Friday, March 24, 2017

Coins of the Atocha

One of my goals for this year was to submit a quilt design to a magazine.  Well I did.  In fact, it was the first design I created for the #30quiltdesignschallenge2017 that I, along with Lisa of Sunlight in Winter Quilts, hosted on Instagram from Jan. 2 - March 15.  I submitted it to Modern By the Yard, Benartex's e-zine.  It was accepted!  Not only was it a 2017 goal; it also became a Q1 FAL goal.
I am so very happy that my first published pattern is in a 100% environmentally friendly e-zine! Not one tree was killed, YESSS! AND the magazine is free.  Just head over to Sew In Love With Fabric where you can click the link in the sidebar and view it on your computer, or download it and view it at your own pace.

So!  This quilt comes with a story.  Do any of my quilts ever not? 😉 Refill your coffee or tea, and read on.  This fabric is deserving of a little of your time...it is every bit as vibrant, if not more, than what you see above! And such a unique pattern.

It started with this January 2 design, my first, as I mentioned, in the design challenge, that I called "Plus Surrounded".
Lisa Ruble, the editor of the e-zine, really liked it and asked it I could make it a rectangular quilt, and send it to her by the second week of February.  A little over a month to make a quilt?  No problem.  Meanwhile, Lisa and I had already talked about a totally different project, my Freefall Quilt Along, which I was planning to start about the third week of January and have it end on the Spring Equinox.  I decided it might be prudent to move the QAL.  Thus was born the idea of starting the QAL on March 20.  You can see the first post with the fabric requirements for that entirely separate quilt project here.

Back to Coins of the Atocha!  Lisa recommended two different fabric lines, and I chose this one, Masterpiece Mixers by Kanvas Studio.
Don't you want to, oh, I don't know, bite into one or all of these?!
The drama started when a couple of weeks went by and my fabric had not arrived.  I contacted Lisa and she did some investigating...the warehouse somehow misplaced the order and it hadn't been filled.  Lisa was wonderful and said no problem, we can put it in the next issue.  But I was pumped!  Well, I said to Lisa, I work well under pressure, so yes, I believe I can still meet the deadline.  That photo above is of the fabric just after it arrived on February 1.  I had already written up instructions to make my design so I set to work.

More drama ensued when I felt that the blue I had chosen for one of the 'surrounds' around the plus wasn't quite right.  I was drawn more to the aquamarine I had chosen for the backing.
Left to right:  the two blocks together; a couple of original choice blue surround, pretty good; a couple of blocks with the aquamarine, better

Both blues would have been fine, but I felt the aquamarine kept pace with the fuchsia's and golden's intensity.  So I started cutting like a whirling dervish:

...all the while thinking, hmm, backing...plan B...think!

This pattern sews up like a dream, and in no time at all I had a flimsy:

Now to make a backing.  Did you notice the borders on the fabric?  Cool, right?!  However, I didn't incorporate the tassel-like borders on the fabrics within the blocks as that pattern was quite different than the bubbles pattern of the rest of the fabric.  Inspiration struck along with a long-held love of interesting quilt backs, and this happened:
Yes!!  Borders in the centre, borders on both long edges--love!  Test block with lighter blue incorporated as well, woo hoo!

And now for the quilting!  If you know me, you know how I love to free-motion quilt.  A LOT.  Time was of the essence, so I reined myself in and here are the two designs I quilted in the plus
It was at this point that my good friend Julie, at Pink Doxies, coined (lolol) the name of the quilt.  I must admit I had never heard of the Coins of the Atocha, so I had to look it up.  Fascinating stuff!  Go here to read about it!  Basically:  1622.  Spanish galleon loaded with treasure.  Hurricane in the Florida Keys.  Struck a reef.  Sunk.  Undiscovered until July 1985.  Well, I am in Florida for the winter, check.  These vibrant tropical colours abound.  Add the bubbles or round motifs in the fabric, the 1" diameter pebbles in the pluses, and yep!  That is the name of this quilt.

Bella loved the quilt--when does she not love a new or in-progress quilt?!
Ain't movin' Sandra, nope. You can drape, push that quilt on me and I'm staying put.  Right here.
And relatively soon, it was done quilting.
Grabbed it off the Bernina, trimmed edges, and threw it on the cement driveway in the setting sun's rays to catch the quilting.  I did a water ripples back and forth in the 'surround' part of the pluses.  Then I did X's through the white squares as I outlined the four 45-degree angles of the block edges.  It gives the quilt an almost on-point look.

Here are all the threads I used.  I love 'em all, as does my beloved Bernina.  I pieced it with the Gütermann 100% cotton, and quilted with Sulky rayons, Aurifil 100% cotton, Mettler 100% cotton.

Here is the finished quilt, which is named "On the Plus Side" in the magazine.  I love that it ahs three names, all great ones don't you think?

A shot of the quilting.  Not quite in a tree but against one, a palm tree, of course!

The back:
That was February 12, the day I mailed it.  I think that may be a record for me for making a quilt from start to finish!   The drama did not stop there.  I mailed the quilt up to Lisa in Michigan.  Tracking showed it to be delivered on the Wednesday.  No quilt showed up, and Lisa even met her post-lady at the mailbox.  Naturally, I freaked when she emailed me...About an hour later she emailed me back: her post-lady had returned; the package had fallen behind her seat so she hadn't seen it until later in her route!  HUGE sigh of relief, from Florida to Michigan.  This quilt definitely has that Spanish 'flair' for drama, si?!

