Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Looking Glass...the one the only...the original

Looking Glass, the sixth (6th) pattern down was the first true quilt...at least quilt as the word I think of ....meaning a blanket...that I made. It is available for purchase on Craftsy by the way!!!
This is a wonderfully simple pattern created by Meadow Mist Designs one and only Cheryl Brickey.

I had completed my first two quilts/wall hangings and felt up for a challenge.  I found this wonderful design and not only did the colors speak to me, but the symmetry did also. So asked Tish if this would be a pattern that would work for me. She quickly said yes. So being the "batik freak" that I am I quickly picked out two sets of batiks. I was thinking that these would look really good together, but upon receiving them I started thinking....."What did I do?"

These are Timeless Treasures Batiks in Citrus and Painter.
Andover fabrics made the Dimples pattern fabric that I chose to use for the background.  Neither Tish nor my sister....whom I count on for bouncing ideas off of were sold on my color choice. But confident in my decision I rolled on.

I laid out my fabrics for a more proper photo shoot......
 Caroline got in her spot which is clearly a quilty kitty of the most selfish nature.
So, being a novice quilter, I "picked" my color palette.  Not understanding how to read a pattern with multiple sizing. I went through this process and even made a comment to my trusted resident expert " I have alot of fabric left over".  Well, during the piecing process I figured out why. .....I began running short on fabric...not realizing that all of the charm pack pieces were required.


I had a plan of light dark large squares alternating...until I realized I needed all the fabric and I had a disproportionate amount of dark squares left over...I had a bit of panic moment, but Tish assured me it would turn out alright.  I did everything I could to make sure that no colors in the blocks were similar or adjoining to each other both in width and length...it became quite time consuming. (sorry about the feet shot....Tish got onto me about "framing" or staging my pics and then cropping if necessary)

Caroline often took my seat....Move your feet, loose your seat.

Piecing Piecing Piecing.....or as I would say building building building....

Sashing Sashing Sashing......Caroline approved of this process

Sew it all together....



And viola....you have a chassis...I mean a flimsy....I mean a quilt top. The wind even help make for a pretty picture.

And a quick improv attempt at Bargello


So it was around this time I made contact with my mother whom I unfortunately, rarely speak with.  I let her know I wanted to get up to Ohio to visit her and she gladly agreed. We went up and I took my two completed quilts and this chassis.  She liked it, but did not appear to be all that excited. I went with the intent to tell her it was hers..knowing that yellow was her favorite color.  So we talked and I found her sitting on the floor looking more closely at the laid out quilt. So, I asked her if she liked it and she said this is a very pretty quilt and that she liked the colors...to which I quickly stated good, because it is yours.

It came back home with me and quickly went to Country Roads Quilt Shop 
for professional quilting.





I was excited to get the binding on, but the schedule was just way too hectic. So it had to wait several weeks.  We have an outdoor quilt show coming up and I think I will put on display and then return it to its owner.

Notice the flange binding that matches the quilting! The blue really pops! I bobble a few times, but not bad for my first attempt.







And check out those labels!!!!

I really love the finished product and I think the two skeptics that didn't care for the yellow would agree it is a beautiful quilt...My sister really loves it...

Well stand by...hopefully before the end of the year we will have Looking Glass 2.0
As of now I plan to keep this one for myself, but I am hoping my daughter falls in love with it and it can be a late Sweet 16 B-Day present for her to cherish....that Daddy made for her.

Thanks for stopping by....Looking Glass....TishNWonderland.....it all comes together!

10 comments:

  1. LOOK at your own labels!!! And your Mum, she must be so thrilled,proud, and excited. Love it, your story, your words and photos today, why not write a book, sew a quilt, and put it all together in one.

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  2. Cute Mum story! She will be doubly thrilled when she receives the finished quilt. Flimsies are pretty, but finished, they take on a whole new dimension. You did an excellent job, Dave. I love your fabric choices especially! Enjoy your day!~karen

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  3. It's a lovely finish Dave. Perhaps your mother holds her feelings in as she seemed to be interested in the end. I'm looking forward to seeing your next one.

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  4. Personally, I love your yellow, it just shines in the outdoor pictures! And the light blue flange adds to the summerly effect.

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  5. A lovely quilt! I especially love the binding, that blue really does have a lovely pop to it. And your labels look great!

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  6. I can appreciate your struggle to keep similar fabrics and colors from touching, "random" often comes with lots of planning. I'm glad your mom liked the quilt, it turned out lovely.

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  7. I think it is so awesome that you found your mom quietly looking and admiring the quilt top. I hope that she really enjoys it, especially knowing you made it thinking of her. And I am so jealous that you and Tish have each other to sew with. It sounds like a lot of fun. :)

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  8. LOVE the flanged binding!! Way to be a Quilt Builder.

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  9. Great finish! The colours are great. I might have to give the flanged binding a try.

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  10. Well, now, Dave, you have really jumped into quilting with both feet. I mean flanged binding, too? Amazing. So I think it's perfectly appropriate that you have both feet in that one picture! The quilt is beautiful--the yellow really makes makes it sing!

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