My finish today for TGIFF is really more of an almost finish – but after three years of sitting around, I’m so very ok with that!
This quilt was many, many years in the making. It started in 2015 when my mother-in-law bought me a really unique fabric bundle, called The Emperor’s Garden. The fabrics were unique both in color and design; the prints themselves were large and playful, and very different from the novelty fussy patterns I’m used to purchasing.
The fabrics sat in my cabinet for about two years, until I pulled them out to work on The Quilter’s Planner 2017 blocks. Each block that year finished at 12″x12″, so I thought the larger size would work perfectly for these blocks. The year started out strong; I completed January’s two tone block and was happy with the result. February’s block pulled in three colors; I was able to fussy cut some of the butterflies, and – again – I was overall happy with the way it turned out. Then came March’s block…four fabrics. I chose four that I thought would compliment each other well, but they ended up not being different enough and my block looked like a mess of undefined blotches. I figured one bad block wasn’t bad, though, and I could always put it on the back of the quilt.
April’s block redeemed me; I loved how it turned out! I felt like the colors really complimented the shape of the block, and everything stood out in a great contrast between fabrics. I started to fall back off the train, though, with May ; the wide variety of colors in the blocks made it such that the color patterns really didn’t pop – and I made what was going to be my last block in June for three years.
I wasn’t enjoying with the fabrics. I didn’t like how my blocks were turning out. I didn’t think the blocks would connect together well. I didn’t know how *to* make the blocks work with each other. So, I packed it away as (yet another) unfinished quilt.
Fast forward to this year. My bin of unfinished quilts was overflowing, and this quilt was sitting at the top. Somehow inside, I knew it was time to work on it. So, I pulled it out. I went back to The Quilter’s Planner and finished three more blocks from their 2017 lineup to have a nine-block quilt. I added black borders (something I’ve *never* done) and four little color blocks at the intersection points. And you know what?
I love it.
I love how the blocks are so different. I love how, somehow, they all tie together. I love how the center block has the least amount of color play and those surrounding it the most.
I love how the back of the quilt is a mess of all the scraps that were left, and how it harmoniously comes together in a unique design.
This was a huge lesson learned for me. I began to learn to work with more “wild” prints, if you will, and how to pair (and not to pair) them. I learned that a bit of black can tie it all together. I learned that the sum is always better than its individual parts. I learned, next time, to not just give up.
I’m looking forward to finishing this quilt now, and to add the orange butterfly binding to pull it all together. Here’s to having that as my 2020 goal.
How about you? What have you been working on lately?
Jen, that turned out absolutely beautiful!!! I love the yellow block in the middle as a centering place to calm one’s eyes. Otherwise I’m my eyes are excitedly glancing over all these beautiful blocks and fabrics! Do you have much fabric leftover? These fabrics would make a great start to a Meadowland quilt, scrappy style!
Nancy, thank you! Yes, I’m glad, too, to have the yellow in the center…it really is a nice “eye rest place”. I don’t have any fabrics left; I used them all to make the back. Hoping to finish it up in the coming weeks.
What a wonderful learning experience. And you are so right, the little pieces combine to make a whole and we need to look at the bigger picture sometimes!! I think it lovely and very intriguing.
It’s true, Chris, how important it is to really keep looking at the big picture! Thanks for linking up today!
This is so pretty! It feels good to get an older project moving along doesn’t it? Thanks for hosting TGIFF.
Sandra, thank you – it really does feel good to get an older project moving along again! Thanks for joining up today.
Your quilt is FABULOUS, Jen! The solid black sashing was a flash of brilliance that separates the prints just enough to let them shimmer. I have found that having an assortment of solids on hand that coordinates with my prints is the key to success for a lot of blocks. Several big, dramatic prints together in one block can sometimes be akin to several big, dramatic coloratura Soprano soloists trying to outsing one another in an opera… ;-). Sometimes there will be tears; other times blood!
Hi Rebecca – thank you! I was so nervous about the black, but love how it came out. I’m looking forward to popping over to your site to see your quilt, too!