All Grayed Down Finally in the Hoop

The quilt top I call 'All Grayed Down' is next up in the hoop. I have practically been itching to have some hand quilting time and with days like today (my upright freezer decided to call it quits), I am thinking I NEED some time with the hoop quite desperately! This quilt top was one I worked on in 2011 and then finally finished up in April of 2012.  I suppose it is a bit of a Random Sampler quilt, although I did plan it out on paper before I ever started in the individual blocks.

All Grayed Down sandwiched and ready to pin

I know there are other quilt tops that are older and technically next in line, but this quilt top is the one that has been calling my name the loudest. So be it. I started out with a pile of fabric that was way deep in the bottom of my totes and then added few newer ones to help cheer things up. You'd be amazed at how well that can work to make you happier to use some older fabrics.

I love the vintage feel to some of these blocks.

The title comes from the challenge to myself to try working with some grayish fabrics--not so successful with this quilt as I stuck mostly to tannish grays, but still... My husband said this is one of the darkest (and moodiest) quilts I've ever made, but I don't see it that way at all. The applique blocks really bring it to life I think and make it feel cheery in spite of the darker undertones! Regardless, it feels like a 'me' quilt and that's what I've been trying to accomplish for years and years. Hallelujah when that actually happens and when I fall in love with it all over again just bringing it out to hand quilt? In my book that's a roaring success. lol Still trying to figure out what the 'me' actually is though? Is it definable for each one of us?

Definitely an updated version of this block.

The applique blocks are loosely based on some quilts I saw in a (Carter Houck?) 1970's quilt book I had bought at a 2nd store several years ago. Seeing the pictures in black and white really helped me transfer the designs into my fabric selection.  No pattern used for the applique, just looking at pictures and keeping or deleting what I wanted/didn't want to use.

I adore the bird in this block!

Because I was being frugal and stash loving, I made myself be creative with the applique backgrounds too.  What I wanted to do was rush out and buy all of one particular text fabric, but I took my single fat quarter and very carefully made sure I had a piece of it for every one of the applique backgrounds, then added in blending fabrics until I had my set of 7.  It was a wonderful decision and I love the quilt ever so much more for the depth it discretely adds in.

So bright.  And to think I almost chickened out on
using these newer fabrics!

One other thing I did that seemed to meld the quilt together well was using the same floral print in each of the vases or base of the applique blocks.  That helped me keep my colors true in each block.

My quilt is already outdated--best get busy with it!

So--yes, I did sandwich and pin this quilt before I did the baby quilt. That's because I knew I couldn't delay overlong before I had no choice and this way I'll have a quilt in the hoop even after the baby quilt is done and given away.  You will be happy to know that I pinned that particular quilt just this afternoon after rescuing my soggy freezer items and hauling them up to my wonderful sister-in-laws almost empty freezer. What happened to lazy summer days anyway?*wink