I looked back at this post and realized I’ve been working on these quilts since August.
Really, I had lost track of time.
These quilts pushed me as a quilter. I started with a tiny idea, for some paper-pieced improv chevron blocks. I pulled some fabric; my friends and I changed our minds; I puttered and thought and hemmed and hawed. I don’t usually make quilts without patterns, you see, and starting these was a creative free-fall.
What if I ran out of fabric? Chicopee is still fairly easy to find but…what if it stopped being easy to find, right at the wrong moment? What if the block design was splitty and unstable? What if it all just looked like crap? What if I couldn’t finish them on time? What if I didn’t make them big enough? (I’m still a little nervous on that count. These suckers shrank big-time when I washed them, so they’re cutting it close width-wise.)
And then the even more insidious worries, like, what if I think I’m being creative and original and really I just saw something like this on the internet, forgot, and then regurgitated it. What if my friends say they like them and really, they don’t.
So, to me, these quilts have ended up being about me as a creator. About pushing aside those evil voices that nag at you when you’re working–voices that sometimes make you put down your work in discouragement.
I’ll be pleased to make a couple of quilts from patterns as my “next things,” but these have taught me that I can make something wild and beautiful that comes out of my own head. I can trust myself to do the quilt math, and make all the blocks, and do 20 hours of straight-line quilting, and produce quilted work that I’m very proud of.
I’ll be mailing my big babies off on Monday, to make my friends’ home a little warmer for Thanksgiving guests. I couldn’t be gladder that I took on this challenge–and I couldn’t be prouder of the results.
little and lots 
Laura, they are just beautiful. 20 hours of quilting…….aaahhhhh!! But so worth it I am sure. You did a marvelous job with the photo shoot. You did find a way to show them off, your friends will be so happy with them…..why wouldn’t they. No need to worry if they are too small…..you can always make more!! Just kidding….they will be perfect. Hopefully the guests won’t sneak them in their bags and take them home on your friends……better want them!!
Congratulations! You made it past all the “what-ifs”. The hardest part of all those questions is answering with a sassy, “SO?? What if??” Almost always, no bad thing has happened. Even if we’re unhappy with the result, we learned important things and grew as creators.
But these are terrific, and I hope you’re proud. Both of the designs and with believing … juuuuust enough … to follow through. Great job!
“putting aside evil voices”–very important insight and advice. I enjoyed reading about your struggle and seeing the wonderful results. Do it again. 🙂
On the ‘running out of fabric’ worry. I have it too because I usually plan projects after buying fabric. And I frequently use ‘ancient’ (ie, 70s) fabric. I keep some units or blocks unassembled so that if I run out of fabric, I can distribute the new addition throughout and it doesn’t look like a last minute ‘make do.’
They turned out amazing! Your friends would be crazy not to like them!!! Co grats on an awesome finish 🙂
These are beautiful! You did a fabulous job! I think your friend will be proud to have these as I know I would 🙂
I just teared up seeing these! These are wild and wonderful, and they mix up the colors I love with the colors my in-laws love.
Nancy, they BETTER not steal these quilts 🙂 – my mother in law is a big fan of quilts (though she doesn’t quilt herself), and his parents have been really helpful in starting my husband and me out in our new home. It was meant to be a “thank you” for them to have custom quilts when they come to stay. But now my husband is making it clear these are HIS quilts, not theirs …. !
Laura has always been a color inspiration for me. To this day, I put outfits together thinking, WWLD? (What would Laura do?) Always add more color. Dare to put things together. Make other people happy with the colors you put out in the world. And that’s exactly what she does with her quilting and sewing.
You are really amazing, Laura. We have two of Laura’s quilts already, plus a pillow, and her efforts make my house so homey. I hope all of you quilters know how happy you make your friends and family.
Fabulous creations! Congratulations on trusting yourself.
They turned out absolutely stunning Laura! You should be so proud, and i definitely wouldn’t worry about them not liking them. They would be crazy not to!! I’ve loved watching them come together, but seeing them finished… perfection!
