Tree of Life Modern Quilt Interpretation

If you’ve been with me for a while you know about my wonderful list of Quilts Under Construction. I keep all projects that have progressed from an idea to a potential quilt to a nearly done project on that list. I update the list a few times a year, crossing off and moving things from different parts of the list. It isn’t fancy, just handwritten on a sheet of paper on a clipboard I keep in a drawer. It covers finished Quilt Tops, Quilts Being Quilted, and Blocks. It only enters the list when I’ve decided that some play or an experiment are actually going to be made into a quilt.

The reason I love my list so much is twofold. One, it gives me a direct appreciation for the time I’ve spent creating. It serves as a living memory of all the things I’ve done and can do. History and potential in one. Two, whenever I am blessed with some time, inclination, and less than normal motivation I can consult the list and get inspired. One day I might be in the mood for some easy piecing so I can consult the list and grab one of those projects. Maybe I actually, freakishly, have the desire to baste a quilt so I can see what is ready and has a backing made. Having it on paper means I am not storing it in already busy brain. In other words, I don’t have to open the already packed closet to see what might fall out!

So a few weeks ago I pulled out my list because I had an afternoon and felt like piecing. My tree of life blocks captured my attention. I had 4 blocks and vaguely remembered thinking 5 would be enough for a quilt. No problem! I could make one more block. So I did. This size (18”) is fiddly as you have to make a lot of 2.5” half square triangles but it’s not rocket science. One more block done with ease.

These blocks came in to being, firstly, as a sample for a class I did in conjunction with the Heritage Park Festival of Quilts. I took a quilt from their antique collection and created a modern version. This was one sample, then I made a few more, and now I’ve made 5.

At this point, I could have set the blocks aside but I loved where things were going so I went to the stash (and then the store) for some greens to border the blocks when set on point. My math was off so it is a bit wonky but it works well enough and will be fine with quilting.

Now I can move this set of blocks to the other side of the list for quilt tops. All the satisfaction.

Odetta

Odetta

52” x 52”

A few years ago I was privileged to go through some of the antique quilt collection of Heritage Park. Heritage Park is our local historical village. At the end of May they host a quilt show, where the quilts are all displayed outside, on fences, in the historical buildings. It’s a great affair. As part of the show they showcase a few quilters and have some classes. I was supposed to teach back in 2020 but, of course, the show was cancelled. In 2021 I was able to teach. My goal was modernize one of the quilts from their antique collection.

The original quilt was a repeat of the great Tree of Life block, simply two fabrics. The blocks were placed without sashing and on point, so that they stood tall and proud on the quilt.

In the class we talked about different ways to explore a modern version of this quilt. The main block is a half square triangle, so that became the basis of play. Exploring colour and scale were the two most common ways to play. As was playing with fabric. In the end, we had a collection of very different blocks in a rainbow of colours.

This version is made with 4.5” Half Square Triangles. The quilt is essentially one big block, floating in some extra patchwork. I used a collection of purple fabrics from my stash for the Tree and a wide assortment of black and white, low volume fabrics for the background. This is quite the update from the original ditzy floral and solid white background.

For quilting I stuck with straight lines and a wider than my usual distance between the lines. As this is a good size for a baby I kept it simple and softer. Another move to modern is that I chose a pale pink thread for quilting. Not purple, not white.

The backing fabric is a voile from my stash. I’d actually started making a backing for a different quilt but made a mistake. Because it is voile fabric and I didn’t have any other in my stash I assigned it to this quilt, so that none got wasted. It ended up being perfect. When I went shopping for the binding in my stash I liked the contrast of the magenta with the purple. It’s close, but not the same. And it goes perfectly with the backing! Interestingly, both of those fabrics are by Rashida Coleman Hale. Very different fabric collections, made years apart, but both hers.

The quilt is finished in time to be in the special Trees exhibit at the Heritage Park Quilt Show this year!

Scandi Village Update

It isn’t so much that there are quilts just for winter in this house (although, there are a few), it is more that there are quilts I want to play with making during winter. This Scandi Village is one of them. I put it away after last winter and couldn’t resist pulling it out when the snow came recently.

Of course, the upcoming Scandi Village Party has a little something to do with that.

For this year I’ve designed an additional block - the A Frame cabin - to add to the village. I love it so much that I will definitely be doing a little surgery to add blocks in to what I’ve already sewn.

At some point I will have to stop making blocks for this quilt but I am not quite there yet. The blocks are just too damn cute and so easy to make. And you can make them any size you want. Hmm… if I do ever finish the top I could make some large blocks for the back.

In the meantime, I would love it if you want to join me at the upcoming Party. I am sharing my favourite snack cake recipe, we’ll be making blocks, and generally having a good time.

November 17 6-9 PM Mountain

Hermia

Hermia

72: x 65”

Not known for her stature, Hermia is known for her passion. Her Shakespearian namesake was an apt inspiration. She is always willing to engage in a debate and will fight fearlessly for the rights of all. She’s marched, written letters, educated quietly, and interrupted when necessary. Perhaps her size makes her less intimidating? Or is it that she is ignored, assumed to be worth ignoring. Never make that mistake.

These particular curves started in a Small Piecing workshop with Chawne Kimber. I wanted to see how small I could go. It turns out that ¾” curves are the answer to that question. Chawne encouraged her students to try for smaller and smaller, as well as gave tips for managing the size. Once I started I couldn’t stop! The quilt is the size it is more because I ran out of a number of the fabrics but I was tempted to make it bigger. Small pieces + big quilts = heaven!

Improv curves are a comfort block for me, something to feel good sewing when I am not sure what to sew or need the joy in the act of sewing. Curves are always the answer. Truth be told, I was sad to finish this quilt. It gave me such joy to work on it. The quilt is great! But this is one of those times when process wins over product.

I had a few ways to go with quilting. No matter what, I knew it would be easiest choosing an all over design. I also chose to do straight line quilting with my walking foot to manage any potential headaches with all those seam bumps! Essentially, I quilted her twice. In one direction in various blue threads. Why various? well, I had a whole bunch of more than half empty spools so decided to use them up. Then I did the same thing in the opposite direction with yellow.

My original plan for binding was to use the black and white print I used in bits on the front. This is one of the prints from my one and only fabric collection. In the end, though, it felt too busy as binding here so I swapped it for the Famous Last Words print. Perfect!

It took the motivation of my first solo quilt show at Heritage Park to finish this one. Otherwise, I might have kept making curves. Once I found my fabric, of course.