I Feel The Earth Move...

Actually, I felt the earth move. Last weekend in San Diego I experienced my first real earthquake. I say real because I felt one here that occurred on the New Madrid fault in Missouri, but it was more of a shudder. This one was a 5.9, California, shake you out of your bed kind of quake. There's a reason for me to share this with you...the experience inspired a couple of new quilt designs.

I can't show you them right now, but a few peaks should be ok and I can tell you how they came about. I didn't set out to make an earthquake inspired quilt. I started making an adaptation of my 'Wonderland Garden' quilt. It started with this fabric to substitute for the redwork in that quilt. I wanted to up the modern quotient a bit.

(Paula Prass's Woodland Delight)

I picked out some sets of fabric in pinks and browns. I concentrated on getting a good mix of values. Without a good mix of lights, mediums and darks, the housetop (half log cabin) blocks can look a lot like mush even with pretty fabric.

(Flea Market Fancy pink posies, pink/brown tiles, Heather Ross wildflowers, Paula Prass cobblestone, fuscia tadot, Mingle square, and Tula Pink ladybugs)

I paired each set of fabrics with a corresponding kona cotton solid, pomegranate and espresso brown.

(Jackie Shapiro Neo Geo, Flea Market Fancy bubble dots and daisy dots, Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet, Wild Thyme, Flea Market Fancy barbells and another Wild Thyme print)

I made some brown blocks first, concentrating on using value to make the wonkiness prominent in the blocks. Then I made some pink blocks and threw them up on the design wall. When I did that I couldn't get the quake out of my mind. The tilted, off kilter look screamed earthquake to me and I went from there. The flower fabric was eliminated and the pinks turned into a quilt of their own called 'Shake it Baby' and the browns are a quilt of their own called 'Fault Line'. I made both tops in one day. Yes, I have my machine back and all that pent up sewing energy came flying out!

I'm so happy to be back sewing...I have so many things lined up to do.

I have a little favor to ask, if you do that kind of thing, say a little prayer for my hubby today. He's got a catscan this afternoon. I've decided that no worrying is allowed until there is something to worry about, but a few prayers never hurt.

Now back to the reinterpretation of the Wonderland Garden quilt.

Have a wonderful week!