Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2011

This is my third time participating in Amy's amazing Blogger's Quilt Festival. I am always inspired by this event, seeing so many amazing quilts and being introduced to an incredibly talented bunch of fellow quilters. As always, thanks to Amy for hosting the 2011 Fall Bloggers Quilt Festival.

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will recognize my entry into the festival: Ivy's Quilt. Forgive me for showing her again, but she's really my favorite finish to date. My wonderful and amazing husband implored me to make a quilt for Joel, his roommate from law school and subsequently one of his best friends, and his wife Sarah who were expecting their second daughter. I was flummoxed at first. I admire Sarah for her grace, poise and style so I knew that I wanted to create something that reflected the amazing qualities she embodies.

On a recent journey to Sew Modern, my favorite LQS, I had picked out fabrics for a swap partner and, of course, came home with extra yardage. Looking at the stack I realized that these fabrics had the elegance I wanted to encapsulate in the quilt.

From top to bottom: Bazaar Style "Gems in Terra" by Patricia Bravo, Bazaar Style "Mosaic in Cream" by Patricia Bravo, Kumari Garden "Stone Tara" By Dena Designs, Mod "House Genie in Lilac" by Annette Tatum, Parisville "French Lace in Sky" by Tula Pink, Bazaar Style "Belly Dancer in Sand" by Patricia Bravo, Central Park "Plaza Trefoil" by Kate Spain & Central Park "Floral Carousel" by Kate Spain.

It was so romantic, and yummy. Seriously I was in love with this stack. I decided I wanted to keep things simple and showcase, not only the fabrics but the way they played off each other so well. I started to cut strips and made a simple, yet elegant, log cabin of sorts.

The quilt actually came together very quickly. I was on a deadline, but the pattern was also simple and I pieced and quilted the entire thing in a weekend. I decided to use swatches of the leftover fabrics to piece the back as well and I made a scrappy binding to match.

I did simple, straight-line quilting and stitched in the ditch so the thread wouldn't overpower the fabric but the quilt would still have a comfy crinkle to it. I also liked the simple rectangle pattern it created on the back.

After it was completed and sent off to it's new home I missed this quilt. These fabrics are so special and I fell in love with this quilt so I ended up running back to Sew Modern to buy up more yardage of each. And the ones they no longer had in stock I found online. These fabrics still sit in my studio in a simple stack, just quietly apart from the rest of my stash. One day, hopefully soon, I intend to make an adult-sized version of Ivy's quilt for myself. And that quilt will be all for me. But until that day comes I look at that expectant stack and smile. It makes me happy.