It's been quite a journey...I think I first posted about this quilt here, and then here and now finally it's a top.
The Journey:
Phase 1: Inspiration and Excitement
Atomic connections was inspired by a chilly walk through the Loose Park rose garden in Kansas City. I was struck by how the paths connected. I'd always wanted to use the 'atomic' shape (my absolute fav) in a quilt and I thought this one might be the one.
Phase 2: Initial Construction
I chose to go bold and go with a color I love. I started making the shapes, making connectors, experimenting with singles, doubles and triples. All was well.
Phase 3: StalledThe first comment I got on this piece. "safety orange...really?"..."does it have to be orange"...I think it was then that it first got shoved in a box. I kept thinking about it, loving the shapes.
Phase 4: Rejuvenation
I tended to pull out this piece when I wanted a good dose of modern. I struggled with the layout...how complicated did I want the connections to be? It's been put together and torn apart several times. I tend to do that. As for the color, Jessica Jones is right, How About Orange!
Phase 5: Pause
Sometimes I simply don't have the time to work on the quilt that I want to work on.
Phase 6: A Top
For some reason I needed to work on this quilt today. Before I knew it, it was a top. I know it's going to be quilted soon. This one won't be hanging in my closet where tops go to die.
I'm so happy with it.
Any Twin Cities folks out there...I'm taking a road trip to see my son this weekend. Is Cia's Palette a good store to visit? Any other quilty adventures I should pursue?
48 comments:
i love it! i love the orange! perfect! you can put it in my closet, it will not die there. i will quilt it and love it!
oranges are not among my faves...unless they go well with purple ya know ;-)
but there's so much white that this is really pretty!
lovely top and QUIT listening to criticism!
along with most "imperfections"...when it comes to criticism...it'll quilt out!
That quilt is awesome! I say...bring on the orange! It's bright, cheerful and interesting. Can't wait to see the quilting.
Wow! Love it! Your outdoor pic just proves how nice the weather has been. Weren't the Central Park "Gates" done in orange fabric? That what this amazing quilt reminded me of.
You have a lot to be happy about. It's very, very beautiful. I think the ratio of orange to white is perfect. Good job!
Wow I totally love this design! I really do- the shapes are so dynamic.
I love orange! And I love the quilt. I wore an orange dress with tiny black dots once, a friend actually said to me that "orange is not your color" - NEVER wore that dress again. Really - that was 24 years ago...you'd think I would've forgotten. Its now a mantra for me - "if I love it, then I do it!"
It's so perfect, I want to make one.
I absolutely love it...so gorgeous! Have a fun trip - can't help you with recommendations unless you come to Hawaii :-)
It's fabulous Jacquie. I love it and the colours are great. I want to make one - you're very inspirational - how about a tutorial????
Jacquie - you know I love this and that the earlier photos inspired me. Can I however suggest one thing - please don't just do a large stippling quilting pattern - it deserves something different and a bit more special. I'm finding that many 'modern' quilts shown on Flickr are generally just quilted using a large meandering pattern and think that extra life could be given to the top with just a little more freedom in the stitching.
Awesome quilt design, i love it! I really like the fabrics you used too.
I love orange too - but then I do like most colors :) Your quilt is wonderful, it's interesting to hear the thoughts and troubles you have had with it ;)
I can't believe you stored this beauty in the closet for so long. I Love it! Next time you see a sour comment, just laugh and know you are okay!
so, if I were near Mpls, I hit the Mpls Art Institute and check out the Dakota Dance Blanket -- it is the most intricate piece of silk ribbon embroidery (sp?) .... from pre 1850 (no needles!)
google it!! it's pretty special !!!
Fabulously Modern, I love the creativity!
Hi Jacquie. I love the orange!
Regarding quilt shops, I have been able to visit a few places you might be interested in...
The Crafty Planet
2833 Johnson Street NE MPLS 55418
craftyplanet.com
612-788-1180
The Textile Center
3000 University Avenue SE
MPLS 55414
612-436-0466
textilecentermn.org
There was another really good fabric store I visited this spring, but I can't remember the name. I'll let you know if I find it! Have fun!
