Friday, January 27, 2017

"Standing Tall" for New Beginnings Blog Hop!

"Standing Tall," 17" x 42.6", made by Pam Geisel, Jan. 2017

Welcome to the "Happy Harvest" collection in the Island Batik Ambassador's "New Beginnings" Blog Hop!

We were challenged to use at least 8 of the fabrics in the collection and create a piece that was at least 24" x 24". Bonus points if it fit the theme of "New Beginnings." (Just kidding, there aren't any points given.)
Here are seven of the eight fabrics that I used. Since I wasn't sure which fabrics would be in the final piece, I took the photo of the fabrics after I was finished, and I used up all of the background fabric in the quilt so it's not in the photo. (I also used another piece for the backing fabric so it's not in the photo, either.)

I let the fabrics tell me what they wanted to be, and they wanted to something in a forest. So it doesn't exactly fit into the "New Beginnings" theme.

I also fudged the size some. Once I decide to make a quilt of a giant redwood tree, I realized the quilt needed to be at least twice as high as it was wide. The fabrics we got for this collection were half yards (18" x 44") so I again let the fabrics talk to me and made the quilt the size of a half yard of fabric. (I figure if you do the math the square area of a quilt that is 24" x 24" is 576" and mine is 722.5" so even though it's not as wide as it's supposed to be, it is larger in square area.) (For the non-quilters who are wondering why if I started with a piece that was 18" x 44" how I ended up with a final piece that is 17 x 42.5", you loose some size when quilting and when doing the knife-edge binding.)


I started with the tree's trunk and fused three of the brown fabrics. Then I fussy-cut around the pine needles and fused them to make the branches. I added some highlights using the mint green background from the fabric that had the deer on it.


For the forest I again fussy cut around the pine trees in both the darker and lighter green fabrics and added a middle layer from the mint green background with the deer on it (you can see part of the deer's horns in the bottom right of the photo above.)


I machine free-motion quilted along the raw edges, in the green branches, and in the background. I used a knife-edge binding and then couched on some chunky varigated green yarn that has the same colors as the fabrics. I did that after the binding so it would be the same distance from all edges, although it doesn't go across the bottom.

As always, you can click on any of the photos to see the images lager.

More about Standing Tall

46 comments:

Judi Duncan said...

What a clever quilt! (this would look wonderful in my family room)

GranChris said...

What a great quilt. I love it. Especially now in the middle of Winter.

Allison said...

Gorgeous quilt! I love it. The fussy cutting of the branches really makes the quilt.

Nancy Tanner said...

Gorgeous quilt, I love batiks, thanks for the giveaway.

Alice Ronne said...

Great use of colors and cutting around the design for the branches/leaves. Thanks for the giveaway! akronne17@gmail.com

Joyce Carter said...

Your quilt is really pretty. I love the way you did the tree leaves. Thank you for sharing and for the giveaway.

Dawn F said...

That's really cool and creative. I think the math works out! Great job!

Annmarie said...

Aren't you glad rules are meant to be broken??!! Your redwood is awesome!

Anna brown said...

Love the tree great job very inspiring. .. ty for the ideas.... happyness04431@yahoo.com

PatsPassion said...

Beautiful quilt.

Jayne said...

What a great way to use the fabric. I love your ideas

MoeWest said...

Well done! I love the giant redwoods!

Mulberry Patch Quilts said...

Your art quilt is beautiful--love it! Jane

Rebecca said...

Love the quilt and If You think about it Something as old as a giant redwood has seen a lot of new beginnings going on around it!
Well it works for me anyway...lol

Calicojoan said...

You know your speaking to my soul with this fusible applique quilt. It's just fabulous!
:-)

Quilts for Sale said...

Love it! Those fabrics definitely knew! - I'm like you in letting them talk to me. :-)
They come up with many an interesting design! Yours is definitely memorable!

teachpany said...

Awesome job. I love it.

Unknown said...

This tree is so handsome! Love the batiks and the tree reminds me of a redwood for some reason.

tac73 said...

Your tree is stunning! Love the detail you put into it.

Kathy Kinsella said...

Great use of the fabric in this tree quilt ... I love the colours and also the natural shape of the pine.

Lori said...

this is lovely

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful quilt and so creative Pam!

LInda Pearl said...

This is another unique interpretation of the theme...which I love. It's a beautiful quilt. But I would love to know more about a knife edge binding - I've never heard of it.

Linda

Sewgirl said...

Great job with the redwood tree...my boys went to Redwood High School and their logo is a tall redwood like yours. Love the way you added the thin outline in the border. Is it couched yarn? Great detail. Thanks for sharing!

Emily C said...

Very nice tree. Looks great.

Pamela said...

I loved reading about how you went about making your design decisions. The quilt is beautiful. And I never though about couching yarn on a quilt. It's a delightful effect. Thanks for sharing!

Kathy E. said...

These are such pretty colors! I love the ones you're giving away as they'd make a great table runner for next fall!

JANET said...

Love your tree and the green fabric that makes the branches. So cool!

Vicki H said...

Your tree is so creative. I love the way you fussy cut the branches.

Bec said...

Love your Standing Tall wall hanging. It's very natural looking. Very calming. :) Thanks for the giveaway!

Nancy said...

This is a wonderful piece. Isn't it great when the fabric speaks up?

Rachell said...

Wow. A lot of fussy cutting, but so worth it! It's like the fabrics were made just for your tree! IB is so amazing.
reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love your tree quilt! You are very talented! Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Lee said...

An awesome design! thank you!

cindy m said...

Lovely!! I want so desperately to make an art quilt of this type. I've been studying your projects, great ideas and motivation for a scaredy cat like me!
lstangl482 at aol dot com

Quilting Tangent said...

Pretty tree quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Connie Kauffman said...

Really love this quilt!

Arf2-D2 said...

What a fantastic design. I love sequoias.

Michele T said...

It's beautiful!!! I love how the trees look so natural, even the texture is perfect😍

Catskill Quilter said...

I love your applique work - beautiful!

Kelly Dee said...

The beaquilter link is wrong

Kelly Dee said...

and the link for Calico Joan is a personal page, not a business page.

Peggy said...

Beautiful design.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

mumbird3 said...

OOO really liked your trees - very nice technique!!! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com

Betsy said...

I have always wanted to make trees in my quilts and you have simplified the process.thank you for sharing your talent

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

Love your quilt! And the fabrics you've chosen!