Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Freefall Fix Up


Freefall à la Art Gallery

My plate has been rather full lately. I have been working with blinders on to finish pieces intended for exhibits or show deadlines. I also knew I had one quick trip planned for last weekend, and by Thursday morning was was right on schedule. My good friend, Sandra from mmm! quilts, texted early that day to remind me to link up to the finish linky for Freefall. The button is on my sidebar if you want the pattern. I had pattern tested for her ahead of time so my blocks were all done by the time the actual QAL had started. Obviously, she assumed I had finished the whole assembly, but...


"Out of sight--out of mind!"

That text came in the grocery store parking lot. I still had not packed. Hmmm...first things first! I packed quickly, and sparsely. Then my dear husband showed up early for lunch. He stayed and stayed. I asked if he wasn't going back to work until we had to leave. No, they weren't busy. He thought he would get ready, and we could go early. (Isn't this always how things happen?!) 

Well, actually I had to sew a little bit. Did he mind? No, but could I hurry? Sure! So off I went to zip it together lickety split.


See the handy number system?

Oh, I was so smart that I had laid the blocks in the box all numbered, and in order so I could just sit down and chain stitch. And I did quickly and happily. Just one call from dear husband asking when I'd be done. I sewed. I pressed. I was rolling along right up to the end when I saw what happened, and said something a little worse than, "POO!" In my rush, I switched the order of two blocks, and hacked off the leaf point. Tough potatoes! It was technically together, and we had a flight to catch. Hurrying never helps! But I texted Sandra to apologize, posted the boo-boo to Instagram, and off we went.

Nearly a week later, and much water under this gal's bridge with lots to tell you over the next few days...




...I rectified the mistake. Officially fixed.

It's just a flimsy, but Sandra and I have talked about the possibilities for this piece. I think it would make a very interesting portion of a large quilt. I have an idea to float this one section in an all cream background leaving lots of negative space, and quilt it heavily. The creative brain doesn't fully comprehend the backlog of quilts awaiting their turn so I'm not making any promises. But wouldn't that be a fun one to quilt?

Please be sure to check out the winners' post for beautiful pictures showcasing Sandra's pattern. 


Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.



11 comments:

Angie in SoCal said...

I couldn't find the mistake. Did the first one have it? Great pattern. I like your version.

PaulaB quilts said...

Congrats on being a winner even with the mixed up blocks. I think your quilt is far and away the,best expression of fall in all it's colors. And I think your idea of adding open space would be perfect for some Quilting suggesting swirling winds.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

This is a great quilt. Am looking forward to seeing it once you consider all the possibilities. Sadly, I fell behind in this QAL. Hoping to catch up this summer.

Sandra Walker said...

You definitely did NOT have to do that, and did NOT tell me just how much pressure you had on you to 'whip up' the top!! It is just lovely, cannot wait to see where you take it from here. I've removed the boo-boo version from the winners' post and replaced it with this beauty. :-)

Sue said...

This is a lovely version, Julie. Yes, go with your creative brain - how much longer can it take?

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

That's the thing about husbands , they try to be helpful but just muck up schedules. Don't mean to sound so "little woman " but they do . And you say - just a flimsy ! A flimsy is a finish in my book

Julie said...

In the second picture, the left side of the block is correct. The right side has some issues. The large leaf should have the same shape as all the smaller ones, but alas, mine did not.

Julie said...

Thank you, Paula. It's so interesting to really, really look at fall leaves, and they represent the entire spectrum--not just gold, orange, and brown. Maple leaves are especially my favorites with all the pink tones! I think swirls, too, with some windy leaves caught up mid-air would be lovely.

Julie said...

So I'm sure you understand why I pushed myself to get it together at the final moment! It really is a beautiful pattern, and not one I wanted to get lost in the quilting shuffle.

Julie said...

These blocks did take some time to complete. They do have some complexity that requires thought in making so I don't want to waste that effort. And the whole project is far enough down the list that I'll have time to think it through. The extra work that goes into planning is better spent than in ripping. I keep telling myself this. Yes, it will be a good, creative project. Thank you.

Rebecca Grace said...

Ooh, yes -- I love your idea for floating this within a lot of negative space! And then I would want to quilt a swirly pattern like wind, and maybe a few "ghost leaves" quilted in that echo the pieced ones... But I know what you mean about too many pots on the stove. I'm currently in the mindset of "git 'er done and move on" with a few projects that have been hanging around my studio (or hanging over my head!) for way too long.