Friday, October 29, 2010

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2010

This is my second time participating in Amy's Blogger Quilt Festival and this time I'm going to show my Batik Beach Quilt.  I pieced this quilt this summer with Island Batik fabrics and use acrylic templates by Elisa's Backporch for cutting out the curves (super easy...highly recommend them!).  Arranging the layout for this quilt was another matter as I wanted organized randomness for a design!  Fortunately I have quilting friends that were up to the challenge and helped with the layout at a guild retreat.


Now I call this my "Beach" quilt is because I made it to use at the beach or to lay on my dock in the summer time.  I am a firm believer in using your quilts not matter what the risks are...be it wet sandy footprints, popcicle drips or butter stains from your popcorn when your cuddled up under a quilt while watching a movie with family.  I believe quilts should be well loved or they have no value.   If they are folded up on a shelf and not touched do you think your children will want them when your gone?  The ones that are stained and washed a bizillion times are the ones they will cherish because they contain wonderful memories! That is were the value of a quilt is...in the memories they hold.
So I hope this quilt will not stay as beautiful as it does in these pictures but over time, as each of my family members plop their wet butts down and wipe their sandy feet on it, it becomes well loved!
I hand dyed the backing and if you want to learn what NOT to do when dyeing fabrics click here   (I don't need to repeat that story again!).  I quilted it using my longarm and chose a dragonfly themed pantograph to fit with the beach theme.
Hope you enjoy the rest of the festival!
Oh, I'm not one for painting my toes but this summer I felt this overwhelming urge to do so...wonder where I got the idea for this color?   ;)

42 comments:

  1. Yep, I just knew you were going to post this quilt... ha ha! It was my favorite and I am with you too on you have to use your quilts. I really like the dragonfly panto... dragonflies are a welcome site when working outdoors in the summer here in the North. G

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  2. Absolutely beautiful! Hand dyed batiks too? I agree we need to use our quilts. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. This is an outstanding quilt. Such wonderful workmanship and color choices! Thank you for sharing.
    Karen

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  4. Lovely quilt and I so agree that a quilt should be used and well loved.

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  5. Lovely, Lovely, Lovely!
    Beautful colours, design, quilting.... thank you for sharing!

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  6. Well I was right about the quilt I thought you would choose for the festival. I have not had much time to view other festival sites yet today but plan to do so this evening. It is such a wonderful, inspiring experience to view the work of other quilters. A

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  7. What a lovely quilt! Love the colors! I have plans for the design - but not the time! Love the nail polish, too! Thank you for sharing!

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  8. ha! organized randomness is another phrase for "I want to make sure it doesn't look too contrived"

    Really, really like this, and the colours are perfect for the beach, or pretending you are on one.

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  9. this is very pretty and the piecing is impeccable! great job.

    and i love the toenails. :P

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  10. Lovely colors! I'm very partial to quilts with curved lines. This one is a beauty.

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  11. This is a stunning quilt - I love everything about it, colour,design, quilting, everything.

    I do so agree with what you said too about quilts being made to use. I always say I don't make heirlooms I make them to be used and loved.

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  12. Fabulous quilt. Perfect for the beach!

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  13. Thanks for sharing this one with us again. I love it.

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  14. Oh so beautiful! Love the colors and the curves. Fantastic work. And I agree, quilts should be well loved. My favorite photos are the ones with people loving/using their quilts!

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  15. I have the same philosophy about quilts as you do: love them! I especially love this quilt because of the pattern and color choice. You have inspired me to try something similar.

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  16. Wonderful quilt! Simply beautiful!

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  17. This is such a wonderful quilt, I love the colors you've used - I'm making one VERY similar in all Sis Boom fabrics and it's so fun to do! I must say I totally agree with you about the quilts our children will value and why. Wise words indeed!

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  18. I totally agree with you that quilts need to be used! I always tell the friends I give quilt to that they have to use them, wahs them and love them. I also offer to fix any tears and cover any stains if they promise to use them. You quilt is so beautiful!!! My beach quilts are always quilts that have been knocking around for a while. I guess there are degrees of using your quilt at my house! haha

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  19. I love your dragonflies in the your quilt! Beautiful!!!!

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  20. What else can I say? It's lovely ...your quilt was the first thumbnail on Amy's BQF Fall 2010 that choosed to view.

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  21. Everyone has already made any comment I could think of to share, so I will say just one thing ...STUNNING!!!

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  22. superbe mais ma photo préférée c'est celle avec les pieds

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  23. Absolutely love the pattern, color choices and the quilting stitches.

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  24. Beautiful quilting. I am working on a quilt right now with dragonflies and I bought a stencil with a dragonfly to do FMQ. I like how there is stippling between each dragonfly. Very pretty!

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  25. Really lovely quilt and lovely quillting too!

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  26. This has turned into an amazing quilt. I just love the colours and the layout.
    Great photos, too. The dock is a wonderful setting for your pictures.
    I have been following your posts for a while and enjoy seeing your lovely quilts.

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  27. What a fantastic nice quilt. This one is my favorite :O)

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  28. It is a gorgeous quilt. I too think that quilts should be used. Love the toenails.

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  29. Ooh, I really like this one! Great colors! Love the batiks!

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  30. What a beautiful quilt! I love that it matches your toenails too! ;)

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  31. I really love the colors- this quilt is beautiful! The matching toenails is always a nice bonus :)

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  32. Organized randomness, I love that phrase! It sounds like my brain... Your quilt is just amazing and the colors are perfect for the beach.

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  33. Stunning quilt I love circle quilts and Elisa Wilson and Louisa Smith have some terrific patterns and templates to make them. I have the templates and the fabric - I just need to find the time.
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful version.
    Warmest regards,
    Anna

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  34. Just from that last picture, I may have to go nail polish & fabric shopping!

    ~ Meagan

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  35. Such a beautiful quilt! Love that you are using it too! I don't think a quilt is finished until it's been used. :)

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  36. this quilt is beautiful! I love the colors you used and your layout is great.

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  37. Your quilt is beautiful! I love how the colors work together. I really enjoyed working with batiks and this is another lovely example of their beauty. The dragonflies in the quilting are fabulous.

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  38. fantastic quilt. wonderful colors, fabrics and design. your philosopy about quilts is such a good one...not always open to it after all the work, but i agree it's one more people should adopt. i love that my children and grandchildren can know their quilts are to be used and used and used and i try to make them sturdy enough for that. thanks for sharing and have a great day

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