The Paint Chip Challenge is what I'm focused on right now. One of us went to the local big box hardware store and nabbed a boat load of paint chip samples. At our monthly soiree, a ceremonial paper bag was passed around and each person pulled 3 chips out. You could toss one chip and reselect - but then you had to live with that choice. I was INCREDIBLY lucky...I got turquoise, aqua, and orange. They have no idea the creature of creativity they unleashed....
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| This is the back side of the lobster - he still has the fusible web silicone sheet attached. |
I had to let the ideas and colors simmer for a couple of months and just as I suspected.... the inspiration was found! Some random thing I saw made me think - Orange +Lobster. And then of course, the blues took care of water.
I drew out the lobster on paper (many, many times) and then transferred that onto clear plastic. I picked up an old school projector many years ago (quilting tools come from many sources) so then I projected that onto my wall. I was able to enlarge it to a size I thought I'd like (he's about 36 inches tall).
From there I sewed 1.5 inch strips of orange fabric and recut and resewed. I wound up with gorgeous tiny little squares of scrappy orange fabric to use for my lobster.
After that...I struggled with how to create a background that wouldn't be terribly distracting. Even though I wound up making 4.5 inch HST's, I think it doesn't read too busy. I added the strips of solid to the side and bottom to create a more modern look.
I've only got him pinned on right now but I've got fusible web on the orange so I"ll fuse all of that down next. I think I have my quilting design in my head...but I am a pretty organic quilter so that may all change by the time the needle hits the fabric. Hoping to start quilting in a day or two...
And for the record, how do you pronounce lobster? I'm from the south - so "lob - stir" is how I say it.
Linking up with several fabulous Linky parties - check them all out! Here are some of the quilts in progress I loved this week:
Valentine quilt with no name
Gooseberry Secret Garden
Rowing along
No more bunny ears
Maryse Makes Things
Quilty Habit
This is so fun! I'm a midwesterner so I say lob-stir too.
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting to see how different that word is pronounced across the country.
Deletethanks!
What a great quilt, and your group sounds like it would be so fun! I love the way you made your lob-stir so big - it's going to look fabulous on your quilt. Thanks so much for sharing on MCM! I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide to do with the quilting. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth!
DeleteWhat great inspiration came your way for the colors you chose! I like the size of your triangle squares and the lobster (pronounced lob stir in Ohio) will look great.
ReplyDeleteNancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)
Thanks Nancy. I felt like the HST needed to be visible but not overwhelming. I'm working on the back now and then quilting soon. I'm excited to quilt this one.
DeleteYou sure did get lucky with your paint chip pull. These colours look great together! But what is really impressive is what you came up with for the design. Your scrappy lobster is such a fabulous idea!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I won the lottery with the colors. I think it takes time to let them "speak" to you. I'm sure if I'd jumped right in back when we pulled the colors (back in October) this would be a very different quilt.
Deleteps...my maiden name is McMahon. All of my dad's family hails from upstate NY. Are we related??
Great lobster but I have a question. I get the fusible web backing, but not sure about the silicone. Are the pieces held in place somehow, with the correct spacing and everything? I think I'm missing something...
ReplyDeleteOh....this is what happens when you don't explain (and just assume everyone knows what you're doing). You're probably not missing anything. I used a fusible web that has a paper backing (which contains silicone which is why it releases). After I put all the orange together into one big piece of fabric basically, I laid my fusible web on it (which had my drawings on the paper) and ironed it on. I cut it out after but didn't remove the paper. When I placed it on the quilt - I just used pins to hold it on. I'll iron on the orange permanently to the blue. I'm going to sew around each piece to ensure it holds well. I am a fan of raw edge machine appliqué so I won't be satin stitching or even just zig zagging around the edges - just a nice tight straight stitch. I'll share photos of the progress so check back to see how it goes.
DeleteBeautiful! Congratulations on this wonderful project! Love the blues in the top and the lobster found a perfct place!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I moved him around a bit before I settled on that spot.
DeleteI pronounce it "Lob Stir" too. Love this quilt! You are super creative. And the name of your group gave me quite the chuckle. hehehe
ReplyDeleteMy quilt gang is a pretty funny group. We've been sewing together since the 90's. Much like the Rolling Stones and the energizer bunny, we just keep going and going... Thanks!
DeleteI pronounce it "lob-stir" just like you do. (I'm also from the South.) My problem is that I can't afford to pronounce it very often when it counts--as in when we're in restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI have an old school overhead projector from my days in the classroom. Louisiana has not always been the most giving of states, especially in education. So I saved pennies and bought my own. It lives in the studio, and I use it quite often. Your lob-stir is quite fancy and looks great on those paint chip colors.
P.S. He'd be a giant crawfish where I come from.
Hahahahah - I know where you live. My mother and sisters live in LA and I have partaken of the little mud bugs. They're tasty!. I need to make my younger sister a quilt with the fleur de lis on it. While I live in VA now, I hail from SC and love to splash the SC flag logo all over everything (it's the palmetto tree with the crescent moon). She loves the fleur de lis like that, too.
DeleteFabulous quilt top. I had to say lobster out loud several times but I think my Nova Scotia accent has faded. LOBster?
ReplyDeleteThat's funny - my friend did the same thing. You need to listen to yourself to get the phonetics out of it.
DeleteWhat a great design resulting from the paint chip challenge! Love the lobster (and I pronounce it like you do)! Thanks for sharing it on Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts. Couldn't resist visiting/following you after that tease.
ReplyDeleteIt's been very fun seeing (and then pronouncing it their way) how everyone says it. Thanks so much!
DeleteBeautiful quilt! I am from Boston, and we say LOB STA! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I love to hear those Boston accents! Thanks!
DeleteIt sounds like you belong with a fun group of quilters. What a great way to run an annual retreat.
ReplyDeleteThe lob-stir quilt is stunning. I love how you've interpreted your paint chips.
Yes- I run with a crazy crowd. We definitely amuse ourselves... Thanks so much!
DeleteI'm from the midwest and I pronounce my Rs. Love your lobster--all the drafts paid off with one good looking lobster. And I agree, the background provides interest without detracting. Claire aka knitnkwilt.wordpress.com
ReplyDelete