Friday, May 21, 2010

The Blogger's Quilt Festival!


Today is the start of the Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side and I thought I would participate!
I have several works-in-progress that I think will end up being favorites, but we'll have to save those for next year's festival! For 2010, I've chosen the GIANT maverick star quilt that I made for a silent auction whose proceeds supported earthquake relief in Haiti.

I started with a large maverick star--I used 12" squares to complete the block, so...roughly 34 1/2" across once assembled.

For a little perspective, this is the block by itself, unfinished, hanging in our crab apple tree.


I then added three borders. A border of white to the top and bottom (to turn the square into a rectangle), followed by a border of patchwork strips, followed by another border of white. The first border was 4" finished, the patchwork border was 2" and the outside white border was 1 1/2" finished.


After adding the borders, it was time to quilt! I used random straight and curved lines, making sure that the quilt was adequately covered. You can see in the picture below that some areas are more densly covered by quilting than others. I wasn't too worried about it because this quilt top used such large pieces of fabric that as long as there was quilting in each square I think it'll be fine.


The quilt is made of Kona Snow and 10 or so prints from the Love line of fabrics by Amy Butler. It's backed in a solid piece of Water Bouquet in navy and is bound in Sandlewood.


The finished quilt measures about 43x54 and because the quilting isn't too dense, it's super soft and cuddly! The best news? The quilt helped my church youth group raise over $1,500 for some friends who are currently serving as missionaries in Haiti. They have 5 small children and lost everything in the earthquake, but they are starting to rebuild and I love that my "hobby" (...obsession) can be used to help people in need!

27 comments:

  1. Wow, nice job with the Haiti fundraising:)I like the backing fabric too.

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  2. great job!

    margaret
    www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com

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  3. What a beautiful quilt! And Story! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you backed it in the dark fabric. So unexpected and gorgeous!

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  4. I really like the border! And so cool that you could help!

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  5. That's an unusual take on a Maverick Star--what a great idea. It looks terrific and I agree with you on the quilting. Fantastic relief money you added! Thanks for sharing your quilt's story :)

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  6. That is really striking and such a cool idea.

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  7. That border really pulls it all together--great job. ...and i love the back!

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  8. Nice job on the fundraising. Nice to see one maverick star highlighted.

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  9. I love this quilt. (I think it's in my faves on Flickr.) Hope you don't mind if I make one someday following this idea.

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  10. What an amazing quilt and what a wonderful story! Well done, Bravo!

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  11. Beautiful quilt and for a great cause too!

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  12. this is beautiful!! i love the giant star!!

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  13. That's really cool! Very generous of you, and the quilt looks fantastic too. :)

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  14. That is a fun quilt. Makes a statement.

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  15. One of these days I want to make a big block quilt...I like how you did this one.

    View my entry HERE....

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  16. Great idea for a quilt. I love stars and when combined with some Amy Butler love it is definitely a winner!

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  17. Ooo, love, love the random quilting lines. It feels weird when you do it, but then you look at it and it looks great. Sew On.

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  18. Vibrant quilt. Love the design, fabrics, colors. You did a great job!

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  19. I just love that; a great quilt AND a great story!

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  20. What a touching story and beautiful quilt!

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  21. Love the patchwork border!

    Randi
    http://DivaBuzz.designing-diva.com

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  22. What a funky folk art star! And $1,500 for a great cause-mega kudos. Thanks for sharing.
    Come see my funky and antique star entries
    http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com
    http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com

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  23. I love your pieced border on this quilt. Congrats on it doing so much to help raise funds!

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  24. What a great quilt and that you were able to raise funds is a blessing!

    I am trying to get to more blogs on this Quilt Festival! So happy to meet you and see your beautiful quilt!

    Blessings & Aloha!
    (Hope you can take a peek at mine and if you do please leave a comment on my post, so that I know you were there :o)

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  25. nice to have such large pieces of fabric to showcase them. love the border on this. thanks for sharing

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