I do like how the vase turned out and how could you not fall in love with that Kaffe Fassett fabric in the vase and table? I've never used any of his fabric before...wow! A few folks asked what fabrics were in the last post's sneak peak of this. The flowers are mostly Michael Miller's Pod Posey, his Flowers a Plenty and some Amy Butler dots. This isn't a secret any longer...I'm not using it for its intended recipient. It's not quite what I wanted.
I do think it will be fun to play with some quilting on this one, but that will have to wait.
I have a dilema I would love some help with. I want to make my youngest a quilt for his high school graduation. It will be a twin size to use on his dorm bed. I've been pulling fabrics for a week now and I'm struggling. I want it to be masculine, very minimalistic and modern (almost stark looking), yet he likes color. This first set has 3 blues a gray and a cream.
This next set is mostly brown prints, with a gray print and two solids, chocolate brown and cream.
Any thoughts? Things I might add or take away. Other ideas. I'm really at a loss. I guess that happens when you make a quilt for a special person. This quilt is going to be made by me and my Common Threads virtual quilting bee buddies. Help me out folks. I need to send my fabric in the next week or so.
Project Improv Update:
These are the folks whose blocks arrived this week. Again, another stellar set of blocks. Thanks so much for remembering to label them with your name and location.
Upstate Lisa - 1 block (thanks for the fabric...you are too sweet!!)
Chelsea - 1 block (those little kitties are fab...now what to do with them!)
Victoria - 3 blocks
Annie - 1 block
Carrie - 1 block
Sara - 1 block
Michele - 1 block
Kristin - 6 blocks (wow! you are one prolific sewer!!)
Hey folks...if you are still interested in signing up for the project, that's great, but I need your EMAIL to contact you. Please don't assume when you leave a comment that your email appears. It's so frustrating to know that you want to participate and I can't contact you.
Folks are sewing their charity blocks like crazy, some are starting their individual improv project and some have finished one and are on to the next. It's great to see the variety of projects. I've also seen folks out there supporting each other through the discussion threads and on each other's blogs. Now that's spreading the love. Check out our flickr group, you'll be glad you did.
62 comments:
I know my college son would prefer door number 1...the solids in the blue/grey family!
For me, it's a slam-dunk: DEFINITELY the brown and grey. That fabric selection is SOOOO me ... I am drooling! I'll have to recreate it some time ... if you don't mind! Another suggestion of a palette that I love: charcoal grey, orange, Carolina blue :) and cream, like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jqa/2411379338/
(but ignore the prints ... the solids alone are better)
I think the first group is more stark and modern. But I love the fabric in the second group.
I love your new bloom quilt. The vase is fantastic. As is the rest of it.
Orange! Orange would look excellent as a colour punch on both those combos. I'm biased, though.
PS Quilting on the vases? Screams dots to me, to really pull out that Kaffe and translate the table with the rest.
Have you thought about using the second combination but adding some solid blue in there for pop?
I second Anina's call; brown and gray, with a bit of blue added.
You may want to make the quilt longer than the usual twin. I don't know if this is still the rule, but colleges once used Army Twin size beds instead of regular twins - they are longer than standard. You might be able to contact the school to see if this is the case (if so, he will probably need extra-long sheets too).
I was going to say the blue combo, but then I saw John's comment. I love his suggestion -- it would be great! And, I LOVE the flowers and vases!
Ohhh, yum. I think you would do well to tone down the prints in the second group with the addition of some solids, actually. In fact, I'd take out the gray from the first assortment and then merge the two groups. Then I would add just the merest additional hint of orange. (I see that one of the brown prints has a bit already.)
But then orange is my answer to everything, so...
Thank you for letting me procrastinate a bit by thinking about someone else's quilt for a minute!
What about mixing the two sets? I would base it on the bottom set, but lose the flea market fancy and add replace it with the blue solid... Very masculine and stark without having ONLY solids... but that's just me!! It's gonna be great no matter what you pick!
I think I like the browns myself - and I love your flowers and vase. I can't wait to see what you actually decide on!
Kris
I love the flowers and the vase. YOu are so talented, I am jealous!
