a new Direction
I was all geared up to make an Aerial Grove quilt for our bed. I had even purchased fabrics for both the neutral background and colored circles. But then...
My husband hung one of his favorite paintings on our bedroom wall. Combined with the various Japanese-style art pieces he's collected over the years for our room, it sets a certain direction that just doesn't say, "Sprinkle me with Liberty florals, please and thank you."
So, I can't do it. I just can't make a quilt I know doesn't suit him when our bedroom is the only room he really gets to decorate. Instead I'm changing directions. I'm Facing East.
In Friedlander's book, Savor Each Stitch, there is another quilt, in addition to Aerial Grove, that has long caught my eye. The Facing East design is visually related to the Japanese rising sun flag, which dates from feudal times. Carolyn makes several versions, but the one which I tend to find myself staring and staring at is the all-neutral version in white and cream.
So, before I change my mind, here we go! All my white, cream and pale gray fabrics, please report for duty.
In addition to scraps, I have these recently acquired yardage cuts from Westwood Acres Inside Voices bundle and more. That Make Drafts Paper print is one of my favorites! That and the very pale silver script print at far right.
Of course I'll be including many solids as well ranging from true white to cream to pale brown and light gray.
Facing East is a machine paper pieced design with an applique finish. It's by no means a fast sew and we're talking queen sized, so..... Yes, I am feeling intimidated.
But my first block looks promising. The "rays" print is Architextures Crosshatch in gray. For backgrounds I used white, cream, pale gray and that script print. It was surprising how each of the background fabrics looked more saturated (more blue, more yellow, more pink) than usual due to the relative effects of low contrast.
Such a departure from my scrap quilt project! I am hoping to work at Facing East without getting bored by alternating with other quicker, more colorful makes. So, it may be quite awhile before this quilt hits our bed, but I don't mind. I've promised myself not to worry about the pace, just to celebrate the progress.
My husband hung one of his favorite paintings on our bedroom wall. Combined with the various Japanese-style art pieces he's collected over the years for our room, it sets a certain direction that just doesn't say, "Sprinkle me with Liberty florals, please and thank you."
So, I can't do it. I just can't make a quilt I know doesn't suit him when our bedroom is the only room he really gets to decorate. Instead I'm changing directions. I'm Facing East.
In Friedlander's book, Savor Each Stitch, there is another quilt, in addition to Aerial Grove, that has long caught my eye. The Facing East design is visually related to the Japanese rising sun flag, which dates from feudal times. Carolyn makes several versions, but the one which I tend to find myself staring and staring at is the all-neutral version in white and cream.
So, before I change my mind, here we go! All my white, cream and pale gray fabrics, please report for duty.
In addition to scraps, I have these recently acquired yardage cuts from Westwood Acres Inside Voices bundle and more. That Make Drafts Paper print is one of my favorites! That and the very pale silver script print at far right.
Of course I'll be including many solids as well ranging from true white to cream to pale brown and light gray.
Facing East is a machine paper pieced design with an applique finish. It's by no means a fast sew and we're talking queen sized, so..... Yes, I am feeling intimidated.
But my first block looks promising. The "rays" print is Architextures Crosshatch in gray. For backgrounds I used white, cream, pale gray and that script print. It was surprising how each of the background fabrics looked more saturated (more blue, more yellow, more pink) than usual due to the relative effects of low contrast.
Such a departure from my scrap quilt project! I am hoping to work at Facing East without getting bored by alternating with other quicker, more colorful makes. So, it may be quite awhile before this quilt hits our bed, but I don't mind. I've promised myself not to worry about the pace, just to celebrate the progress.