Friday, July 26, 2013

relinquishing control

Welcome to finish it up Friday! I'm pleased to have a finished quilt to share today!
edited to add: the pattern for this quilt can be found here.
 
I called this quilt 'relinquishing control' for a few reasons. First, because it was my first attempt at a mystery quilt, which was a fun and challenging undertaking. Also, because I pieced it when we were in the midst of selling our house, my husband was commuting and life felt more than a little upside down. I'm so glad that is all over now! At some point this week I came to the realization that this place feels like HOME...at about the same time that I finished my quilt. Hmmm. You can't tell me that quilting isn't good therapy!
Now that the quilt is finished, I have to laugh. If there ever was a perfect mystery quilt for me, this one is it! It required no strip piecing (yay!) and it has lots of 2" finished squares (even better!).  I tend to work with a lot of blues and greens, so it was nice to switch things up and use warm colors instead. ALL the fabric came from my stash. (My favorite way to work!) The background is Ash Gray by Connecting Threads. It's such a great color to have on hand.
For the back I pieced a few different pinks together. I love the pop of bright pink on the bottom. I think it really helps tie the front and back sides together.
The argyle section has to be my favorite part of the back! (It's an old print by Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman.) I won't tell you how many color ways I have of this print. :)
This sweet 30's print isn't too shabby, either!
I LOVE the binding! The fabric is 'spot on' by Robert Kaufman. I bought 2 yards of it when I visited Olive Juice in March. It will probably appear on a few more (3, most likely) quilts as binding. The scale of the dot is just perfect and it's such a pleasing shade of gray.
I had to include this outtake....my oldest boy helps me with my quilt photography. This morning he even helped with a good attitude. I sure love my kiddos!

The finished quilt measures about 58" x 78".

Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday!

62 comments:

Heidi Staples said...

I absolutely love this quilt, and I completely agree with you: quilting is fabulous therapy! :)

MaterialGirlQuilts said...

Love this quilt, especially your wavy cross-hatch quilting!
Amanda

Melissa at My Fabric Relish said...

Beautiful quilt....love it all - fabrics, sashing, back and the quilting. I have that stich on my machine and I must try it out that way. Thanks for another awesome linkup!

anyadahab said...

I love this. It is beautiful!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

What an absolutely perfect quilt - and the back story makes it that much better!

Debbie said...

oh this is a really fun quilt! And love your choice of binding - just perfect!

Quiltin Jenny said...

OMGoodness, totally coveting that argyle print! What a great quilt.

So glad you are feeling at home. Quilting is absolutely my therapy as well.

Svetlana said...

It's beautiful, love all those pretty warm colors with ash gray background.

Unknown said...

How pretty! I'm always too nervous to take on a mystery quilt....I worry that it just won't be my style in the end. This one is great, though!!
Maybe I missed it in an earlier post, but was this mystery quilt instruction online somewhere? (Not that it's a mystery any more, ha!)
I also think I missed learning that you don't like strip piecing. :)

Di~ said...

GREAT! quilt, wow, I love it! You are so "talented". :)
Nice job.

Jessica Christensen said...

I LOVE this quilt -- love the colors, especially. So happy and fun. Good for you for relinquishing control. ;) It's funny, because I usually do more pinks and oranges, but my quilt for today is blue and green. We're switching it up. ;)

nicole said...

This is just gorgeous! I love it!

Julia Graber said...

That ash gray is such a pretty color with your other warm colors. I really like your quilt.

Paula said...

Lovely lovely! That argyle print is great!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, cheerful quilt !

Kelsey said...

All this time I was wondering what your mystery quilt would look like and now we know! It truly turned out beautifully, thanks for sharing.

Vera said...

What a lovely colors! I also like the back, pretty fabrics!

Gunilla said...

Such a lovely quilt!

Nicole said...

Beautiful colors!
I'm a big believer in quilting as therapy!

beth said...

Beautiful quilt. Love all the pink!

Brenda said...

Finish up Friday. Like that. Now to put that on my calender and make it a real part of my weeks goals! Like this idea - ALOT!!! Just like meatless Momdays, Finish Friday works!! :-)

I like that mystery quilt - not a mystery I have ever done, mine have all been more of a traditional style - lot of star blks or something, and one mystery ended up being a basket! If I would have know it was going to be a basket - yuck - I would not have have done it!! But, as it stands, it is one of my favorite quilts to date, so one- I love mysteries for that reason, and two - do not pre-judge something!!

Thanks for this post and I love your energy, your blks and your ideas!! Because of 'meeting' you - I now have mini-9-patches on my wall!!! And they are fun!! Thanks! So, finish Friday.... time to go get those borders on my top that is on my wall - Good plan!! Thanks for the push to the finish line!!!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Making pretty things is the best therapy ever... I love the happy colors in this quilt! I'm leery of mystery quilts too - I guess I like to know what I'm in for before I can commit.

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures said...

