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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Night Forest

I was so excited to get this top done and show it to you. I'm so happy with how it came together. In some ways it's not a typical quilt for me, but the improvisational piecing and freedom to design is so me. Thanks to Krista for the challenge! You can see the original challenge and inspiration in this post.
I love that the tree fabrics are all from my neutral scrap box. The blue in there was totally serendipity...stuck that piece of blue in that box by mistake, but I adore how it works.
So cool how the eye of a bird now becomes a scar in the birch bark. All of the cutting for joining the pieces was done freehand, no ruler! Cutting sans ruler creates curves and a more organic feel to the forest.
The top finished at 19" x 41". I hope I can find the perfect place to hang this when it's quilted and bound.
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68 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Wow, this turned out awesome. You should be so proud of how you made this.

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  2. BrendaMarch 3, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    it's great! I love the china inspiration and the fabric rendition.

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  3. shirleyMarch 3, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    It is gorgeous! I can see why you are so pleased - and probably had so much fun making it.

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  4. DebbieMarch 3, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    So beautiful! I really love what you've done! Anxious to see it as it progresses...

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  5. tracy_aMarch 3, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    absolutely gorgeous!

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  6. MilicaMarch 3, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    Absolutely beautiful! Such a wonderful example of where a little inspiration can take you!

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  7. pauletteMarch 3, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Visually stunning!! Well done!
    Paulette

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  8. Needled MomMarch 3, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    It looks awesome!!! The blue really does add to the project. Who would have guessed that? Those neutrals are fabulous too.

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  9. LaurieMarch 3, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!! I can't wait to see it quilted and hanging on a wall. I have a PERFECT wall coming into our condo where that would be phenomenal!!! I'd give you all the credit of course! ;-D
    Laruie

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  10. TiffanyMarch 3, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    Wow - this is so creative and beautiful!

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  11. Exuberantcolor/Wanda S HansonMarch 3, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    I LOVE this piece!

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  12. connieMarch 3, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Spectacular!!! Growing up in Wyoming and spending time in Colorado I have a soft spot for quaking aspens. You have outdone yourself!

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  13. ElsaMarch 3, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    oh, gosh, this is lovely! I've been thinking of doing something along these lines. You did such a wonderful interpretation of the aspens. I'm totally inspired. Thanks for sharing it!

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  14. teaginnyMarch 3, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    I love, love, love how this came together!

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  15. www.randomthoughtsdoordi.comMarch 3, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    I love how this turned out. Kudos to you and love your inspiration for the project, too.

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  16. MarveLes Art StudiosMarch 3, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    This quilt is one of the coolest things I've ever seen!

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  17. karen @ badlandsquiltsMarch 3, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    An absolutely gorgeous piece of art, and how priceless the inspiration. Would be a wonderful way to share family heirlooms...ie one of your boys gets the china someday, the other the inspired quilt.

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  18. ArtfulifeMarch 3, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    It's beautiful!

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  19. TrishaMarch 3, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Oh, Jacquie! It is stunning!

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  20. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    Absolutely love this! You can tell right away what inspired it, but it is modern and abstract at the same time. Wonderful.

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  21. Victoria Findlay WolfeMarch 3, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Gorgeous Jacquie! I just love birch trees... fabulous fantastic and beautiful! well done!

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  22. KatherineMarch 3, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    Stunning! Excited to see how you will quilt and bind this beauty, Jacquie. I love your improvisational quilts - so inspiring.

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  23. SheaMarch 3, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Wow! Until you posted about this the other day, I'd almost forgotten that this one wasn't finished yet. Sooooo excited to see it closer and closer to done! Awesome, Jacquie!

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  24. Pamela VMarch 3, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    Have you decided how to quilt it?

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  25. Marty MasonMarch 3, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    It brings back memories of my snow skiing trips to Colorado. The aspen tree trunks are just as beautiful in your quilt as I remember them being on the ski slopes!

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  26. PattyMarch 3, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    I have been waiting patiently to see this finished.....it just takes my breath away!

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  27. Amanda Fetters March 3, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    I really think this is my favoritest thing you've ever done on here... I don't comment a whole lot, but man, every time this quilt comes up on the radar, I sigh a little happy sigh. :)

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  28. JanMarch 3, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    This is absolutely amazing and I just love it! I once had an idea for doing something similar with forsythia - the bark colors and the vibrant yellows of the flowers. This reminds me of that idea, but it would never be as cool as this!!

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  29. audreypawdreyMarch 3, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    This is absolutely beautiful! The little bit of blue does add something to it, and you will have to find a special place to hang this one!

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  30. CarolaMarch 3, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    I always wanted to do a birch quilt. The birch is my favorite tree (along with the larch). I even have a small collection of dried birch barks, which were meant to be the starter of a quilt. But - so far I never got around doing one ;-( Yours is awesome!!!

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  31. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    This quilt is absolutely stunning and very elegant ! Well done !

