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! 

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