Friday, May 11, 2007

Coming up for air...

There is an end in sight. Two final projects for two classes finished and turned in (a paper and a web site I had to create). A set of research I need to complete as part of my assistantship -- hopefully this will be done today! A stack of student finals to grade and then calculate the grades. If all goes well, I will be able to take mother's day off! YAHHHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

In the meantime, since I can see the end of the tunnel in sight (but to get there I have had NO time for quilting/playing with fabric/the things I really enjoy), I thought I would post another past project. I gave four quilts as gifts last Christmas. One for my mom, one for my cousin, and this one for my aunt (yes, there is one more -- I'm saving it since I don't actually have a picture of it yet, but since it's currently on the floor downstairs where dd dragged it this morning, I can take care of that later). It started on a trip last summer to the west coast. While visiting my friend Bonnie (oh she of the wonderful quilting help), I may have done some fabric shopping. Ok, who am I kidding? I may have done quite a bit of fabric shopping. I picked up some fat quarters that are totally unlike my usual color palette -- but they were only $1.00 each. I couldn't pass them up! I figured they went together, I could make bags or something -- gifts for someone else. When dd and I moved on from Bonnie's place near Portland to my aunt's place near Seattle I showed my aunt the fabrics I had purchased. She LOVED the fat quarters that don't really go with the rest of my collection. They are, however, HER colors. Serendipity, I am a big fan!

The final leg of last summer's adventures was to New Mexico with Mom. She asked me if I could use the fabrics my aunt had loved for a quilt -- um, yeah, had been thinking that one myself. She'd buy any additional fabric/patterns, etc. I just needed to make it. Sounded fair to me. I found this pattern -- the sample on the cover isn't my thing, but the pattern itself is great. It says 5 minutes to shop, 10 minutes to cut. Um, they may be off a little bit. I think it took me 12-15 minutes to cut all of the fabric for the top, binding and part of the back. But then again, I had to iron. I found a wonderful Robert Kaufman oriental print that just seemed to sing with the more muted earth tones I already had, some great batiks, and voila!

I sent this one off at the same time I sent off my mother's -- and again, the longarm quilter who does my quilts did a FANTASTIC job. You really can't see it in this photo, but she did an all over cherry blossom and oriental fans pattern. I finished it for Christmas, and my aunt loved it!
Only a few more days and I can play with fabric again! WOOO HOOOO! Wish me luck at the library!

13 comments:

Laura said...

Great fabrics for $1 a fat quarter. I love the look of florals and leafy prints together!

Unknown said...

Although the pattern is simple (or maybe because), the quilt looks stunning! The fabric combination works really good and the colours great. You have a lucky aunt there! Take care.

Tanya said...

That is a really lovely quilt! So sweet! I love the border fabric and it goes so nicely with the "coins".

Leigh said...

What a great pattern. Your fabrics look much nicer than the original.
Well done.

KC Quilter said...

What a beauty! Your aunt is one lucky lady!!! Hang in there with the end of school drudgeries. Here's hoping you get to enjoy Mother's Day!!!

Anonymous said...

I love this combination of colors !!! and I agree it looks much better than the original !!! I've been off the internet due to a loss but will be back soon. I've just learned it is mother's day in the US (in France it is always on the last Sunday of May), so HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY XOXO ! thanks for your visit and much appreciated email !

YankeeQuilter said...

I love how the coins/strips makes me pay more attention to the wonderful fabric! I miss the days when I could find good fabric for $1!

ps...good luck at the library!

Helen said...

$1 FQ's!! Who couldn't pass that up! Lovely fabric combination too.

I have "tagged" you for some blogging fun, hope thats cool. :)

Check out here:
http://patchwork-of-mini-grey.blogspot.com/2007/05/time-to-get-tagged.html

:)

Clare said...

$1 for a FQ. Oh wow! Gorgeous quilt - one lucky Aunt.

Anonymous said...

I agree, I really enjoy the border fabric. Great color combinations. Many people have such a hard time with that, getting overwhelmed by what they think will work well with each other. So thats really a talent you have!

The Wooden Spool said...

Lovely, flowing quilt! Coming along lovely!!!! I'm glad you are almost thru with school for awhile! Hang in there! Summer's a comin!!!

Greenmare said...

Really great quilt! And FQ for $1??
Wow! Good job you!

Nicole said...

That is such a pretty design! The colors are lovely and the pattern does look like it would make up fast. What a lucky aunt you have!