Autumn in Indiana

 

 Went shopping at the end of last week, for a big stack of fabric to begin my next several quilts. It might not be enough to finish them, but I have ideas for the next three. Starting the process here.

Building blocks of colorful leaves

Blocks into strips, and strips laid out

Top strip and batting attached to back

And there it is with tree trunks and binding!

Isn't the back pretty?

Landscape Quilt - I've always wanted to make one as a QOV

My next Quilt of Valor - Who says that they all need to be red, white and blue?!! Especially for veterans of long past wars. An image of the American Southwest is just as celebratory, right? I happened to see an ad, for a calendar, and I am taking my inspiration from this. I've done art quilts before, so, onward! I've even done landscape quilts before, but it's been a while, and it's time to do another one.

Update: This quilt went into the mail on March 1st, with the last quilt I created at the same time. I think I may try my hand at a couple more of these 'type' quilts. Folk Art at it's finest.

One of these may be my next attempt!

Choosing fabrics

I think I add a base to each block

Building strips, 3 here

A different view of strips

Strips (6), not yet assembled

Same strips from a different angle

The Quilt. I like it!

And Yet More Quilts of Valor - Here's What I Will Be Working On Next

There's always something next! Always! Maybe not immediately, but still next. The quilts of valor that I make run between 90-125 hours each. That's a lot of time. 4.5-5 yards of fabric in each - the top, the batting and the bottom. That's a lot a fabric. especially in the top, as it's multitudes of smaller pieces built up to that 5 yards of designed top. And thread, and binding, and thinking, designing, changing and re-designing. And driving, shopping, shipping. There's a lot involved in every single quilt. And I can only hope that they each serve their purpose. I get to choose the patterns, and I like most of the patterns I have made, some more than others. Most that I've made this year I really like!

I began this one at the end of June, and finished it sometime in July, with all the regular things that also take up time in our everyday lives.

Matching the triangle sets

Preparing to Trim

Rectangle is the base piece

Hold onto the scraps

This is NOT how they go together

This is correct

Laying out the 2-pieces for colors

Assembing as laid out

Assembling, assembling...

From chaos comes beauty

Pinning the sandwich

Pinning didn't go so well...

The back of the quilt

The top after quilted

Binding is such fun! Ha ha!

Bound with words

Shadows - Quilt of Valor

May 12th, just beginning! It's always messy in the beginning, as I am choosing fabrics to include. I always make more than I need, to be sure that I have options to select as I am building the quilt.

Cutting out 6" blocks, 1.5 and 2" strips

I try to have as few 'duplicates' of fabric as I can, that means having a lot of fabric available and cut out ready to go. It makes it more fun for everyone, I think, maker, user and folks who happen to see the finished product. 

Half way !

The borders, if there are any (and there usually are) are as important to the design of the quilt as any other fabric included (and they are all important), but they border can really pull the whole quilt together! I call this one 'Disappearing Shadows'.

Finished!