Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Shadow Blossoms and The Punisher

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a fantastic end to 2012 and are already having a spectacular 2013.  I am already tripping over my feet trying to keep up and I'm hoping that will have disappeared by February.  :-)  One of my goals for the year (subject for another post) is to get a little more organized with my time and start editing in various areas of my life.  I've already started with my bedroom closet; the great weeding of 2013 has begun!

I can FINALLY show you some of the things I made as gifts for Christmas. It'll take me a couple of posts but I'll start today with the big ones.  The photos are not stellar - due to a lack of quilt holder-uppers before the day and lack of sunlight and reasonable temperatures after, it's been difficult to get a good shot.  Indoors on a cloudy day.  Blergh!

Shadow Blossoms
I have already mentioned here that Seester requested a bed quilt to go in the bedroom she painstakingly redecorated this summer.  As I had already been planning to make her one for Christmas, I confessed my intentions, we discussed colours and fabrics, a loose idea of a design, and away I went.  Once fabric was purchased (mostly Bonnie&Camille Vintage and Ruby), I okayed it all with her but that's the last she saw of it until Christmas morning.

The quilting is a mix of meandering for the main and giant pebbles in the border.  I had started out with intentions of doing much more complicated free-motion work but was stymied by both my lack of FMQ skill and the sheer size of it.  It'll fit her queen-sized bed with plenty of pillow-tuck and drape space. Big quilt. HUGE!  (Did anyone else think Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman just now? Anyone? No?)

Alas, this was the best shot I could get of the back.

I'm happy with the way the design worked out - it's my own, right from scratch, and I'm working on a pattern for it.  I do wish the fabrics we'd agreed on had more contrast in value so that it looks more like shadows from stained glass but she loves it so I don't really care.  

She also got a set of matching pillow cases.  I used this tutorial. Very easy, French seams and all.

The Punisher
The gift I was most excited for this year is this one. If I didn't make him a quilt, he'd be the only member of my immediate family that didn't have one.  However, looking at him and his interests, "quilt" is not generally a word that would make the short list of gift ideas. My brother-in-law is a giant(!) and a giant fan of the comic book vigilante, The Punisher.  This skull is his symbol.  Inspired by Dan Rouse's (Piece and Press) totally amazing work, I decided to do it in reverse appliqué. Not wanting it to be boringly solid, I decided to piece random backgrounds (another post) so that the quilt would have a visual texture to it. I had no idea if it would actually work but I gathered up my fabrics, crossed my fingers and started cutting like a hairdresser with no concept of consequences...

The skull is quilted in random jagged lines - very sharp and pointy - while the black is meanders.  I also added a few black "cracks" in the skull.  It turned out exactly like I envisioned even though there were moments in the piecing of the backgrounds that I had serious doubts.  The blacks didn't seem black enough, the whites were going to be too beige, it was all going to be a huge mess...  But it wasn't!  Put black fabric next to white fabric and all is right again. And cutting away the appliqué left all these marvellous raggedy edges after washing.

He was completely excited when he opened it.  He stood to spread it out and get a better look, and referring to the super-impressionable and parrot-like toddler at his feet, said, "You have NO IDEA how much I wish I could swear right now!"  Ah, there's nothing like censored curse words of appreciation...! :-)

The back was pieced using leftovers from the top.  It's just over six feet high and five wide, not quite big enough to fit on a bed. On purpose.  Seester thanked me for that.  :-)  It will go in his man-cave and their newly finished basement for movie watching.

So that's round one!  Thanks for reading this rather long post with very sad excuses for photography. :-)  I'm off to get working on those goals... Did I mention I joined a bee?

40 comments:

  1. holy crap! they are both amazing and so are you! AMAZING!

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  2. Amazing work, WOW!! I have to pass this link onto my brothers who are going to love that Punisher quilt! :)

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  3. You are crazy amazing. Seriously mean it.

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  4. Your quilts turned out great....amazing Punisher! Very creative...and apparently very appreciated as well :)

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  5. You take my breath away. They are so incredible!

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  6. I am in awe!! Your quilts are just fabulous!! What amazing work.

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  7. Carly, Carly, Carly! You are a rock star girl!

