Fractured :: Improv

I'm not sure what I've been focusing on these days.  Some days it's mini's or pot holders, and with a little luck a quilt or two.  But with all that and more, it's always a welcome relief when I can get back to my love of improv.

FRACTURED
15 1/2" X 23"

Every so often I come across a pile of scraps that are in need of being used.  These colors have found their way into several other quilts and wall hangings, yet there are always scraps leftover.  This time I finally made it to the end and while I may revisit this color combination again, I won't be using this never ending scrap pile!

The day I started this project I was completely unsure what to do.  I layed out my pieces and waited for some sort of inspiration to hit me.  Instead my daughter grabbed a couple pieces of fabric and said 'do something different, use these'!  Well that was easy, except it wasn't!  

I had never thought to use such colors!  You can see just how uncomfortable I was with the selection because I used as little as I could!  The dark color looks black but it's actually Moda Grape.  In order to please Britt and to get into the project I powered through and threw caution to the wind!

Part of what was leftover in my scraps were half circles.  Instead of reinventing the wheel, I decided to slice and dice the pieces together and add 1/4" strips randomly throughout.  Inset circles always intrigue and excite me, so of course I had to 'go there'.

Instead of using one large background piece for the inset circles, I pieced together my background trying to make it as improv-ish as I could.  Curves, 1/4" strips, angles...it's all there. 

Once the large circles were finished I added pieces to the sides and threw in a few more inset circles to meld it all together.  I was having fun once I got into it!  The true test is in the end when it's 'a thing' and finished.

Then again it really wasn't finished until I quilted it!  That took some time.  I mean, what the heck was I going to do?!  With many of my wall hangings I take the opportunity to hone my free motion chops!  I'm never sure where it will end up, but I continue to try.  

I used my circle rules aiming for random perfection.  They aren't perfect, but they are more perfect than if I had done pebbles!  Stippling, straighlines, circles, wiggly little things...the kitchen sink.  It's all worth it to me in the end.  Anytime I get to play is a good thing.

The final touch was hanging corners and a three color scrappy binding.  When I do a lot of 'normal' quilting I like to end the streak with something crazy.  Improv is my palette cleanser.

I've promised myself that one day soon I'll make a large improv quilt again.  I don't even know the last time I went there...but I think I remember how much I loved it!!  

  LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY