Blogger's Quilt Festival - Group/Bee Quilts

My Group/Bee Quilts entry for Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side Fall 2013

TASSELS

friends+fabric = a modern stash bee 

When I discovered online bees and swaps I was overwhelmed by the possibilities - I had NO IDEA such things existed!  The wonderful ladies in friends+fabric=a modern stash bee (f+f=amsb) invited me to join my first ever year long 12 member group and Tassels is the lovely result.

The Photo Shoot - Showing off Tassels

This quilt was special and deserved more than the classic front porch shot.  It had been a long time coming and was going to be ALL MINE!   These pictures are from a sunny day in Corralitos with friends -it was fun posing and staging.  Trying to capture both the light and dark portions was tough.

The Tutorial

My very first tutorial was definitely a challenge because I tend to change my mind along the way and this was no exception. The test block had a center star instead of two tassels - the same four segments just oriented differently.  I tried my best and was pleased to have pushed to try something new and my bee mates were so supportive.    

original orientation of the parts created a center star

The Assembly

Although I love my own stash - it was really fabulous to see what arrived in the mail.  Blue has such a wide range of shades and I was going for a specific gradient look transitioning with the yellow to mustard tassels.  My bee mates did not disappoint.  The pops of pink and red scattered throughout that I had not originally envisioned add a bit of whimsy. 

Blocks on the Design Wall 

The blocks had been sitting taunting me since they arrived so I brought them to our first SBAMQG Retreat to sew together.  It was a big hit and playing name that Modern Fabric Designer "I Spy" entertaining.

I realized that it was a bit too tall and skinny so I ended up unstitching the bottom row and adding a column to one side.  This also helped balance the flow from light to dark. 

The Backing and Quilting

Orchids hold a sentimental place in my heart because they remind me of my dad.  The Art Gallery fabric for the backing played along well with a dark scrappy narrow strip and light chunky section.  

piecing the backing

Choosing the thread color and design was tricky because of the range of colors. I opted for a random geometeric FMQ using a medium blue.

pin basting

FQM details

The Inspiration and Specs

Tassels was inspired by my Crush Quilt that I made using Cheryl Malkowski's Dancing Twilight pattern.  Although it does look quite similar,  I used a different technique to create the blocks and changed the proportion for the 12.5"x12.5" bee block. 

Started April 2012 and Finished February 2013

Finished Size: 61"x 73" (although I must say it feels BIGGER!)

Pieced and quilted by me on my BabyLock Symphony

Aurifil 50 and 40 thread

Natural Bamboo Batting

Friends+Fabric=A Modern Stash Bee