Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the direction I’d like to take my quilting. I think as a new quilter it was important for me to stick to traditional ideas while trying to give them a modern twist, either through fabric selection or by altering block sizes.
But as I think about the types of quilts that I’m really attracted to, they are the quilts that scare me as a maker. Sometimes I think I’m so afraid of messing up or disappointing myself that I don’t try. And I make another quilt that is comfortable to me.
That’s where this quilt comes in. If you’ve followed this blog from the beginning (and not many have — except for you, Michelle!) you’d recognize this Charley Harper quilt and the many, many, many variations it’s had over the past year. I finally settled on this design after much trial and error.
I hope that this quilt marks a transition for me. It still has traditional blocks. But it forced me to really push myself, in order to improv piece the tree design. The tree is the symbol of where I’d like to go. I’m not sure how bumpy of a process it will be to get where I’m going. But I’m nervously excited about the things in my head that I’d like to create.
Do you feel like your techniques and aesthetic have evolved since you first started quilting? Please tell me I’m not alone in this quilter/maker identity crisis! Ha!
In other news, I’m participating in the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers blog hop. This year we’ve been broken down into four groups (“hives”). I’m a member of Cheryl@ Meadow Mist Designs‘ hive, and we are calling ourselves the New Bees (get it, newbies! ha!). I’m looking forward to learning more about all of these great new bloggers, and sharing a little about myself as well! Be sure to check ours and all of the other hives (hosted by Yvonne@ Quilting Jet Girl, Stephanie@ Late Night Quilter, and Teri Ann@ Childlike Fascination) out!
Linking up with Finish it Up Friday! Have a great weekend, everybody!
Terri Ann
June 12, 2015 at 11:13 amThis is so lovely! I really like your take on mixing traditional blocks with the improv and really graphic tree. I’m not familiar with Charley Harper but I’m going to have to check out his work cause if that’s where you drew the inspiration for this design then I think I need some of his inspiration for a project I’m struggling with right now. So glad to have you participating in the New Quilt Blogger’s hop!
Crafty Ashley B
June 12, 2015 at 11:48 amHello, fellow “New Bee”!
This is an amazing quilt and I absolutely love the tree. I think it is beatiful and the traditional blocks add to the tree!
Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl
June 12, 2015 at 11:55 amYou are definitely not alone in your evolution, and I love how this quilt is a great symbol of that growth and process for you!
Sharla @ Thistle Thicket Studio
June 12, 2015 at 12:04 pmI think you’ve arrived at the perfect variation! I was not familiar with Charley Harper and assumed he was a quilter. Ha, Ha, you know what they say about assuming…. I love his cardinal in “Brrrrrdbath”.
Judy
June 12, 2015 at 3:53 pmThis quilt is wonderful, keep growing, it’s working! It’s a real piece of art.
Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
June 12, 2015 at 7:36 pmYes, yes — I am a different quilter now than I was just 12 months ago. Sure, I have honed my skills and added to my repertoire, but I am willing to take more risks — with improvisation, color, movement.
I started reading Sherri Lynn Wood’s book today, and I really like her approach to “mistakes.” I encourage you to embrace challenges, stay curious, celebrate the happy accidents — they’re all a part of creating amazing work. This quilt has been a long time coming, but maybe its journey needed to be longer than others. : )
Afton
June 12, 2015 at 11:10 pmYou’ve gone out on a limb with this quilt, eh? Sorry about the pun but considering you can find the humor in the “New Bees”/newbies, I assume you’ll pardon me. Your tree layout is clever and funky. Good for you, breaking from your comfort zone.
Sandra
June 12, 2015 at 11:18 pmVery creative way of mixing traditional blocks with modern ones. 🙂
Sandra
Kirsty@Bonjour
June 13, 2015 at 12:39 amI think it’s perfectly normal to want to push the envelope once you’ve gotten lots of the technique and principles down pat. It helps keep things interesting and exciting. I love your CH tree and can’t wait to see more of what you come up with!
Jinger
June 13, 2015 at 1:10 amWow, this quilt just blows me away! I love the way you’ve used the tree as a reference to your new direction in quilting. Being a newbie, I completely understand where you’re coming from as you bravely begin to branch out. I’m still taking baby steps, but eventually hope to build up to landscape quilts. Your work inspires and encourages me to keep growing. Congratulations Kim, really fantastic work!
Gayle
June 13, 2015 at 8:04 amFellow New Bee and first time visitor. Your quilt is impressive. I love CH and your spin on his graphic vibe is so complimentary. I can’t wait to see how this progresses to a finished piece.
Jayne Willis
June 13, 2015 at 10:06 amKim…oh Kim! I love this quilt! What a great design and frankly, you can’t go wrong with Charley Harper! My style took a while to develop, but it did and it’s always changing. I think over with time you gain more confidence, learn new things and just grow! I’ve learned to power through projects that I think are epic fails…you never know how they will turn out (thankfully most worked)! Gorgeous quilt!!
Mary Ringer
June 14, 2015 at 5:56 pmI am definitely in the process of figuring out who I am as a modern quilter and where I’m going. I’m also getting a feel for the fabrics I want to include in future projects.
Cristy
June 14, 2015 at 9:03 pmI love your quilt…and your site…and that you’re a New Bee (me too!) It’s great that you’re broadening your repertoire and trying new things. I can’ t wait to see more!
Cheryl
June 15, 2015 at 4:46 pmThis is just stunning! I love the tree which is so modern hanging over the more traditional blocks, it is a very good juxtaposition.
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June 19, 2015 at 3:07 pm[…] ← a new direction. […]
Lisa
June 19, 2015 at 4:22 pmI love this post and I love this quilt. I can so relate to the stuck in traditional wanting to move out into more modern and here you are doing it. Congratulations. I’m hoping to follow your lead.
Chelsea Huckins
June 28, 2015 at 10:19 pmI LOVE THIS QUILT. So great that you’re challenging yourself to push beyond your comfort zone. This was a great outcome to keep going.
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