Saturday, July 11, 2009

Hold Your Quilting Plans Loosely!

The clean slate has been replaced with a massive mess!! Out of the 3 projects in the box, one is pieced, marked, basted and in the hoop...it was a nightmare! I had a plan. I held it tight. I had to let it go. The plan involved 3" trees from a Thimbleberries book. Something was not right. They would not measure out. It was the template...wrong size...a printing mistake. I tried to adapt the template, but it would not work. Finally, after a call to Winona (who has the same book), I decided to let the trees go and replace them with a 3 inch hourglass block. The result was wonderful. I think I am happier than I would have been with the trees. I wondered if I should show it here, as it is the table runner that DeNiece is getting for winning my 2nd Anniversary drawing. Since she is out of town, I figured I would show you all...it will be in the mail by early next week.The 4 stars represent each of her children and the houses stand strong for her and her husband. It will hand quilt up nicely and soon be on it's way home.
Another project in the box is the basket quilt. This is a 70x70 cover up quilt. The plan? 16 12" basket blocks set with solid setting blocks. I chose sage green. It was the plan. I held it tight.I had to let it go. The point was to have those baskets pop. Instead they dropped back and the sage green popped. I bought SIX YARDS of that sage green. I do not have the money to go out and replace it. It is important that this quilt is in the hoop sometime in August, preferably the beginning. I came up with a new plan. A crazy plan. A "you-have-to-be-out-of-your-mind" plan.That is the cutest little 6" basket ever made!! It is beyond adorable. I made 3 more...a pink, a blue, and a purple. Put them together and they make a 12" block. I need 12 of them (48 little baskets). What gorgeous setting blocks they will make. I will use background fabric around the outside for setting triangles. What this does is takes an original plan of a quilt with 382 pieces and changes it to a quilt with ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY SIX (1426) pieces in it. And it is not even a bed quilt! It will be worth it...I will show you a pic when I get a full row done. It takes me several hours to finish a block.
The other project in the box is yet to be cut...I am almost afraid to touch it. I have a plan. I am holding it tight.

12 comments:

Winona said...

Bren, keep holding tight, this one has to work out like you want. Right? (grin) When things don't work out like you plan, the projects end up better than you first planned. I love the hour glass blocks in the table runner. So you didn't need trees after all. I am sure your basket quilt will be fabulous, although going from 382 pieces to over 1400 pieces is a huge jump.(shocked look here! LOL) I know you can do it, though. I am looking forward to seeing that first strip. It is so horrible here today. The humidity is so high that I have trouble breathing outside. So I think it will be a day spent inside. Have a good weekend. Winona

Marilyn Robertson said...

It seems like when you run out of a certain fabric that you wanted to use, or in your case the trees just wouldn't work the intended project turns out even better then we had hoped. I really like the hour glasses! I just thought of something...the hourglasses can represent the time the family spends together and the memories they have made. Just a thought! Can't wait to see what your new blocks are going to look like!

Love Bears All Things said...

Well, I like the look of the green squares with the basket blocks but understand if that is not what you wanted. Like your strategy. DeNiece's table runner is so pretty and I know she will be thrilled.
Mama Bear

Alesha said...

The table runner is just gorgeous! What a lovely gift!

I love the baskets! They are very cute. I think you're right about the green, though, even though it's one of my favorite colors. : )

I can't quite picture what you're going to do with the new basket. I'll have to wait to see the finished product. : )

Pretty, pretty projects!
Alesha
http://obtainingmercy.typepad.com

copperswife said...

DeNiece's table runner is beautiful. I cannot imagine the number of pieces going into the basket quilt, but I'm sure it will be absolutely gorgeous. Can't wait to see that first finished strip to see how it's coming along.

Crispy said...

Hooray for letting go and allowing your creative juices to flow...the results are wonderful.

I had one of those this morning, but mine ended up in the trash LOL.

Crispy

blushing rose said...

Bren ~ I actually like the way the baskets sit in the green. Everything will work the way you want as you go along ... TTFN ~Marydon

Unknown said...

The basket is cute. DeNiece is lucky to get the quilt you are making.

Donetta said...

Hello! Think I'm silly...but I agree with blushing rose...

You have to love it though that is what matters. the runner is too cute!
I went the our sewing guild meeting today and took some pictures of a few quilts be sure and grab a napkin it will make you drool!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I like the hour glass look with the stars. Thanks for the lovely comment you left on my blog. I will be looking at your blog too.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Robin said...

It might be interesting to see the basket blocks and green blocks without also looking at the green walls. The green blocks might not be so prominant. I think the green fabric has a soothing nice color.

Sue said...

Can't wait to see the basket quilt. The best laid plans may get waylaid, but often the revised ones are so much more than we thought they could be.

Emerson is a doll!