Oh, And you have EVERY right to be proud! I am sew pleased for you! Glad you pushed on and ignored those self doubting voices! These two quilts are just gorgeous! Love the saturated centers surrounded by the softening tones of the edges. Congratulations on TWO superior finishes!
They look amazing and I have not seen anything like them on internet. Congratulations on work well done and trusting yourself. Very inspirational:)
Thanks, Mari! When I look back at the quilts I was making at the beginning of the year I am so surprised I pulled this off. I’m hoping to take on more quilting challenges very soon!
This was a great post. Thanks for always being so honest and open about your quilting! It is refreshing to read 🙂 They are absolutely G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S!! I love how they are similar yet different!
Wow. Just WOW. Love them to bits, pure awesomeness! Thank you for sharing your creative process and thoughts – I definitely can relate. It’s wonderful that they were such a fabulous learning process for you.
They’re really gorgeous!
Congratulations on pushing through your fears. Good post.
Those are beautiful Laura! And that is so great that you didn’t listen to those voices and just went for it! They certainly look creative and original to me.
Oi! Put those doubt demons away and trust your instincts. It worked this time and it will work every time.
These are so beautiful! We all have that voice in our head, but see what happens when you push past it!
I also have the horro of running out of fabric so always buy more than I think I need, which usually means I end up with a much bigger quilt than I thought, and a lot of left overs 🙂 but really, we can always find fabric if we need to. I should buy less and trust myself more. But when you’re not working off a pattern it raises the fabric fear.
Good work!! And I know these will be well loved.
E xx
These are gorgeous!!
These are so dynamic, both with the colors and the diagonal lines; beautiful work, truly!! And of course you know I understand those evil voices and the muck they play in your head, so I am so happy you got past them, and look what you have to show for it on the other side. :O Take that, evil voices! Gorgeous!
I am so happy that you finally used that bundle to make these amazing quilts! They turned out lovely! I love how you were able to photograph them too. Trust yourself lady!
They turned out beautifully! Congrats on a fabulous finish. This begs the question: what’s next?
They are really beautiful!!
Laura, you did it! Quite the accomplishment. I like the straight-line quilting and the way they are similar (obviously a pair) yet different.
so so so good. I love the pictures. It makes me want to do low volume borders on everything.
Wow – what a fabulous effort. They look absolutely superb.
They are lovely!! I’ve noticed a lot of shrinking in 1 direction when I straight line quilt, too. I think with time they relax though. 🙂
These are fantastic!! I love the contrast between the LV and the brights! I’m a big fan of improv and working without a pattern (though I do use one from time to time…) and trusting your own creative spirit. Great result, really superb!
They are really cool! They will be cherished by the recipients, I am sure. I bet you’ll love them more after taking some time away from them! I know I always do. Especially when there are 2 involved, that is an awful lot of time staring at the same thing.
And I agree – I need a break from the pressure of designing. Patterns are just lovely!! Let’s agree that we only have to design our own once or twice a year. 🙂
Really beautiful. Great finishes. Now celebrate! You deserve the accolades.
These are SO gorgeous. I’m sure they will be well loved by the recipients. I think it’s definitely a good thing to push yourself creatively, but I’m guessing it will also feel good to take a break and work with a pattern again. 🙂 I also love your photos of these. Getting a good shot of 1 quilt is hard enough!
Wow and wow!! These are so beautiful..I love the energy in them, they’re supercharged. You should be very proud of them 🙂
Amazing quilts. So beautiful. So colourful.
mmm, you are a writer and a quilter, laura. love your description here of the process, the voices, what’s been important about these particular quilts. i’m experiencing something similar with my penny patch quilt and wrote about it (posting tomorrow) before I read this. of course, you’ve said it so much better than I have. =)
they look great!
I think they’re great and colorful and energetic. I especially like the explosion of color one.
Wonderfuly, wonderful sentiments. It has been quite a journey. The quilts that teach you about yourself are definitely the most valuable.
These are two great and unique quilts. You should be proud of course!
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