I like the browns personally. I love the color brown and those fabrics are great!
Having been in my kids' dorm rooms recently, I would go with the brown group. I think the blue group, which I really like, will show the dirt much too well! (How's that for a practical, non-artistic response?)
Your vase is great -- my two favorite parts are the slant in the table and the way you continued the flower stitching lines into the flower centers. Little things like that make such a difference.
I'm partial to browns. I don't think they're used nearly enough in this world.
I hear you on the "special quilts for special people". I often become paralyzed trying to find the perfect fabric and the perfect pattern. My poor hubby is quiltless because of this.
Don't take offense..."ugly" fabric becomes interesting and beautiful in your projects.
I'm glad the blocks arrived safely. The vase quilt is fabulous. I love that KF print, which I also have. I would go for the solids for a more modern quilt for your son, but I love both the color schemes.
Hi Jacquie! love the vase and flowers, don't change anything on that! the stems are great! I've been wanting to try some of that black thread sewing since I saw it on Nanette's blog. The brown and great pallete is superb! Also, do you read Quilt Taffy? They had a quilt on there they'd made for their dad. It was done with really great fabrics and masculine colors. Go check it out. It's on their blog...
I would throw some maroon into the second set. It will really pop and give you some color, yet its hyper masculine. My brother (he's a burly, crotchety, sergeant in the army) has maroon quilts. They're perfect for him.
I vote for the blue group. I don't think the brown print fabrics are the most masculine. If you go with the blues, maybe you can add a slight punch of orange or red. I would personally vote red (it's safe), but I know that orange is all the rage at the moment.
I think the second set is really masculine but has a little kick to it. I am not completely sold on the second to last one... I think it may look to "flowery" for a guy. But I love the browns!! I like the idea of adding either a red tone or orange tone too. I have to say with which ever is chosen you can't really go wrong. I think both color schemes can come out really awesome.
Love the vase with aplliques flowers and the stems are OK!
A mixture of the blues and browns will be great!! It’s one of my favourite colour combo’s.
First, I LOVE the flowers and vase!
Second, and don't hate me....mixed the blues, grays, and browns. A wonky square in a square?
the blues and greys are awesome...they would be my pick...but to kick it up a little bit? how about one of the brown prints just every now and then...you're so good at stuff like this...whatever you decide will be fabulous and your son will treasure it! ☺
Can I just say those flowers are just too cute. Love it! I would go with the blues for your son seeing as he loves color. Have a great day! Em
Jacquie, I love your newest version of Bloom including the stems!!! I am partial to the textures of the brown collection. and I am glad you got the block!
Looks like the posters are split on the blue and brown group. I agree with jovaliquilts that you should go with something that won't show dirt. I do like the idea of the blues with some browns mixed in. Do you know where he is going to college? what about school colors?
Just a thought - remember kids in dorm rooms usually are not the tidiest of people. Something to hold up to lots of spills and minimal washing. Even if he is pretty good about keeping his stuff nice - he may have a room-mate or friends who are slobs. So I probably wouldn't want to use cream or anything light. Also everything seems to get washed and dried on hot - :( . You can see I have some experience with this.
I made the "little bits" quilt for my son with mostly brown fabric, and i have been very happy about how well it hides everything. I haven't had to wash it much.
I still have to mail my square. I will do it today.
i second the check the size comment. i know my dorms were all extra long beds.
I'm also making a dorm quilt for my soon to be graduate...just make sure it's an XL twin size quilt...most dorm beds are this size and I think that makes it 5 inches longer. I agree with other posters and loose the cream color and throw in a punch color... orange perhaps? I'm making a quilt out of batiks for my son... using a dark blue background and adding bright colors... definitely no 'florals'! Good luck!
Yes, make it long! My son's quilt was regular twin and it is a bit short. I love the brown but the second color from the left (the one that looks a bit like eyelet) does not look masculine to me. I love all the others tho and I think my 18 year old son would pick that one. I love your vases of flowers. I am down to make a cupcake wall hanging for my daughter for her birthday. Have a great week and thanks again for coordinating all of the project improv!
