Saturday, March 13, 2021

The Supreme Yumminess of the Hand Marbled Fabrics and the Graffiti Quilting

Earlier this week, since I was all caught up with customer quilts and right on-track with the kaleidoscope blocks I'm making for Anders' high school graduation quilt, I finally -- FINALLY -- got my UFO Bear Paw quilt out of the Purgatory closet and loaded it on my frame for quilting.  I am so excited to finally be finishing this quilt for myself!  I stewed over how to quilt this one for three years, but when I discovered this digital edge-to-edge quilting design, Graffiti E2E #7, by Karlee Porter,  I knew it would be perfect for this top.  

I'm Loving Graffiti E2E #7 on my Bear Paw Quilt!

I started making my 10 1/2" bear paw blocks in May of 2014 as an experiment, chopping up Anna Maria Horner's large scale LouLou Thi print and enjoying the "blobs of paint" effect that created in my blocks, with sections of butterflies or flowers recognizable in the larger patches but not in the small triangles.  Soon afterwards, I got my hands on my first hand marbled fabric assortment from Marjorie Lee Bevis (I think she was selling them through Luana Rubin's equilter.com online shop at that time, but today she sells her fabric directly through her Etsy shop here) and started making 4" sawtooth stars out of them.  

60 Weight Bottom Line Thread in Silver Blends Into Prints


This is my first quilt that deliberately included lots of "negative space" -- that sea of solid white background fabric -- for showing off quilting texture, but then I couldn't figure out HOW I wanted to quilt it once the top was finished.  I'd been saving it for "when I got good enough" or "when I got around to custom quilting" it, but I gradually realized that custom quilting would reinforce and emphasize the structure of the straight horizontal setting and make the finished quilt feel very traditional.  Which would have been lovely and just fine, but not really what I wanted from this quilt.

65 x 65 Quilt Top, Prior to Quilting

See what I mean?  I wanted a more free-spirited vibe, with my bear paws and stars seeming to float in the white space rather than being locked in place by their seam lines.  And I love the way that Karlee Porter's large scaled, doodle-inspired quilting design minimizes those seam lines by flowing across the borders and boundaries in long, sweeping curves.  This is one of those computerized designs that really looks like hand guided, free motion, rock star doodle quilting.  LOVE!

This Quilting Texture Reminds Me of Dollops of Whipped Cream!


Well, that's all you get about the bear paw quilt for today (unless you want to check out my 2018 post from when I completed the flimsy).  

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Kaleidoscope Project


I think what got me interested in that UFO again was the hand marbled fabrics I've been cutting up for Anders' high school graduation quilt that you see on my design wall below.  On my ironing board, check out the assortment of NEW hand marbled fabrics that just showed up on my front step yesterday:

New Order of Hand Marbled Fabrics for Kaleidoscope Blocks!

I could not be more delighted with the fabrics Marjorie sent me!  This was a custom order she put together for me in bigger pieces than her usual assortments, so that I can get four of those big kaleidoscope triangles out of each piece of fabric, with leftovers.  I was able to communicate with her about the colors I wanted, the size of the fabric pieces I needed, and she even accommodated my request for really dramatic, larger scale marbling for maximum impact on these 11" kaleidoscope blocks.  You can find Marjorie's hand marbled fabrics on her Etsy shop here, but if you don't see the sizes or colors you need listed, definitely reach out to her directly.  This fabric is so cool; it's just what I need to keep me motivated as I crank out more blocks!

Tuesday's To-Do List

  1. 14 more kaleidoscope blocks
  2. Finish quilting bear paw quilt
  3. Bonus: Machine embroider a quilt label for the bear paw quilt & attach binding 


PSST!!  I'd Love to Quilt for YOU!

By the way, if you or any of your quilty friends has a quilt top or two that needs quilting, I'd be delighted to quilt for you!  My turnaround for edge-to-edge quilting is currently running about 2 weeks, and you can click here to find out how to book your quilt with me.

I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties, and then I'm headed right up to the studio to get back to work!

SATURDAY

UFO Busting at Tish in Wonderland

SUNDAY

Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts

MONDAY

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts  

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

BOMs Away at What a Hoot Quilts

TUESDAY

To-Do Tuesday at ChrisKnits

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

29 comments:

piecefulwendy said...

Oh my, that Bear's Paw quilt is dazzling in and of itself, but that quilting just rocks it! What a fun quilt, just for you! The fabrics for the grad quilt are very fun too. I'm enjoying seeing your progress on this one!

