My month was June I stretched my brain for a while and was struck by the idea of a waterfall. To give it some visual oomph, I also decided flowers should be headed over the falls as well.
I sent my bee mates two different blues, two orange squares, and a strip of stone, asking them to make an abstract improv block - free-style, 12.5"x16.5". And did they deliver!!
I added an irregular sashing, and some borders - the layout of the quilt actually looks like this if you get close to it.
I wanted the water look to be unbroken so I made the binding shift in tone as it went around.
Then I quilted it in wavy, watery lines, broken a little in places by imaginary rocks behind the 'water.' It's a little hard to believe just by looking at it but there are actually eleven different Kona solids and three different threads. There is also the handiwork of eleven different people, other than myself, and I can't thank them enough for the beautiful blocks they made.
The back was built around one block I received that I absolutely loved (it's based on Fibonacci - how clever is that?) but it kept popping out when I tried in the front layout. I did my best to emulate the design and make it macro on the back.
You can read more about this quilt and how it came to be in this post here. And if you are in Saskatoon this weekend, you can see it in person at SaskatoonQuilts!2013 out at Prairieland. :-)
Quilt: Flowers Over Falls
Size: approx. 66" x 80"
Finished: August 2013
Category: Group/Bee Quilts
Contributors: Myself and the other awesome quilters of Aeneous Group - Simply Solids Modern Bee, plus one super lovely friend from UK
Thank you to Amy Ellis for hosting, all the sponsors who are so generous with their support, and all the other quilters are participating (and you for stopping by!)
Past Festival Entries:
Spring 2013 - Random Containment
Fall 2012 - Homespun
Spring 2012 - Myself as a Teacher
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this quilt and am just so happy I could contribute in a small way. Your vision for quilts awes me.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love this beautiful quilt! You have such amazing design ideas, Carly. I'm so impressed by the blocks you and your bee mates made. This is a stunning quilt.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful quilt!! I'm impressed at how you used bee blocks to produce such a cohesive looking quilt. It doesn't look like blocks at all, and yet it has a spontaneity from different people's piecing styles.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea of the design and construction that went into this quilt- quite fascinating to read about the process! Congrats on a great quilt!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I couldn't figure out how such a clever design could be done by so many quilters until I read the whole post. Great job!
ReplyDeleteLove this one so much Carly! You are brilliant!
ReplyDeleteAh, this wonderful quilt!! I love it, and the fact that it's a one of a kind unique design makes it even better.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most coherent bee quilts I have ever seen. It's beautiful sA a stand alone quilt and you have used amazing vision to bring it together so well
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this Carly. I've just joined an improv bee, and this is hugely inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThat is so pretty -- and I love the idea!
ReplyDeleteI love this so much, I can't tell you! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible! I absolutely love it! And I love how awesome bee quilts can really turn out. So fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your bee mates were a bit confused at first, but just look at how it turned out! Very cool and very clever the way you did the binding.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is amazing. I've never been part of a bee, but your group is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteIt's great seeing this quilt again! Your bee did a fabulous job interpreting your design. I'm in my first online bee and my month is coming up. Not sure what I'll request, but it won't be this clever I know ;-)
ReplyDeleteYay, I'm so glad you are sharing this quilt, Carly! It's simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteLove the random improviness of this, great choice!
ReplyDeleteCarly - it is truly a stunner. Really, really like it!
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt! I love the colors and the all of the blocks your bee-mates made.
ReplyDeleteWOW !!!!!! That is really a GREAT quilt !!! LOVE the colors and design !
ReplyDeleteGorgeous colours , and i love the color combination that you used:)))
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. It is amazing how this has been made through combining blocks from your group. You really planned it well.
ReplyDeleteThe end result is wonderful.
This is so impressive as a bee quilt--because it looks completely planned!
