This started out as a version of crazy mom quilts "birch trees". I love this pattern and bought it with the intent of making it for our new grandson who is to put in an appearance in early March. I started piecing the brightly colored birches - I studied her version - I pondered lights and darks. And then it took a right turn.
And I began to wonder if I could do more realistic birch trees. And would that make sense for a baby quilt? So I began to do a search on Pinterest and Google and came up with a beautiful and sophisticated wall hanging from tallgrass prairie studio's "night forest". Isn't this lovely? And I loved the contrast of lights and darks and all the different fabrics she used.
I still wasn't sure but I was intrigued and decided to try it. It's for family, after all, and if it's a little too "out there" or non-traditional, they won't have trouble telling me. So I started and had no idea what I was doing. I went through my strings; I pulled some pre cut strips from my bins; and I dug into my strips from men's shirts.
I had forgotten how much I Iike improvisational piecing. I just put away the ruler and started cutting. It went together quickly and when I did something I didn't intend to -- I just made it work. This is what the first version looked like when I added strips. The first image is the finished top and there was some evolution in design -- but not a lot. No pinning! Just cut, sew, and repeat.
This required me to stop working on the Quiltville mystery for a few days but I'm hoping to get caught back up while I ponder how to quilt this. I love the negative space but I've learned that dense quilting on a baby quilt takes away any "drape" until it's been washed a number of times. So, rather than create a "stiff" quilt for "Rex Webb Steve" (the name our grandson has chosen -- we're not monogramming anything just yet!), I'll restrain myself and not over quilt it.
I hope you are finding time to "create" and improvise occasionally and enjoy the process! Looking forward to a wonderful 2015 and more creativity!
Jan
I think this is a great "mash-up" of designs by two quilters I admire. And a fun quilt for a little boy. I loved reading about your grandson's names for his little brother. We are awaiting a grandson in a couple of weeks. His sister first named him Melman after the giraffe in the movie Madagascar, but last week she renamed him Alex after the lion. This will be interesting...
ReplyDeleteYour realistic coloured birch trees look gorgeous against all those solids in each square. Don't you just love having a play day. Sewing and pondering the person you are making for? This is going to be a beautiful quilt for your grandson!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I also did a version of this quilt with brightly colored scrappy trees against a cream background. Love your toned down trees.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking birches! I have got this pattern, too, and hope to start piecing, soon.
ReplyDeleteLove your Bonnie Hunter Grand Illusion pieces. It is fun to see how they are all different. I am anxious to see what we are all making.
ReplyDeleteFabulous quilt - love the contrast between the bright backgrounds and the neutrals of the birch trees.
ReplyDeleteI love the bright colours!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great version of the trees quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love the details on the trees with the bright colors! Beautiful
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love your birch trees!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing. Love it :)
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing. Love it :)
ReplyDeleteAmanda made a great design--I love your version with the more realistic birches on brights. How fun!
ReplyDeleteLove your birch trees, and your mystery blocks look good too!
ReplyDeleteI really like your version of this birch trees pattern. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteI really like your version! I like the modern fabrics in the birch!!!
ReplyDeleteEsther