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Saturday, February 24, 2018

It's The Little Things :: Mini Quilts

It might be a while until I finish the two big quilts I started at the Retreat, instead I'll reveal one of the mini quilts I started there and finished at home.  In some ways I wish I had started the easier quilt first.  That way I could have easily had a large quilt top finished and felt like I accomplished more than I did.  But I didn't.  Just one more tip for next year!

After getting home and settling in, I pulled out my Mr. Fox block and assessed the situation.  He couldn't be much cuter...or could he?!



I came home with a small, but adorable 6" X 6" unfinished block.  I could have stopped there, or I could see if I could up the ante with it.  I'm upping the ante!  I've gotta give it a try.

Borders are one way to take it up a notch.  There are a million and one options, which made me actually have to think before I act!



I was sure I didn't want to make a cute border, more of a classy Foxy Fox kind of border.  And I wanted to stay with the colors I've already used.

I added a 1/2" border using the leg color and then another 1/2" border with white.  It still needed something more and so I threw in the 1/4" border.  Liking the direction this was going, I decided that the last round would be a 1 1/2" in grey.  



In some ways it looked anemic to me.  You know, lacking color...or lacking something.  I contemplated, scrutinized and stared until I had the perfect idea!  Light bulb moment!  

11" x 11"
Maybe there were two light bulb moments!  The first, by adding the black binding it really pulled it all together.  In my opinion, it took the ordinary to a sophisticated and classy quilt.  It might be the first time I've ever used sophisticated to describe one of my quilts!



The second light bulb moment came while I was deciding how to keep the classy vibe with my quilting.   I did some tiny stippling around the fox, but didn't do anything other than outlining to the fox.

The real classy moment came when I quilted a nice geometric diamond around the last border.  Almost argyle-ish!  I never would have thought going simple would have been so effective!  It was a triumphant moment for me!  

Lets not forget about the little pieced binding section.  Seriously...I did that only because my one strip of black wasn't enough!  I figured adding a piece would be perfect...maybe you might think I planned it all along!



Making mini quilts is also a time to use scraps or undesirable fabrics as the backing.  When I saw this fabric in my stash...it was like angels singing!  Pure perfection!!!  The colors worked, and I had a piece that was just wide enough!  



Mr. Fox will be heading to New York for his final destination.  I've decided I will make this again...because now I want one for myself!!

You can have one too!  Mr. Fox is a free pattern by Stars & Sunshine.  Click here:  Mr. Fox for the link to the pattern.

I'm thinking I might also like to make a small quilt with cute animal blocks.  Like Mr. Fox, 'lil Hedgehog, Mr. Squeak (watch for the post on him!)....if you have any little animals, let me know!

LINKING:
TGIFF

24 comments:

  1. I was trying to think of a comment that was classy and dramatic like your little quilt but I just couldn't - your quilt is just adorable! I can see a few of these in my future - some for grandchildren, and one for me!

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    1. Thank you for trying to keep it classy!! LOL! I’m in love with this little fox and seriously plan on making me one! I hope you get a chance to make it too!

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  2. Love how you framed this one with both the borders and the quilting. It really made it come to life.

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  3. Really love the quilting on this one! Thanks for sharing your thought process, step by step!
    Fun to see how you got there! Great job!

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    1. I had so much fun making this and then adding the borders to elevate the design!

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  4. Goodness! That is soooo adorable! Definitely making one. Love the quilting you went with, perfect.

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    1. I highly recommend making it! For me it was too cute to resist and I’m glad I finally had the chance to make it!

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  5. This is amazing, and if I wasn't terrified of FFP I would have a go myself. x

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  6. Your quilt is the sine qua non, indubitably!

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  7. I always think, when I have a growing WIPS list, that its best to start with the project that is closest to a finish! I love Mr Fox! And your quilting was inspirational! Thanks for the link to the pattern! I'd love to make one of these, and even copy your borders!

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    1. I agree on your WIP philosophy! Adding a couple small projects in between the tedious and time consuming Churn Dash blocks helped so much! I enjoyed making this fox from beginning to end! Even the quilting was fun…for me that’s saying something! I hope you make one…and please do copy my borders!!

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  8. Thank you so much for the cute pattern.

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  9. What a beautiful fox. I specially love the way you quilted the border. The back also looks amazing. The tiny little orange in the binding adds so much to the whimsy of the quilt. A wonderful finish, Jayne!

    -Soma

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    1. Quilting a project isn’t usually fun for me, but this one I thoroughly enjoyed!

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  10. Cute mini, I love everything on it, pattern, quilting design, binding!

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  11. That little guy is so wonderful, Jayne! I just recently remembered how much I like paper-piecing, but I've never tried an animal. That will be something I'll have to do!

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  12. I love what you did with him! Adorable!

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  13. You always do such a great job tying a project all together. Thanks for sharing this clever guy with Oh Scrap and for being so inspiring!

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  14. You knocked it out of the park with the borders and the quilting. Wow.

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  15. I always think that framing a quilt is a must ..bit like framing a picture. Love Mr Fox.

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  16. Oh yes that was the right touch to finishing off cute Mr. Fox. I noticed your little bit of orange in the binding way before you mentioned it. It's a Jayne thing-like your signature;) I think it really added just the right touch. Funny you mentioned sophisticated, just lately a customer told me she appreciated my sophisticated runner, I never think of my stuff as sophisticated!

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  17. This is very cute Jayne and thanks for the link to the pattern!

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  18. Mr. Fox turned out so delightful! I love the playful quilting in the borders, it adds so much to the finished composition.

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  19. I love your little fox pattern, I tried to follow the link but it took me to craftsy and I could not find it on their website. Any suggestions? Thank you

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