Thursday, February 11, 2010

urban garden

I did persist and work on this quilt from start to finish. It's done and I renamed it 'urban garden.' It started with a few handfuls of scraps and thoughts about farm fields. Now when I look at it I see an urban, community garden with separate plots... some elaborate, some sparse, and some tilled areas ready to be planted. How that pink piece found its way into my orange scrap box I'll never know, but now I'm glad it did. I see a strawberry patch there. I'm sorry I can't show the whole quilt. I have an event coming in March and the quilt will be revealed there.
I can, however answer your questions about the quilting. Don't you think it looks like tilled land? I love how some of the rows nest and others form those hourglass shapes. The quilting lines are about 1/4" apart. I marked the first row vertically in the center of the quilt to make sure I started straight and then I eyeballed it from there. It stayed amazingly vertical across the quilt...only 1/8th inch off from side to side.

I first learned about this type of quilting from Victoria, of The Silly Boo Dilly. Check out Victoria's blog to see her innovative quilting designs. I've done this both free motion and with a manipulated stitch on my machine. There are advantages and disadvantages of both. This time I used the machine stitch since the quilting lines were so close together. Many of us have decorative stitches on our machines that never get used. Victoria inspired me to experiment and play with my machine. I'm sure I haven't scratched the surface of the possibilities. I tried to answer the questions you asked. Feel free to email me if you need more info.
Have you been on the Modern Quilt guild site this week? All week long the planning committee members have been posting their answers to the question, "What does modern quilting mean to me?" It's been wonderful reading the responses of my modern quilting buddies and lots of other quilters across the web. Today is my turn. Check out all the posts and give your thoughts in the comments, or even better, do a post of your own answering the question from your perspective. Go modern!


35 comments:

MightyMom said...

what does modern quilting mean to me???

FRIGHTENING.


there, short post huh?


you know me, I cling to my traditional values....bwahaha

Luna said...

You are amazing!!!! Love the new quilt!

You take on challenges and dream up creations that I wouldn't dare to dream of....that is modern to me!

Unknown said...

Jacquie, The quilt looks fantastic!! Your quilting really adds a whole new dimension to the quilt. Job well done!

Tine said...

It looks great! The quilting is fantastic - looks very time-consuming!

Esch House Quilts said...

Love the quilting on the new quilt! I look forward to seeing the whole thing some time in the future.

I left my opinion on modern quilting on the website and at my blog http://eschhousequilts.blogspot.com.
Thanks for all your inspiration!

amylouwhosews said...

Love it! I need to start doing the actual quilting instead of just making a bunch of tops....

Elizabeth said...

I discovered the "use your specialty stitch" method of quilting this past summer by complete accident, mostly because I wanted something other than a straight line but have yet to figure out how to do free motion on my machine. I love it because it's consistent but a little off the wall at the same time. Yours looks great!

Rene' said...

Jacquie, love your Urban Garden. Can't wait to see a picture of the complete quilt. Thank you for the link to Victoria and the reminder to check out The Modern Quilt Guild's site.

Thimbleanna said...

Your quilting is fantastic Jacquie! I love those little tilled rows!

allsewnup said...

Your Urban Garden tease is intriguing and I look forward to seeing it in its entirety.
As far as modern quilt, I believe everything that is old will eventually be new again.

Carolyn

wishes, true and kind said...

Love your urban garden quilt and look forward to seeing more of it. I clicked over to see your ideas on modern quilting and really appreciated your thoughtful response. Over the last year as I have occasionally read others talk about what modern quilting is, they often compare it to more traditional styles (pointing out difference) and then they start to lose me, because we owe so much to the quilters who have come before us, and many of the ideas that we think are modern, can be seen in much older quilts. I was walking through a bookstore yesterday and looked through a book on quilts from the Metopolitan Museum of Art. I smiled because many of the quilts I saw could be posted on a blog and many would think they had just been made by a modern quilter -- maybe because of clean, bold lines, maybe because the quilter "broke the rules" or used an unusual color palette, etc. Anyway, I thought your description of modern quilting was very positive.

em's scrapbag said...

The quilting is fabulous. I can't believe you eyeballed it. WOW!!! I really like this quilt.
Modern quilting to me is liberating. Though I don't know how good I am at being liberated. :)

Unknown said...

Just love what you did on the Urban quilt. You have got me thinking outside the box, now. I just got started quilting and I am about to embark on my first traditional quilt but that does not mean I will be stuck there. I love the open and free way you use material. I have this style on my list, it is next! Thanks for sharing about your quilting method, I think I have been too impatient. I also have these stitches available to me and didn't even think about using them. Thanks again.

Deb said...

Another fantastic creation :D I love Victoria's quilting style as well. Can't wait to see the entire Urban quilt. Maybe you should have a count down ticker haha!

Rebekah said...

beautiful quilting! I love seeing all of the different designs silly boo dilly uses...will definitely have to start experimenting with the stitches on my machine for quilting

Cheryl Arkison said...

What a great name for the quilt! Can't wait to see the whole thing. Another art show coming?

PS I have been really enjoying the posts over at Modern Quilt Guild. Planning my own for tomorrow.

Ginger said...

This quilt looks great. I love how you did the quilting on it. I think I will have to try some experimenting like that too!

Gigi's Thimble said...

I love the idea behind this quilt. Sounds really neat and I can't wait to see the finished project. Looks beautiful so far!

AllieKatMom said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your quilt, as usual!

Poppyprint said...

Urban Garden is spectacular - can't wait to see the whole landscape!

paisley and lace said...

Inspiring. Thanks for the helpful link.

Anonymous said...

I've been digging your quilt pics... Love the wavy quilting. Also been reading the Modern Quilt Guild blog. Love the responses.

Flowers said...

Beautiful.... the pictures and words were a joy to see and read... :O)

Anonymous said...

Hi, Jacquie . . . If you get the chance, take a peek at my blog: www.prairiemoonquilts.com . I’m passing on an award to you. Don’t feel obligated to continue it on, I just want you to know how much I enjoy your blog! I love your modern take on quilting! Thanks!

bellsjo said...

I agree about the splash of pink - it really works! I am looking forward to seeing the whole thing!

Anonymous said...

I love the quilting. Can't wait for the entire reveal.

Janet said...

I love the look of th is quilting pattern. It made me feel like it could do this.

WHATUPDUCK said...

Love your quilt and especially the wavy quilt stitch. Will try that next on my machine! See my website for my idea of modern quilting...today's post says it all for me!

Victoria said...

I am truly looking forward to seeing the quilt in its entirety... I can tell it's another show stopper!
(And thank you Jacquie, for the very kind mention. You are very sweet!)

Now, off to read everyone's thoughts on modern quilting!

Anonymous said...

I love that quilt! The fabrics are stunning!

Artfulife said...

Happy Valentines Day Jacquie :) Thanks for sharing all your beautiful projects with the rest of us.

Ainhoa said...

This quilt is gorgeous as you ever do. Love your work ^_____^

dutchcomfort said...

Gorgeous quilt! Victoria’s quilting inspired me as well!

Modern quilting...To me it does not necessarily mean wonky or liberated. The key lies in the pattern and the use of fabrics, solids. Isn’t it all about geometry?
I was amazed to see how modern some Amish quilts are.

Stephanie said...

Beautiful. I am curious about that linen looking fabric - what is it and where can one acquire it? Thanks!

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

i love how you can look at the pink as a "strawberry patch" ..i'd be sad if that was with my oranges... but i heart orange and i'm not a big pink fan!