Wednesday, September 14, 2011

What inspires me?

One of my current projects was inspired by a gorgeous beach sunset photo from the wedding website of my nephew and his bride-to-be. I knew I wanted to make a quilt for them, and this photo was my starting off point.


Inspiration #1 - nature




I loved the juxtaposition of the purples, oranges, blues, grays - I couldn't wait to go to the fabric store!




Inspiration #2 - fabric!


I intended to buy prints, but these batiks gave me the range of colors I wanted, and besides, they were simply beautiful! I THOUGHT I knew just what I was going to do to recreate that sunset...I was going to use simple blocks, 9-patches, using the batiks, creating an abstract interpretation of the scene. Well - I made three blocks, and I hated them! Too much contrast!


No worries! As I was pondering what to do next - especially considering that the wedding is coming up soon - I had that "a ha" moment! Rotary cutter to the rescue! I chopped up those blocks, and gave them some 15-minute inspiration! I had just read V's latest brainstorm, using her Target shirt and creating made fabric blocks...and also saw some great made fabric blocks by Miki, and LeeAnn's wonderful quilt...

Victoria's made fabric blocks


Inspiration #3 - fellow bloggers at 15 minutes!


...so I started pulling some of my purple scraps and fabrics...



...and I made new blocks, which I love! It's funny, but my reworking of my entire quilt plan echoes what is happening with the wedding plans too. You see, they are getting married on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. And after planning it for a year or more - they have had to move to a different venue, a number of miles north (but still on the OB), as Irene destroyed the road leading to the original site!


Thanks to V and to all fellow players out there, you all inspire me!





















1 comment:

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

First off, that sunset photo is amazing. great colors!! Second! I lvoe seeing that some 15 minute blocks have saved the day! they do look amazing and have that sunset streaked patterning... nice save! great inspiration!