ThisTree of Life Quilt Just Makes Me Happy

Ah... this Tree of Life quilt. It was one that was on my bucket list for a very long time. In fact, here is a Pinterest board where I hoarded images of the more special ones that had caught my attention. And one day in 2014, I finally got started on my very own.

So, so happy with how this one turned out!

As usual, I ended up drawing my own pattern. No doubt this particular pattern is available somewhere out there in the land of quilting, but I couldn't find one with the 'trunk' put together just the way I wanted, or even the size of block I needed. It's easy enough to make though, if you'd like to try one for yourself.

It's a finish!

Although I adore the established look of most antique Tree of Life quilts, I couldn't get this version out of my head. It made me seriously consider whether or not I wanted to broaden the potential color palette a little more than the basic {two or three color} look so consistently used in the past. In the end, I couldn't resist the more-color-please! idea, nor the siren call of trying my hand at using busy {perhaps vintage} looking backgrounds. The challenge of turning out a cohesive looking quilt proved to be quite irresistible.

A close-up

Although very much touch and go at times {the seams are not exactly perfection!}, this was a positive feeling project clear through to the end. The colors, the blends of prints, the use of woven fabrics {which I always get mushy over) all helped to keep my endorphins running on high. The very universal layout, with a little solid color sashing in between blocks, also definitely helped to ground my colorful, busy looking quilt. It keeps the overall appearance firmly rooted in tradition, which I love and appreciate. Nothing to be ashamed of, using the foundations of antique/vintage quilting in our newly creative efforts!

Hanging on the railing

It was a little surprising at how much I loved having this quilt in the hoop, even though it's been four years since the top was started. There are times that I probably feel a little 'disconnect' from a project started that far in the past. We doubt ourselves and say, 'Seriously? Why did I make this again?', discounting the value of that specific moment in our quilting journey.  It's just fact that most of our styles continue to grow and change with time and continual forward momentum.

One of the things that I think helps in staying connected to older quilt tops, is when we deliberately strive to pursue our unique voice in all aspects of design, quilt after quilt, choice after choice. With that, and blending years worth of fabric choices {not making a one fabric line quilt}, then the overall look shouldn't feel stale or particularly dated in just a few, short years.

Love how the wonk in the woven fabric
 setting triangles quilted out!

I will reluctantly admit to having some issues with the backing on this quilt. It was sandwiched and pinned on one of those horrible, terrible, no-good days that we all have occasionally. By the time I realized there were five slits in the middle fabric, well.... I didn't particularly care. This fabric was one that was given to me years ago in a bag of other misfits, so the cuts were not of my doing. Nevertheless, it needed fixed and so I decided to try something new. The patches were hand sewn on top of the backing before the hand quilting started, and after the entire quilted was pinned. Yeah. It was a job, but so interesting to see how it looked afterwards. I wouldn't exactly recommend doing these patches on purpose, but somehow they appeal to me all the more for their brazen impertinence.

The strange tale of the backing patches...

And so that's the story of my Tree of Life quilt. Doubtful that this one will ever be given away. It's just too whimsical and yep, fearless! for anyone else to properly appreciate. Right? hehe  Told ya! the wonk would quilt out of the setting triangles. Hand quilting is the best....

Crossing this one off the list!

It's nice to finish a quilt on the bucket list occasionally instead of just meandering willy-nilly where ever our muse takes us. Oh right. I did that too.....  Linking up with Linda and Julie at sew, stitch, snap, SHARE #23!