Wednesday, September 7, 2016

It's Okay to Try Something Different

It's so much fun making a baby quilt, especially if you don't overthink things. I dove into this one with a jelly roll that was given to me oh, sometime last year? The colors are so bright and fun looking. I decided to slam the {I-hate-one-line-fabric quilts} part of my brain off and just go for it. Jump in and just see what might happen!
Jelly Roll quilt
I trolled the Net for jelly roll patterns, almost bought a pattern, and then thought, 'why'? I love 9-patch blocks, why not start there? After some quick lay-out auditions, I settled with the rows of blocks idea. They were supposed to be vertical instead of horizontal but well, these things happen when you're in a good groove and not firing on all cylinders. Something about working late into the evening.

Anyway, in the hunt for a great, cohesive looking background fabric {everything I had was busy, busy} I somehow ended up with this cheddar low-key print. It's not quite as solid as the pictures make it appear, but cheddar? For a baby quilt? I know, I know. But the thing is, it absolutely made the all the other colors 'pop' and sparkle like nobody's business. Nothing else even came close. How to pass that up? And now I'm squirming over the odd colors of this quilt even as I'm doing the little victory dance over how much I really, really like the finished product.
Simple organic straight line quilting...
So now you know why I never, ever make quilts for other people. My deal is --make them for myself and then occasionally the finished quilt will get gifted to a likely suspect. Uh huh. No need for squirming/fretting or wringing my hands over whether or not that 'someone' will actually like it, because hey! I was just trying to please myself.*wink
Trying to balance the color
Don't you just love how quickly a quilt can go from strips of fabric {above} to a lovely finished product though? The jelly roll thing is definitely a great beginning for certain 'wanna make in a hurry' types of quilts. No hard strain-the-brain measuring stuff at all. No dumping all the stash totes out and lamenting the loss of enough of one certain piece of fabric.... I am starting to see the appeal, yes indeedy and will hold this idea in reserve for future baby quilts. Lots of leftover blocks too. Probably enough for the beginnings of another baby quilt sometime in the future? I like that a lot.

In the meantime, I grabbed up three un-used blocks and made a fast little pillow for the older sister. Threw some of that leftover Minky {from my first ever Minky receiving blanket!} onto the back to make it super soft and also quick-stitched a sweet little heart on the front. Big Sis. needs some lovin' too and hopefully this will make her feel a little less left out.
Enough blocks for a pillow and my first Minky blanket
There's also another finish in the works recently, just forgot to post a picture. My vintage block wall hanging is done! I hand stitched the entire thing with lovely Perle cotton in about two weeks or so. Nothing too complicated so I'm not going to show a close up. It's lovely and sweet, a great little memory of our trip to Oklahoma in 2014 {middle block was bought on the trip}. And it makes me want to do some more medallion work. Which is good because I have two more medallion projects currently in the works. It just never ends does it?
Vintage block wall hanging finished!
The good picture thing is a total loss anyway. My daughter says I'm hopeless at taking pics and winces at everything that gets posted around here. Boohoo. So sue me,  I'm a quilter, not a photographer! This sweet little wall hanging is currently hanging on a wall in our upstairs bathroom. Trying to make that one look more girly these days-- a little less 'boys dorm meets mounds of unwashed laundry'.....

25 comments:

  1. That's a wonderful baby quilt! I'm with you on the not-one-line thing (jelly rolls just get pulled apart and absorbed into the normal chaos of my stash), but that brain-slamming clearly paid off in this case. The cheddar is truly inspired!
    (And a big "Awwww..." for that pillow!)
    I love your medallion, too! It's a fun form to explore, isn't it? Make one medallion, and about forty-two more try to sprout up behind it. 8)

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  2. great baby quilt! put me on the list of not a fan of one-line projects...they always look like store bought comforters no matter how fabulous...just mixing in another fabric made all the difference...

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  3. I like non-traditional baby quilts sometimes. This one turned out great, and those leftover blocks can go in another one with fabrics from another line to have enough! Just sayin'.

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  4. Cheddar makes the quilt - how perfect this is for an autumn baby. And big sis will love her very own pillow, so very thoughtful of little folks feelings.

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  5. Your daughter is TOO picky / your pics are fine!!!

    I love this baby quilt; it reminds me of antique or vintage ones with that gorgeous cheddar and babies love bright colors so it is sure to be a favorite of the little one :)

    Very nice to make something special for the big sis...thoughtful and knowing how kids are :)

    Lovely finish on the wall hanging and glad to see you posting more again :)

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  6. I think we all have cheddar on the brain! I have just bought some too. Autumn, I guess! Like you, I've realized that it's best to make it the way you like, rather than trying to anticipate what others will like. That just results in half measures. I love that horizontal stripe! Seems right. :D

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  7. Love your baby quilt, love the cheddar... it really does all work together! And looking at the pics, there seems to be lots of colour & texture from the quilting, perfect for that all important 'tummy time'

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  8. This is a very cute baby quilt and the cheddar works well with it. What a gorgeous pillow for the older sister. The addition of the heart on the front really makes it special.

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  9. Your pictures look good, don't worry. The baby quilt is lovely, I like the colors and the pillow is sweet. The medalion quilt is great. You make such lovely quilts. Greetings

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  10. What a bright quilt ! Golden autumn! Bravo!!!

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  11. Baby is going to love that quilt! It's beautiful and full of color. Bet that wall hanging looks great in your bathroom. So pretty.

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  12. You never cease to amaze me. I would NEVER have thought to use cheddar to pull that all together (and cheddar is one of my all time favorites!). It is sensational. And I am right there with you on photography. I actually find it a chore to take time to photograph my quilts so maybe that is why they are of such poor quality. Maybe we should will put a "I'd rather be quilting" sticker on our cameras!

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  13. Love the baby quilt - well done!

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  14. I like the way your design makes the Jelly roll you've used looks random and mixed and you're right that the cheddar works perfectly. I always think bright and happy is fun for babies. I love your vintage block quilt too. What a lovely reminder of a trip and a beautiful block that is on show rather than in a ufo pile.

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  15. Who said that baby quilts need to be pink or blue - NOT ME! I love the cheddar - and I'm guessing the new baby's parents will too.

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  16. You're right, it never ends and aren't we glad it doesn't. Love the baby's quilt. It's a cute and simple design with lots color and pattern for the new baby.

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  17. Great finish! It never ceases to amaze me how working outside our normal "crayon box" of color can sometimes yield wonderful results. Beautiful quilt and the pillow is adorable.

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  18. Using the cheddar means that this doesn't look like a one fabric line quilt at all, it looks like an Audrey quilt (ie much better!) It's always better to please yourself, I think. I love the little medallion too; now I want you to make a big one!

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  19. Wonderful and unique baby quilt. I know how you feel, though. I worry constantly when making quilts for someone else. But I'm sure the baby will love it. Congratulations!

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  20. I think you did a fantastic job on this baby quilt! So colorful and lively. I put together a quick baby quilt last week too...and like you, really tried not to over think it! It makes life so much easier!

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  21. I just love your "baby cheddar" quilt!

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  22. This is a wonderful baby quilt and I think cheddar is just fine! I love the bright colors together and what a wonderful result. The pillow is super cute too. Brownie points for that! I love your comment about the bathroom. I was just noticing how our upstairs bathroom is so much better since our girl moved out. Go figure. LOL

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  23. Your spur-of-the-moment strippy quilt turned out wonderfully well. The cheddar sets off the jazzy colors of the strips so well.

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