Monday, July 23, 2012

Quilt for a friend...


I have a very special friend.  She is kind, generous, big-hearted, funny, special and colourful!  I made her a quilt.  I had been stewing about this for awhile.  Wondering what to make and then what colours for her colourful self?  I noticed this block on Rachel's blog, Stitched in Color, and everything just fell into place.  Rachel called it Gemstones.  Perfect!  Because Patti is a gem.  So here it is.  A finished quilt for a friend.  

I used a variety of fabrics.  Lots of scraps and bits and pieces.  The solid is Kona Berry and a dot from Stof completes the setting triangles.  The binding is a stripe in the Prospect Park line.  I quilted it myself in dense straight lines using my favourite thread... Aurifil 50 wt in white.  I used a lot of thread.  I think I went through about 8 bobbins.  I love the effect of the straight line quilting!  Husband came up with the idea of using the yellow-y green along with the Kona Berry for the setting triangles.  It totally works!  And is just quirky enough!  

I took a picture of the label too.  I used a long strip of Berry and did some free motion handwriting.  The funny thing is that the handwriting actually looks like my handwriting!  I found that stitching a line first, helped me stay more uniform in size as I wrote.  

The backing is an assortment of colourful stuff from my stash.  Wow!  I love this quilt!  

I went down the road for a morning visit yesterday.  I hopped up to her door with the quilt under my arm.  I have to say I was feeling quite proud of myself!  She loved it!  Was totally surprised.  Shed some tears.  Oohed and ahhed.  Lots of hugs.  She noticed all the things that I thought she would like.  The pops of colour.  The really colourful back.  The bits of hand dyed purple that are in some of the squares.  She loved the setting triangles.  I have to say that was a brilliant idea of Husband's!  

Gemstones for a friend because she is one for sure.  



Quilt Stats:
name:  Gemstones for a Friend
size:  70" x 84"
quilted by me in Aurifil 50 wt white
fabric: stash and scraps with Kona Berry and Stof dots, binding Prospect Park 












Linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday!

29 comments:

  1. It is beautiful. What a special gift! I love the gemstone blocks...and the colours!

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  2. Awesome. What a great friend. I love the straight line quilting on this pattern. It just looks so soft--like a big hug.

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  3. I love this. The colours are gorgeous.

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous colours in this quilt. Your friend is sure to treasure it.

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  5. The colors go together so well and I love the different color setting triangles.

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  6. Cathy, this is beautiful, and the colors work so awesome together.
    Wow, your friend will love it! As do I. Debbie

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing this with me! It's gorgeous and so vibrant. I'm stunned. I hope you'll add pictures to the Stitched in Color flickr group, if you're on Flickr!

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  8. Cathy! Its gorgeous! What a beautiful present for your friend, she is one lucky gal..its just lovely! You straight line quilted it yourself on your regular machine? If so, how do you keep it from puckering on the back?

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  9. Oh, SO GORGEOUS!!! I completely love it and also love all the ways you photographed it. Your friend is going to be ga-ga over this beautiful gift.

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  10. The quilt looks amazing. Love the colors and the quilting.

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  11. No wonder she loved it! It is gorgeous!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  12. LOVE the quilt. Particularly the two-tone border/setting triangles. Really nice work.

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  13. Wow, this is awesome. I love the colors you used to make such a striking quilt.

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  14. This quilt is absolutely amazing and beautiful!!! You are such a special person to do this for your friend.

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  15. It's just gorgeous!! And love your stitched label- super cool and a nice touch for such a special quilt!

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  16. Fantastic quilt! I love the color palette you chose too.

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  17. I love your quilt- like your friend I love color- I love how there is such great movement from one side of the quilt to the other- really effective and so beautiful.
    Gemstones for a friends - great way to look at- I am sure she did feel very special. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous gift.
    Regards from Western Canada,
    Anna

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  18. I love this so much and the setting triangles are great.

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  19. Love this quilt. Fabulous colors, pattern, quilting!

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  20. Love the quilting and colors! Really beautiful and such a wonderful gift for a friend:)
    LauraT

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  21. Love the colours and the half & half border. The close straight line quilting lets the patchwork design shine. Great quilt, lucky friend

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  22. This is just a gorgeous quilt and it really does look like sparkly gem stones! I love it and the set in triangles in two colours....perfect!

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  23. Absolutely stunning quilt. Your colour choices are perfect and truly make the quilt.

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  24. I love 3-d in quilts and these colors too! Lately I’ve been asking my husband and he has some fresh ideas that I use. Will you post the pattern?

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  25. I love it. I am a fan of green and purple but I really love the set triangles in the out side and the effect it gave your quilt. I very lucky friend.

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  26. Oh my goodness!!! This may just be my very favourite of the quilts you've made for grown ups!!! It is beautiful, the colours are stunning, and I love the contrast of the white.

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  27. Your quilt is very beautiful and unique with the two colors on the background. Lucky friend.

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