To add to the under-the-gun drama of this quilt, I only found out that I had to write a post about it this morning.  On today of all days...we will be on the road somewhere in northern Florida by the time this post goes live.  Today was the day before departure when there is not a minute to spare.  However, we, meaning I, have been very organized this year, and so I am finishing this up right before heading to bed.  Hmm, a really organized quilter should have had it written up a month ago ready for when the magazine would be published....ah well, all good. 
I will add the usual Quilt Stats once I have ... ha...A. access to wifi and B.  some time!   Meanwhile I am going to be floating above the SUV as we drive, knowing that I have been published!

Just click the cover below to view or download your copy!
http://sewinlovewithfabric.blogspot.ca/2017/03/modern-by-yard-issue-4.html
Hop on over to Sew In Love With Fabric and check out the other gorgeous projects!

Do remember two things:
First, Angela Walter's show, Midnight Quilter, is coming back in a few days! Check out her announcement here.  Second, while you're there, you may want to hop over to the Craftsy site (affiliate link) for a sweet sale on supplies this weekend! Have fun shopping -- I will, sniff, miss this one.

Linking Up with:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Busy Hands Quilts
TGIFF at The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts
Cut and Alter for Q1 FAL Link Up

27 comments:

  1. A very vibrant and fun quilt. Congrats on being published!

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  2. So much to say here . Congratulations my friend on the publication! A great achievement in itself and maybe an even bigger achievement to finish in the time scale. Safe journies my friend x

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  3. Forgot to add , we had a Spanish Armada ship go down off our north coast and I never tire of the exhibition in our museum
    - going up to see it again on Sunday

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  4. Have fun in Florida!! Beautiful and bright quilt that looks amazing! Don't you just love the drama of deadlines?! Welcome to the world of Modern By The Yard! Lisa is wonderful to work with!

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  5. Congratulations, Sandra! This is super exciting. :)

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  6. Congratulations.....on being published, on designing a beauty of a quilt, and for speedy work! Safe travels!

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  7. Wow, love the quilt - the pattern, the quilting, the colors, the story, the drama. :D Congratulations! I've been looking for your posts and wondered if you were on the road again; I knew the time was close. Safe journey and "see you" on the other end.

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  8. I can't help but think that you are being very restrained in your excitement about being published. I would be using all kinds of exclamatory phrases if it were me!! Congratulations, Sandra! What an honor! And congrats on that rush job finish. Whew! How you turned out such a beauty in such a short time, I'll probably never figure out. :)

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  9. Just a gorgeous quilt! Congratulations on getting published! It is well deserved.

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  10. First CONGRATS Sandra!!! Second it may have been done in a rush but it is a beauty! Safe journeys north my friend.

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  11. Published, and blogged, and written, and now viewed!!! Congratulations, I am so glad you decided on the deeper turquoise, those brights are all perfect together. Safe travels back home, enjoy the stop-overs.

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  12. Congratulations on getting your quilt design published! That is wonderful, Sandra! I love everything about this quilt - the beautiful colors you chose, the interesting story behind the name, and as always, your amazing quilting. Safe travels!

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  13. Wow! What a fantastic fabric choice for that quilt. So bright and beautiful! Congrats on the publish! I hope your travelling goes well.

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  14. Oh, gorgeous! What a neat story of a quilt start to finish. It had me on the edge of my seat. I always love your finish pictures with the quilting showing in the sunlight. Congrats on being published! And good luck with your trip home. I hope you bring sunshine with you to the north so that we can say goodbye to winter for good.

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  15. Sandra, this is quite a story. You must have worked furiously to get this done in time. The pattern is lovely and those colors are even better. I'm glad you switched the blues- that was a great move. Congratulations on your first publication!! Well done.

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  16. This is so exciting,Sandra! Congratulations on being published!It is a wonderful design and I love all the plus block quilts. The fabrics are beyond gorgeous! I have never seen fabrics like them. Safe travels home! Thanks for taking the time to linkup with this week's TGIFF.

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  17. Congrats on the publication! Beautiful quilt!

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  18. OMG, Sandra. I love the quilt and the colors just sing and dance. Beautiful quilting, lovely pictures. As Americans would say - you knocked this on out of the park. The name is perfect - Coins of the Atocha. Reminds me of Gold, Rubies and Lapis Lazuli - a gem of a quilt, Sandra. Have a safe journey...wherever it may take you.
    Hugs,
    Preeti.

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  19. How exciting Sandra and well done on meeting one of your goals - and it being a successful submission! This quilt really sings and I enjoyed the story about its (and yours!) journey to completion.

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  20. WTG! If you hadn't set a goal, you would not have achieved this. Big congrats for you! The quilt is very pretty, and the darker blue is perfect. Big smiles for you :)

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  21. It's an awesome quilt Sandra and thanks for the introduction to the ezine, I'd never heard of it...but I seem to know everybody who has a pattern in it so amazing.

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  22. Congratulations on being published and on finishing that lovely quilt in record time!

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  23. Beautiful quilt, such rich vibrant colours. The texture of the quilting is gorgeous too! Congratulations on the publishing too.

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  24. Wow! I'm so excited for you. Your quilt is gorgeous and very photogenic. :) Congratulations on being published!!!

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  25. Congratulations! It's a beautiful design and gorgeous finished quilt! Thank you for participating in the FAL, on behalf of the 2017 global FAL hosts.

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