Friday, October 25, 2013

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! 

28 comments:

  1. Both quilts are beautiful, good luck Audrey XXX

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  2. Beautiful and happy you are using fabrics from your stash--go girl

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  3. beautiful - for some reason I do not remember seeing this quilt so thank you for showing it. I like how the festival is in categories this year, I'm entering in about 4 of them myself.

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  4. Love this quilt! Your applique is beautiful!

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  5. That is one very beautiful quilt! You must have a very pretty stash as well!
    Lola

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  6. This is such a fabulously wonderful quilt! I enjoyed reading it's story and how you used your stash.

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  7. I love this quilt. I'd never noticed the big text print was in each block, what a great touch.

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  8. Wow, this quilt is stunning---I am head over heels in love with it :D

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  9. Absolutely beautiful applique. I love how you combined the flowers blocks with the other bloack designs.

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  10. fabulous quilt - I love all its scrappy goodness, and enjoy hearing about your process - for all your angst, it turned out wonderfully!

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  11. What a beautiful quilt! I love that you used your stash and made it all work :)

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  12. Very pretty Audrey and congratulations on working on your stash. The quilt is perfect!

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  13. I love this quilt, the appliqué blocks and the pieced blocks, great combination. beautiful colors.

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  14. Another gorgeous quilt! I love my stash - I even love all of the uglies that it contains. Surely there is place somewhere in a quilt for all fabrics.

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  15. This is a fabulous quilt worthy of making a pattern of it. So glad you entered it!

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  16. Good choice! I love this one too! Not that I don't love them all...but this one is special. :)

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  17. This is just simply beautiful! Lovely work.

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  18. I love the way that all of the colors work together in this quilt

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  19. Gorgeous! I love your lesson about using stash fabric! :)

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  20. Wonderful quilt and great story! I so very much need to use up my stash! Thanks for sharing and have a great day

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  21. I absolutely love this quilt, Audrey, it is so happy and cheerful!

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  22. Beautiful. Love the color and design. Your so right about shopping your stash. There are so many quilts in it! Great post!

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  23. Darn! I just left you a long comment but accidentally hit "sign out" instead of "publish." Sooooo .... if you get a glowing anonymous comment that's me. Anyways, the quilt is amazing and your use of your unloved fabric is truly inspiring to me. I just voted for her in the applique category of the quilt fest and hope that she wins! I think I'll pull out my pile of fabrics that I have designated for my niece to play with and maybe try to make something with them.

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  24. Oh my, I thought I had commented on this post, but I see I didn't. Oops.

    I'm so glad you entered this quilt in the BQF! I love this quilt - it's exactly what a quilt should be! And what impresses me the most is that you didn't use someone else's pattern - you designed this yourself! Most impressive! And good for you for shopping in your stash. Really, this is a very lovely quilt and you should be proud of yourself for your accomplishment!

    p.s. I'm voting for this one!

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Thanks for visiting! I love getting comments and always try to respond via email. Please leave an email in the comment to ensure a return reply! {Many of you are popping up as Anonymous for some reason, so I have no idea who it is.} Regardless, I appreciate all the comments and read every single one.