Tuesday 28 May 2013

A quilt for moving on.


It was in the aftermath of all the change and grief earlier this year, that this quilt was born. In the small, silent privacy of my new sunroom studio. When the repetition and attention and clear, quiet whites and greys, and just a touch of blue were having a tangible effect on my soul.


I had brought out my neutral bucket of scraps, (I couldn't imagine working with colour), fished around for the strips, then grabbed the leftovers from my Children at Play pinnies, and the linen ones, and the 'white on white' prints that I had used for a custom order quilt last year and never looked at again. I think it was the memory of that quilt, warm, calm, traditional, that made me feel grounded. And I wanted to create something like it again.


My first log cabins were very intentional. Each piece sewn and ironed and trimmed with care and design. And then (as I wrote here), as that lost its therapy, I started to chain piece. Then, more recently, as I started to feel more myself, I began introducing more pops of colour. More flat solids and less tone on tone. More modern prints and less care whether it matched.


I finished up all the 8" blocks and laid them out on the floor of my friends' house to ask what she thought. I had planned to make different sized blocks and have them scattered throughout. But the regularity of the squares made such a simple, pretty baby quilt.
Cath said to me, "That's pretty, but the other one you have in mind will be wonderful."
I'm so thankful now for that encouragement. It gave me the extra little push I needed to keep going when I felt like finishing up there. I felt the shift from this being all about safety (which was just right in the beginning) to realising I was in a place again where I could go beyond my natural attention span, or motivation, to create something I really wanted. And it feels good to be here again!



I'm joining in 'Festival of Strings'!

Scrap Attack {String Fever}

27 comments:

  1. This is such a beautiful and warm quilt.Love really everything about it, including the story ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey Jodi, this is one beautiful quilt! I like the improve nature of it and how you incorporated smaller and larger log cabin blocks. I think your new style is refreshing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such calming colours. I love the simplicity of it. Just beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your quilt. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I can't say that I understand what you went through but I do know the longing to have a child and the sorrow/grief when that comes when that doesn't happen. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. All I can really say is wow! The quilt itself is beyond gorgeous and the story behind the quilt is so moving! Sending you a hug!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm sorry for your loss. This quilt has such a calm effect, it's very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Jodi, you know I follow you. I think this quilt is gorgeous. It has an "angel feeling" to it. I think you have done a wonderful job. It breathes peace and hope. See you at the Festival of Strings!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a beautiful, tangible part of your journey. And I love the story of the journey of the quilt, that too is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's a stunning quilt. And the story behind it makes it that much deeper and more beautiful. Prayers are with you as you continue to grieve and heal.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your process is so meaningful! I love how the color worked its way back into the quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your story, and your quilt. It is calming.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is such a beautiful quilt. I love your ability to use the everyday things in your life to process, to heal, to be. It's a rel gift. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jodi, this is gorgeous and it means so much to those of us who love and follow you for sharing it and your healing. Thank you! Beautiful piece for you and hugs from me!

    ReplyDelete
  14. This quilt is beautiful! Your quilt is soft, comforting and peaceful. A true testament of your strength.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh Jodi--this is so beautiful--both the quilt and your story. I'm glad for you that this quilt could be therapy--learning again to see and make beauty in hard times. The pops of color are great and the whole thing is just lovely. Thanks for sharing it with us!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful. Your story helped make a wonderful quilt that is sure to be a comfort to you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am touched, and awed. I feel blessed that you shared this quilt and its story. The huge log cabin on the back is particularly stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am here from hearing about the Stitched in Colour Festival and love your neutral colours used here. Its a lovely calming mix of design and colour.....love it.
    And as therapeutic activity I hope it helped fill part of the void.
    Good luck for the future : )
    Lyn

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm so glad that you're finding yourself again, Jodi. The quilt is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is a beautiful, calming quilt. I also use my sewing as a source of therapy and grounding and can't imagine life without it. This quilt is so peaceful.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jodi, what a quilt to be proud of, on more than one level. I am thankful for your healing and thankful to see the artful use of color from you again. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jodi, I do hope you win -- this is such a beauty. I'm a total believer in quilting as therapy, and loved hearing the stages you went through with yours. xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. It's fantastic that you are getting thoughts from this post as well as from our argument made at this place.

    Also visit my site :: live roulette

    ReplyDelete

I so love your comments! I read all of them and reply when I can. If you don't hear back, I'm lost under a mound of scraps or outside jumping on the trampoline with the kids. Jodi. xx