I'm so excited to be able to share some new work here on my brand new blog! This is the first official post of my new Blooming Poppies Blog! Kind of ironic that although my work has been slowing moving toward more traditional, block based designs over the last couple of years, this first post is very much in the same spirit of my earlier work. I actually think of it as a blend of both... structure and flow, order and chaos, limits and boundaries.
This new design is my way of combining two important elements of the creative process, together in one piece.
The idea of bringing order and "chaos" together is what I love about this design. At a time when our world seems to be spinning out of control, these little squares of improv wildness, being cut to specific repetition and sewn into straight lines with measured symmetry, is a comforting juxtaposition!
I have had many fellow quilters express interest in the so called "wildness" of improv design over the years, but who also express feeling stuck or afraid to step out of the confines of structure and ditch their ruler. With this design, you are encouraged to play with your fabric; create fun shapes, pair interesting random sizes, allow your blocks to develop intuitively, and just generally get a little wild with it! All while being guided by an overall framework of relative structure, a place to land and to bring all this "chaos" together in one finished piece.
I'm very curious about how to guide those who feel apprehensive about improv work, so one of the things in the works over here at Blooming Poppies, is not only a pattern for this quilt, but a set of demonstration videos that will be an integral part of it. What do you all think? Would that be fun, interesting, of help to you?
I'm so happy with how this quilt is turning out and am now considering binding ..... scrappy, colorful, faced, traditional, etc.?
This pattern will be ready for testers soon and hopefully ready to release by early November! Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
1 comment
I’m a novice quilter and have found that following detailed patterns and trying for preciseness sucks the life right out of me. But I love cutting and sewing. I just need help pulling it together into a cohesive, pleasing form.