The other day I found myself in a local Thrift Shop (surprise, surprise:o))...and stumbled over THIS quilt!! Living on the West Coast of Canada, I have always wanted to make a forest quilt...one VERY similar to this one...
Bear with me...the pictures are NOT great...I was sandwiched between rows of quilts and bedding...and even if I should take it out, the shop was crammed with other delights. In other words, I had no room to spread this mother out...and she was a big one!
OK...I want you to REALLY look at this quilt...see the blocks at the bottom...do you see anything wrong with them? I really liked the way the quilter kept all the lighter greens on the same side of each tree...giving the illusion of the sunlight hitting the trees. But look at the branches...see how the dark side appears to be longer. At first I thought it was because they were darker in colour and just naturally drew your eyes to that! Nope...look closely... The quilter should have made the two top lighter branches longer...I know I am picky but I noticed it right away...and I bet you did too! haha
The other thing wrong with the quilt was that it had been tied and all the batting was in lumps and bumps. Whoever buys this quilt would have to take it apart and re-do the batting and quilting.
The overall appearance of the quilt was stunning...LOVED it! Wouldn't it look wonderful draped over a chair or on a bed over the Winter months!
...because I remembered that Cheri had put this block in her book~(take the top branches off and you have the exact same block!!)
It is almost identical to the quilt's trees...except Cheri realized that the left side of the tree has to be 1 1/2" longer than the right to account for the log cabin 'effect'! And I saved myself $50...Fifty dollars that I can put into my next quilt! And I also look at it this way...some non-quilter is going to buy this tree quilt and is going to love it for the sake that it is a beautiful quilt...and not look at it through the eyes of a quilter... because let's face it, WE DO look at quilts differently! Don't WE?...or is it just ME....? :oO
Have a Sunny Sunday and Happy Stitching!~P
This quilt wasn't meant to be for the perfectionist! As sweet as it is. But what a coincidence in finding such a similar pattern. Life is full of little synchronicities.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're ready to make your green tree quilt you already have the perfect pattern in Cheri's book. Maybe the $50 you "saved" could buy a lot of the fabrics for your own tree quilt 😊
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. You'll be happier making your own version. However, it was nice that you saw the one in the shop to inspire you. :-)
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mother Nature made that quilt, cuz I know she made our lopsided peach tree!
ReplyDeleteMany moons ago, I made a quilt using that same block design. I don't think I have it any more.
ReplyDeleteI can NOT start another quilt until I finish up some of my WIPS, but this one is going to be added to the future list.
ReplyDeleteQuilters do look at unfinished or finished quilts in a different way You'll be glad to make your own quilt with exact piecing and careful finishing.
ReplyDeleteI did that with one I found, loved it and washed it and it was coming apart and really not my colors, so I donated it to the church bazaar, lol. I think making your own will be much nicer and you will love it.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
It is funny what we learn from others mistakes, or miscalculations! I look forward to seeing what you make with Cheri's pattern!
ReplyDeleteI tend to analyze quilts too. It's kind of sad to see quilts left in need of repair. You'd have to love it to fix it though. I like Cheri's log cabin version of the quilt block. I'd put my efforts into making a quilt using those. Have fun. :0)
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