Friday, July 4, 2014

Quilts - Saturday Snapshots

I enjoy several hobbies, but my favorite pastime in recent years has been quilting. So today I'm sharing a couple of my creations. I've given away most of the quilts I've made, but a few are still draped over the backs of chairs or folded at the foot of beds here at home.

The quilts shown here were mostly made from scraps - leftovers from other projects. I love the jewel tones in both quilts. By the way, if you also like reading, you might enjoy my recent post about The Friendship Star Quilt (HERE), a novel by Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels.

This pattern is called Log Cabin. The squares can be arranged in several 
different ways and different color combinations can be used, all of which change
the look of the finished quilt. The central square of each block is usually 
orange, yellow or red and represents the hearth in a log cabin. 
 

Here are four squares from the lower left-hand corner of the quilt above.
To create a square, you start at the central yellow piece and then
add strips one at a time all around, squaring off the edges as you go.
Since each square is made up of two color families, I drew the layout of

the squares before I started so I wouldn't get lost when assembling them.


This is called a string quilt. 


Each square consists of a bunch of odd-sized strips of fabric
sewn diagonally across a backing square (a "foundation") 

with a black diagonal strip across the middle. When joined together,
the resulting squares look like they're framed in black.
Creativity can be messy (at least the way I do it!)
The white dots on each square are stick-on labels that
I use to keep track of which square goes where.


Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.
To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 
click HERE or on the box below. 

West Metro Mommy Reads






22 comments:

  1. Oh, Sandy! What gorgeous quilts! I'm so glad you shared with us. I especially like the string quilt. The black framing really makes the colors pop. Just WOW!!!

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    1. Thank you, Dace. The string quilt was very easy to make. I'll be glad to show you the steps sometime!

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  2. Very clever!
    I've never had the patience for sewing, so I admire anyone who can create something so beautiful with fabric and thread :-)

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  3. Wow I love your quilts. You have used such gorgeous rich colours.

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    1. Thank you. I've made baby quilts in pastel colors, but I prefer vibrant jewel colors for myself.

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  4. I love the rich colours that are some of my favourites.

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  5. This is so impressive. Those red fabrics really stand out. Here's Mine

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    1. This is the first quilt I've made using black. I think the black stripes and border really make the colors pop.

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  6. The quilts I've seen were mostly pastel colors. I do love the bright tones of yours!
    Harvee
    Book Dilettante

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  7. How gorgeous! I love quilts, but have never made one. I have had a few over the years that my mother made...some I hung over the railings of my loft in the townhouse I showed a few weeks ago, but I don't think I had any photos of them...darn! When I think of quilts, I remember tagging along with my mom when she went to a quilting bee. I was fascinated!

    Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST

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    1. I've taken several quilting classes but I've never been to a quilting bee. I'll bet that's fun.

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  8. I never quite realised what a feat of construction a quilt is! Your work is beautiful. I really like the first one.

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  9. Amazing! Can't imagine such exquisite handiwork is made from scraps. There's wisdom in there, not only beauty.

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    1. Thank you. I like the idea of taking little bits and pieces of leftovers and creating something useful and comforting out of them.

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  10. What a beautiful quilt! I admire your patience and your creativity!

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  11. That is lovely! I admire creative people. I can sew, but somehow quilting has eluded me. I've been working on a quilt for the past 30 years and it's still not finished. I think the project will outlive me.

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    1. I'll admit that I have a couple of UFOs (unfinished objects) stashed away too. Maybe the colder weather this winter will inspire me... unless a new design captures my imagination first!

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  12. I love the warmth and homey feel of a handmade quilt. My mother used to spend hours making them for newborn babies

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    1. I love to make baby quilts! They go together quickly so there's not that long wait for gratification. Besides, I like to imagine the baby snuggled up in something I created. I'm sure your mother's quilts were lovely.

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  13. I envy this talent of your Sandra and I love seeing your quilts! No one in my family ever quilted, so I fear I never developed a passion for wanting to try it...but I sure love seeing and feeling them.

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  14. Wonderful quilts Sandy. I've been wanting to start making them. Just started doing needlepoint again so it'll have to wait.

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