Blogger’s Quilt Festival Fall ’10

Amy's Creative Side - Blogger's Quilt Festival

This is my entry into the Fall Blogger’s Quilt Festival, the genius idea from Amy of Amy’s Creative Side. It’s an online quilt show that runs at the same time as  the big Quilts, inc show runs. Lots of bloggy quilting friends are there in Houston, so this is a show for those of us who can’t go! Amy has a big linky where literally 100’s and 100’s of quilters sign in, and then we all try to visit as many as we can!

This quilt is quite old…I made it back in 2005.

hand dyed fabric quilt made of simple squares earth colors

We had moved to California in 2004, and my hubby had hooked up a sink up in the patio for me to be able to dye often. Because I had a great place to dye, I finally came to the realization that I needed to start using the special little bits of fabric I’d dyed back in my learning years in Ohio. I also had painted the bedroom an earthy green and wanted an earthier quilt to go with it.

So one of the reasons this quilt is special to me is that I had finally realized that I needed to use those fabulous bits of fabric…I could always dye more! (When you’re a beginning dyer, there’s lots of trial and error. But after spending 6 years honing my dyeing skills, by this point I realized that I could usually get the color and texture I was looking for.)

The other big leap I took here was the quilting. I had spent years learning how to free motion quilt, and because I could fill a quilt with intricate designs, I thought that mean’t that I always HAD to. Which really got in the way for me creating for awhile…because that free motion quilting, on my wonderful Bernina, that doesn’t have a lot of room under the arm, is very time intensive! But at some point, I got over myself, and gave myself permission to choose a simple, organic line quilting pattern, and a quilt as you go type of construction, so I could make it!

So, this quilt has covered my bed for 5 years now, and has held up pretty well. I took these pictures two days ago, and if I do say so myself, I think that it looks mighty fine! Realizing that just because I could do fancy quilting but that I didn’t have to – this is simple to say, but it really was an amazing step for me. Most of the art I now make uses the quilting line as just that, a line. I love to dye fabrics with texture, and allow that to shine through. When I look back at this quilt, I realize that this was a big breakthrough for me!

And if you’re wondering about the leaves hanging the bed, I wrote a tutorial on how to make them, its over at Lillyella. Thanks for stopping by – I look forward to visiting lots of other quilts in this festival!

106 Responses

  1. This is a beautiful quilt. I have always been intimidated by stippling and I think I just need to try organic straight-line quilting. Oh, and I love the thin little sashing strips. Really gorgeous!

  4. The colors on that quilt are gorgeous, Candy! I really like the simple setting. More than that, I love those leaves and look forward to the tutorial.

  6. I LOVE this quilt – and I love the story behind it. Guess when you start dying your own fabrics, all those “selfmade”-pieces are sooo special. Realizing that you could use them – and enjoying doing so, is indeed a breakthrough. Thanks for sharing !!

  15. I love your quilt. It looks so right at home on your bed. Just beautiful colours. a great momento of your dying skills.

  16. That is an awesome quilt and a great story to accompany it! I really love the way the quilt and the artwork in your room complement each other. And the texture is fabulous. I really must try a quilt-as-you-go quilt, every time I see one, I’m just blown away by how awesome they are!

  17. I can see you love color and it brings out on this quilt. Hope you are enjoying the BQF I hope to see you on my blog too – Hugs Nat

  21. You dyed that fabric? Wow! I really love the colors of that quilt. And the simple line quilting really showcases your dye efforts… It’s a timeless design and it appears to have held up beautifully for being five years old (amazing!)

  22. I have recently started experimenting with hand dyeing myself, so find this quilt quite an inspiration. That’s a great idea for using up small samples. And I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the quilting. It’s a reminder that sometimes going back to basics would do us good. Thank you for sharing.

  23. Candy, it’s so pretty. I love that you did quilt as you go construction. One day when I make a king size quilt I’ll quilt it in pieces too.

    You are totally making me want to dye more. I dyed a couple of white t-shirts for myself a couple weeks ago, I should show you a picture. 🙂

  24. This quilt is really beautiful. I just love those ‘turning points’ in quilting when you are forever changed and your confidence level goes up a notch or two.

  33. I love how the quilting lines alternate directions from one area to the next. It really gives the quilt a great look. I also love how the leaves go so nicely with the fabric colors!!

    Beautiful.

  37. I love your quilt. It has such a comforting look to it. I also love the leaf designs you have about the bed, they are so pretty.

  39. 2005 is quite old, oh I got a laugh out of that one. Don’t tell anyone that I give quilts to about this or else they’ll have the excuse they’ve been looking for to get me to make them all more!

    Great little scraps the colors are beautiful.

  43. I really love the colours and simplicity of the design for this quilt! Way to go on dyeing your own fabric – definitely something I need to try!

  44. It’s a beautiful quilt, and I can see how it would be special in that you dyed the fabric. I hope the quilt label states that. I like the simplicity of your design, too.

