IT! okay, you don't have to. I did once and it was a drastic improvement. Maybe not the same as Robyn's method. Applique was another good suggested alternative if you know how to do that. I don't get along well with scissors. I am pretty much just into rotary cut quilts.
I love the pretty colors in your wonky tiles quilt. I'll bet you're looking forward to the start of school -- I'd love to be around all those young, eager little people!
I love the wonky quilt.
I would use that as a pretty background for Christmas applique. Probably a scene for white snowmen and white stars?
I love your wonky tiles quilt - gorgeous colours! As for slashing your other one - I don't think that is the answer. If I'm looking at the picture correctly, it looks like there are 6 large blocks in the center. I would applique something large in those 6blocks which would give it a focus point and hopefully give it the lift you are looking for.
You just don't sound like a slasher to me - lol.
You are the winner - fair and square - please go to my blog and check it out. I am so excited! I will try to email you with the email on your profile.
Congratulations!
Another idea is applique, I love one of the other comments to add stars, I think that is fabulous!
Yikes! But if you don't like it anyway, might be a good time to try slashing.
I like the Wonky Tiles quilt!
For some strange reason red & green set my teeth on edge! LOL. I am not a fan of red, perhaps that is the reason. I don't know if I could slash??
Hi there!
LOVE the red and green quilt!!! I suggest that you add some hollies and red berries, here and there... fasten them down with Wunder Under (or a similar brand) and machine appliqué them, to the quilt! Yes, I KNOW that you "do not do much appliqué".... *grin*
Oh.. and BTW... CONGRATS on winning my blog contest!!!!
I'll need your email addy AND your snail mail addy... *VBG*
http://www.robich.blogspot.com/
My email addy is:
robich@rogers.com
Once again.... congrats!
Rosa
I thought I would come here in person to let you know that you have won my "Birthday Giveaway" on my blog. Congratulations!!! Hugs Natima
Gosh it would be scary to slash it but hey...why not step outside your comfort zone..if you aren't loving the quilt it could be the best opportunity to make you do something different....hugsss Khris
I don't do much applique myself but I definitely wouldn't slash this either. Applique or some famcy quilting get my vote.
The Wonky Rails look great too -- WOW, king size?! That's a lot of blocks. I keep putting off making another king size quilt even though we need a larger quilt after buying a new mattress and box spring....that was about 3 years ago and I'm still using the smaller quilts and procrastinating!
Love the Wonky Tiles quilt. I like the design of the green and red quilt, but I am not sure it is a candidate for slashing. If you are wanting to try this technique then go for it. If not, I like the idea of some applique on it.
I think you have two options...well you have many options, but here are the two that I like.
Use it as a background for gorgeous quilting. Quilting with gorgeous threads and a great design! Make the quilting the focus point!
On the other hand, if that's not your style, then I would slash it! What a creative opportunity!
I don't think I could slash a quilt either. I agree with quilting it heavily and playing with thread, applique etc. but who knows. I think sometimes I regard these things too traditionally.
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