Monday, December 31, 2018

Love is All

This is my last post for 2018, and it is fitting that I first of all, I finished this little quilt this year, and second, that I get the post published before the end of 2018! The fabrics, batting and some of the thread were provided to me by Island Batik, Hobbs Batting and Aurifil respectively. I am just so happy to have had the opportunity to work with these fibres this past year, top quality products all. This month's challenge was to create something whimsical and/or wonky. I did a little of both with mine.

You may remember the flimsy and the story from this post.



I knew I would quilt it with wavy lines, maybe swirls here and there. And that's exactly what I did.
I used Aurifil 2600 for the quilting and pieced it on Billie, my 1947 Featherweight. I quilted it on Avril, my Avanté. I used a tawny gold Aurifil for the piecing.

For the backing, I had a nice almost-half yard of Check it Out left to use. And when I went to layer the quilt, I thought, no...it needs some more rainbow on the back.

You can see that I made the binding with the same rainbow Paisley Dot Brights fabrics, just slicing off a 2.25" X 10" piece from each of the leftover squares. Both were done in rainbow order.

Here's a closer look at the Christmas label:

Love is All comes from a discussion I had with my mum in a dream. That, and the experience of having not one, but two sad Christmases in a row, yet having such good times this most recent Christmas amongst the sadness, thanks to being surrounded by loving people, all of which led me to try to show this idea that love heals. It is what helps you come out of the dark, the sadness, and find light and rainbows and love.

Of course, quilt-loving, helper pussycats help with healing too! She gets so excited over new fabrics and new quilts in progress, especially at the trimming stage. See that lone pine tree amongst all the wonky and whimsical ones? Originally it was meant to be the top of another tree peeking into the quilt, but then the quilt said it needed to be a bit wider, and so I added a top and bottom band across it, and it didn't look right with this chopped-off tree top floating there...so I did a little reverse sewing and made a full little pine tree. I like to think of it as a symbol of Mum: she LOVED green, all shades, and this tree is a dark tree but on the rainbow side, so she's there too, in the rainbows and bright colours, and she's different than the wonky ones, because she's Mum. It's her. The other trees are feelings.

Here's a closer look at the quilting. Sorry for indoor shots under fluorescent lights, but A. it's dark out, and B. it's blowing like crazy, and C. it rained most of the day, so outdoor shots wouldn't have happened anyway!
This rainbow line is so happy and bright, isn't it? I hope 2019 will be as well. All right, one more hour until the ball drops, as they say, but I won't be watching; I'll be asleep!

Update:
Still indoors, but in natural light on my kitchen table. I'm thinking the quilt beneath may just be my TBT quilt for this coming Thursday's Throwback Thursday linky party.
I totally didn't plan for the green binding to be under Mum's tree, but maybe she did...

Quilt Stats:
Pattern: original design
Size: 15.25 x 31.5"
Fabric: Island Batik Paisley Dot, Basic grey, and various scraps all from Island Batik
Backing: Check it Out and Paisley Dot Brights both by Island Batik
Batting: Hobbs Thermore
Quilted: on Avril my Avanté; 14 250 stitches
Threads: pieced on Billie, my 1947 Featherweight with Aurifil 2910; quilted on Avril with Aurifil 2600; The Bottom Line in the bobbin

I hope you'll be back in a week to see my last project for the Island Batik year. I am one of two ambassadors who get to go first in the final year-end blog hop whose theme is Getaway!

23 comments:

  1. I love this piece and the wavy lines and swirls I think add extra whimsy. Wishing you all the best in 2019, may it be a happier year too.

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  2. Happy New Year, Sandra. That is a beautiful piece and Ithink it underscores your belief in love and happiness.

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  3. Very bright and fun! What a perfect late finish for 2018. Have a very Happy New Year!

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  4. Happy New Year! What a nice finish.

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  5. Every time you see that quilt, you will feel a hug from your mama, I think. What a lovely quilt, with all the meaning and memories. You have had a tough couple of past years, so here's to 2019 being full of good things! Bella is a gorgeous kitty with such an expressive face (she looks as if she's saying she's not moving off that quilt yet - ha!). Happy 2019, Sandra! Thanks for all the encouragement you've been to me in so many, many ways!

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  6. Ooh-la-la! That quilting just really makes this quit even more perfect, if that's at all possible. I just love how this came together, and the story behind it makes it all the more special. I adore the rainbow binding and blocks on the back, and you will be able to use this runner throughout the year. This will make your heart happy when you think of the conversation with your mom - it was just so vivid in that dream, wasn't it?! {{Hugs}} to your peeps bringing you back into the light, and for a fabulous 2019. Happy New Year's Day to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  7. Love is All turned out beautifully, Sandra! I love the rainbows all through it and the fun swirly quilting. Wishing you a lovely beginning to 2019!

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  8. What a lovely message from your Mom and a lovey way to remember it! You were right about being due east of you - except you are a little south of me whether in Maine or Massachusetts. Totally fun to think about. And to 2019 and remembering that whatever this year brings "Love is all".

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  9. What a beautiful way to end 2018. I love the way you bring the light out of the sadness. Those leaning trees with the windy wavy quilting are wonderful and the bright rainbow fabrics you used make this a quilt to bring a smile to a face. Your quilt helper certainly knows how to pose for the camera. Wishing you the happiest new year.

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  10. I agree that this is a very beautiful and fitting finish for 2018. I love that you were able to have that conversation with your mother and the love and wisdom she wanted to impart seems to permeate the quilt finish.

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  11. love does indeed heal everything, and time has a lot to play with too. The wee quilt just breathes love and cheerfulness. I love it. Very much

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  12. What a wonderful way to end the year, Sandra! I love this quilt for all it means to you. The quilting looks like dancing to me. And I like how the rainbow on the back continues the theme from the front. So glad this Christmas was one of joy for you. Here’s hoping for more joy in the coming year. Can’t wait for your ambassador post!!

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  13. The quilting suits it well. Great finish. Love it. Happy New Year.

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  14. Hi Sandra: I am glad that you could find the moments of happiness amongst the sadness and I hope that 2019 brings you much more happiness. I love the mini quilt and the wavy line quilting.

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  15. Happy New Year! I'm glad you were able to find happiness and creativity amongst the poignant sadness of the Christmas holiday.
    I like your little quilt very much. I'm especially struck by the quilting pattern as I have been drawing out designs to represent wind making Autumn leaves swirl. I couldn't make my swirls look right but think the mix you have of wavy lines and occasional swirls looks just right. I hope you won't mind me using your design as inspiration for my quilt?

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  16. This is a lovely piece and a touching post. I really wish a wonderful year for you in 2019. Happy New Year, friend (and beautiful Bella too). :)

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  17. A truly wonderful piece and heartfelt post, Sandra. Here’s to new beginnings!

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  18. This is super cute! I love the combination of the trees and the heart.

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  19. Great blog again Sandra. Love your work and the love that goes into all your quilts. What a great idea with the multi colour binding. Love it and will definitely use this idea on my next quilt.

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  20. It's beautiful, Sandra! Love is always a little bit wonky, and that's better than a dream of perfection anyway. This was a bit of a sad Christmas for me, with my Dad being laid up, unable to walk, in a nursing care center. But we were together, our wonky little family full of love.

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  21. I love your quilt -I need to get back into my happy fabric too. Blessings to you in this 2019 year.

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  22. A beautiful finish to end the year :) I love the quilting in it and the little green tree for your mom.

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  23. A wonderful finish to end the year with!! Thank you for participating in the FAL, on behalf of the 2018 FAL hosts!

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