Great kwilt! Do you have a button for your Linky Party? I poked around but couldn't find it.

Quiltn Mama said...

Love the use of gray...awesome!

Anonymous said...

Another beautiful finish. I love these colours together.

Anonymous said...

Your mystery quilt is absolutely adorable. I love the colours and both the grey fabrics!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com

Maria said...

Lovely quilt! I have a bunch of pink/orange/red strips that I won in a quilt guild drawing - was waffling on a gray background, but now that I see yours, I think I have to go for it!

Debbie said...

I love that you took the chance and used new colors and fabrics in a quilt that you had to idea what it would be. I have tried to sketch this one out. It is wonderful; the texture, the colors and the pattern all flow together.

Thanks for sharing.

Live a Colorful Life said...

Speaking from first-hand knowledge, I can attest that this quilt is just gorgeous--every single thing about it! You are going to force me to buy some of that "spot on". You are such an enabler...

Tennjenny said...

I really love it, and I'm glad it was good therapy too.

Jana Machado said...

Fun and modern!

Glynis said...

It's that Cerise, orange and yellow again! What is it with that color combo that grabs me! Love how you've incorporated it with the grey! Beautiful!!

Glynis said...

And cute feet in that last photo!

Shannon said...

I have that argyle in green but for some stupid reason I only bought half a yard. It's been one of those "too precious to cut into" fabrics and has yet to turn into anything. Someday...

Paula@TheSassyQuilter said...

So cute. Love how it came out and the wavy line quilting is perfect. I have never done a mystery quilt before either, it does seem a little scary. This is tempting:)

Donna said...

Absolutely beautiful. I never would have thought to put grey with those colors, but it totally makes the quilt. Can I find the pattern somewhere?

wish2stitch said...

Your choice of fabrics is always so good. The spots, the argyle. The bright colours the contrast so nicely with the grey. Always enjoy looking at what you are up to.

Rachel said...

Love this quilt. Is there a pattern somewhere available??

CapitolaQuilter said...

Congrats on the finish, I love the quilt and the name. Only one item on my finished list this week but that's better than none!

Sharon said...

Your quilt is fantastic...such a basic design but fun! Good colors, too

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

Where is the mystery quilt from? I just saw this same mystery pattern done at a retreat quilt shop and liked it but can't find the info on it.

I love your colors!

Suzanne said...

I echo everyone before me who swooned over the colors. Best of all is the fact that it was started in one HOME and was finished in another HOME.

Nice to see that the quilt is Home Sweet Home.

Karen said...

Ok, quilt is amazing! Secondly, Olive Juice!! I a.d.o.r.e. that shop! I was just thinking a day trip was in order, I want to live there honestly.

Carla said...

What a pretty quilt! Mystery quilts can be addictive, so watch out!! BTW, I showed my version of your low volume quilt from Sunday Morning Quilts in a trunk show I did this week and it was a big hit. Love your book so much!

Unknown said...

is there a pattern for this quilt? I love it.

Unknown said...

is there a pattern for this quilt? I love it.

Lorna McMahon said...

It is always a great pleasure to see one of your finished quilts, AmandaJean. Glad to hear you are now home, where the heart is! Hope you don't mind... I'd like to share your pretty quilt on my facebook page with a link back. Is that okay?

Lorna:)
http://facebook.com/sewfreshquilts

Allison said...

This quilt is so beautiful; the colors are so warm and inviting, and just the right amount of cute and sophisticated.

Maggie said...

It's gorgeous. I love the bright pinks! Xx

Sharon said...

Would love to make this quilt! How can I get my hands on a pattern??

Jeneta said...

It's so lovely! I think grey is replacing my favourite background - white! I am a huge fan of polka dot binding - I'd be happy if every quilt I made was bound with polka dots. I LOVE the 30's print on the back! Another beautiful quilt - is this a keeper or is it being gifted?

Sue said...

I LOVE this quilt! I am with others...where can I get the instructions for this quilt? I would absolutely love to make one!

margaret said...

this is a great quilt, the grey works well with the colours, it is very much the "in" colour here at the moment, furniture, towels everything sems to be grey, bother my daughter and her niece seem to be living in grey too.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Just beautiful! Such happy colors. Glad your house feels like home now.

Vicki H said...

Oh, I LOVE everything about your quilt. Is it possible to get the instructions or point me in the direction to get them? I'm from MN, you will love it there.

tahoe34 said...

Pattern please?

tahoe34 said...

Pattern please?

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful xx

Mama Said Sew said...

Great quilt! I love that argyle print too! Wish I had more of it.

tracy_a said...

love the colors and the pattern-great job!

Unknown said...

Love this quilt..where can I find the pattern?

ktquilts said...

Great quilt! So glad you are settling in to your new home! The color combo on this quilt is amazing...and I am a purple kinda girl. I share your love for connecting threads ash...wish I could keep a whole bolt full around.