Oooh lots to think about. I like the brown section but take out the wood grain one and swap it for a cream. The really like the vase of flowers and the stems look good. Could go over it again to make them wider. I have started my big project, well I have sliced up a pile of fabric! I have yet to visit a fabric shop for the charity block but I have a school holiday coming up and that will be my priority.
I love the brown palette! I do think it would be beautiful with the blue added in to give it a little oomph. I love brown and blue-one of my favorite combinations.
The bloom is beautiful. I love the fabrics you used.
love the browns, and love the idea of a little blue to make it pop, having had two in college, they get dirty and the blue would show more, yes, for sure make in longer as they are twin long beds and I made mine wider too, almost like a double, so it could hang to the floor to hide what was shoved under the bed. Also get bed risers they are wonderful, so he can store things under his bed. Can't wait to see what you will do!
Hey Jacqui, Love the flowers! It reminds me of some flowers I did a couple of years ago and I posted a picture of it just for you. I think your stems look great. Happy quilting.
i think i would mix the two groups of fabric. and also, i was going to mention that twin beds in college are usually extra long. it'll be fun to see what you come up with.
I wasn't spoken to with #1 but #2 was YUMMY and my immediate reaction was ADD THE BLUE, ADD THE BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Laurie
great job on the vase/flowers too!
I would opt for the browns and gray, but eliminate the bark-looking fabric. Fewer prints the better, and I would throw in some black for a more masculine look. My last masculine quilt for a family member "had" to be only charcoals, black, with only a little red in for color splash--very miniamistic and masculine enough so his buds wouldn't think he was a wuss. And that was the comment that stayed with me the entire time I made the quilt. He loved it. Good luck!
I think your applique flowers rock! Very fun!
As for your son's quilt, I prefer the blues and grays, but was thinking a bit of brown added in would make it pop a bit and add a little pizzaz. Maybe you could find a nice bold print, with blues, browns and grays to add in there?
I would either add the brown print with the yellow centres from the bottom group to the top group, or add some orange to the bottom group. That way it is mostly stark and modern, but also has a pop of colour or pattern.
As soon as I saw the blue fabric I thought of this quilt (I love it) and had to search it out to share it: http://feeddog.blogspot.com/2008/11/fly-by-night-quilt.html
Love your new bloom - would you like the stems more if you added more stitching? food for thought :) I love both those palettes, I'm torn. . . maybe add a little blue to the brown? might have to take out the brown with red dot though - You will end up with the right combo :)
I for one (and I sense I'm not alone) am sa-wooning over your new Bloom flowers and vase. Oh my, oh my! I'm in lurv. Yes, blue and brown?? I'm with the other commenters on the dirt factor too...kids, dogs, husbands...
First I have to say that I love the Kaffe vase! Great project. Now onto your dilemma. It is a slight dilemma for me as well. But why not combine the blue and the brown. Now that would be striking.
I just love how free you are with your designs. You don't have anything that holds you back. It is awesome! I am crazy in love with your vase of flowers. The combo of the fabrics you picked are to die for and I love the dark thread outline.
When I first saw the solid fabric grouping I thought Plain Spoken quilt but that wouldn't work if you are making it as a group. So I am no help. Sorry!
I'd have to go with Group 2...although I'm not a teenage boy, so...who really knows.
I just wanted to say that even though I didn't participate in project improv, you inspired me to give it a shot, and I finally did tonight. I LOVE IMPROV PIECING. Thanks for the push!
The browns and blues you picked out remind me of the courthouse steps quilt on the sew mama sew flickr quilt group: it's one huge courthouse step and two sides of the steps are blues, and the other two sides of the steps are browns, with a gradation of color from light from center to darker at edges and it's FABULOUS. It's apparently based on a gees bend quilt. It's a modern, clean, masculine pattern with masculine colors and something you might see in Pottery Barn Teen. Especially with the utility hand quilting that was featured in this particular quilt. If you are having the virtual quilting bee participate, a repeat of several large courthouse steps blocks in the browns and blues would look stunning especially with diamonds of particular colors fading in & out. My 2 cents.
