One Quilt, Two Ways

Ever since I first started quilting, I was always looking at ways to take something, how it was, and change it around to make it my own. I wanted my own spin on the typical pattern directions so I could challenge my creative ability. I have done this with SEVERAL quilts and had great results every time.

When I took the beginner's quilter's series at Creative Fires, I made the first project, a rail fence, I made it exactly as I was supposed to. But then when it came time to show them off to the other class mates, mine just seemed to be blending in with the crowd. I wanted to make sure I stood out. So, for the next project, a log cabin, I decided to sew my 16 block on point to make a table runner, rather than the traditional wall hanging. With such few log cabin blocks, I couldn't find a layout that I liked very much, until I looked at it from an angle. Then I knew that I could make mine stand out. The next project in the series was the friendship star, and I kept to the true layout of that one. But then for the flying geese project I did something really cool (and at the time, the most challenging thing I had ever done before. I loved the fabric that I had picked out for the back of the quilt, but since it was a beginner's class, and it was a directional print, the instructor recommended that I not use it on the front of the quilt. As I was piecing the geese, I was loving the wonderful pinwheel shape that they created when sewn into a square. But then I noticed a "window" effect that was created from four pinwheel blocks. Then, I had an idea to cut off part of the geese and sew in a picture from the backing fabric. I was very pleased with the results. And don't you agree? That Currier and Ive's Print was way too cute to just be on the back of the quilt!

Another quilt that I made was an applique sampler from a pattern. I LOVE this quilt. I also love the layout, and as I thought about it, I saw that I could also rearrange the layout and use it for all seasons. Right now I have only done the fall one, and I am currently working on a pattern for this quilt. The snowman was from the pattern and the fall quilt is one that I designed for the same layout.

Maybe I am just biased but I love the fall one the most! It will look even better when it is quilted. I need to commit myself to getting this quilted....It isn't big and obviously won't take that long to do, I just need to do it...along with all of the other UFO's I have stacked up!