A very old Work In Progress. Most happy to have it completed. I made it in the Quilt As You Go style, which was not prudent. These long strips of bias fabrics were not enjoyable. It caused a bit of wobbling and stretching when sewing the final rows together. Now that it is completed, I am starting to like it again!
This Fibs n Fables collection by Anna Maria Horner has vibrant fanciful colors and designs. My herringbone strips are quite improv, which is subtle, but when seen as a whole quilt, gives it a personality I like. (by this I mean that the pieces are not all at the same angle. I just layed each next strip down as I pleased and sewed it on.
The background fabric is a bone colored solid, which gives it a richer feeling than a pure white. The backing is a large piece of light colored fabric from this same collection, then a pieced strip with all my leftovers set in rainbow order (my secret fave part of the quilt). And then a bunch of burgundies at the bottom to finish it off. The back seems lightly quilted compared to the front, because of using this QAYG method.
Again my quilting lines did not line up perfectly on the back with my piecing. Is this a careless stage I’ve been going through:)? Although today I happened upon some photos of quilts by a quilt ‘artist’ whose work I admire. I noticed that her quilting lines were unapologetically crooked, and she was embracing it, and selling her quilts for a healthy price. Hmmm…. maybe I do need a slight adjusting in my acceptance of my own mistakes.
I think I am slightly paralyzed by getting a bad review on Etsy, although I never have. I always imagine someone very persnickety buying one of my quilts and being appalled by some minute issue and leaving me scathing criticism…
I happen to think it doesn't matter if the stitching is not perfect, it gives the quilt/art more character. So enjoyed your post gives me hope in finishing of my UFO's.
I agree embrace the not "perfect" people do…gurl your a rock star! Your quilts have a funky vintage feel..a very unique quality and vibe. I have followed you a long time and have tried to replicate your style on several quilts to no avail..but continue to try:0) very excited that you have posted so much recently!
I agree with embracing the "imperfections". My art teacher told me about an art fair she sold at, once she put a painting she was less than happy with at a reduced price and it was totally overlooked. After some encouragement she decided to try it again at the regular price for a piece that size and it was snapped up.
I perceive that to be the most loved quilt in the house. It has character. There is no such thing as a bad quilt. I would be proud to have it.
What a beautiful quilt! Did you use a pattern at all for it? Also, don't worry about the small mistakes! No one will ever notice. Don't be afraid of a negative etsy review. 99% of the time, they are complaining about something so frivolous, or complaining about shipping!
I always say to myself "You just can't please everyone!" so go your own way, enjoying your process is more important than those persnicketity folks who have more time to complain than make one themselves.
I too embrace the imperfections in my work as if they are happy little accidents and no one plans an accident.
Cheers, Caroline
I think your style makes any of your quilts a success. The "imperfection" is just a small detail in a fun, colorful quilt. It's still a winner!
I call any little mistakes "design elements" and it makes them more acceptable!
To BJ Berlo, I was also going to call them "design elements"! Do you happen to follow Angela Walters on her Facebook Page, "Free Motion Quilting Challenge"? I have heard her use that term quite a bit in her videos. Just curious… But it makes perfect since. We, as experienced quilters, will always make little, or not so little mistakes from time to time, but "design element" sure sounds a lot better than picking out a million stitches when only you are the one seeing the so called mistake.