Scattered

This will come as a surprise to many, but Scattered is actually the name of the quilt.  It is a rare day that I don't use this to describe myself though!!

This most fantabulous modern and graphic quilt was made by designer Jackie Kunkel (CantonVillage Quilt Works).  Jackie deserted us in New England this past summer for much warmer and greener pastures in AZ, but I am the lucky quilter that still gets to quilt some of her pieces.  It doesn't get much better than that.

She has a fabric line and set of six (I think) patterns that will be in these fabrics, designed for Island Batiks.  She couldn't have pegged my perfect colors much better.  I like to say "You had me with orange"...sort of the line from the move "You had me with hello".  I quilted this in the early summer, and have been very impatiently waiting fall market when I can finally show pictures.

Those that know me know that I am much more of a traditional quilter.  This is my comfort zone -- that happy place.  Modern quilts sometimes leave me staring like the proverbial dear in the headlights.  The reality though is that this one did at first, but then I decided I would take the sketches of dense fills I give to my Dense & Dainty students, and just start quilting.  

 Modern designs can be synonymous with freedom.  I just outlined the triangles, some even two and 3 times.  No real reason to be stuffy and overly consistent.  I stuck numerous ghost shapes into the background too.

 Some don't believe feathers belong on traditional quilts.  My quilt police were on holiday, though, so I stuck a nice big feather meandering the side of the quilt.  Feathers convey motion and direction better than many motifs.  I refrained from a gorgeous Victorian-styled feather, and let it be a chunkier (gasp!) hook feather.  It looks great.

 I can't remember what thread I used, but it is probably ivory Bottonline.  Might be a Glide too though.  It matches, either way.  The fun part was getting to use all of the fillers -- ones I thought were a little edgy and graphic.

 Seriously, the brick pattern is one of my favorites.  No rulers, no marking -- just freehand quilting.

My students from last week will remember many of these fillers...

 The light background and the wool batting make the texture come alive.

 If you happen to be at Market, I'd love to see a picture if this quilt is hanging.  I'd imagine that Jackie will probably be at Schoolhouse with it too.

 Ah, be still my heart - orange and lime green are so yummy.

When I return from Houston, I have 2 more of Jackie's quilts to quilt.  I have not seen them yet, but she will have their grand debut at spring market in May.

...keep it light, keep it free, keep it stress-free...Modern quilting does not have to be straight lines and underquilted.  It's new and modern...let's help write the rule book.  Playful, dense and graphic!