Thursday, October 29, 2015

Pop Stars for Halloween Finish




If there is a quilt on the floor, a dog will find it.





When the light starts fading in the afternoon, I can still get a pretty good picture if I stand on top of my kitchen island, and shoot down toward the floor. (Don't rat me out. Okay?)




My son helped hold the quilt in the picture above and below. You can see the low sun reflecting off the spouting. When the light fades, especially moving toward winter, everything becomes tinged blue. It's very hard to get true colors now. We also fought fierce winds today.



The Minky allowed the quilting to really pop. 




While most of the fabrics are Moda, and the original idea was built around the Boo Crew line, I knew this silver hash marked fabric from Timeless Treasures would be perfect for binding.



I imagine it's the impact of so many Kathy Doughty books on my shelf, but I am smitten with wedges. I was almost giddy putting together the first spider webs. Pop Stars was done in multi-color strips in the book, but the challenge of a black and white value quilt added another element, and made it mine.




I modified the original pattern by making it oblong instead of square. This finishes out at 65" x 86". Absolutely perfect for snoozing on our long couch. The backing is Minky, and the batting is Warm & Natural. I wanted it to be a warm quilt, but everyone who feels it makes the same remark. "Wow! Is that every heavy!" I might try the same foundation piecing the next time without adding batting. I think the combination would make a lovely summer quilt.

The quilt was pieced with Aurifil 50 wt. I longarmed this on a Handiquilter Avante with Aurifil Invisible Thread for the top thread, and Omni by Superior Threads for the bobbin.


 
Like a great painting, I prefer when my eyes have to travel across across the quilt looking for all the details. One filled with texture and color will keep a viewer's attention inside the quilt, instead of a cursory glance in and out. When all the blocks in a quilt are identical, we only need to hone in on one to 'get it'. When each is different--a sampler, a variety of appliqued baskets, etc., we tend to spend more time appreciating it visually.

I learned first hand last summer in the New Blogger's Blog Hop that very graphic, scrappy quilts aren't everyone's bag. There are also a small group of us that would choose a quilt like this over any other. It has to do with the many prints, and busyness. Our eyes have a tendency to search out calm spots for somewhere to rest, and a quilt like this has none. Even when we try to make sense of the stars, they look like they are off somehow. I assure you each arm is identical to the others, and all were fussy cut. The variation of stripes, light to dark, fool our eyes into seeing them as wonky stars. To me it adds another fun dimension, but to a perfectionist it makes her a little crazy. 

It's okay if you don't love it as much as I do. I understand. I grew so much in the time it took to make this quilt because parts of it didn't work the first time. I had to figure things out, and while it was frustrating, the puzzle is the allure of quilt making for me. 

Enjoy all the quilts at the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side, and be sure to visit the quilters' blogs to learn the stories behind the quilts.

Come on, Doxie girls. 

Let's go sew.


24 comments:

Gina said...

I think this quilt is great. I'd love to make a black and white quilt. I've got one planned out in EQ, just need to start collecting some fabrics. I love the quilting.
It's good that we don't always like the same quilts, I'm not a pastel, flowery person. Just think how boring quliting would be if we all sewed the same thing xx

Jayne said...

This turned out beautiful! The quilting works so well with it. It really is amazing how heavy a foundation pieced quilt is, I get the same thing with improv. So many seams add weight! My eyes hone in to the star blocks, then I jump to the spider webs...I like that! Its a feast for the eyes! Love it Julie!!

Tu-Na Quilts said...

Wow! It's beautiful. At first my eyes tricked me and I couldn't tell what the brown spot was in the first picture. Then I noticed the stars and how they pop with colorful goodness-a treat for the eyes. Congratulations on a job well done! Karen

Terry said...

I love how my eye goes from the bright, funky stars to the intricate webs. This turned out great. I always appreciate your candor and insight into the creating of your quilts and enjoy following along 'the journey'. I especially like that you show your mishaps along the way - makes me feel better about my own mistakes and gives me inspiration to undo and carry on!

Annie said...

Well I certainly love it as much as you do, just fabulous!

sandi s said...

I absolutely love it! The colors are wonderful. Hugs,

CapitolaQuilter said...

Soft and spiderwebby, really fun. Have yet to try minky

Vera said...

Great pics and what a lovely quilting texture! Love the backing!

Lynette said...

I assure you, I *love* this quilt!! Yes, its prints make it dance around, but the scheme of grays somehow tame it into a pleasing dance instead of a chaotic cacophony. :D And that minky backing is so perfect for it. Absolute success here!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

The quilting shows up wonderfully on the minky. Great finish!!!

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

I positively, absolutely, *adore* this quilt!!! The wonkiness, the scrappiness, the color scheme, everything appeals to me. You did a wonderful job and I hope it keeps you super snuggly warm this winter!

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Julie! This is a gorgeus quilt! I admire spider web quilts and haven't done any yet. Your colours and layout are beautiful even I was thinking that I could use colours on the spider webs and grey/white/black on the stars (black is difficult for me). I love the phorot where you are on the kitchen island and your puppy and kitten are looking 'what happens here'! x Teje

Dona said...

So many things to love about this quilt. The fabrics, the design, the quilting and the minky. so very nice.

Jasmine said...

This turned out fabulous. I love the quilting on the back.

Sandra Walker said...

Yahoo! Glad you got this baby finished Julie, and into the festival. I love how my eyes zoom around, with a 'wait, whut?' kind of feeling. SO glad you put Minky on the back as it does the quilting proud...and I said "oh!" out loud when I saw the photo of the back. grin on the standing on your island...and your girls are part cat methinks, having to get ON every quilt.

Kate said...

Congrats on a fun and dramatic quilt. The quilting turned out beautifully, love the back.

Paulette said...

Love, love, love this spiderweb quilt! It is simply terrific!

Kat said...

Gorgeous! I love a good spiderweb and the colors are perfect. The quilting looks sooo good on the back, too!

Zenia Rene said...

I don't think it's possible to love it as much as you do, being you are the maker and all, but I'd say I'm a super close 2nd! And it gets my # 1 vote in the large category! The spiderweb has been on my list for quite sometime. You've inspired me to add it to my 2016 list of quilts to make...I'm shooting for next Halloween. Good providence in the festival.

Zenia Rene said...

And thanks for linking up at WHOOMP There IT Is!

Cathy said...

I absolutely love this! The black and white with pops of color, the quilting, all of it! I love how well minky shows quilting. I'm always amazed at how pretty it looks.

Sharon - IN said...

I so totally LOVE this quilt! And a minky back! And great quilting! What a fantastic quilt.

Muv said...

Totally gorgeous quilt, Julie! The colours are fantastic, and I love the photo taken from above.

Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks!

Love, Muv

Heather A said...

Love this quilt. Just sayin'!