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  8. I don't know what to add.....abso-frickin-amaze-balls! When I saw your seesters quilt - I thought it was great but your bro-in-law's is beyond words. How creative! And how precious his comments.... I bet it absolutely made your heart SING.

    Good on you!

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  9. Carly! You crack me up! I didn't think Julia Roberts. Not until you mentioned it, that is ... and then ... ROFLMAO!! Things are always extra hilarious to me when it takes me a moment to "get it".

    Your quilts are freaking amazing! You have great imagination, gumption and skill! I love reading about the giftees' reactions! And yes, very smart about the Punisher sizing. Clevah!

    See you Sunday!

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  10. Yes, amazeballs for sure. These two quilts are so different yet clearly so very perfect for their recipients. Brava!!

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  11. I'm going to have to agree with every one else - freaking amazing. Punisher is stunning (although I won't show my sons, they'd be begging for one each ;o) ) So glad I just found your blog :oD

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  12. Very cool! I love that he wanted to swear! Very funny and I'm sure a compliment ; ) love your writing too

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  13. Oh, what great gifts! I love the 1st one. So pretty! And the 2nd one is so unique and awesome!

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  14. both quilts are amazeballs - great job!

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  15. Both quilts are beautiful! Okay the second in a manly beautiful sort of way! :D
    You were absolutely right to piece the skull and background on your Punisher quilt. Far more interesting that way. Fabulous!

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  16. Wonderful job on both your quilts. They must have been super excited.
    Bonnie and Camille's Ruby and Vintage Modern are my favorite fabrics. I actually love all their fabric lines.

    Awesome!

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  17. I love them both, but OMG, The Punisher?! You get the sister-in-law of the year award for sure.

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  18. These are both really great looking quilts, though obviously in very different ways :D

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  19. Carly! Those quilts are amazing. I don't know how you find time. . . I adore the back of the aqua quilt. But everything is sublime!

    Happy New Year.

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  20. Congratulations on two beautiful gifts! Your sister and BIL are lucky ducks... Love how very different personalities the two quilts have. And am completely in love with the punisher. Hope you get to visit your two beauties often!!!

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  21. Oh you crack me up!
    I've been in awe over that reverse applique technique myself, I just have too many other projects in my head to start something totally new. This was the perfect quilt design for it!
    Shadow Blossoms turned out great! I think the quilting is perfect for it!
    And why do I never think to do pillow cases? Because I over think it? These are perfect!
    Can't wait to see what else you finished.

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  22. Ok, those are both officially awesome! Especially The Punisher!

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  23. wow, wow, wow!!! they're both wonderful and such great gifts!! Lucky recipients!

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  24. There are both SO lovely!!! My BFF would die for the skull quilt! And huge props to you for quilting a big quilt! I want a new quilt for our queen size bed, but I dread the quilting!

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  25. Where do I start? First of all - I totally get the 'shadow' effect you are going for with your seester's quilt. And the skull - seriously - you even put cracks in there?! That's some hard core quilting.

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  26. Wow! What a lucky sister and brother-in-law! That Punisher quilt is simply amazing!

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  27. Oh wow! I LOVE the punisher quilt. Brilliant!

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  28. I love the shadow blossoms quilt. Such a lovely block.

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  29. Wow - that Punisher quilt is stupendous. I LOVE it!

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  30. Just stumbled on your blog..... your quilts are amazing and more so the idea for the Punisher Quilt- that is simply jaw dropping. Quilts for men are often a challenge and you certainly rose to the challenge.

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  31. Wow these both are so super!! Amaing reations and ddiversity. I'm still chuckling about the hairdresser's conscience! :P Thanks for the link, I missed these before.

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  32. I love The Punisher quilt. It made my year.. If you make another, I'd certainly love one!!!!

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  33. I love The Punisher quilt. It made my year.. If you make another, I'd certainly love one!!!!

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  34. My boyfriend LOVES anything with the Punisher Skull on it. Would you consider making one for sale? If So, please email me.
    rspavesich@gmail.com

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  35. That is AMAZING!! Did you draw the pattern free hand? I'd like to try this as my son likes The Punisher. How big is the quilt overall? I'm wondering if I could enlarge the pattern with an overhead projector to keep the proportions correct.

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