Sunday, August 1, 2021

Quilts and Classics: Pop Beads/1959 Rag Top VW


Pop Beads is a quilt I began making in 2010. It was based on a quilt I saw in a book by Mary Hickey. She based her quilt on a vintage quilt.
 

Each "bead" in Mary's quilt was very scrappy, but I wanted to use my precious stash of Flea Market Fancy fabric by Denyse Schmidt in a non-scrappy way, so I changed the construction.





When I started mentioning my intention to print a calendar with classic cars, friends Chuck and Dayla Anderson reminded me of their 1959 Rag Top VW in a beautiful dusty aqua color, much like one of the colors in the quilt. 1959 is of special significance, as it is the year Chuck was born. The car and quilt seemed like a perfect fit, so one night in August 2020, we met for the photo shoot at the home of Dayla's mom, Dotty (my dear friend who initially taught me to quilt). 

There is a large parking area on the side of their house, and we moved the car around a little bit. And took a lot of pictures. 









I had been shooting toward the east because I didn't want to be shooting into the sun. But all of a sudden Mark noticed what was happening in the west as the sun went down. Our valley had been enduring lots of smoke and poor air quality from the Creek Fire, which burned over 400,000 acres last summer, but sometimes we were treated to a spectacular sunset. 

Dayla quickly drove the car to the other side of the yard. 

This sequence of photos occurred from 7:53 p.m. to 7:57 p.m.







The "money" shot--taken at 7:55 p.m., with no photo editing whatsoever. I love how the sky is even reflected a bit on the back of the car.

It would have been so easy to miss had Mark not turned around when he did. I think of all the photos I took of quilts and cars, this is my very favorite. 


Quilt Name: Pop Beads
Designed By: Based on a quilt by Mary Hickey, which was based on a vintage quilt
Size: 54" x 54"
Quilted by: Darby Myers



8 comments:

05 08
Joanne in Massachusetts said... #

It is a lovely quilt...and the Bug is the perfect color for its display...but I agree, the sunset is a once in a lifetime stunner! Lucky you!

Anita said... #

Thank you for sharing the story of this quilt. I really love the quilt and the story of the quilt.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said... #

What a great way to show off Flea Market and the photo is heavenly!!!

Robby said... #

Every one of these Quilts and Classics posts I read makes me think, "This is the best one yet." And then... you do it again. Goodness but these shots just make me feel like that quilt and I could have just come back from the beach in my little blue VW ragtop. A good husband knows the exact right time to say something, doesn't he? And do I see that you took these wonderful shots with your phone?!

Anne / Springleaf Studios said... #

I just love seeing your quilt photography. You take fabulous photos. Perfect pairing of car and quilt. So glad Mark turned around and you managed to capture that wonderful sky.

Jacqui's Quilts said... #

Wow, those are spectacular shots with that sunset!!! Amazing. Love the car and the quilt. Awesome!

Rochelle aka Bella Quilts said... #

Amazing. The quilt, the car, the background. It can't get any better!

OPQuilt said... #

I am so glad to read the story behind this one. I can't believe that photo--such perfect color and timing and everything, but I also love the other photos, too. I love seeing the inside of this car, with your lovely quilt draped across its interiors. Hooray!!