Maxine said...

Oh my, I'm just in love with your Bear Paw quilt. I love the colors, the white space and the quilting. I even love that little sliver of color that you've added for a small framing border. I love the way you explain your thinking in what you want for the quilting to add to the quilt. I could definitely see exactly what you were talking about when I saw the flimsy hanging--those seam allowances. And the small stars do look like they are bound in little boxes near the bear paw blocks. But it all just disappears when you add the quilting. That's a great quilting dsign you found also.

I can't wait to see your next creation. I love your marbled fabrics!
Maxine Reisenleiter qbym@att.net

Caryl @ cinnamon holiday workshop said...

What an awesome post!!! I just...love...that...graffiti...quilting!! AND the fabric and the beautiful Bear Paw quilt....you really nailed it on the quilt design. Soooo much inspiration!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I really like how you quilted that and love the circles. And that fabric - wow it is so nice.

Mary said...

Hi Rebecca! This quilt is a stunner. The contrast of the hand-dyed fabrics against the white background and the quilting pattern just make it. I really enjoy your writing style. It’s so conversational and informative. And it takes time to write such an in-depth post. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend. Mary

Mary said...

Hi Rebecca! This quilt is a stunner. The contrast of the hand-dyed fabrics against the white background and the quilting pattern just make it. I really enjoy your writing style. It’s so conversational and informative. And it takes time to write such an in-depth post. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend. Mary

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

That quilting pattern was made for your bear paw top! Using it, turned your top into a stunning quilt. Wow!!! Those marbled fabrics are way cool!

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Wow, it was a good idea to let your beautiful Bear Paws aside for 3 years, as you found the perfect quilting design! I love those large swirls. Stunning hand marbled fabrics too ;)

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Oh, what great projects! I agree, that quilting does seem a bit like whipped cream.

Gretchen Weaver said...

Lovely quilting, perfect for the quilt, happy stitching!

Vicki in MN said...

Oh boy your post is full of deliciousness!!

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

Dollops of whipped cream! Great description. Beautiful quilt, beautiful quilting!

Quilting Gail said...

I absolutely LOVE graffiti quilting! Yours looks great!

The Joyful Quilter said...

LOVE that quilting and those lovely new fabrics for Ander's quilt!!

Anonymous said...

The bear paw quilt is gorgeous, Rebecca! So glad you got the chance to quilt one of your own. And I’m totally loving the kaleidoscope quilt.

Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Fun kaleidoscope blocks. I love the colors! Thanks for sharing your quilts and lovely quilting at Oh Scrap!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Great job on quilting your bear paw quilt! How tall did you scale the Graffiti E2E?

Bonnie said...

Perfect choice for those bear paws. It looks like another finish is heading your way.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Your 'bear paw' quilt is stunning! I love how the graffiti quilting pattern washes over everything, it really seems to meander over the -ve spaces without highlighting those seam lines.

Allison said...

Ooo! It was worth waiting to find the perfect quilt pattern for the Bear Paw quilt. It must be lovely seeing the design swirl and curl across your quilt and the beautiful fabrics as you do the quilting.

Preeti said...

I believe that the amount of negative space is just right to provide the setting for the bear paw blocks. Your quilting is exquisite :-) Love that border fabric - just intense enough for me.

Suz J said...

I love the title of your post. And the quilts... But I love the title 😂😂

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Your bear paw quilt is just gorgeous, Rebecca! You are so right about the quilting distracting our eyes from the seam lines, too. Your quilting is really adding some beautiful detail to the whole look. Way to go, keeping up with those kaleidoscope blocks, too!

Linda said...

I love your bear paw quilt even without quilting but that quilting is exquisite. You obviously love what you do! Loving those marbled fabrics - thanks for the link!

Lynette said...

I love this quilt! So fun to see it getting its pretty quilting. :D

Susan said...

Love your quilt, especially the border. Nicely done!

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Rebecca, I really love that all over quilting design. It could be by FMQ but it's hard to do on a larger scale, although probably easier on a long arm. It really looks awesome. Have fun!

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

Double awesomeness when you receive hand dyed fabrics, and made to your exact specifications! Lovely blocks for a gorgeous quilt to be. I agree that your quilting choice for the bear paw quilt is perfect. Wish I could do that kind of thing free hand! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

Kathy S. said...

Graffiti is a GORGEOUS quilting design choice for this quilt. Such a beautiful finish. Nicely done.