Saturday 27 June 2015

Mountain Campfire Quilt


There is something so satisfying about finishing a quilt that's been a long time coming. Even more satisfying to snap and edit the photos, to stand back and admire your work, to see in the flesh, the realisation of the idea you had several months ago.



This is Mountain Campfire. Named because the prints, Wild and Free, designed by Maureen Cracknell, and the design remind me of first moving from the city to 100 acres off the Mid North Coast of NSW when I was 12. My parents bought a farm, complete with horses, caravans and an old beat up Land Drover that had been abandoned by a couple going through a divorce. They left everything. Old song sheets and guitars, garden sheds full of blankets and mattresses, tin cups and tinned food. There was no electricity or septic system. No running water. I thought my parents were the coolest people who ever lived. It was quite the adventure!


These beautiful, warm prints arrived just as I moved back to the country, albeit to a different part of Australia, and working with them has felt like home.
I cut most of the pieces using my Accuquilt cutter, and made the quilt queen size to get enough repeat of the design. And then, feeling terrified of quilting something so big and special to me, I sent it off to Jeannette Bruce of Gone Aussie Quilting who quilted the perfect, all-over, boxy design on it. I'm so glad I took this option! I'll definitely be using it again, especially for queen size quilts!


I intended from the beginning to take my time with this quilt. I wanted to enjoy it, and not feel pressure to get it done. And while I'm glad I took that route, I never expected it to take six months! When I thought of savouring this quilt, I thought of sewing it when I felt like it. But often it sat waiting patiently in it's box, while I got other quilts finished with more certain deadlines, even though I wanted to be working on it! It's made me realise it's not just enough to intend to be slow, but to clear out the space for it also.

Now, thankfully, the intended recipients of this quilt are travelling the world on their honeymoon. And I'm just a little glad it gets to stay in my home for a few extra months before I have to hand it over! In the end, it's probably the best way to enjoy my work!



11 comments:

  1. I love this beautiful quilt. And that little cutie is just adorable.

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  2. Absolutely gorgeous! Those colours really suit the Aussie setting and I love that there is such meaning to you in getting it made. Great work!

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  3. That's gotta be a hard one to part with so I'm glad you get to keep it even a little while. Such an amazing, beautiful gift xxx

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  4. Beautiful, love the colors.

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  5. Just stunning - well done :-)

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  6. Beautiful, both the quilt and that little one! I think we should all take a little more time to savor the process of a quilt once in a while. Its hard when your excited to see the finish. Enjoy the moment!

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  7. I LOVE that quilt and the fabrics you chose are perfect....as is that little munchkin running around :)
    I've been reading your posts and i'm always intrigued with the WIP stories..... I have been very overwhelmed with my works in progress lately and even just seeing the bags of blocks etc. have me feeling anxious. I've started to destash some fabric and pulling out old projects and just jumping in to finish them.

    Enjoy that quilt till the newlyweds come home :)

    Peggy in NJ/USA

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  8. Your quilt is an outstanding take on the delectable mountain block. I love it.

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  9. Love your quilt and I like the way you used different fabric on the 4 corners of each connecting block :)

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  10. So beautiful - love everything about your quilt!

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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