Biblio was the name that kept coming to me, for obvious reasons, as I worked on this quilt. Then I remembered the name of a really good bookstore in Windsor, independent of course, and it just kept coming back to me, so that is what I have named my quilt, but the perfect name, Biblioasis, is the store's.
Of course I had to photograph it in my very own Kingsville Public Library, resting on a book trolley, not currently in use! The statue in the background is of Jack Miner, aka Wild Goose Jack, an avid bird conservationist who lived on land just north of the town. Yes, that is a Canada goose beside him.
I thought that corner was à propos because if you look closely, you'll see a 'HOLDS' sign, an area I frequent!
Biblioasis is the perfect description of how a lot of books make me feel as I read, and the best ones make me live in their oasis even when I'm not reading. In my head I'm seeing the characters, not necessarily in scenes from the book, though that definitely happens too, as I go about my day. And, when I'm reading?I'm oblivious to my surroundings, unaware of turning pages, as I fall into the oasis of the book's world. Tucked up in a chair, or in bed, while eating lunch or having tea, this quilt will keep me snuggly as I 'travel'.
I quilted a spiral partially surrounded by petals, some of which are petal-shaped, others of which are feather-shaped. I filled in oddly shaped gaps with more swirls and loops and echoes.
An outside shot hanging from the deck:
The backing set me back (ha) nearly a full day. Why, you wonder? Because I could not decide! After nearly going with a pretty involved pieced backing, I was pretty sure on a cream/beige/grey floral, and even ironed the entire 3.5 metres. However, a certain blush-on-cream Robyn Pandolph floral also was calling, so I hung it on the longarm rail beside the ironed cream/beige/grey floral, and went to bed.
And yet...
This particular deep aquamarine plaid also kept coming back, even after I had re-shelved it, so out it came, and I decided to go for it. It has cream and a robin's egg blue in the plaid which worked with the colours on the front.
It was not quite enough, but if I pieced it crosswise instead of lengthwise as I prefer, it made the best use of what I had. I lined up the plaid when I added in the chunk on the left, had the brilliant idea to use some of the books fat quarter that I had eliminated for the blocks, and was able to line up the plaid lines pretty closely in both directions on the smaller chunk framed by the books strips.
Three other fat quarters from the 16-FQ pack remained, two of which made the binding. This meant lots of joins, but carefully laying out the finished binding on the quilt front, and pinning it with a pin or two on each side meant I avoided having any joins at the corners. I simply alternated the fabric strips, and because one is beige on white, the other light brown on cream, the flow is smooth.
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| One is layers of open books, and the other is back-to-back little books standing upright, pages flared |
That shot also shows both labels: cloth, with all the information, and satin, tucked into the binding. Unplanned, but perfect, is the inclusion of my quilted in initials which I always do in a lower corner. It also gives a close-up of the book titles (twelve in all) fabric!
I just love it! When I get quilts made that have 'percolated' on the shelf for so long, it always makes me wonder why I waited so long! I think it's many reasons: quilt requests, quilt needs, online quilt activities, my own designs, being unsure of what pattern to actually use for purchased fabric, (that one is all-too-often), hesitancy due to a new technique or ruler, and so on.
Quilt Stats:
Size: 48" x 64"
Pattern: Meadowland by Then Came June
Fabric: Bookish by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery Fabrics; background is Watercolors by Diane Phalen for Maywood Studio
Batting: Warm and Natural 100% cotton
Backing: Farmers Market by Kelly Mueller of The Wooden Bear for Red Rooster Fabrics
Quilted: on Avril, 83 622 stitches
Threads: pieced on my Bernina with Aurifil cotton #2600; quilted with King Tut 40 wt 100% cotton by Superior Threads
Oh I love the pattern and your fabric selection. I may have to add this one to my queue..
ReplyDeleteBiblioasis is beautiful, Sandra! I love the fabric, the colors, the name, and the great photo you took of it at the library. We have a "holds" shelf like that at our library, too, and I visit it weekly!
ReplyDeleteOh, Biblioasis is the perfect name for this quilt and it's going to be such a good one to go with you on your travels! Reading is so magical, and I love the way it can absorb our minds and take us places. I love the backing print you chose and the extra accent of the books into the back feels like a folded tab at the top of the page bookmarking something you want to share or be able to get back to quickly.
ReplyDeleteOh my - an oasis of books!! What could be better! Taking the photo in the library was very appropriate. This is a lovely finish, and you did such a clever backing after all those options to choose from.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty, Sandra!!! Love all the little nuances, book fabrics, the quilt name, at the library, etc. Meadowland is my all time favorite quilt pattern, too!!!
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous quilt! Especially love the way you did the backing - it's perfect for your quilt. Enjoyed the comments about reading -- I totally am immersed in a book if it's a really good one, even the ones I've collected for specific authors (and re-read numerous times years later). It's like visiting an old friend. My husband has no interest in reading -- I've never understood that. Even through a hellous childhood, my nose was stuck in books - it was my escape, and my way of 'traveling' to other places. Eventually I did -- I was an exchange student for a year. Went to live with an absolutely lovely family that I still claim as my own. When I returned to the US a year later, my mother started to dictate to me what the 'rules' were. I simply told her "I've lived halfway across the world, given speeches to hundreds of people & kept my high grades. I'm an adult for all purposes now (3 mo. from 18) & will make my own decisions. That's enough." She stopped. I thank my overseas family for giving me an example of what a NORMAL family is -- it was truly eye opening! I had no idea how bad my homelife was until I lived with them. I will forever love each & every one of them for the rest of my life & still am in contact with them - over 50+ years later. My love of books re-routed my future in an entirely different direction, with a great deal of help from the Lord. I'm forever grateful. Deb
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a beautiful finish! The backing is fun too. I've decided a project reaches the finish line when it's supposed too. I refuse to be hard on myself for not finishing something older sooner.
ReplyDeleteBiblioasis is a wonderful name -- for a quilt or for a bookstore, or for the sanctuary we find when we're reading. It's a lovely quilt. And the pieced back--I piece backs all the time and would never have thought to do it this way.
ReplyDeletethat is a perfect name for this quilt. what a beauty - the colors are just perfect for snuggling under and reading
ReplyDeleteBiblioasis is a perfect name. I love the colors, the quilt pattern and your wonderful quilting. So fun to see it in an oasis of books that you visit regularly! That back is perfect, I can see why you had to make it work and use up the extra bits here and there in the binding!
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra, what a gorgeous quilt. You're going to love travelling underneath it. I couldn't live without books although they are now mostly audiobooks because of my eyes. I discovered that I love having someone read to me :-) Thanks so much for linking up to I Quilted This!
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