This is now officially my favorite thing you've ever made! And I have lots of favorites!
fabulous! It's fun to see how it all came together.
Found it...Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul
1338 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-698-9690
treadleyardgoods.com
Neat! thanks for taking us on the journey with you. I'll be itnerested to see it quilted!
I've never been to Cia's Palette, but from their website, I have to get there soon...
A member of our modern quilt guild just opened her own store:
Twin Cities Quilting
1085 Dionne Street
Roseville, MN 55113
twincitiesquilting.com
she also sells tons of dyeing/surface design stuff too.
LOVE the orange, and love that you finally got it finished. I just resurrected one myself -- doesn't it feel fantastic to get it DONE???
This quilt is gorgeous! Pairing the white with the orange makes the orange bright without being overwhelming. Great combo.
I think it's great! The orange with the dots is actually just perfect.
And if Cia's Palette brick and mortar is anywhere near as awesome as the online shop, you should totally go! *jealous*
I love the orange! It's such a fun, happy color! I really like the layout of this quilt. Whatever tearing apart and putting back together you did (ugh--I've had to do that before and know it's a pain) were definitely worth it in my opinion.
I would love for you to post about your thoughts/ideas for quilting this.
I love it! And I love the orange! I am finding myself really loving oranges lately. Its not a color I used to go for...but these days I love it! Its bold and its modern. I think its great!
Chanda
Well worth the wait :) Orange is not my favorite color and yet when I saw your quilt, I thought - "that is awesome!" Just a reminder to step out of our color safety zones because we just might be surprised! (Plus, it is perfect for the atomic concept and design!)
Love it! Orange rocks!
Yes, Crafty Planet is a must. Trish, one of the owners is part author of "One Yard Wonders" and the shop is great.
And I also love your quilt. I'm so glad you went with it. Everyone else's opinions don't matter if you love it! Thanks for the inspiration.
I love orange and the design! Can't wait to see it quilted. I second Crafty Planet and Treadle. The Twin Cities it awesome. There are lots of great sites. The sculpture garden in Minneapolis is really nice if you have some extra (non-quilt related) time.
it is great! I'm glad to see others out there have to pause with the quilts -- I have many that are in that phase. sometimes times provides the best perspective. by Twin Cities, do you mean St. P-Minn? are you coming up to Manitoba anytime soon?
FYI - I'm fairly certain that Cia's Palette doesn't operate as as a brick & mortar. The address is in my neighborhood, and as of last weekend, it didn't have a store front.
However, I also recommend Crafty Planet and Treadle.
I love this design.
I love orange, anytime. And I am intriged with the design, so different, original, and something I would never have thought of. Great!
Wowie Zowie! This is one amazing quilt! I love it! I love it! I love it!
Love it! Simply amazing!
Awesome! (I'm so happy we're doing the mid mod bee together!)
I love it! I love orange - especially paired with so much white. You can't go wrong. It's like a creamsicle - yum!
I love it! The orange is fabulous. You DID make me laugh out loud about tops in the closet that go there to die. Yes, I have those! But I finally decided to get rid of them. LOTS of charities that will take them and quilt them and give them away. And the guilt just VANISHED. Ahhhhhh.
I LOVE it and think the orange is PERFECT for it! GREAT JOB!
Great Orange Quilt!
Major art fairs going on in Minneapolis/Twin Cities this weekend. The biggest is Uptown Art Fair.
I love everything about it :)
Maybe you just needed extra time to birth all that beauty - it's a stunner!
I enjoyed reading about your phases and getting the reassurance that some tops take more time than others. Way to go. Hope you have (had) a great trip.
This is cool - and uncannily like the quilting I'm doing on my daugther's quilt. I'll have to send you a picture. Can't wait to see how you quilt this.
Cheers, sherry
Oh, I am so pleased you kept at this one. I sometimes begin to wonder if Iam the only one who lets quilts lapse over large periods of time, with all these clever people starting a quilt on monday finishing it wednesday and then onto another the next week. Thank you so much for sharing - I love hte orange by the way. i ahve a bit of a crush on that colour at the moment.
I love it!
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