Friday, June 19, 2015

Grande Scrappy Tiles Pattern Testing & A Giveaway!

You've seen this before in fabric selection process and in flimsy form.

And here she is toute finie!  I named her Summer Scents Mosaic, a nod to the floral fabrics that are so summery, and the name of the pattern of Cheryl's, Grande Scrappy Tiles, on sale for the next 2 weeks only, for only $6!  This is a pattern I tested for Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs.  It is a terrific pattern, a very ingenious layout to get the overall scrappy look, with clear and concise directions.  The official launch is today, so if you'd like to see some other variations, click here.
 Detroit skyline as the backdrop in early morning sunlight
Lots of us agree that quilts 'talk' to us, and this one was no exception.  When I laid her down to piece the backing and the batting (more on that experiment in a minute), she just didn't seem quite together.

I wondered...what if I put a border on? Would it pull it all together?  I still had enough fabric (I might still have some left over...Cynthia!!!)

And yes, ahhh, she was complete.

So the batting experiment.  I want this quilt lightweight, as a summer quilt.  I'd used flannelette in runners with great success, so I thought, let's give it a try.  I'd hoped to pick up flannel, however, for just that bit of extra fluff...big sigh.  Even in Fabricland, not a quilt shop, basically the Canadian equivalent of JoAnn Fabrics, flannel was too expensive.  I checked out flannelette.  Diaper flannelette is what I'd used in runners, but it is a mere 27" wide, so I investigated some soft prints that were 42-43".  I found one that was a pale gold, so I thought it wouldn't interfere with the (then planned) backing.  Yay, it was on sale for $4.50/metre.  Stay tuned for another post on price comparisons in the not-too-distant future.  And, by the way, this has a great weight, I'm actually surprised it's as heavy as it is...but then again it is pretty large!
Was hoping for more flowers for the Summer Scents Mosaic theme
With the addition of borders the quilt was 80.5" so I pieced the flannelette (after washing and drying it) and then looked at the backing I'd planned...and couldn't do it!  This is a very pretty Robyn Pandolph cream with pale pink roses on, bought on sale (as I buy all my backings) at Fat Quarter Shop...and I just thought...nope, this needs to be on the front of a quilt, a low volume quilt.  I looked in the stash of greens, and found this backing that I'd bought for Savannah


and then somehow, before or after, acquired the same brown floral I used on the front of that quilt for the backing.  In all likelihood I could have bought the brown and forgotten I did that.  Who knows...anyhow I had enough for the backing of this baby! This came from Alma Sue's in Sarasota.


It quilted up quite nicely!  This is prior to washing.
I used Christina Cameli's "Fervent" motif as the all-over meander.  I loved this motif!



I did Angela Walters' no marking dot to dot wedge design in the borders.  Great ruler work practice for me.  This picture shows about an 8" piece of fabric I needed to piece in for the binding!  Yep, I used every last scrap of the green.  Both of these greens are in the quilt.



Tried to capture one of the many seagulls flitting around and I know there was one in this photo, but it must have blended into the background.

Quilt Stats
Pattern: Grande Scrappy Tiles by Meadow Mist Designs
Size:  80.5"X80.5"
Fabric: from my stash and from my scraps
Backing: ?? a wider backing that I think has been cut in half lengthwise to equal about 54" width
Batting: flannelette
Quilted: on my Avanté
Threads: Isacord pink #2560 in the top with So Fine in the bottom for 1 bobbin and The Bottom Line (prefer this, as does Avril) for 1.5 bobbins. Approximately 500 yards all told.

What was I doing in downtown Windsor at 8 am? I'd just finished my 6:30 am Ashtanga Mysore yoga class!  I go 3 times a week.  Here is the quilt on the bench right outside the studio!

 If you're still with me, here is the giveaway!  Cheryl has kindly offered up a copy of her pattern to one of my readers.  All you have to do to enter is tell me the name of the river in these photos, AND what direction (north, south, east, west) I am facing in the first photo.  You might learn a very interesting geographical fact about this part of Canada!  (wait, whut? as the younger ones say...you're in Canada and that's Detroit across the river?....exactly.)  For a second entry just leave me a second comment telling me how you follow me, and if you aren't yet a follower, perhaps you'd care to join?!  :-)

I will draw a winner on Sunday night about 10 pm EST and announce it on Monday.  Be sure to leave me your email address in the comments if you are a no-reply blogger; otherwise I will have to draw again.  ephdra (at) gmail (dot) com is a good format.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF and Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? These link buttons are on my Links tab up top!

