Thursday, March 8, 2012

Favorite Things Friday ~ Fab Quilts and a QAL!

I've seen so many beautiful quilty things on other people's blogs lately.  You know how inspiring you all are, right?  Well, you are.  Talented too, my goodness gracious.

Here are two recent favorites, the first of which is Liftoff by Sandi at Piecemeal Quilts.  

"Liftoff" by Sandi of Piecemeal Quilts (with permission)
This quilt just takes my breath away!  I get a feeling of awe and wonder, just like when I'm watching a huge flock of birds rise up to fly in formation.  Some of that awe and wonder is also in regard to the number of HSTs in this quilt, something like 672 of them, all perfectly pieced.  Sandi and her mother worked together on this.  You can read the touching story behind the quilt here.

The second quilt is Gong Show by Lesly at Stitch Literate.  Another stunner!  I love the positive/negative thing happening in this quilt, the use of the brown as the neutral solid, as well as the clever configuration of multiple sized drunkard's path pieces.  Anybody else oohing and aahing?

"Gong Show" by Lesly at Stitch Literate (with permission)
A drunkard's path quilt is on my bucket list, and "Throw Me a Curve" is one of the categories on my 2012 NewFO Challenge list.  I'm just sayin'...  ;)

Also on my NewFO list is a category called "Oddly Inspired," which is where the Hubcap Diamond Star Halo quilt is fitting in, inspired by song lyrics.  But I'm obviously not the only one who thinks "Quilts Are Everywhere."  Sandi (Piecemeal Quilts) was recently inspired by a drawing of iron window coverings from a 1930s building.  She transferred the drawing to EQ and came up with several colorways.  Now she's agreed to do an Ironwork Quilt Along based on that design.  I am excited about that! 

Ironwork* Quilt Along at Piecemeal Quilts
I have been wanting to do something in solids, and this lends itself well to that (though prints would be cute too).  She is offering instructions for two sizes, a bed-sized quilt and a 40-inch quilt.  I'm going to make the smaller version.  

I've ordered my fabrics from Connecting Threads.  Instead of black for the ironwork, I chose Rosewood, which is dark enough to appear almost black (I think), but it's, well, rosewood-y.  Think possibly rusty ironwork?  I dunno, just being a little different in that one detail, seeing as I'm totally copying one of her EQ colorways, otherwise.

Want to quilt along?  Visit Sandi's blog for the details, grab the button, pull together some fabric, and you'll be all set!

Today's fab favorites brought to you by:


15 comments:

Michelle Ridgway said...

Stunners all of them. The first one is mindblowing....I would have nighmares for weeks if asked to participate in a quilt like that. Don't you just love that there are such amazing people out there. Thanks for sharing...loved it. Good luck with your Ironwork quilt.

seabreezequilts said...

Amazing quilts. Great FTF

Vicki @ DottyJane said...

I am oohing and aahing! I love the curves in the second one.
Your new quilt's going to be a fun one!

piecemealquilts said...

Thanks for including me - I get a geeky thrill when someone likes my quilts enough to share them with others!

Sarah Craig said...

Isn't Lesly's quilt cool? I just love it! And that ironwork quilt is gorgeous- I don't think I have time for the quiltalong, but definitely want to "pin" this one for the future! I love the use of color in Liftoff, too - so pretty!

Elizabeth said...

So much gorgeousness going on! Lifoff is absolutely amazing!

There are so many beautiful and amazing quilts out there! Thanks for sharing a few!

xo -E

Angie in SoCal said...

What gorgeous eye candy. I especially like the orange and brown one.

Shay said...

Oh my goodness...there's enough inspiring eye candy here to make my head explode.

Imagine the patience that had to go into making Liftoff!

And I love the look of the second one too...

Cherie said...

Amazing quilts!! Love the Gong show one!

Lesly said...

Thanks for including mine, Paulette! And I am thrilled to be in company with Liftoff - I have seen that one around and my mind boggles at what it takes to have pieced it. The colours are stunning, too.

Unknown said...

Some amazing quilts! Hugs

Pokey said...

you have been inspired by 2 that I also said "wow" to. I can't get over the creative people in blogland who keep me motivated, and you are one of them! Keep 'em coming ~
:-}pokey

Diane said...

Those are great inspirations. Sometimes I get over run with so much inspiration I don't get anything done :)

Karen said...

Can't wait to see what you do with the QAL. Very cool design!

Michelle said...

Those are truly some inspiring quilts! Very artistic. Terrific FTF!