Botanical Quilt, a new start

Because, as you all know, I'm not afraid to show off my 'faux pas' I'm showing you my Before and After pictures, so you can compare accordingly.

I originally chose these fabrics to make a quilt for our bed. But after halfway through, I put the blocks up on my design wall.

Before

It was pretty evident that the blue blocks needed to go. So I took the stitch ripper out and got busy. I finally found the fabric I wanted, one that was designed by the designer (Jason Yenter) of the base pattern ~ which I modified slightly.

So here is what my design wall looks like now:

After

On My Design Wall Today...

Well, I've finally put all the pieces of my Botanical Shop Hop quilt up on the design wall ~ or what passes as MY design wall.







Funny thing is, that I'm not really all too pleased with the color choices. Almost a year ago, when I held the fabrics up together in the quilt shop, the blue fabric (I cut into large blue panels) brought a nice sparkle to the fabric choices. The rest of the fabrics were a part of last years Western Washington Shop Hop line of fabrics.



This was going to be the first quilt I ever made specifically to keep and put on our bed. That being said, you'd think I would have put a little more thought into the color choices. I just picked the fabrics from the shop hop line I thought my husband would like the best and then added the blue fabric to the selection.



My DH and one of my daughters seem to like it fine, but...



Mmmm, I don't know, something just doesn't feel right about it. I think that perhaps the blue fabric doesn't really work as well as I had hoped.

Floragraphix ~ My Botanical Quilt

Not too long ago I bought this book 'Floragraphix II Quilt Designs' by Jason Yenter. This book was published by In the Beginning Fabrics.

Originally I selected this book because my main fabric was also designed by Jason Yenter and it was in the same style of the Graphix fabrics he used for this book.

The pattern I'm using is 'Botanica'. Now, I've altered the design slightly in that I am not using nearly as many fabrics as Jason calls for in this pattern. I consolidated 4 colors into two colors.

But I probably would have altered something anyhow. It's just in my nature. Even in cooking, and with the best intentions of following a recipe exactly, I always end up changing something. My family has been known to beg me to follow the recipe exactly. They are such good sports ~ especially when it comes to food.

Ok, back to the subject at hand. The patterns in this book are great for highlighting artful fabrics, some of which have very large prints, and still use several colors. You can integrate large print fabrics with small prints, and with solids very very well using these patterns!

I also like the fact that Jason gives pressing directions. It really saves me the hassle of thinking that step through. He inserts a tiny arrow on every step letting you know which way too press.

There are six patterns in this book and they are perfect for the confident beginner. I would say for the absolute beginner, except that Jason skips some self-evident steps. So if you've NEVER quilted before, I wouldn't start with this book. For everyone else, it's perfect.

I'm almost through with all my blocks and ready to piece together the top of this quilt. I call it my 'Botanical Shop Hop Quilt' because my focus fabric was going to be the fabric Jason Yenter designed for the Western Washington Shop Hop '08. That didn't end up being my focus fabric, but it is still one of the prominent fabrics.

Some Progress to Report...

... on my NYE Challenge . Not a whole lot but as a reminder, This is my 'NYE To Do List':

1. My (Very) First Quilt (Ever) This is one of the 'Great Finds' of mine. Years later to find the very first quilt top I ever made. It's certainly not the best workmanship, but back then... well, I was just a newbie!
   Progress: Quilting Done, just needs the binding! (Yahoo!)


2. Ina's Christmas Quilt This is for my MIL. Top is done, ordered away for the backing fabric. I must send this one off to the UK (Scotland, home of my hubbies birth) so I hope that fabric gets here soon!


3. Kayleigh's Christmas Quilt This is a christmas quilt for my oldest daughter. She was always a purple girl, but has recently switched to blue, blue, blue!
   Progress: The top is done, so it's just the quilting and binding. (Backing is in same order as Ina's quilt)
   
4. Cricket's Christmas Quilt This is a Christmas quilt for my middle girl. She recently went with me to the LQS and looked at some fabrics. Sadly she picked out a bunch of fabrics that were about as far from what I've made her as possible. Bummer because...
   Progress: The top is done! So, she'll get what I've made. It's just the backing, quilting and binding left to do.


5. Cameron's Christmas Quilt: Now my little guy doesn't like anything new, unless it's a toy. He is very much into routine. It took him almost a year to grow fond of his other quilts (one from his god mom at his babtism and one from me when he transitioned from a crib to a toddler bed) Now he loves those quilts and a snuggle blanket I made him years ago above all else. I expect it will take him some time to warm up to this blanket as well.
   Progress: The top is done! Just the backing, quilting and binding!


6. Botanical Shop Hop Quilt : This is the first quilt that I have ever made for myself with the intention of putting it on my bed! My husband said to me one day in passing that we didn't have any of my nice quilts for ourselves!
   Progress: Well, I've almost finished the piecing. Just one more 'Element' to finish then I can assemble the top!
   Picture:



7. Old Tobacco Road : This is a Bonnie Mystery Quilt that I fell in love with and really would like to finish!
   Progress: Well, I've got a long way to go!

Now, some of you might be wondering where the pictures are of the Friendship Star Swap...

Well, you are going to have to wait because I haven't taken the pictures yet! But I will, I promise!

So, keep quiltin'

Lots of Little Quilty "Legos"

Last night, while I snacked on some fresh goodies, I worked a little more on my Botanical Shop Hop Quilt. I call it that because it comes from a pattern I modified called Botanical designed by Jason Yenter (of In The Beginning Fabrics). Then I selected some limited run fabrics from the Western Washington Shop Hop.


I wish the fabric colors would have come out better in my snapshots. I really need to get a better camera, or get better at photography. The focus fabric has a deep burgundy color background, and a butterfly graphic pattern with WA state references. The fabric, also designed by Jason Yenter, is similar to his Floragraphix line of fabrics. (see link above).


With obligations elsewhere sometimes it gets hard to squeeze in my own, personal sewing projects. Thus the saga of UFO's continue to plague me!



Of course, I looked at the list I have of UFO’s (on my Right-Hand-Navigation Menu -->) and realize that I've mixed up personal projects with my other projects. I Left some things out and added items that might not be considered UFO's. But unless you are the Quilting Police, I won't worry about it!


One of these days, I’ll clean up my list and get really super organized! It's going to happen.... one of these days! :-)


Until then, just keep on quilting!

ps - You can see a better view of these fabrics on the 'official' Shop Hop poster on my earlier post: HERE

Botanical Shop Hop Quilt

This is a quilt I just started. I got the idea from the Western Washington Shop Hop Fabrics. This years fabrics are really beautiful:

I'm using the focus fabric and the top four fabrics in blues and greens, then I've added another fabric to the mix to add some additional interest.

I took a quilt pattern that was designed by Jason Yenter called Botanica and modified it. His pattern can be found in the book Floragraphix II. I think he might have also designed the fabrics as well.

I will post pictures of the quilt as I get further along.