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Thursday, August 15, 2013

It looks like my garden...

Name:  It Looks Like My Garden
Design: Playing with values, 6" HSTs, inspired by Katie Pedersen tutorial
Size:  approx 84" by 90"
Fabric:  assorted fabrics and scraps in light and dark values
Quilted: by me with Aurifil 50 wt in light grey (2615)

I finished my values quilt.  I am in absolute love with this quilt. The explosion of colours and the play of values just hit all the right notes for me.  My friend Sue saw the quilt when it was on the design wall and she said, "Hey, it looks like your garden."  And it does so that is what I am calling it.  I have wanted to make a values quilt for years.  I have drooled over the values quilts that Katie Pedersen has made and I finally just had to do it.  I used a variety of fabrics from my stash. Scraps, samples, bits of odd fabric.  I was able to use up a lot of fabrics that would have lingered in my stash for who knows how long because they just work here.  There are some bits of Anna Maria Horner, some Sandi Henderson, some Kaffe Fassett and a whole bunch of who knows what.  There is even a print that may be a Martha Negley or Kaffe Fasset that has turnips and asparagus but chopped up in this quilt, it all works.  



 I took a lot of pictures at different times of the day because I was finding it tricky to photograph the colour intensity.  The evening shots like this one by the garden are a bit washed out but I wanted a picture by the flowers.

 So so details... The fabric is cut into 6" squares and then I made a zillion HSTs with light and dark volume fabrics.  Sometimes, the light volume fabric turns up as dark volume fabric in another HST. That is part of the fun.  I absolutely needed the design wall for this one.

The quilting was a workout.  I went for straight lines, 2 rows on either side of the seam lines vertically but not too close to the seams.  I used light grey Aurifil 2615 because I wanted the thread to blend more with all the colours.  I do love straight line quilting.  Really. Love. Straight line. Quilting.  I used a tone on tone purple fabric that has a flower print on it.  I actually got it at the thrift store some time ago and I think there must have been about 8 or 10 metres of it because I have been using it in quilts and for binidngs for years and it just keeps on delivering.  I find it to be a really lovely purple.  I used it in the quilt too.






And the back is a bunch of fabric.  Pieced bits of leftovers and a lovely text fabric from Stof.




See... it looks like my garden.



Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it up Friday.  This is a good finish.

36 comments:

  1. Very lovely quilt. You really did those values well on this one! Love it. You have every right to be proud of yourself.

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  2. This is so lovely! There are a lot of floral patterns in there and they work beautifully together!

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  3. So pretty, Cathy!! Hmm, I might have to give it a go one day! Gorgeous variety of fabrics!

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  4. This is a BRILLIANT finish. It looks like you ave used up tons of fabrics that would have just sat in your bin. But you are right, here they work ; ) I can't imagine quilting something that big. Way to go! I think this has to go on my to do list ; )

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  5. Absolutely beautiful. With that quilt you'll be able to have your beautiful garden indoors all year round.

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  6. It is a WONDERFUL finish, and it'll be reminding of your colourful garden year-round!!

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  7. This is an outstanding finish! A quilt based on value is a journey where you really discover how much stamina you have....and anything can be used. It is often hard to get good photos of these.....I love a cloudy day for the best shots.

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  8. This looks amazing!! I've wanted to make one of these for a while as well. Not sure if it will hit the top of the list soon but seeing yours definitely moved it up a couple of notches :)

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  9. Beautiful! I love the colours, and how you offset the layout.
    The back is "top" worthy too!! :)

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  10. It is gorgeous. And the flowers, too!

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  11. I am absolutely IN LOVE with this quilt! You did an outstanding job! I would love to make a quilt like this one day :)

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  12. OMG So gorgeous as always!! love!

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  13. Great garden, great quilt, great effort. A delight for the eyes!

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  14. Totally stunning Cathy!! I love everything about it!! Beautiful :)

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  15. Kudoos to you Cathy! It IS a lovely quilt by its color and its simplicity. It so does look like YOUR garden! (not mine LOL) Great choice of fabrics. It's like the eyes are walking thru ... well, a garden! Great pictures (I love when bloggers show more than one or two pictures of their work. You never disappoint me.) Great garden too. I envy you! Thanks for sharing.

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  16. Beautiful garden and quilt- front and back!

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  17. Beautiful quilt and it really does look like your flower garden! It's a wowser!

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  18. Lovely quilt. Lovely garden. I am in love with your quilt!

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  19. Everything about this quilt is fantastic. A treasure to be sure. Well done.

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  20. This quilt is really stunning! I love the way such simple arrangement of color can make such a big impact. By the way, I'm a new follower on Bloglovin'!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  21. So amazing Cathy! Great job! This is one of my favorite quits and you have done a stunning job with it!

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  22. You have inspired me. My mom and i always work on a quilt top as a demonstration at our quilt show. Last year we made a quilt top that became a wedding quilt for my neice that got married in January 2013. This year we were looking for a top that we could give to her nephue that just announced his engagement. I remembered seeing this picture and decided it would be simple to make half squares, but would look interestin assembled. Thanks for sharing and inspiring me.

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  23. What a beauty! I love it Cathy, and so relatively simple too.

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  24. Love this quilt. The colors and placement design are just wonderful. That does look like a zillion HST's though:)

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  25. Oh, Cathy! I so love this one... I knew when you started it that it would have oomph, and I just adore it. I have to make a values quilt...

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  26. I am absolutely in love with this quilt. I have a lot of similar fabrics (though definitely not the same quantity/variety) and I had no idea what to do with those. You have just inspired a new project... (just what I need)

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