Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Solar Flares revealed!

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I am so happy to share this project with you.  This is a project that I knew I needed to complete since November, but it wasn't until last month that I knew what I was going to do.  This is going to be part of a special collection of small quilts by several designers to raise awareness for Libby Lehman. She is a quilt artist and teacher who suffered a stroke last April.

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So, the idea was to look at Libby's quilts and design a quilt inspired by one of her designs.  Looking at her designs I knew she loves circles and in her Foliage 5 quilt she has a lot of movement with her design.  So, that is how I got my inspiration of the "flares" in solar flares.  The sun centers is the circles from the other parts of her designs.  

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I wanted to have the quilt be a gradual hot sun that we sometimes see as red when there is smoke in the air from fires in the summers.  The red then becomes a brilliant orange and yellow sun that we are blessed to have each day. Because I sketched this out on paper first, I wanted to have the quilting look like  I was sketching it out.  This explains the thick quilting lines around each main design element of the quilt. 

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I used Superior Threads gold metallic thread to show off the design in an awesome way,

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 with two layers of wool batting and my dense "fantabulous filler" to make the design "pop."
 
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There are seven different colors in the quilt.  I put together a large traditional star block for the background of the quilt.  I love how it all came together.  

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As you can see in the top of the above picture, I was able to capture the shine from one of the hundreds of crystals I put into the quilt.  This quilt is the first time I have experimented with crystals and I have to tell you that I love it.  The picture does not give this element of the quilt top justice, but I can tell you that it looks amazing and I am so happy with the results.  

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The shiny crystals and the shiny thread compliment each other so well. 

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The big sun is my favorite element in this design.  The cross-hatch centers worked perfectly to add the crystals to.  

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Isn't the texture amazing? 

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The back of the quilt top is amazing. I think this would have been a wonderful whole cloth quilt as well, but I love the seven different shades of fabric for the top. 

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 I was able to get this entered into HMQS just in time and it will be hanging in the show next week.  I hope to see you there.  

53 comments:

Kate C said...

Just amazing...you have truly outdone yourself, from the concept to execution, this is a work of art! It is a wonderful thing to do for Libby..wish I could be at the show to see it!

maison-du-soleil.blogspot.com said...

Ах, как красиво!! Как талантливо!! Спасибо!

Themeltlady said...

EXQUISITE.

Patrice said...

Amazingly beautiful!!!!! Stunning!!!

I have a silly question though, when you are marking something like this would you mark it prior to it going into the quilt frames? Or on the frames? Just curious....

Judi you did a beautiful job on this one!

Doodlequilter said...

This is just beautiful! I can't wait to see it in Salt Lake City and I am very excited to be in one of your classes! See you there!

Grit said...

This is amazing !!!

What Comes Next? said...

gorgeous!

Tracy said...

WOW! Amazing, so would love to see thins person!

Kristen Willard said...

Can't wait to see it in person! Amazing work!

Queenie Believe said...

Exceptional work as always!
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie

Helen L said...

Fantastic!!! You are and amazing quilter!!! Love the whole thing, and wish I could see it IRL to see the sparkle. :-) And I was in St George this weekend for Sherri McConnell's class at Quiltworks. Someday maybe I'll be lucky enough to meet you! :-) Have a great week! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

Kristy said...

Speechless! I am in awe of this quilt. Not only the quilting but the whole design and the execution of the pattern you had in mind. Just wonderful! You truly are a quilting artist. :-) K-

~Diana said...

STUNNING!

Suzette said...

Such a beautiful tribute to Libby Lehman's art. Absolutely stunning. You have set your inner artist free with this work. Love it!

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

Your quilting never ceases to amaze! Absolutely jaw droppingly beautiful! I really like reading about your design process. You are so inspiring :)

Unknown said...

I'm just in awe here. I was fussing around all afternoon on my ¼" seam foot not "working" and yet you come up with THIS. Wow. I have a long way to go, but I'll never reach his level of creativity and expertise. Congratulations. It is just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Amazing! I am just starting to long arm quilt and I tell my husband "I am going to be like Judi when I grow up!" lol What an inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Wow! It is beautiful!

Jane S. said...

That is stunning! I think I could see something new every time I looked at it. :)

Pauline said...

Just incredible!

Busy Quilting Mama said...

This piece is amazing!

helen said...

A truly amazing piece of workmanship, your skills continue to stun me!

Shar said...

It is just amazing. I will be honored to see it next week! Hopefully I will be able to meet you in person also. This is very amazing!

Rebecca Grace said...

Judi, it's GORGEOUS and I definitely see the connection and inspiration coming through from Libby. I'm so glad you got it done in time; what a wonderful way to honor her. And the crystals look SO COOL!! I've wanted to play with those, too, but the right project hasn't come up for me yet.

Marjorie said...

Awesome. In the purest sense of the word. Bravo.

Jackie L. said...

Oh. My. Goodness. Your work completely blows me away. Can I be you when I grow up? You are truly an inspiration.

Barbara M. said...

Wonderful!

Päivi said...

It's amazing. You are so talented. Love it.

Leeanne said...

WOW!!!! Fantastic!

Pauline said...

Amazing, truly amazing!!

DonnaDD said...

I love it, but I love all your work. So glad to see even more support for Libby and I have been following her story/progress on Caring Bridge. Wish I could see it in person, but thanks for sharing the photos. Good luck to you and to Libby.

DonnaDD said...

I love it, but I love all your work. So glad to see even more support for Libby and I have been following her story/progress on Caring Bridge. Wish I could see it in person, but thanks for sharing the photos. Good luck to you and to Libby.

Elise Lea said...

This is incredible! I love the subtle fabrics with that quilting! It is leaving me speechless (or the internet equivalent) - you are so very talented. Thank yo for sharing this with us!

Stitched With Prayer said...

Completely breath taking!!! Everything about it. An absolutely amazing piece! I will be keeping Libby in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing you both good luck in the show. Hugs...

Lin's Quilts said...

Love it love it love it. The quilting, the design, the colors! All perfect!
I'm curious what is your "fantabulous filler"? I want to know how you got so much height on your trapunto.
Thanks,
Lin

Jean said...

Amazingly beautiful! What a wonderful way to honor Libby!

B. Tyner said...

Absolutely beautiful quilting.

Connie said...

Your are SO talented!!!! Beautiful and so creative.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

WOW! Thank you for sharing all the detailed photos too - it is really stunning ;-)

Tiffany said...

Somebody help me pick up my jaw from the floor...

Patty said...

Looks amazing to me!

Jenny said...

It's beautiful Judi! The texture is amazing and love the sparkles too!

Four dogs and one quilter said...

Another amazing piece of work. Sorry I will not be able to see it in person.

Diane said...

There are not words. Amazing does not do it justice. You do exquisite work.

Gladys said...

Just amazing! Your job is exquisite and wonderful! Congrats!

Julia Graber said...

Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!

Linda R said...

Oh WOW!! That is so Beautiful!! The quilting is just stunning. I hope you are proud of yourself :-)
Amazing.

Judy1522 said...

Your quilt is amazing. I am always so inspired by your work.

Catherine said...

sitting here with my mouth open! That is awesome. I really admire the time and skill that you have put into this quilt. A real prizewinner

Melissa Corry said...

Wow, Wow, and triple Wow!!!

jojo said...

Amazing texture!

Tiffany said...

I am in complete awe. I never would have even imagined something like this were possible. You are a creative genius!

2ne said...

Amazing quilting - love it. Great colourchoise too - warm and nice. Thanks for the inspiration :-)