I would mix the browns and blues, keep some of the solids with some of the plains. I think you can still use really patterned material and have a minimalist look depending on the pattern of the quilt. I also love the combination of browns and blues, so I would be partial to that!! (for my daughter I'm using brown and pink)
I'd throw the browns and blues together myself. They are okay each in its own group, but like Simon and Garfunkel, they're better together, complementing each other in ways that bring out the best of them both.
Yeah, I've been listening to my iPod a little too much...
I prefer the brown color palette, but I think the fabrics are not very masculine looking.
frankly, I'd combine ALL those fabrics. might look a bit more scrappy, might not, but they look great together!! Just don't applique any flowers on the top and you'll probably be okay! :-)
I love the stems on the vase actually. and the fabrics are WILD.
And an afterthought: if your son likes color, make the back really colorful! This way, the image presented will be the cool minimalistic modern look, and he can always use the excuse that you were using up your extra bits of fabric for the back if he has to explain it :) It may remind him that we all have sides to us not easily visible or even what we choose to present, but that we can all have rich vibrant inner lives that sometimes can be let loose and crazy. A good lesson for us all :P I'm sure whatever you choose will be perfect though; your sense of taste and style are wonderful.
First of all, I absolutely LOVE the vase. It's gorgeous and gives me an idea for my dining room. You always inspire! Thank you.
About your son's quilt ... What does HE like? I've been making quilts for my son (now in 10th grade) since he was about 4 y/o -- he always has an opinion. LOL! I'm partial to pulling in a darker blue and/or black into the first group for some "punch."
i would have to say i like the browns and maybe you could pull in one of the blue's from the first set or maybe match an orange in the print in the brown group (if that is orange). also, i like your flowers, how did you make the stem?
I like the browns. Maybe a wee bit of orange to make that beautiful Denyse Schmidt pop. Or a bit of blue. Dorms can be small and dark. So some color might be nice.
My block is in the mail today, and a yard of fabric for binding or what ever you find useful.
i love those brown fabrics...they look so pretty together.
I have a graduating daughter this year too. I need to get going on her quilt. I'm in a dilema. She is a football freak. Everything is football. I hate to make her a football quilt too. I wish it could be something else - sigh.
Love the flowers/vase.
The vase and table top remind me of Gustav Klimt's paintings - like it!
Instead of chosing blues or browns - combine them? Get the best of two great schemes.
Once again Jacquie you have blown me away the vase and flowers, just awesome, I like both choices of fabrics, I am sure what ever you have chosen will end up a master piece...
Definitely the second group of fabric with the brown and grey...my husband agrees too. I might add another solid fabric that matches the red or orange in the folksy print right on top of the white fabric for a little punch of color. Can't wait to see what you choose and can't wait to get started :)
Lots of people are saying orange...that is what I would add. Maybe the browns with the neutral solids and then accents of the blue and orange.?? Great fabrics!
my goodness Jacquie do not know how you have a minute to sew with all ofthese comments and the project to administer...anyway to show you that you are admired I have a little something over at my blog on the awards and coffee post...do not worry about linking on and awarding etc..do not think you could fit it in and I was tempted to tell people to choose whichever they wanted myself!!
love your improv vase...really excellent
I like both combinations, and I like the idea of a bit of orange too- but that depends on your son. And it's not a quilt per se, but the first thing that popped into my head was the Gee Whiz quilt from the June/July 2008 Readymade magazine. It's very simple, masculine and graphic.
Love your experimentation with the flowers and the Kaffe fabric is a stellar choice with this piece!
I'm sure someone has already said this, but even though the brown is beautiful in a man way, I think the blues are more masculine in a boy way. Needs a pop of orange though -- maybe that graphic orange/white foliage in a circle fabric that is all the rage right now?
I love the contrast of the skinny stems and the raw edge flowers in your new bloom piece. The Kaffe Fasset fabric (paperweight? milifiore?) is my all time fave -- I have it in about five color ways. :-) If that vase of flowers ever needs a loving home you could send it my way!!
Post a Comment