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  32. RocioMarch 3, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Awesome! When I saw your previous post I immediately though about trees, before reading the text. You got the perfect color combination and distribution of the trees. Congratulations!

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  33. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Yup - it's great. Worth waiting for - if you have scraps - it would be cool wall art for your son's place.

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  34. AmberMarch 3, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    wow Jacquie - it's so gorgeous! Definitely a piece of art! I love it: -)

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  35. UnknownMarch 3, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    I have such a crush on birch trees .. and this has turned out absolutely perfect - so beautiful :)

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  36. MB in MIMarch 3, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    stunning! my mother painted a scene much like this & added 2 cardinals feeding in the snow...it hypnotizes me every time i look at it--love it! your quilt is superb.

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  37. Sewz4funMarch 3, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    Man, this is so cool. I love quilts using earthy colors and objects from nature...so I LOVE this quilt. Very inspirational.

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  38. BarbMarch 3, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    Very cool quilt. Love the composition!

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  39. PaulaMarch 3, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    This is fantastic...if you don't have the perfect place to hang it....I may have a wall that would work!!! great work Jacquie.

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  40. Mary Lou WeidmanMarch 3, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    I have the perfect place in my diningroom for that quilt....I wish it was mine. Such pretty colors. Great job!

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  41. SuzanneMarch 3, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    It's so very liberating to hear you cut without a ruler.

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  42. FrancisMooreMarch 3, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    I love this quilt.

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  43. JeanieMarch 3, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    WOW! An amazing piece of art. I really like it.

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  44. KareeMarch 3, 2011 at 8:02 PM

    beautiful! thank you for sharing this vision in fabric.

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  45. AnonymousMarch 3, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Wow, just stunning !!! I've been waiting to see this quilt top finished. Beautiful work. Free piecing is so liberating !!

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  46. Jenny MMarch 3, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    So amazing....just love it, love it, love it!

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  47. RachelMarch 3, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    Gorgeous. I can't wait to see how you quilt it.

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  48. AngieMarch 4, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    I really like this, makes me miss our home in Alaska. No birch trees in Oklahoma!

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  49. AnonymousMarch 4, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    This quilt isn't just beautiful. It is believable. Evocative. I am standing alone in the middle of a stand of birch trees in moonlight and feeling very peaceful.

    Greta

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  50. Wendy PMarch 4, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Love it! Just read your dimensions and I was shocked. I thought this was much bigger, like 4 feet by 8 feet or something. I could see it that size hanging behind a sofa as wall art.

    It's gorgeous!

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  51. Mary on Lake PulaskiMarch 4, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    This is amazing Jacquie! I know I say that a lot about your work, but I can't help it.

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  52. PattyMarch 4, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    This is a wonderful quilt and will be a great wall piece. I love how you're able to use prints to show the variations in the bark.

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  53. PaulineMarch 4, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    Oh I love this!!!very much

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  54. Diane E WMarch 4, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Nothing less than outstanding.

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  55. Faith JonesMarch 4, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    This is so totally awesome. It would look great in above a couch or bed.

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  56. Robyn of Coffee and CottonMarch 4, 2011 at 6:31 PM

    This is THE most beautiful and inspiring quilt. I've seen a lot I like and love but this one took my breath away... seriously. You are amazing.

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  57. AndiMarch 5, 2011 at 4:43 AM

    Really incredibly beautiful!!!

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  58. RamonaMarch 5, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    I just love this. I love birch trees. They were in my yard as a kid and they remind me of home.

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  59. ErinMarch 5, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    I love this so much. It's what finally got me to subscribe to your blog. I'm so glad I got to see the (nearly) finished product. Well done!

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  60. tusenMarch 5, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    it's beautiful. I love how the fabrics work together to create the birches. It's also great that you've decided to keep the blue.

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  61. Linda at Roscoe's MaMarch 6, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    WOW!! I love this!

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  62. AnonymousMarch 6, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    The subject matter really hits home with me..... I would love to "create" some birch bark trees.... You will find a place to hang this long before it is quilted and bound ... great work..

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  63. PioneerValleyGirlMarch 6, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    I LOVE this! I love birch trees, and your take on them is fabulous!

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  64. Tacey BurnhamMarch 7, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    A.MAZ.ING!

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  65. PoppyprintMarch 7, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Jacquie, I'm so glad I'm working my way backwards on my reader after being away on retreat, otherwise I would've missed this! Amazing, it is truly amazing. I love birch forests and yours is no exception. Congratulations on rising to the challenge - big time!!!

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  66. MightyMomMarch 8, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    looks great! are you going to do your famous organic line quilting on it??

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  67. AnonymousMarch 8, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    This is gorgeous...reminds me of a Charley Harper print...Bear i the Birches...please bring to LA Modern Quilt Guild Meeting on Thursday!

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  68. CynthiaMarch 8, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    Love your quilt! Very cool--I like the name too!

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So, what are you thinking? (please don't put links in your comments...the spam police like to grab them and hide them away! if you want to share a link, feel free to email me.