June 2: Revised title and added these three new photos. These show the the variety in the prints the best. After this the post is the same.
Julie's comment made me understand why I didn't quite like my title last night, but couldn't put my finger on it. Eggshell blue has always been a favorite color of mine. Also captured in the "eggshell" name are the four different cream on cream fabrics by Joel Dewberry. They're really hard to photograph, but in person your eye gets caught by the different prints. I just took a couple of new photos this morning in better light. I've been tidying the house waiting for the marine layer to lift. Voila, 10 AM sunshine, right on schedule. Now that's it's been properly documented I'll give it over to the girl.
BTW, Husband's story about the long drive was in his favor overall. They were led on an adventure by some guys in the group who were looking for a swimming hole. He regrets not taking the full state map since they went off his PC printout of driving directions. He had to take someone else's word for the best route back and it was the long way. I didn't mention the concept of stopping and asking since I know it's a genetic improbability. How long do you think it will be before a GPS appears in this house? He redeemed himself by complimenting my quilt.
My darling daughter picked the fabric, the pattern and the quilting style. We were in Sowing Sisters and the fabric had just arrived. They were cutting fabric packs and she just fell in love. I think we all know how that feels!
She's been gone this weekend with my husband on a father/daughter YMCA trip. They went white water rafting on the Kern River. Should have been back around 4-5 PM, but the cell phone call I got around 5:30 had some mention of "bad driving info" from another dad, so they were on the 99 just passing Bakersfield. What? For those of you not familiar with that area, we live about 4 hours south of their rafting campground and the call came from well east of it, and on the wrong side of the mountains. Something tells me that mountain passes and roads without exits for many miles were involved. This will be good for some major ragging from me next time he tries to give me directions anywhere! Driving the Grapevine and then LA on a Sunday night is not a good thing. He's with another dad/daughter pair, so I'm sure they're both pretty chagrined, but that won't stop me. Maybe for tonight, out of pure kindness, but it's fair game in the future!
When I set up this photo below I wanted to stop, run and get my knitting and a cup of tea and settle in to enjoy the last light.
But there's been no rest for me today. I'd promised to have it finished before she returned. My DH had the nerve to roll his eyes at that, but my DD had faith, bless her sweet little 10-yr-old heart! Finished it this afternoon if only to spite him (don't tell her, it's an adult thing) and just pulled it out of the drier before the sun went down. Ran around trying to find good light, but this much contrast in the fabrics is challenging in any light. I'm amusing myself here with the multiple exposures.
I adore the old Amy Butler fabric on the back. That's been waiting in stash for just the right project and this was it. Only had 5 yards, so I've got about 10" leftover.
Now I just have to decide if I'm going to put it on her bed ... maybe not. I guess I should since she was kind enough not to complain a bit when this was put aside in the home stretch so I could make the teacher's quilt. Might let her have it ... as long as I retain napping rights! This loveseat in the courtyard is my favorite spot. Looks perfect there to me.
Pattern: Turning Twenty. Yeah, I know I've used it a bunch, but it is so fast, makes great use of a fat quarters, and really shows off big prints well. I've definitely gotten my money's worth with this pattern. Tried to interest Rachel in other patterns, but she had her heart set on this one. She was also very set on straight line quilting, so I did a 1/4" offset to amuse myself (though about halfway through the fact that I'd doubled my seam runs was not lost on me).
Fabric: Lots of Joel Dewberry with damask prints from Robert Kaufman's Hot Couturier line and polka dots added to the mix. Backing fabric is an old print from Amy Butler I had stashed. The binding is Joel Dewberry.
Quilting Thread: King Tut multi in shades of cream/brown. With the huge color separations on the fabrics whichever way I went - light, aqua, brown - the thread would pop some of the time. Decided on the muted approach, and the multi softened it another step.
The edge is not as wavy as it looks here. The evening breeze was blowing under it and kept lifting the side. Hard to take photos because I kept lunging to keep it from falling into the not-so-fresh fountain water. I didn't want to wash it twice the first day.
Used the bias maker tool again to make the binding (see previous post for info). Learned a lot on that last one and this one looks exactly like I'd hoped. Found a zigzag stitch very suited to this application. So nice to cut that last thread and be FINISHED! The bias tape is sewn from the front side with the zigzag right along the tape edge. The back side of the tape is ever so slightly wider, so you get a little fudge room back there. I know this is untraditional, but I like it a lot.
As always, I had kitty and canine helpers during my photo-shoot. August (orange boy) was rolling around behind me and Cami dog kept rushing the lens to say hi (that tongue can be dangerous), but of course Raven Star found her way on screen.
Well, youngest daughter is asleep on the office futon behind me. She expected to see Daddy tonight to show him her face painting so I'll let her skip a bath. He can wash it off in the AM. Save this, get her tucked in, empty the dishwasher and I'm knitting lace. Next time, Icarus.