Tag Archives: Inspiration

Modern Medallion Inspiration Links

Even though I went in a totally different direction with my “Modern Medallion” quilt from Rachel at Stitched in Color’s Handstitched Class, I wanted to share some of the very inspirational posts that I saw while I was still thinking about completing it as presented.

First, Happy Go Lizzie’s flimsy is gorgeous in its constrained, muted color palette, except for those pops of yellow in dark grey.  I also really liked her diagonal quilting in the random squares part of the quilt.

Another detail of diagonal quilting in a fall palette from Ginette.

A flimsy full of brights, fussy cutting, and leaves from Kellyfairy, displayed like stained glass.

Amanda from My Sewical Hour discusses her slow stitching, decision making, and inability to complete someone else’s pattern.  This one really spoke to me, because it turns out I have the same problem.  (It doesn’t help that this is/was one of my first real quilt projects–I think I just wanted such a big project and finish to be MINE.)

A happy, bold, FINISHED Modern Medallion by Emily.  It can be done!  Someone finished it and the hand quilting is wonderful.

Another muted, constrained palette for the flimsy which stuck with me.  This one’s by HNoelMauri.

And, since months have passed, Kelly Kruzner’s flimsy in seaglass blues.  I LOVE it.

I didn’t go in any of these directions, but they all added something to my process.  I love that people share their work, especially when it’s so beautiful.

Thoroughly Inspired

Well, the apron strap was too long and I’m working on fixing it (and the straps of the rest of the toddler aprons already in the classroom), but I don’t want to talk about that today.

I want to talk about inspiration.

I’ve been following a bunch of quilting blogs all summer (using NewBlur as my RSS aggregator because it’s awesome–I’m glad Google Reader closed down), adding new ones as I find them through links on those blogs or link parties or what-have-you.

I’m especially drawn to rainbow and scrap projects, especially scrappy rainbows, so I’ve thoroughly enjoyed So Scrappy’s Rainbow Scrap Challenge (which I plan to participate in next year).  But what stopped me in my tracks and made me seriously consider really learning how to quilt is Quilt Diva Julie’s “Happy Happy Joy Joy”.  [Note: I’ve since edited the link to a post of hers that shows a newer photo which makes her squares that much more breathtaking.]  It will be a scrappy quilt based on Fabric Therapy’s X-Marks-the-Block block which, as far as I can tell, is based on all manner of string block patterns with a defined or contrasting middle strip.

I looked all around Julie’s blog and she has an amazing eye for color and value and design.  I ALMOST have enough skills to make a candy-centered string block like hers (I have to work on a real, consistent 1/4″ seam), but she’s also making quilts that I can only dream about.  She’s amazing and seems to sew so fast!

Anyhow, I’ll stop gushing about her and just say that a project like that is now on my list, as are a bunch of other quilt projects (including a couple I started last year and put away), which I’ll need to do before I tackle that one.

I also need a lot more fabric scraps, since I have barely any.  Those are steps one and two.

I’m excited already.