WIP Wednesday 3/26/2014

Recently I finished Manila Quilt Design, for my former manager John W., who retired today.

Manila Quilt Design
For my former manager John W., who retired today.
John is from the Philippines. The columns in the design mimic the embroidery on a barong, the Filipino men's dress shirt.
Manila Quilt Design blocks

Original design

Partly from stash 

59" x 67"

Completed 3/24/2014

Close-up

This quilt had been in my head for a long time. I found an older Electric Quilt file of John's quilt, created in February 2010, so it's been at least four years. Each year I would intend to make the quilt for John's November birthday, then Christmas, then for Bosses' Day. The dates would go by, and I would start again. With John retiring this week, I had to get the quilt done.

John is from the Philippines. The columns in the design mimic the embroidery on a barong, the Filipino men's dress shirt. I discovered Manila Quilt Design block, which relates to the Philippines.

John often wears a pale blue shirt, and I had planned to use pale blue for the background and basis of the quilt's color palette. But when I couldn't find the right pale blue during my fabric shopping last week, the off-white batik, which is kind of island-like, spoke to me. It became the new background. I'm glad I chose it.

Read on to see how the quilt came together.

Partially complete test block

Scraps for the dark blue areas of the blocks

Dark blues cut into squares

Double pins indicate fabrics that are a little different than the others. Will try to distribute them evenly in the columns.

Making the center of the Manila Quilt Design block

To save time I chose to use one long strip rather than piecing three squares together.

Making the corner areas of the block

Corners laid out

Two corners sewn on

Last two corners sewn on

First two strips sewn on

Last two strips sewn on to complete the first block

I love the subtle pattern of the batik.

Squares represent columns of blocks, triangles represent "different blues."

I like this arrangement.

Arranging (mostly incomplete) blocks on wall

Two strips sewn on each block, alternating positions to prevent having to line up seams later.

Completed blocks

Double safety pins - area to the right was to be saved for plain blocks. To the left, you can see there wasn't much to spare for the pieced blocks. (As it turns out, there was almost half a yard of batik left when the quilt was finished.)

Quilt top complete

I had to make some adjustments in the plain fabric areas. The pieced blocks turned out larger than in my Electric Quilt design, and the quilt would have been wider than I wanted. I saved a few inches off of the right and left columns, which helped a lot. Also, to save time, I cut one wide piece for the center, instead of piecing two squares.

Close-up

Once again, the finished quilt

I gave the quilt to John on Tuesday. He really likes it, and plans to display it prominently in his home as he returns to the Philippines for retirement. I wish John all the best in the next chapter of his life.

Debbie

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Quilts in Art Exhibit

Two of my little quilts were in an art exhibit last night. The one-night-only exhibit featured dozens of works inspired by the art of children and adults from Stanislaus Family Justice Center, displayed at Picasso's Deli and Art, a local eatery. The exhibit was part of a monthly downtown Art Walk.

Why So Sad?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Goes to the Beach

Usually I have two music rehearsals on Thursday nights. I got off work early to view the exhibit before band rehearsal. We finished early, and with no orchestra rehearsal, I went back to the exhibit for a second look. My son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters met me there, which meant a lot to me. Afterwards we got a bite to eat together.

The art pieces will be sold in a fundraiser next week. I hope my little quilts bring some money to the center. Any unsold items will become part of the center's art collection.

Debbie

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WIP Wednesday 3/19/2014

I'm starting a new quilt, for my former manager John W., who will retire very soon.

Electric Quilt sketch

John is from The Philippines. I'm using Manila Quilt Design block to attempt to imitate a barong, the Filipino embroidered dress shirt.

The quilt has been in my head for many years. All along, I had planned to use a pale blue tone-on-tone for the background (see above). But I couldn't find the right one during my fabric hunt last night.

Fabrics for the quilt

Unable to find a pale blue that made me happy, the off-white batik spoke to me, and now it will be the background. The dark blues on the bottom of the photo are scraps. I prefer the center one; the others are backups in case I run out of my favorite.

I expect to begin cutting fabric within a day or two.

Debbie

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Bloom Where You're Planted

Bloom Where You're Planted
For Mary Ellen H., my manager who will retire this week.
Mary Engelbreit fabric from stash of co-worker Becky R.'s mother.
Partly from my stash, as well.
55" square

Original design

Completed 3/17/2014.

Close-up

Picking up from the previous post:

With help from co-worker Becky R., decided on red for the pieced strips, because it reminded her of cherries, a recurring theme in the work of Mary Engelbreit.

Red squares added to design wall

Trying out one sewn strip, which turned out shorter than I had planned (see center).

Decided to insert a rectangle in the center of each pieced strip. Width was part calculation and part guesswork.

Pieced strip turned out just how I wanted. Woo-hoo!

All four pieced strips sewn together. Did not sew the corner squares on yet.

If you look closely, you can see marks to cut the panel to the proper width.

Leftover strip, going into the giveaway bag of scraps. Cute, but not my style these days.

Panel with strips laid out. Looks good!

Side strips sewn on

Top and bottom strips added. Love the narrow pale green border around the panel. I'm glad I was able to save it with the inserted rectangles in the pieced strips.

Companion Mary Engelbreit fabric

Squares cut, will go in the corners of the quilt.

Quilt top done

Fabric for the back - pink butterflies tie in to the garden theme of the quilt's front

Once again, the finished quilt

I gave the quilt to Mary Ellen this afternoon. She really likes her quilt. She said that at one time her kitchen was decorated in Mary Engelbreit. Great suggestion by Becky R.

Debbie

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