Sunday, November 24, 2013

Geese Tracks and an Improv. Moment

I had some ideas for this geese tracks quilts that just seemed to have floated out the window. Apparently this quilt has a plan of its own! So far I've come up with what's pictured below, but I know it's far from being finished.
Geese Tracks progress--
What I'm looking at now
Probably a good thing when a quilt gets bossy as I don't know what I'm doing half the time anyway. I took my blocks and laid them out on the floor the other day (my best thinking spot at times) and then started playing with fabrics. I spied that lacy looking black/white fabric and immediately started thinking 'what if' and 'oh yeah, what about sashing?' If you're like me, you totally understand the lure of sashing. It somehow has the ability to add an instant antique/vintage quality that I love.
On my design, um... floor
Only a fat quarter of the lacy looking fabric to work with, so that was a bit limiting. Still, I forged ahead like it would all work out regardless. This improv. thing can get pretty intense and maybe even a little addictive--I do so love to play. And how is it that I didn't even know I was doing improv. on this particular quilt? This time for sure I simply got caught up in the idea of doing and just went with the momentum. {Gulp. There will be probably be a day I wish I could hit the rewind on that.}

Okay, moving on. I love the idea of a primitive looking flower in shadowy colors, and betwen that and my stack of gray and black fabrics, it ended up being a design element. I couldn't find the right color gray in my stash for the middle of the flower, so I flipped a fabric over and used the back side. Since I didn't want the stems of the flower to be too perfect looking, I just cut a free shape out with scissors and then used that for my base pattern. I wish my final stems could have been choppier looking, but I really don't want raw edges in this quilt.
Up on the design wall playing with the applique
That free shape--ughh. I figured out quickly that it's not nearly as much fun to stitch the stems when they're rough cut and you actually have to turn the seams back on both sides. Oh well. I weathered through and now I have something that is really starting to intrigue me. Don't you just love when that happens? And you might or might not have noticed, but my sashing doesn't quite meet properly there on the top left corner and I've pondered that a bit. Does it look too sloppy? My theory is (for now anyway), that imperfections will add to the overall whimsical theme I hope to continue to develop. Hmmm...

Linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching. Very fitting post about slowing down and enjoying the moments in your day. lol

19 comments:

  1. I love it when the quilts talk to us!! I totally get that...and it was absolutely the right thing to say! Love your improv...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love hearing how this quilt is evolving! What if you added a red basket/pot for the flower stems to come out of at the bottom of the quilt? (just throwing the idea out there....)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those bossy quilts are so fun. I like Gayle's idea - maybe a tea pot or vase to hold the flowers?

    ReplyDelete
  4. It will be fun to see where this goes. I'm liking it a lot so far!

    ReplyDelete
  5. que bueno!!! estas costuras divertidas tienen un gran encanto
    me gusta la idea del florero
    espero con ganas ver la solución que toma este edredón
    (yo también para pensar pongo mis bloque sen el suelo)
    buena semana

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great colors in this bossy quilt! Gray seems to be the new neutral!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What fun! Can't wait to see the finale masterpiece. I am working on a hexie project in my head. Not sure exactly where I am going with it, but the journey should be fun!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love improv! you can say whatever isn't perfect in the quilt is like that because it was what you wanted!! it was all planned that way :) love the applique put in it too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks like the geese have been wandering through the garden. Love where your improv is heading.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great fun with the improv! You're doing a great job. Love the sashing, love the applique. I can't see a thing wrong with your sashing. Seriously. Just let it be, unless it really bugs you. I like the idea of the red pot (of some kind) for the plant/flower too. An impossibly small one would be fun, too.

    Isn't it fun to let your quilt tell you where it wants to go, and you just go with the flow? That's really being in the zone.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Go Audrey!! I love it when a quilt starts talking and you can just do as you're told. I love what this one is saying!! I think that sashing is meant to be like that.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks great! I'm looking forward to what this quilt says next.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love how you combine piecing and applique. Very original designs! Keep inspiring us!
    Kerry

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very fun! I do love the lacy sashing fabric, and I applaud your idea to forge ahead and see what happens! ENjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really love the flower in that quilt. And the sashing is perfect. I think you should keep listening to the quilt - it seems to know what it's doing!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, those blocks are so pretty. And intrigued???? Yes, I am. Have fun playing! So far so good!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think it is fabulous that you listen to what the quilt says and then you just go for it. In the end you will end up with a quilt that you will love!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love it when my quilts "talk" to me. Can't wait to see the end of the conversation :).

    ReplyDelete

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.