Friday, September 26, 2014

Friendship X and + Block Exchange: The Big Reveal

This all started back in October of last year. Has it really been nearly a whole year? Carla (Lollyquiltz) and Susan (Patchwork and Play) came up with a plan for a block swap that sounded like too much fun.

It involved choosing a partner and between the two of you, choosing a palette of colors to work with and then swapping  x and + blocks--we used the tutorial by Badskirt Amy.  I barely had finished reading the guidelines when I quickly sent an email to Carla (Grace and Favour) and she agreed to partner up with me. Together we chose this palette:

Every month we each made a set of blocks for ourselves and an identical set for our swap partner. We decided on a total of 64 blocks. This was my first set--four for me, and an identical set for Carla.


It was so much fun to choose the fabrics for the blocks each month, and to open that package from Carla to see what fabric choices she had made.

At some point she showed a peek at the fabric she was going to use for the backing. It was a simple texty print with all the months of the year--perfect. I ordered the same thing! ("8 days a week" by Ampersand Design Studio for Windham Fabrics, in case you are curious).

Last weekend I worked on the machine quilting, something I am not proficient at, and at this point, straight line quilting is the only thing in my arsenal. I was so anxious to get it completed by today's deadline so there was no way I was going to attempt to try something else.

By mid week I was ready to finish the binding, a step of the process that I really enjoy.
So are you ready for the unveiling?I'm so happy with this quilt. Working in tandem with a friend whose work I admire so much has been a wonderful connection and we are already talking about another project. I alternated the blocks in each row, so each of my blocks is sharing a seam with one made by Carla. That thought makes me happy.

Here is the back, which I just love.
When I was getting ready to piece the backing, I decided that I needed to match up the words and make is seem, well, seamless. It's right about in the center of this portion of the quilt back, a vertical seam. Can't see it?  Even close up, I have a hard time finding it myself.
Thankfully, it actually has started to feel like fall here in central California. We even had quite a breeze when I took these pictures.
The final closing shot.
Carla, thank you so much for saying yes to that email last year. This will always be a very special quilt.

I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF.






30 comments:

05 08
Susan said... #

There seems to a an underlying theme of happiness that these quilts have brought to us all! I've no idea where that seam is! Your backing is perfect too! Looking forward to seeing the other finishes.

Cindy said... #

So great! And what a special quilt!

Carla said... #

Ta Da!!!!!! How fun Cindy. When I started sewing mine together at first, I sewed one from you one from me too. Somewhere along the line I started overthinking it and tried to balance the colour and stopped doing that. I love my quilt! Great job on the backing too. I have a month called Novembruary..........
Happy Friday : )

Rene' said... #

So beautiful Cindy!!! I love that both you and Carla used the same backing fabric. What a special quilt made with a special friend! You did a great job on the quilting too. Congratulations!

Carla said... #

Oh my heart! I so love your colors and the finish is just what I expected....fabulous! Thanks for joining in, Cindy!!

Debbie said... #

What an awesome quilt and so fun doing it 'together!' Very very nice!

Katja said... #

Beautiful Cindy! I've loved them both from the beginning when Carla revealed what she was doing with these blocks. You both did an amazing job!

Jessica D. said... #

love it so much!

Andee said... #

It is gorgeous! Love the backing too!

Rachaeldaisy said... #

I really love the colours you've used for your quilt, it's absolutely beautiful!! And all the more special because it was a shared expeience.

Nicole said... #

Your binding is such a perfect colour for that quilt! Congrats on a lovely piece.

Amanda Jean said... #

CINDY! what a beautiful quilt! your straight line quilting is wonderful. that's all this quilt needed, so like little miss Abby says, "it don't matter!" :) your back seaming is IMPRESSIVE! it's fun to geek out over things like that, isn't it?

thanks for linking up to finish it up Friday! and hurray for fall like weather! :)

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts said... #

Your quilt is spectacular!

Emmajane said... #

This is stunning!

Mystic Quilter said... #

Such beautiful colours in your quilt and I am a huge fan of the x and + quilts, wish I had known about the block exchange, a good idea.

OPQuilt said... #

This is so beautifully done (and that back matching, too)! What a wonderful quilt to "share" with Carla across the universe--all done up in such yummy colors, too. I also love the photo shoot in front of your little cottage--so perfect!

I put a line-up of thumbnail photos on my blog, as I wanted to see how many were able to at least get the quilt top done, if not the whole quilt. This swap did pretty good!

:) Elizabeth

Needled Mom said... #

You guys both did an awesome job.

Michelle said... #

Gorgeous, Cindy!!!! I can't believe you pieced the back so "seamlessly!" Beautiful finish :-)

Farm Quilter said... #

Beautiful quilt with a heart-warming story to go with it!!

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said... #

Oh that's beautiful! I love the backing fabric but it's the front that's really stunning, and how special to be alternating the blocks, it will always be a wonderful reminder of a great block swap!

Vicki said... #

Looks like a lot of fun. Still thinking about our talk. Details? This quilt is beautiful. Love the backing.

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

It's gorgeous!

MaterialGirlQuilts said... #

What a special quilt and I'm sure was so fun to make with a friend :-). Turned out beautifully!!!
Amanda

maria said... #

It's lovely, what a great idea to join blocks from each if you together.
I'm afraid mine isn't finished yet.

Granny Maud's Girl said... #

I would have matched the text on the backing fabric too! It looks great. I love your quilt as much I do Carla's.
It is such fun to see how you and Carla chose to make similar quilts, while Susan and the other Carla took the same blocks and made different but equally great quilts.
This has been a fascinating project to watch. I hope to try a similar swap one day.
Carla (Yes, yet another one.)

Audrey said... #

Lovely, Cindy! Thanks for sharing at TGIFF Linky Party!

Katy Cameron said... #

Oh so pretty, and I'm super impressed by your fabric matching

Leanne said... #

Your colours and your quilt are beautiful! I love that backing fabric too.

Anne / Springleaf Studios said... #

Definitely one of my favs Cindy. The color scheme is so fun and the backing is just perfect.

Sarah said... #

Gorgeous! Love your colours. You've been on a finishing roll lately.