Inspiration Struck

I love sewing.  There aren't many projects I don't like.  However, once in a while you strike on just that perfect project when everything flows together just right...the right fabric, the right mood and the right design...that's when sewing becomes truly joyful.

That's how I feel about "Sticks and Stones."  I had been sitting on some really fun Katie Jump Rope fabrics and had been thinking about a pretty elaborate pattern.  I just couldn't strike on the right color combination so I couldn't commit and cut into the fabric.

I was browsing some blogs and ran across this super simple pattern from Moda.  I was inspired at the fun feel of the design and loved how quickly it would go together.  Also, when I thought about how little of each fabric was required, I stopped worrying about "wasting" my precious KJR fabrics on a quilt I wouldn't love.  I printed the pattern, threw caution to the wind and ran upstairs and started cutting right away. 

Of course, I had to alter the design to space my striped more randomly and to add more interest by having my "stones" as part of the design too. 

My favorite part of Sticks and Stones, is in the juxtaposition between the front and back.  

I love the rainbow of katie sticks that sporadically hit the front of the white quilt and, for me, the single blue "stone" really balances the composition.  On the back, I wanted just the opposite.  So I sprinkled stones in a vertical line with just one "stick" on the solid black kona.  Wow, I LOVE the pop of the colors against the black back.

I wanted to emphasize my sticks, so I used horizontal quilting lines 1/4 inch from each of the bars.  I really struggled deciding what color of thread to use for the quilting.  I worried that Black would look like creepy spider webs on the white front.  If I used white on the front and black for the bobbin, I had to worry about the keeping the tension perfect.   In the end, I chose white.  I had to be really careful to have straight lines since it shows up so starkly against the black backing.  I am really happy with the contrast and how it turned out.

The binding turned out really fun, with a KJR orange plaid

Sticks and Stones is now in the Shop

Now, tell me about YOUR inspired project, the one where the stars all aligned and you LOVED every step of the creation.