Do you ever find yourself wanting to just sit back and doodle? With colored pencils? Sometimes I do. It’s not often, but it happens…
Usually, my pencil art consists of incoherent scribbles and geometric shapes. Other times, I put them to good use on a piece of graph paper.
Other times, they can really turn into something beautiful and inspirational and evolve into something more than just color on paper. They can take on a new life as inspiration for ANOTHER QUILT! (I’ll bet you saw that coming, didn’t you?)
All the strip piecing on this quilt makes for a fast project. While working on this, the pattern reminds me of the mission style of decorating. I’ve already dubbed it the New Mission Quilt.
But, it sure does slow down when those strips get cut into little pieces again and then re-sewn to other little pieces…
At last, the center begins to take shape. The top is almost done now. The big decision is whether I want to appliqué something on it, like animals or leaves or something. I was heading towards a shadowbox-type quilt, but it’s looking more like patio brickwork instead.
As another project on the side, I’ve already made matching pillow cases and coordinating pillow shams. Now, to find a sheet set at Bed Bath & Beyond that will work with all this. I’m thinking in either dark olive or a rich walnut brown. Or dark navy and cream plaid.
And, the final set. The colors of the fabrics look pretty bad in these shots. I blame it on the flash. Under normal home lighting, these colors and patterns are far more appealing.
The quilt on the bottom, and the pillow cases and shams. (I can NOT see the mauve/rose color in the fabrics here in the room, just in the photos. The weirdness continues.)
The photo, below, shows the flame batik backside.
And, just as I was finishing up, I decided to try one more thing: individually stitched and quilted batik leaves. Just for fun, I *had* to try it.
As fun as it was, it’s not what I was looking for. Those leaves were made years ago for a Halloween costume. I wore a black plastic bag and pinned those leaves all over myself and went as a bag of leaves. There’s a face mask, too. No one "got" it. Ah, well…
And, FINALLY! I got the colors almost right. This last photograph shows it the closest to reality. With the new down comforter and duvet cover, it’s going to be a nice and cozy winter when it comes time to snuggle in.
Oh, and for the sheets? I ended up making my own from some plain muslin and did drawstring corners instead of elastic. The price of sheets is outrageous these days. Screw that. My new sheets cost me less than $7.50.
DPUTiger (amy)
What are the dimensions of that quilt? Very awesome pattern. I don’t have the patience to design my own patterns, so I’m doubly impressed. Then again, your creativity always impresses me, so this isn’t all that unusual.
Nov 28, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
Mel
Ooh, could you maybe do a tutorial at some point on making the drawstring corners?
Nov 28, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
Ginger
I have that orange batik/marble fabric! And the green fern leaf type batik! And that brown. Hmm, maybe I better go check my stash to see if it is still there…..
Looks comfy toasty warm for snuggling!
Nov 28, 2009 @ 11:04 pm
Chris
Lovely and autumnal!
Nov 28, 2009 @ 11:33 pm
Sara
OMG – Stunning…
I love the quilt – the pillowcases – the shams!
But, you made sheets, too…We are going to have to talk – cause I would love to know how to do that…
BTW, you don’t have any 2-1/2 squares left of any of those batiks, do you?
Nov 29, 2009 @ 12:46 am
lisa
ooohweeebaby, those are FABulous!!
Nov 29, 2009 @ 2:00 am
theresa
The quilt is just beautiful! Love the leaves on it, such a perfect touch.
Sheets are expensive, and I would LOVE to know how you make that bottom sheet using a drawstring..
Nov 29, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Cindy in FL
The quilt is a perfect happenstance of doodling….just beautiful.
Nov 29, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Roxie
I do believe that if someone put you in a plain white box with no supplies whatsoever, you would use the salt of your tears to create crystal designs on the walls. Your creativity is not to be denied!
And the quilt utterly rocks! Muslin sheets? Where do you put the seams? Or where can you find muslin wide enough for sheeting?
Nov 29, 2009 @ 10:30 am
Heide
Wonderul quilt! Please take a picture of the assembled bed for us to admire.
Nov 29, 2009 @ 11:12 am
LaurieM
My but you’ve been busy! I can’t say that the colors appeal to me, but as always, your workmanship is a thing of beauty.
Nov 29, 2009 @ 11:12 am
Cheryl
Wow! You’ve been very busy and have accomplished a lot! It all looks great! I love the idea of the handmade muslin sheets with drawstrings. What a great idea!
Nov 29, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
Benita
Drawstring corners – (Smacks self on forehead) – Why didn’t I think of that!
The quilt is absolutely beautiful. Amazing what can come of playing with colored pencils and graph paper.
Bag of leaves, eh? Personally, I think that’s a scream!
Nov 29, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Annapolitan
Such a fabulous set! So much talent in one human!
It’s just NOT FAIR!
Oh, and another vote for a tutorial on drawstring corners on sheets!
Nov 29, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Jan B
Dave, Sorry to be so quiet for so long, but I did want to say how utterly beautiful your quilt set is. I am always so impressed with your “quick” little projects. ~ Hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. ~ Jan
Nov 29, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
jackie
Beautiful! The leaves are a nice touch too.
Nov 29, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
Rhonda
I was thinking the exact same thing about the cost of sheets, recently — and I thought about making a set from something outrageous. Now I’m thinking about a quilt to match…
Nov 29, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
Kathie K
Only you can start out doodling and end up
with a beautifully designed quilt!
And I love the part where you were a bag of leaves for Halloween…
Nov 29, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
textillian
Beautiful. Of course, I am a sucker for geometrics.
Nov 30, 2009 @ 7:55 am
holli
Beauteous! Love the batiks. And the leaves. Can’t believe no one “got” your costume. I have to vote for the tutorial too, have a CA king bed I’m always looking for proper sheets for!
Nov 30, 2009 @ 9:10 am
Heidi
YAY! So, so gorgeous.
I can relate to graph paper and color pencils big time–I still have notebooks of graphs for quilts I did 20 years ago.
Nov 30, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Bety
Quite frankly Dave, if this is the results of incoherent doodling I can’t imagine what would come out of your brain if it was coherent! Very extremely well done, Bravo!
Nov 30, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Michelle
That looks perfect for fall. I love seeing the process you go through to get your finished product. And how great to make your own sheets instead of the over priced ones in the store.
Nov 30, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Lynn
WOW this is gorgeous!!! LOVE the fabrics and I am truly amazed at the drawstring corners. A local sewer does the same thing! Me?? I pay for the sheets……
Dec 01, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
Knitnana
You are just amazing. What a glorious quilt and bedding set!
(((hugs)))
Dec 01, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
Susan aka reddirt
I, too, want to know how to make the sheets. I don’t use a top sheet so it’s a pain to have to buy a whole set. And I love all the batiks. When I go to the fabric store, the only thing that keeps me from buying them all is my slim pocketbook
Dec 05, 2009 @ 10:04 am