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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

ode to the sea....

It is mid-April and summer is nowhere to be found in and around these parts.  The snow on either side of my front walk is still tall enough to conceal my Kindergartener, and I am beginning to spend every free moment day dreaming of sun and sand.

I decided to make a little mini quilt, incorporating my favourite summertime quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."  

That is EXACTLY what I wish to be doing right now :)


I pieced random scraps of blue, using cottons, corduroys, linens, voiles, all adding to the texture, starting with darker tones at the bottom and graduating to lighter shades towards the top.  I added a scrap of precious Mendocino mermaids at the top.  I hand stamped the quote onto natural cotton, using lettered stamps from Stampin' Up and a fabric paint marker.  I cut the rows of blues in curves, to replicate the sea, and then straight cut in the quote pieces.


Free motion quilting was done in a sea colored thread, adding waves, crests and pebbles.


The binding is my favourite part: Joel Dewberry Aviary woodgrain fabric, cross stitched to the front with Pearle 8 thread.  I will be doing this again!


On the back, I added sleeves for a dowel for hanging, stamping my name and date, and what I was doing while I was making it :)


I am so very pleased with how this mini turned out.  As some of you may recall, our family had a summer cottage that was destroyed in a storm a couple years ago.  Finally, the rebuilding phase has begun, and I plan to give this mini a place of honour there when we start again.


I intended to enter this as my Sew Off Home Dec entry for week 2 of the competition.  And I DID make it through the first round- I placed 4th out of 12, with the top 9 progressing!  But, I opted out of the contest.  I am busy with so many other things needing my time in my life, and I realized I don't enjoy being judged for what I make...this is my hobby, my escape, and I want to do it just for ME!  So, thanks for your support and your votes, but this girl plans to stay contest free for the time being!

Wishing you a day filled with sunshine!
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25 comments:

  1. MisformilkApril 9, 2013 at 11:23 AM

    It's beautiful! And I can't wait to try the criss-cross-stitch method of attaching the binding to the front. Did you machine sew it to the back and then do the hand stitching?!

    I usually machine sew the binding to the front, then stitch in the ditch to catch the backside of the binding but it's never quite perfect. Can't wait to try this!!!

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  2. Little Island QuiltingApril 9, 2013 at 11:32 AM

    Hello :-)

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  3. SvetlanaApril 9, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    beautiful mini, Kristie. Hope some warm sunny weather is heading your way.

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  4. NoraApril 9, 2013 at 12:50 PM

    Dreamy......

    xx

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  5. SusanApril 9, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    This is a perfect 'hurry-up' to spring! Lovely!

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  6. Mrs Flying Blind...April 9, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    It's totally beautiful!! 4th is great, but you don't need competitions to tell you that you're fab x

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  7. JenniffierApril 9, 2013 at 4:47 PM

    Simply beautiful. Great work with a fantastic quote.

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  8. ShayApril 9, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    LOVE that mini Kristie. It’s perfect for the lakehouse. So glad to hear thats well under way to being your Summer haven again.

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  9. DarcyApril 9, 2013 at 5:41 PM

    Yay for hobbies that make you happy! And I want this. Bad. LOVE love love it.

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  10. LynneApril 9, 2013 at 7:01 PM

    So cute!

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  11. trudys_personApril 9, 2013 at 7:46 PM

    I love it, and especially your binding! I can't believe how prolific you are ... and with kids! I see where the OCD label comes from!

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  12. KarenApril 9, 2013 at 8:31 PM

    Oh I love this so much! What a beautiful and creative mini! :)

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  13. Jo AnnApril 9, 2013 at 8:36 PM

    So Fab! Love it! I understand MB winters-Spot on!

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  14. AnonymousApril 9, 2013 at 8:37 PM

    Wow! I love it! Living in Maine, I totally get the endless wait for spring.

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  15. What Comes Next?April 9, 2013 at 8:45 PM

    what a wonderful piece! I hadn't known about your cottage - so glad you are now at the rebuilding stage - this will look wonderful in a place of honour. Good for you for knowing the contest wasn't for you - although with your creativity, you would have done well, I'm sure!

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  16. alidizaApril 9, 2013 at 9:33 PM

    So much to love!!! What a perfect reminder of the days of summer:-)

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  17. www.randomthoughtsdoordi.comApril 9, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    Kristie...this is so perfect I can't even find words to type. I am glad you opted out of the contest and realized that what you do needs to make you happy and not be judged. xo, di

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  18. Katy CameronApril 10, 2013 at 5:24 PM

    Love this, and I want to be doing that too!

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  19. AliciaApril 10, 2013 at 9:59 PM

    Beautiful quilt!! And I so hope that spring comes soon - I'm in Dryden, and the snow is still up to my knees in the backyard....please spring come soon :-)

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  20. Ellie QApril 10, 2013 at 11:26 PM

    Love your mini quilt (all those great details!) and the sentiment behind it!

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  21. KatrinaApril 11, 2013 at 12:05 AM

    beautiful!

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  22. KelseyApril 11, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    you my dear are fricken incredible! A lot of my friends and family back home were hit hard by the same flood and I remember what a heavy heart we all had. Your quilt is a beautiful start to a new space.

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  23. HollyMApril 11, 2013 at 5:38 PM

    You know that is one of my favorite quotes. I've written it on my sketchbook and might do something with it someday. I love your mini quilt!

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  24. SarahApril 14, 2013 at 3:58 AM

    Yeah who needs judgement for doing what makes us happy? Life is already too full of pressure. I love the mini. Hope it warms up for you soon. The season is really long over here in Australia too. It's been such a warm dry autumn it feels like winter will never come. We desperately need rain.

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  25. lareeinbcApril 17, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    I just wanted to tell you I am in love with this little quilt... :-). Thanks for sharing.

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Your comments make my day! Sharing projects with others makes it all the more fun. Thanks for your kind words!