ReplyDeletejust wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLovely, very original
ReplyDeletelove how this came together....what a great quilt xo
ReplyDeleteWow! I love this. It was so clever to include the "flowers". The pic on the stairs makes it look just like a rippling waterfall. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous quilt. Even better to know that 12 people made it. The transition in blues is terrific and your photo on the steps is just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed! It has an incredible unity in spite of being made by several people. It is really gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely stunning. One of my favourite quilts of yours!
ReplyDeleteThe concept of a waterfall is brilliant. It looks amazing falling down your stairs.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing quilt!! So creative how you made the binding to look borderless.The shot on the stairs reminds me of a negative edge pool. Fabulous work!!
ReplyDeleteWe have some great waterfalls in Norway, and your quilt is absolutely reminding me of them. And with the flowers all over, just amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is gorgeous! The gradient quality really does make me see a waterfall. Lovely and so original!
ReplyDeletenice entry - interesting colors and composition. The back is so great!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this. It is my kind of quilt - improv and visually exciting.
ReplyDeleteI think I like the back just as much as the front!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and beautiful quilt! I bet it was fun to work on too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic quilt!!! cool!
ReplyDeleteyou had a fabulous vision and your bee mates really pulled it off for you - this is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat. Is. AMAZING! I love the subtle gradation, I love the scrappiness, I love every last thing about it!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt came out really cool! I love the way it goes from dark to light as it approaches the bottom, like a waterfall. I really like the idea you pulled through!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of this group quilt. It really puts each person's spin on the different blocks!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this quilt! You worked in the perfect toning from area to area for the blocks, and the blow-up snuggling of the back block is just perfect. Very fun quilt, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful quilt. I love this modern interpretation of a bee quilt, total coolness!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my wee blog.
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
Your quilt is astounding and stunning and amazing all rolled up into one lovely blue quilt! Great job by your bee group and by you!!!
ReplyDeleteI still like this one, Carly. And by the number of comments you've gotten, so do a lot of other people!
ReplyDeleteLove how this turned out. The quilting adds to the "flow" of the quilt colours.
ReplyDeleteBarb@Witsend
Amazing quilt. Love the gradient and the spots of vibrant red on the bee block quilt.
ReplyDeleteCarly the quilt is just amazing! Congratulations to you and the Bee for putting together a spectacular finish. Thanks for stopping by the blog today and for your kind words. Hugs, Karen
ReplyDeleteOooh, that's a fantastic quilt! I love the way the blue changes from the top to the bottom, and the abstract shapes you and your bee-mates made are wonderful! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt! I love how everyone's blocks just work so well in your theme. And putting the fantastic odd block on the back with a macro version is a perfect idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a bee quilt! It turned out fabulously!! Fantastic job :-)
ReplyDeleteThis looks fantastic! Such a clever design :)
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt and your concept! That always amazes me! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely from everything to the colors to the quilting. Well done! Love that picture on the stairs!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt. I love the story behind it!
ReplyDeleteYou just do not know how happy i am to see this quilt!!! I saw it on a post of yours before and accidentally deleted it. LOVE it! Want to try something similar sometime soon. Have been trying to figure out who posted it. I'm majorly smiling here!!! Thanks for your nice comment to me on my entry and thanks so very much for sharing. Have a great day
ReplyDeleteYour blog festival quilt is stunning. I am in awe. I love your Star Trek quilt too. My brother is a big Trekkie.
ReplyDeleteNice entry! The use of gradient is stunning!
ReplyDeleteHoly!!! This is a crazy amazing bee quilt. Congratulations on a super cool vision and putting all of the blocks together in such a cohesive way!
ReplyDeleteAmazing quilt! I love the thought process behind it and the attention to detail, especially with the binding.
ReplyDeleteThe details make this quilt. From the gradient blues to the watery quilting, it is a thoughtful piece. Congrats on the good job.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful waterfall! How pleasing it must be to see something like that take shape from out of your own head! :) It is beautiful!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunning quilt, I love it. The gradations of colour are a wonderful way to put the improv blocks together.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! I really love how the color subtly shifts as your eyes move down the quilt. Well done!
ReplyDeleteTalk about high impact! WOW! Congrats and best wishes!
