July 24, 2013

Cream Courthouse Steps Quilt

I've never had anyone shoot one of my commissioned quilts before, but when your client is a professional photographer, I thought YES, PLEASE! 

AM I RIGHT??? So ridiculously good!! Her son Adam is a perfect quilt model, and the Ragdoll is just the cherry on top of the yummy quilty sundae. 

My lovely client (who through a series of messages and emails, and Instagram has become a friend) Patrina asked if I'd make a cream quilt. My first thought was "CREAM?!?! WTF do I do with cream?!?!". I don't take to change very easily, people! But the more I thought about it, the more I thought I'd love to do something different. Aside from the quilts for my mum and dad, I rarely veer too far from the norm. 

I ended up falling in love with this quilt. Utterly in love. It really started with me choosing the fabrics and seeing them all piled up so prettily. The quietness of the fabrics was just beautiful. I played around with a few ideas of what to do for a pattern, then I thought courthouse steps would be brilliant because you could lump the same fabrics together and make them stand out against the others. I like when my idea works out. 

See? You can actually see the fabrics in their glory. 

The strips on the blocks ended up being 1", and I'd have loved to have made them smaller, but the quilt would've ended up weighing a tonne. But I think the effect is achieved... I'm SO pleased with how this turned out. 

I played around with border ideas for a while and decided to make them even more quiet than the blocks, so I went with Kona solids. I can't remember exactly what they are, but I *think* they're Kona Parchment and Kona Khaki. I think. I need to label things. I know I say that a lot but it doesn't get any less true or any more labelled. Ahem. 

I quilted it in a crosshatch to keep it soft and squishy since the many, many seams made it so heavy already. And then just a straight line in the border so that it stood out against the courthouse steps. 

Seriously, this and the first photo melt my heart. I'm a puddle of mush at this point. I'm going to have her photograph all future quilts we collaborate on because that little man of hers is too damn adorable.

I love this quilt so damn much I ended up planning a courthouse steps quilt for our bed... in some Denyse Schmidt fabrics that I've been hoarding! Sort of like a celebration of the new house! :)

23 comments:

Jo @ life in lists said...

OMG, that is a beautiful quilt! Good to get out of the comfort zone occasionally too. I have grand hopes for a courthouse steps quilt one day.

Laurie said...

This has got to be one of the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen! Well done!!! Its so serene.

Ezgi Onat said...

Wonderful quilt.

Debbie said...

Super lovely! Great choice of pattern for the subtle fabrics, just as you say!

Karen Lewis Textiles said...

i'm not surprised you fell in love with this...I have too! And your idea sure did work!

Lisa said...

I love all your colorful quilts and have a very similar stash of fabric colors as your "norm". I don't have much(any) cream/khaki fabrics....but now I REALLY need to get some. This quilt is beyond beautiful, awesome job!! Can't wait to see your next creation, I enjoy reading your blog so much.
Aloha.

Cindy said...

Beautiful quilt, Audrie! Just love it!!

Phyllis said...

It is lovely! I can understand that at first you were reluctant, but it turned out so well!

Leanne said...

This is just a stunning quilt. So are the photographs. I am putting it on my list, thank you for sharing it.

Deb Cox said...

Oh Audrie, what a lovely confessional and fess up all at the same time! Bravo girl. Your quilt is absolutely incredible. I think one of the loveliest I have seen. You should be very proud of yourself for all the inspiration(s) you have created with this post on your blog. Thank you for that. Enjoy the moment and the accomplishment of this and you!

Christine said...

It is beautiful. I love everything about it.

Kate said...

I live it, such a beautiful quilt!

knit to unwind said...

Beautiful quilt. Good job.

amy said...

Damn, girl. I want that quilt! Beautiful beautiful work and all the more awesome since it's out of your usual color comfort zone. xo amy btw, last time I was in CT I looked for you at the shop.

Poppyprint said...

LOVE IT!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is creamy perfection!

Deb said...

GORGEOUS!!

CitricSugar said...

I love how this turned out... I'm a sucker for neutrals, mostly because of how much individual colours show up when you put them all together.

Rineke said...

Wow! Fabulous!!

tusen said...

It turned out beautifully and the photos are perfect. I've been searching for a pattern for my godmother's quilt and Leanne pointed me to this post. I think it just might be it.

Deanna Pavay said...

Laurie, thank you for bringing this one to my attention! Gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Mesmerizing

The Glass Collector said...

Really striking. Could you tell me what your fabric requirements were? For example, how much of each print made up the diamond (out of two blocks). Many thanks.

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