27 comments:

  1. Beautiful!! Seriously gorgeous! The pictures are awesome! You know I am not a flowery girly girl but this quilt is beautiful and the border finished it perfectly! The all over quilting was the perfect choice and I love the dot to dot motif you did around the border! This is a beauty!

    Detroit River and I failed geography. . . I'm going to guess you were facing east. . . only because it looks brighter to the right of the picture ;) HAHA

    Did I mention your pictures are fabulous??

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  2. I follow you on Bloglovin' my dear :)

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  3. I love how this quilt turned out and would definitely enjoy having that pattern! You are going to tax my teacher's brain today, though! I agree it is the Detroit River, but I think you are looking north, because I remember you writing about that in an earlier post!

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  4. Well it is the Detroit River and you would be facing North if looking straight across at your neighbors in Detroit (I am one of them) Love the fabric choices you made and the border! have a great weekend!

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  5. I am a follower w/ Bloglovn!

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  6. Your quilt is so pretty! Love your backdrop too, I am one of your Northern neighbors. :)

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  7. I'm going with Detroit River and facing North to Northwest-ish. I love your version of this pattern! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  8. Your quilt is AWESOME! Beautiful fabrics, pattern and beautifully quilted. Interesting story about your choice of a light batting. I always go with White and Natural batting. It's thin, soft. But I like the thought of flannelette instead of batting for a light summer quilt.
    Sorry I don't know a lot about your country. Been in Canada twice and think it is absolutely beautiful!

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  9. It's the Detroit River and you are facing north by northeast. I grew up in Windsor but haven't lived there for more than forty years but the riverfront and river bring back so many memories. Good view of the Ren Centre.

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  10. Hi Sandra
    The quilt came out beautiful. The border makes it perfect. I'm am geographically challenged, so I looked up that it's the Detroit River, but no idea which way you are facing (towards the fabric store? away from the fabric store?). I follow you religiously through my own blog--you're on my blog roll!
    Pugs and kisses,
    Nancy

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  11. Oh my! That quilt turned out absolutely fabulous! It is incredibly beautiful as all your quilts are! I will not answer your questions for your giveaway because number one, I know the answers and number 2, I'm not a quilter! I know I know so shameful that I'm your sister, poor you! Good luck to all the entrants!

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  12. Hmmmm....I'm gonna guess you're facing south and the river is the.....Detroit River? lol.....I really haven't a clue and I lived in Detroit as a child!!! Your quilt is fabulous....of all the samples yours is the prettiest.

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  13. I follow you via email ....(and always look forward to posts!)

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  14. I am going to say it is the Detroit River and you are facing North?? I am directionally challenged so not to sure about the way you are facing. Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  15. I follow you through Bloglovin.

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  16. I follow by email. I was going to take a wild guess and say the Niagara River but then I cheated and read the comments. I had no ide there was a Detroit River. My guess for direction was south but then again that would be wrong. The quilt is beautiful and I'd love to win a cooy of the pattern.

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  17. Beautiful finish!!!
    At first I was thinking south facing but the actual answer is north-facing!!!

    I also follow you on bloglovin.

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  18. Always a teacher. :) I'm going to go with the crowd and say Detroit River facing north(ish).

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  19. I'm so glad you listened to the quilt and added the border. It does feel more complete. Your quilt, quilting, and photographs are all beautiful. Someday I need to try a flannel batting/layer. It sounds so snuggly.

    I follow with bloglovin.

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  20. It turned out very nice! Glad your experiment with the flannel batting worked out. I know my mother & grandmothers used to use old blankets as batting. I love the border! Thank you for sharing. susan4cats@gmail.com

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  21. I'm guessing you're on the riverfront trail, somewhere between the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, so that means you are facing north looking over the Detroit river. I grew up in Toledo Ohio (essentially a suburb of Detroit) and used to watch Windsor 9 tv. (I think that's what it was -- this was 35 years ago). I like that you added the border, it really ties the quilt together.

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  22. The Detroit skyline looks great! I love the fabrics in your quilt.

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  23. Hi Sandra, I know the giveaway is over, but just wanted to say that you took gorgeous photos for this post! Summer Scents Mosaic.... what a great name for this pretty quilt! I had fun looking up a map so I could know the answers to your Windsor / Detroit questions. So, is it called Ashtanga Mysore yoga because when you are through you say "Ohhhh.... my sore ash!"?

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