ReplyDeleteBefore I even got to your post I was reading a bit about you Carly! I was laughing so hard reading the names of the toes! Great sense of humor! Now I see you have a great vision for design! Awesome quilt! Love the shifting of color dark to light just like a real waterfall. And the flowers and sticks really look like they are falling!
ReplyDeleteEek, Carly, you know I just LOVE this quilt--anything with gradation has me right from the beginning. Such a great concept. Really lovely.
ReplyDeleteSuch a creative beauty this quilt is beautiful! Very Modern! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! The view of it on the stairs really reinforces the feel of moving water, and it was clever to add the red. The color-shifting binding is brilliant! Very well thought out quilt, I love it!
ReplyDeleteSeeing this quilt has made a regular visitor out of me. It is STUNNING. What an amazing idea you had! I'm so amazed that you were able to plan ahead and make this a bee quilt. You've got me re-thinking how I plan bee quilts.
ReplyDeleteThink I may have already raved about this, but seems I'm not alone in further raving! It's fantastic adn visionary, I'll be voting!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cool design! Thanks for sharing it in the festival!
ReplyDeleteVery cool-- love ombré effect!
ReplyDeleteWow - superb quilt! Thanks for popping over and visiting my blog. I can see you are in Saskatchewan, I live in Australia but I work with communities in Saskatchewan and I am hoping to visit next year :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool, modern design! Perfect effect with the colors :)
ReplyDelete-Soma
Everything about your quilt is great! Love the concept, the design, quilting, and the fact that many hands went into making it!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is an awesome quilt! Hard to believe that it's the work of so many people - it's so cohesive! Great job.
ReplyDeletep.s. love the Red Shirt quilt as well - go nerds!
Awesome quilt and cool design!!
ReplyDeleteI love the modern design! It's really stunning! I'll be voting!! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic quilt!! Inspiring in every way!
ReplyDeleteI just love the gradation of the blues and the random (but not so random) reds. The backing is just as visually beautiful too. It's a fantastic quilt. Pattern?
ReplyDeletethis is just amazing ! I love solid quilts !
ReplyDeleteWOW - that is one very cool quilt!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt! Love the solids and how they were put together. Creative and Inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt! What a great job!
Wow, what a fantastic concept! I love the way it was randomized by virtue of extra helping hands, and you captured the flow so beautifully. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of modern quilts or solids, but yours is a stunner! I may have to change my mind.
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous! I love it!
ReplyDeleteHi Carly! What a georgeous quilt. I walked through your lovely blog with a peek here and there. How lovely works. Happy quilting.
ReplyDeleteBea
Love your quilt! I like the picture of it on the stairs too. Perfect. The drunkard path I made was traditionally pieced. Doing the curves was a new experience for me, and took forever, but I like it better than applique.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic quilt!
ReplyDeleteI never get tired of looking at this quilt. It's so amazing, and I can never quite believe you made it from a bee! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble grasping the idea that you let others improve blocks and this is how it turned out. Pretty cool! An it's beautiful, too! You did a great job coordinating and designing and sewing! Wht a project!
ReplyDeleteSuch a stunning quilt - love the improv blocks!
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool! The graduation of color and the flowers and sticks going over the waterfall - nicely done!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love the graduated colour of the water and how you made the binding to match. Great job on the quilting!
ReplyDeleteFantastic... The graduated background, the idea, everything really. Congratulations on the nomination :)
ReplyDeleteLove the floating affect you achieved. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, I love the graduated effect and it's incredible how it all came together!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous quilt! I love the way it looks, the idea behind it, and the way it came together. What a wonderful way to make such an original looking quilt!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool quilt. I love everything about it, but especially it's movement! I think you've got a winner on your hands!
ReplyDeleteYou did an outstanding job Carly. I loved this quilt the first time I saw it and I like it just as much if not more now. Great vision and wonderfully executed.
ReplyDeleteWow. This is amazing! You and your bee mates did an amazing job!
ReplyDelete