Thursday 27 March 2014

Colourful Scraps Improv... Finished

Several months ago, I decided to try my hand at improv piecing.  I mean really, really improvised piecing.

I used a lot of bright scraps, mostly in red, blue, yellow and green, which I consider primary colours (yes, I know that green is not technically a primary color).

I came up with these blocks, and set them aside hoping inspiration would strike again to make a quilt with them.


Well a few weeks ago, inspiration did strike, and I took out some gray Konas (no, Jenn, I do not know the exact names) and pieced them into a 40"(ish) x 55"(ish) top


Quilting had to be simple... I had a trip planned and needed a binding to keep my hands busy in the airport and on the plane.  I went for loops.  I love loops!


For thread, I just went with green, until I ran out, then switched to yellow, then red, then blue.  Those primary colours again...

The backing is a Connecting Threads print by Jeni Calo that has been collecting dust for 3 years... The collection is called "Folk Hearts" but for me, it has a very Scandinavian vibe... 

It was a perfect match with my "four" primaries...


One of my rows of loops is upside down.  It was not intentional, but I love it!

My husband was nice enough to "volunteer" to be the quilt holder.  Unfortunately the light wasn't right on the "flat" pictures.  Below is his attempt to simulate a quilt flowing in the wind.  Ha! Ha!


I love how I managed to squeeze in a lot of tiny, and in some case ugly, scraps.  I love how the gray border frames the scrappy chaos in the middle.  Is there anything that can't be made better by adding some gray to it?  Well, okay.  Maybe there is, but you get my point...


 
And what is a finished quilt post without a quilt roll? 
 


 
The binding was mostly done in the air between Halifax and Toronto, as well as at both airports.  Although I did not see anyone else quilt, I am happy to report that one quilter from Newfoundland saw me and struck a conversation with me.  I also had a nice chat with a lady who was knitting.  Funny how we stand out in a place full of people glued to some sort of mobile device.

How about one last? 


Mother nature dumped lots of snow on us yesterday in one of those crazy spring blizzards.  It was still cold and windy, and the sun was setting, so that's the only shot I could get.  The quilt is on our back deck... on top of 40cm of snow.

I am so ready for spring!

Linking up to TGIFF at Devoted Quilter.  It's my first time visiting that blog, so off I go explore!

10 comments:

  1. Love your quilt! Great improv. I love the way the blocks are in the middle and the grey all around, lovely. I also like the blocks of colour at the one end.

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  2. It looks great! I haven't done any improv yet, but I enjoy checking out everyone else's work. We didn't get as much snow as we were expecting from that blizzard, but our lawn is still buried under about three feet of snow. Come on spring! Thanks for linking to TGIFF.

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  3. The gray certainly did turn this into a work of art. I love your comment about how crafters stand out in a crowd of mobile device users. I feel exactly that way every day on a commuter train!

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  4. Love it! I've been wanting to try something similar with my scraps--you may just have provided that last bit of inspiration I needed. :)

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  5. Oooh, I love how the grey and that improv pieced border up at the top frames the improv piecing. I know what you mean about crafters standing out in the crowd -- I always meet the most interesting people that way. Glad you had a good trip and that you survived Snowmageddon!

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  6. Your improv quilt is wonderful , I love those primary colors they really pop next to the gray .

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  7. The improve blocks look great in the sea of gray...you are right about that!! I always love to take handwork project with me to appointments and then watch all of the other people on their mobile devices...it's kind of funny :o)

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  8. I applaud your improv-y-ness. Though I must say I am shocked and appalled that you did not make note of your Kona selections when purchased! :) Remember, you can always check my colour card!

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  9. This quilt is so great and I think you are fearless!

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  10. I totally and completely love this quilt. Brights play so beautifully with grey - great call.

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