Monday, March 22, 2010

Texas Quilt

Here are Gwen and Freddy at the retreat. I keep saying it but they are so much fun to work with.


















This is the quilt top I made. I thought I would start with mine and show you some of the others later. I made a lot of the "parts" before I came. They like to use lots and lots of black and white sawtooth. Notice how it frames the central part of the quilt.





























This is the center, made up of broken dishes in blues and oranges. I really like the way other patterns are created when you put the broken dishes squares together. Freddy emphasizes value, she likes to use darks, and lights rather than colors with the same value. She says if you use the same value of colors they look "mushy".






























On one of the design boards that was across from me someone had done a lot of 4 patches and put them on point. The more I looked the more I fell in love with that technique. They have a really neat way of putting squares on point. Don't you just love the little star in the corner.



















I asked Freddy for advice on which fabric to use and she said use them all!!! So I did.




























When I put my squares up on my design board there were some gaps. Gwen loves to use sawtooth to fill in the gaps. Look at what she suggested I do in this corner. It looks like it was planned but it wasn't.

























Gwen also likes to use strips of fabric for gaps. If you will notice here the strip of fabric flows into the other squares and provides interest and surprise.

















I put the four square on point on three sides. I had made some spiky sawtooth and I really wanted to use it so they suggested I use it on the bottom. I had a liberated log cabin that Freddy and Gwen both liked and wanted me to use. My spiky sawtooth was not the same height as the log cabin square so I inserted the strip of red.






















Here is another strip and some sawtooth inserted to fill in a gap. Notice how the purple triangles of the sawtooth and the purple of the square provide a little surprise.


















Freddy and Gwen like surprises in their quilts. They like for their quilts to be interesting to look at, so that every time you look at them you see something new. They taught me so much. I wanted share some of their ideas and tips.

10 comments:

Browndirtcottage said...

You 'dun' good honey!! Your quilt is as great as Texas. It's a shame I wasn't a very good Texan and mowsy on over the six hr. drive to see you guys!! I know you all have a great time!!

elle said...

I am so impressed that you came home with a top; but then you did sew lots before you went. I'm sure you soaked up lots of tips and your quilts are all going to be just a bit different from now on. The top has a nice cohesive feel to it. Great job!

Barb said...

I just love the fact that you showed us segments of your quilt...totally wonderful!

Joyce said...

That looks like such a good learning experience! I'd love to take one of their workshops...

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

I love how all your different blocks have joined in and made such a glorious quilt top! It must have been quite a puzzle getting everything to fit together so perfectly.

Tonya Ricucci said...

fantastic!!! I love how you showed what you learned. thanks!

Quiltdivajulie said...

I cannot believe how much fun and how amazing it must have been to spend time working with Gwen and Freddy ... oh, my GOSH!

Your quilt is wonderful and I, too, like the way you shared examples of what you learned!

Sharon said...

Thanks for walking us through the creation of your wonderful quilt top, and all the tips that Freddy and Gwen shared with you! The quilt looks wonderful! I love all the little odd surprises you have sprinkled throughout the quilt. What a great experience you must have had! I'm jealous....someday I want to take a class with them.

Anonymous said...

Your quilt is so vibrant! It sounds like you had lots of fun at the retreat and that really shows up in your quilt!

Carol E. said...

I LOVE your quilt!! Thanks for the tips from the two masters. Fun!