I love sampler quilts, but I don't like traditional sampler layouts, so I came up with this after seeing Art Gallery Fabrics's display at QuiltCon one year. Their display was inspired by the Miami Skyline, and it was simple blocks (made of cardboard, probably?) where each set of block makes a building. I drew my ideas on paper before trying it in EQ7 to make sure the proportions worked.
I only used super simple blocks here, but there's a good variety. Fabric selection was by far the hardest part of this quilt, and to this day I wonder if I made the right choices. Too late for that, of course. But where I'm very happy with my decisions is the quilting.
With the big sky background, it's a nice little playground. Scary, but nice. I quilted a lot of leaves in the corner to make it look like somebody was viewing this skyline through a window, and I had to add in a big rainbow. I won't lie, the rainbow is precisely the reason I procrastinated on this quilt for nearly a year. I knew what I had to do, but the thought of marking it and then soooo much rolling back and forth on the frames didn't sound fun. And it wasn't ... but it was worth it. I had to get a rainbow in the sky here!
Once I got the sky quilted, the buildings were a cinch. I love quilting sampler quilts because I can throw on so many designs in a quilt, and I don't get bored while quilting because there's always something new. Pretty much all my favorite designs made an appearance in the buildings somewhere.
I think this quilt came very close to what I was envisioning in my head. Of course, if there's an area I'm unsure I made the right decision, it was the fabric choices, but overall I'm pretty happy with it!
Linking up with: My Quilt Infatuation, Busy Hands Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Cooking Up Quilts, Sew Can She, and Powered by Quilting
This is so beautiful and the sky was definitely worth the extra work! I was wondering in what order you quilted the quilt -- I would have guessed upside down with the buildings first!
ReplyDeleteHi Liz! I have been wondering about this quilt. I remember when you started it and perhaps an update along the way. Of course, your quilting is just stunning. Not only that, but it your choices really enhance your design and pulls out the best. Just exactly what you want! Happy Friday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteI love the texture and additional design elements you created with the quilting in the sky. I know what you mean about having to advance a quilt to get the feature you want quilted, but it was definitely worth it!!
ReplyDeleteWow!! I love it ALL - design, fabric, colors & the quilting! I want to grow up to be the creative, inspiring quilter you are!!! Uh oh...I think I'm much older than you! Always an obstacle 😕 !!!
ReplyDeleteThe rainbow turned out so, so great! And I think the fabrics work really well in the buildings. Super cool quilt!
ReplyDeleteI do like the whole quilt, Liz! I'm sure there's a good feeling of satisfaction with this finish, and this quilt will bring good thoughts and memories for years to come!
ReplyDeleteThat rainbow really is stunning! Beautiful layout and phenomenal quilting!
ReplyDeleteyou really have captured a skyline, and all that movement in the sky is wonderful
ReplyDeleteLiz, you nailed everything about this quilt, including the colors and fabric choices. Don't doubt yourself! And I love the rainbow -- totally worth the extra work.
ReplyDeleteLove love love this. Seriously you should be entering all of your quilts into shows, they are just stunning!
ReplyDeleteThis is stunning! I had to roll over every part of it to see your amazing quilting, which really enhances the subject of this quilt! I am in love with it and just sure you would win any show you entered it in. Glad I found you, now one of my few bookmarks😊
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