Bloggers Quilt Festival: Fall 2013--All Grayed Down

So fun to be able to put 'All Grayed Down' in Amy's Quilt Festival this year! Although it's completely hand quilted, I decided to put it into the applique category as that's the part I'm most proud of.

All Grayed Down is finished!

I very carefully drew this quilt out on graph paper in a random sampler sort of way, leaving big chunks of space to fill in with applique. Then I decided on a few favorite quilt block patterns to do repeats of throughout. The applique itself was based on pictures I saw in an old 1970's Carter Houck quilt book. It was only after I had the surrounding blocks pieced and set next to my empty applique blocks, that I determined size, color and placement of the applique. Lots of struggles and angst with that let me tell you!

75"x75" in all it's just washed & dried crinkly glory

This quilt was started during the time period that I had just started trying to use primarily stash fabric, causing me to dig deep into my fabrics totes. Lots of these fabrics were not stellar prints, but they had the color and range I was looking for. The name itself was a result of me trying very hard to use up some of my gray fabrics. Ha! I ended up using a lot more taupes and somehow ignoring most of the grays in favor of the warmer hues.

Yes I did finish the quilt top in 2012, but didn't even
start hand quilting it until this year...

I had recently purchased some of the Sweetwater text prints prior to starting this quilt and that is what I settled on for background of the applique blocks. I only had 1 fat quarter  of the larger text print and it was all I could do not to rush out and buy more. Oh I wanted more of that fabric in the worst way, but instead I made myself sew together scrapped together applique background pieces. Such a great move really, because those very pieces are part of what I find so especially charming about this quilt!

I added a smidge of the large text fabric
in every single applique block.

This quilt taught me a lot about being much less fearful in using up fabrics that don't immediately seem wonderful and exciting. The green bias fabric for instance in the block above was one that I almost threw out many times before. Then I auditioned it for a bias piece and was amazed at how well it looked in that skinny little strip! Never doubt for a minute the power of fabric you have available right in your own stash!*wink

Had to take pictures of it outside as it always looks
moody and dark when the pics are taken indoors...

Many thanks to Amy for hosting this online quilt festival!  Always a really great way to find new blogs and check out a bazillion wonderful quilts.

p.s. Just so you know, I also entered my Vintage Reproduction quilt into the quilt show. Couldn't leave that one out!