Once upon a time, in the middle of planning for my sister's wedding, I decided that, much as the happy couple would probably like a new stockpot or etc, for their wedding present, instead I would make them a quilt. In their wedding colors. Sprinkled with little drawings I'd done for their wedding invitations. So that they would never ever forget how hard I worked on their wedding that magical day.
(A less egomaniacal version of events is that there I was, gazing lovingly at the kona cotton wall in the local fabric store for no particular reason when I suddenly realized that those particular bolts of Kaufman "berry" & "sage" were perfect matches to Paper Source's "beet" & "pool," & what would it hurt to buy a few yards each, as if enough to make yet another version of A Day at the Beach?)
The plan, as it came together, was a big field of berry over a big field of sage, divided by a wonky-angled pieced stripe made up primarily of chartruese (the third wedding color), ivory, & black (my sister's wedding dress was this incredible ivory lace thing with a black ribbon sash), backed by wide stripes of grey & my favorite Amy Butler floral.
I was going to send it out to be quilted, but I didn't feel like I was finding a quilter love match, style & schedule-wise, so I just kept putting off the decision, & you see where this is going, don't you?
Meanwhile, I was learning how to do loopy quilting, & also letting the clock tick down until the endless & paralyzing recursive loop of "I kind of want to do it but it's too scary & I don't want to mess up the wedding quilt but I want loops on it but I should just send it out to someone else but I don't want stippled tiny ducklings but I'm running out of time but I want to do it" turned into me finally taking a good look at the calendar, shutting up, buying a pair of quilting gloves, & jumping in.
It was still terrifying. Largely, I think, because the machine I was working on didn't have much in the way of throat space, & so there was a lot of quilt management that had to happen all the time. Plus, turning it around to fit the other half in the machine? Hello, backwards quilting.
But, oh, look how it turned out. I didn't know -- as a little postscript to this quilt's reign of terror, I realized that I didn't know as I was putting the finished quilt in the washing machine -- how the loops would look post-washing on a large scale, but I think it turns out that they look pretty excellent. I used an organic cotton batt, so got a nice amount of vintagey shrinkage, & the whole thing is squashy & inviting.
The screenprinted bits blend in nicely now, too. I did their names + date, the cupcake, the paper airplane from their response card (a two color print, black & silver), & the ferry boat.*
I'm so pleased with it. It's the...quiltiest quilt I've made yet, & I love most everything about it (except for some certain small parts of the quilting, you know who you are). May it keep you guys warm for many years to come, sis.
*More pictures of details in my flickr set of the quilt.
It's just too beautiful.
I'm getting married this year- would you like to be my sister?!
Posted by: the pesky bombolino | January 03, 2008 at 01:59 AM
When you're onto a good thing, stick to it. I love all versions of your "Day at the Beach" quilt - especially the red and grey version. I already have lots of your cushion pics marked as favourites over at flickr as I love the way you put fabrics together. In fact, ever thought of doing quilt kits for people really bad at fabric combining? Put me at the top of your customer list if you do. Very covetable work - thanks for sharing. Your sister is very lucky.
Posted by: Kristine | January 03, 2008 at 02:34 AM
It's a gorgeous quilt! Your sister and husband will love it I'm sure!
Posted by: Samsara | January 03, 2008 at 03:00 AM
i love this quilt, but even more so? i love how pleased you are with it. this entry was so fun to read!
Posted by: robiewankenobie | January 03, 2008 at 03:18 AM
it's incredible + perfect. and you are very funny.
happy new year to you all - i loved seeing the the kids' pj pants, too!
Posted by: jen j-m | January 03, 2008 at 03:38 AM
it's so beautiful! The fabric and colors are perfect together. I love that loop stitch, is that a setting on your machine?
Posted by: kate | January 03, 2008 at 03:41 AM
Niiiice. I am not a quilt-y person, but I could live happily with that in my house. :p May your sister and her new dh have as much love together as you put into it. Wait...that didn't come out right. Hope they are happy, is what I meant. :p
Posted by: Muralimanohar | January 03, 2008 at 04:56 AM
absolutely stunning! I am SO impressed!
Posted by: amy | January 03, 2008 at 05:23 AM
its so gorgeou! i'm kind of speechless... good word!
Posted by: shanalee | January 03, 2008 at 05:43 AM
So you are the maker of this beautiful quilt I saw on Flickr this week. It truly is a beatiful work of art. You give folks like me inspiration to just jump in and do it!
Posted by: LauraJ | January 03, 2008 at 06:34 AM
It's just stunning, Daria! Great work... Amazing. You've mastered the loops!
Posted by: Beth | January 03, 2008 at 06:56 AM
Really, really lovely quilt! I just about snorted at the "stippled tiny ducklings"...it's hardly satire. :)
Nice work on the loopy loops.
Posted by: Marcelle | January 03, 2008 at 07:02 AM
what a beautiful quilt!!! I love your previous 2 versions as well. I know all about the pre-quilting terror. the quilt couldn't be more beautiful...you should be so proud of it!
Posted by: amandajean | January 03, 2008 at 07:08 AM
wow Daria, it is absolutely spectacular! lucky sister!
Posted by: Hjordi | January 03, 2008 at 07:08 AM
wow. Wow. WOW!
This is just stunning - and spot on to the smallest of details. I am just blown away by this...
(and it is sooooo much better than a stockpot. Just saying...)
Posted by: lla | January 03, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Really beautiful job!
Posted by: jennifer w. | January 03, 2008 at 07:25 AM
i am so in awe.
it's amazing!!!
Posted by: aprill | January 03, 2008 at 07:53 AM
It looks wonderful, Daria, congratulations and it is so nice to hear about the process, one I am finding daunting. I agree, better than a stock pot.
Posted by: Kirsten | January 03, 2008 at 08:24 AM
holy awesomeness, daria!
well done!
xoxo
Posted by: meg | January 03, 2008 at 08:25 AM
This quilt is totally amazing and beautiful. Definitely much better than a stock pot! You are an awesome sister!
Posted by: amyehodge | January 03, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Ooh, this is beautiful! Everything about this quilt is right up my alley. I want it! Or at least I want to have made it!
PS Nice work on the quilting. I have yet to do any freemotion quilting on anything but scraps. It looks great!
Posted by: Liz Harvatine | January 03, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Absolutely amazing. Wonderful colors, too.
Posted by: lauren | January 03, 2008 at 09:40 AM
daria!!!! it is amazing. i am sure your sister must love it.
Posted by: erin | January 03, 2008 at 10:08 AM
also, what are quilting gloves?
Posted by: erin | January 03, 2008 at 10:09 AM
the quilt is amazing! i am so impressed with how you took on the quilting on your own! beautiful! -kb
Posted by: kelly | January 03, 2008 at 01:37 PM