Friday, August 11, 2017

From Trash to Treasure! The Process.

Not really trash!  I would never call fabric trash or scraps for that matter!  From one a little pile of scraps my mind always races with ideas.  But if you have visited me and my blog before, you probably already know that!

Early in May I made a placemat.  Sixteen to be exact!  These Geometric Placemats also got me thinking of other ideas, maybe even a pattern at some point.

Before I share the finished quilt, I thought I would share my process.  What I started with, where it took me and the flimsy finish.  Hold on to your hats...



Lovely, right?!  If I hadn't made sixteen place mats, I'm sure I wouldn't have kept any of the pieces.  The gauntlet was thrown down...the challenge began!

 

I put together several other blocks, added pieces of fabric to existing scraps and figured out ways to use pieces that were 'iffy' to begin with.

The plan wasn't to make each of these triangles the same shape or size.  I went with what I had when adding fabric and trimming them up.  That being said, I still wanted consistency with the shapes for whatever direction I was going to go in.  There wouldn't be perfection.  



I had to made a few extra of the triangle pieces (above) in order to get nine blocks for the quilt.  After those were finished I put them on my design wall for a few days to figure out my next move.  

The 1/4" dark grey lines are the connecting lines or the thread that binds it all together.  It made sense at the time for everything to link together.  Perhaps that's because there was sure to be a lot of negative space and I didn't feel like floating blocks would work.



You can see the inconsistencies of the pieces.  The blocks, the lines...like I said nothing would be perfect.  And I think that's okay.  There are times when things don't need to be. Then again there are times when perfection has to be spot on.  Either way, it's your choice.  



Of course there are places where I wish my seams had lined up better or perfect.  It just didn't happen and I didn't push it or myself.  Call me lazy!



Connecting the dots!  That's where the magic happens.  After days of planning and working on a quilt, getting it together feels so good!

I thought by adding the 1/4" grey border around the center would put the finishing touch on it, or contain the design.  My mind could only think horizontally when piecing the sections to make the top.  Maybe not the best way to go about it, but there's no turning back once I get a thought or idea!


I decided a simple pieced backing would be just fine.  Grey, pink and a rusty orange.  Now to make a quilt sandwich and get the quilting juices flowing!


I love a beautiful close up shot of most anything!  This quilt inspired me to get 'up close and personal' with it.  

After sitting pinned and primed, this quilt eventually made it to my quilting table.  It can take a very long time for me to figure out how I should quilt most anything.  Especially longer when I have negative space on a big project.  Quilting on a domestic machine has its limits, so coming up with something that I can do myself takes time.  

I'll be sharing the finished quilt very soon.  Because I'm still in Oregon, I don't have my notes on the fabric with me!  I know I used Kona Graphite, Shadow and dusty pink.  The orange and pink orange is a Shot Cotton.  Not a lot of info to go by...sorry!

Stay tuned!  More to come!

LINKING:

28 comments :

  1. oh my! this is fabulous! You need to make it a pattern!! I would so buy it!

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    1. I wonder if I could adapt my scrap version to an actual pattern…possibly worth a try!

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  2. It has the feel of a Frank Lloyd Wright art deco window. Very nice.

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  3. What a great use of your bits and pieces! I love it!

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    1. I do love a good challenge and all those bits and pieces gave me one!

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  4. Jayne, great job using up leftovers. I just love the little bitty HRTs on the side and top/bottom!

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  5. Thanks for sharing your thought process in putting together this stunning quilt from left overs! The dark gray frame sets off the design very well and the addition of the rusty orange adds great depth to the quilt. Well done!

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    1. It was a process full of challenges, but I love when it all comes together in the end.

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  6. Just beautiful. Anxious to see more.

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  7. I love, love, love how this came together, Jayne. I especially like on the sides how the darker gray fades out at the top and bottom.

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  8. It's wonderful!. I like how the red helps the pink to pop and the transparent look to the piece.

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  9. Love this quilt. Amazing what scraps can inspire.

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    1. It really is amazing what scraps can be! A little imagination goes a long way!

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  10. Wow wow wow!! You are amazing, not to mention talented!!

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  11. Beautiful work, and such an amazing way to use up even the smallest of bits!

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  12. Oh, this turned out so wonderful! I can truly hear your excitement through your words about the process of turning those tiny bits into a real quilt :)

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  13. Oh!! I adore this!! Your creative mind delights me - I so look forward to your emails/posts - thanks for sharing the steps to this wonder!

    Liz

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  14. I love looking at your use of scraps to make yet another beautiful quilt. It makes me think twice when I decide not to save a scrap. And I am known for hanging onto scraps to begin with. Can't wait to see it quilted.

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  15. That is just the coolest! I love the colors, I love the pattern! So unique and beautiful!!!

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  16. Awesome pattern, it was very cool seeing the pieces you started with and how they came together into the quilt top.

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  17. You've made a wonderful Improv piece. It has rhythm in the repetition and reminds me of a musical score in feeling, so delicate yet assertive. Please don't even think about perfection. It is a unique art piece which elicits feelings in the viewer. I don't think a pattern is necessary. It is totally yours, so be very proud of,your art.

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  18. I always love to see how you put colors together. The rust was a brilliant choice! Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  19. Good on you for turning something so fabulous from scraps. Great job!!

    -Soma

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  20. Gorgeous!!! Can't wait to see how you finished it!

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  21. I'm leaving this post up so I can read through it again. You are such an inspiration!

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  22. You are definitely the queen of improv, I wouldn't know where to start with those bits, yet you made it look so simple. What's more it looks designed, who else could pull that off.

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  23. This looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright design. Beautiful!

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