  45. Love how all the colours blend & yet stand out on their own. Thanks for the link to the “leaves” tutorial. I’ve bookmarked it & will definitely give this a try.
    Lillian from Canada

  46. Wow – can I come live at your house? I am in love with the quilt AND your bedroom suite! Thanks for sharing your story about how this quilt was a breakthrough. And thank you too for using one of my favourite expressions “and then I got over myself” – it’s such a good quilting/creating mantra!

  47. I want to live at your house 🙂 Last time you had that awesome chair (and the quilt to match), and now this GORGEOUS piece!! I just love the linear lines and how they change direction. Perfection my friend!!

  50. OH my goodness!!! All the loveliness in the world couldn’t cover the description of this masterpiece you have created!!!! Those pics of the leaves are so beautiful too!!!!

  51. Beautiful colors, love the leafs on the walls. I think the line quilting that is being done is a great use of a design element.

  52. This is a lovely quilt, Candy. You certainly have an eye for beautiful colour in your quilting and dyeing. I love the simplicity of the design and the great use of straight line quilting.
    Definitely a quilt to be proud of!

  57. It’s gorgeous! I love all the color variations and the quilting suits it to a tee. I haven’t conquered FMQ yet so I do a lot of organic straight line, but I really do enjoy the outcome; it’s a terrific look especially when you want the fabrics themselves to take center stage.

  58. Gorgeous! This quilt truly is a work of art!

    It really has held up well. Hard to believe it is 5 years old and used on a bed but still looks so fresh and beautiful.

    ITA about the quilting. Sometimes simplicity is perfect.

  59. Beautiful quilt! I really love straight-line quilting. Sometimes it feels like a bold move to “go simple,” but the results are usually stunning!

    I love that you dyed all of these fabrics yourself!

  61. Just beautiful! I jsut used straightline quilting on a quilt for my DD for a holiday gift. It seemed to make the sampler layout pop even more than if I’d gone with something more complicated.

    Your dyed fabrics are so rich and soft at the same time. Thx for sharing!

  62. What a great leaf tutorial. I am going on a hike today and just may have to gather some leaves for this project. By the way, the pink sashing on this quilt adds a nice touch.

  63. I’m not a quilter myself, but stumbled in here and just had to add my “oohhhs” and “ahhhhs” to the rest. This is a stunning piece of work and the colors are perfect!

  68. The colors and textures here are lovely, just lovely. Thank-you for inspiring us all to try “organic” straight line stitching. I imagine it’s so freeing!!!! (Last time I got frustrated with my quilting, I hand stitched instead – this would be a great alternative!!)

    xoxo Rachel at Stitched in Color

  71. Candy, what a fabulous quilt!!! I love your colorful hand dyed fabrics…they look like candy 😉 Your organic quilting lines are perfect for this quilt. Thanks for sharing!

  72. Candy,
    You are a wonderful fabric dyer- I love all the glorious shades that you created for your sumptious looking quilt- it is stunning. I also loved the row of printed leaves hanging on the line above the bed. So simple and so beautiful to look at.
    Enjoy the festival- I hope you meet lots of new quilters along the way.
    Regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
    Anna

  74. Love the simplicity and colors of this quilt. And the banner above your bed really accents the quilt as well. Gorgeous!

  75. Oh, how I love all the colours in that quilt!! It is so striking that I just want to keep looking at it! Sometimes simple quilting is the best, I think.

  78. Beautiful quilt! I recently did the straight line quilting and I have a whole new appreciation for it ~ and that was just a table runner. Beautiful job!!! Kristin

  79. that is GORGEOUS!! And I love the wall art too – might have to try some of that for myself 🙂 Quilt as you go is great too – makes the scary achieveable!

  80. Wow Candy! This quilt is beautiful in all those amazing colors. It’s perfect that you dye your own fabrics. That is next on my Must Learn Wish List. Maybe when I get a larger place.
    Thanks for sharing!

  86. I love your quilt and the clean and uncluttered look of your bedroom. I find it so hard to simplify and not add a squiggle here and there and admire it in others.
    Great job!
    Sabine from Germany

  88. wow, i really love it. and to think you dyed all this fabrics yourself, tht’s really something!
    cheers from Portugal!

  89. Hi Candy–I love your quilt and especially the fact that you dyed your own fabrics. I teach high school art and am planning on offering a fibers course next year. Do you have any tutorials on dyeing? Also, could you give me information about your “quilt as you go” technique? Thank you!

  96. That quilt is so colorful. I know it must make you happy everytime you walk into the room.

  97. This quilt is so lovely. I’ve seen it on your blog in the past and I remember admiring it. I also love the quilting job you did on this. It’s just gorgeous –a great choice for the blogger’s quilt festival.

  98. Your quilt is beautiful. Good for you to use the precious fabrics that you dyed yourself. Now you can see them everyday. I’d say it was worth it!

  104. Breathtakingly beautiful combination of colours! Absolutely beautiful and soothing to look at. I’m sure your bedroom will look so peaceful and inviting with this new addition

  105. The quilt and wall decorations look AMAZING!!!! I love them! You are very talented. Simply beautiful.