Rowan Flora Quilt Finished!

Doing the finished quilt dance! Here's Flora just out of the wash. Drug-free mood enhancement in fabric form. We've got a heavy marine layer today, but this quilt's colors still glow in the gloom.

Yep, that's little black cat's tail disappearing under there. She's always such a help - knocked this off three times at least as I was trying to get it artfully draped. It got noticeably gloomier in just the few minutes I was taking photos, but I'm just so excited that I had to take pictures today.

The details...

Pieced in Oct 2007 and quilted and bound in April 2008. Approx 54" x 63".

Pattern:  Flora by Valori Wells
Fabric:  All Rowan except solids
Quilting Thread:  King Tut multicolored cotton color 922 (I LOVED working with this thread)

I must admit I liked it so much I was afraid to finish it. Then in a big jump, I decided this past week that I would learn to free-motion flowers on it and play with binding ideas. When I get brave it's always just-this-close to stupid.

Started safe by stitching in the ditch down each side of the narrow color lines. Almost stopped there, but knew I had to break out of my funk and conquer my fears. Thought a curving line with pansies down each patterned block line would look simple and fun. Because the narrow color strips are made up of blocks the same length, but the placement is staggered, they made an easy way to keep the pansies spaced evenly, yet appear randomly placed along the patterned blocks.

For the binding I fudged the "right" way, probably to the point of giving a classic quilter hives. I sewed the strips to the back, the turned them to the front and zigzagged it down. I use standard methods for joining the strips as well as for turning corners and joining the final edges, but I just don't care to hand sew the binding when this is just a fun throw quilt. Anyway - and this may be a massive rationalization - I like the playfulness of the multicolored zigzags.

Sometimes I went round and round inside a flower, sometime not. I kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I only practiced once or twice before getting bored and starting on the quilt, so I learned as I went. My darling eldest daughter comes by her bad habits naturally. Anyway, they're fun to make and as in nature, no two are alike.

 

Here's what the quilting looks like from the back:

Here's a larger view of the back. It's a Kaffe print I bought last year. I found it just after I'd pieced the whole top or it would have been on the front too. I love it on the back, but I was kind of bummed when I found it so soon after finishing the front because it's so perfect with the other prints. It probably would have been the lead fabric. Have to admit I considered ripping and splicing it in, but even I deemed that insane and put the seam ripper down and backed away.

We've lived here over two years, and all this time the kitchen table has been pushed to the side of the room and loaded with the PC, then the fish tank too. Of course it became the instant magnet for piles of crud (not the first word my fingers typed I admit). I'd gotten to the point of looking past that area, even though I walked through it every day. Funny how you can do that huh? Anyway, finally got a bookshelf for the fish tank and a small desk for the PC and voila, it's like a new room appeared! I even cleaned the fish tank (whoo hoo) -- with sparkling clean glass we found out that our fantail girls are fertile Myrtles.

For now the maps of the world and US are just tacked up because my DH has plans to install a wall-sized metal sheet as magnet board for the maps plus postcards, kid's artwork, etc. I think it will be cool, so I hope he gets time soon. When I was in my twenties a boyfriend and I house-sat for two UCSD profs who loved hiking. They had their entire kitchen nook wall covered in raised topo maps of the Sierra. We'd eat our cereal and plan hikes. I've wanted to do something like that ever since.

The girls are on Spring Break this past week and next so we all went to the Carlsbad Farmer's Market on Wednesday. We bought the best strawberries of the season so far and I let the girls pick three colors of gerbers. They choose well didn't they!

Now I LOVE my kitchen nook!

Seeing this quilt on the table makes me want to get started on a table runner and bench pads.

Soon... 

Comments

[Marit]

Your quilt is stunningly b e a u t i f u l ! Congratulations on brilliant colors and clever quilting!
I have been thinking about making an orange quilt, lately. Seeing your beauty, I cant wait to get started. And your pictures are beautiful to. You make the most inspirational blog!!! Thank you for sharing!

[Jules]

Wow, wow, wow..........beautiful quilt, absolutely love the colours.......and love the freehand flowers......just gorgeous, the whole thing is just gorgeous

[Risa]

I love the quilt! I really like the multicolored zig-zags on the binding. Nice touch. The flowers that the girls picked are perfect with it.

[Jaime]

What a lovely quilt! It's so nice and cheery. And I love the flowers, very beautiful.

[KathieB]

Beautiful quilt. Love the way the fabrics kind of melt into each other--it all just glows. Well done!

I have quilts my great grandmother made that are bound the way you describe. It might alarm the 2008 Quilt Police but it's a totally valid way to make a quilt.

[Bronwyn]

Ditto everyone's comments - sorry that my lazy way of saying how fab your quilt is! I really like your attitude towards the binding; sometimes we need less 'regulation' in our world and why not start with binding. The zigzags kill me!

[Octopus Knits]

It's just beautiful! I love your whole photoshoot : )

[sheree]

I absolutely love this, Nancy! I remember when you shared just the top. The final result is stunning. And I love the table--goodness, it is gorgeous! Happy Spring to you and I hope you and the girls enjoy a fun Spring Break.

Sheree

[moni]

wow! The quilt is magnificent! As usual, I am awed. The daisy quilting is beyond awesome.

[Shannon]

I absolutely love the quilt! The quilting pattern turned out great ~ way to go:) Gerber daisys are my favorite!

[Tiff@Three Peas]

WOW i love the vibrant colors!!! You are one talented lady!!!

[Sherrie]

Beautiful, just beautiful. You really inspire me.

[Teresa C]

I love the way the quilt matches the flowers. So Lovely.

I have a quick question, and it is so basic as to be almost a little embarrassing to not be able to decide this myself. I stumbled into a fabric store, my favorite one, and bought fabric to make a bag (Amy Butler quilting). I'm sitting here debating washing first or just cutting. Help me decide?

[sheree]

Hi Nancy! I could not get this comment to show up on the proper post, so posting here! I love the color yarn you chose for you latest knitting project. And I agree, blogging is fun, but sitting in a room with like minded crafters is so energizing. I am much more of a in person type of person anyway.

Your garden is just exploding with loveliness! I want to come sit with you and have a cup of tea.

Hope you are well!

Sheree

[Minka]

The quilt, flowers, and table look spendid!

[air jordan 11]

Nancy, you are a quilting machine! It' so pretty. And the dining area is lovely with the quilt gracing the table. And the back of the quilt! I have that fabric in another shade - I am using it for one of those cute reversible aprons by Montesorri By Hand. IF I could manage the time to actually sew. Looking forward to those long days of summer.

[retro jordan 11]

I have to come often these days to get more of the colourful splash of good vibrations this quilt sends out. It is gorgeous and this pink orange really stirs me up to severly raid my stash and to join in some orangy pinkish quilty goodness.

[Bpmhalrqxz]

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