Sunday, March 4, 2012

Modern Mini Challenge - Complete!

I'm always up for a challenge!  Especially if it's fabric related.  I am a very devoted blog hopper and happened upon this blog some time ago.  Every couple of months I start again at the beginning of the list (there are only around 200 or so ;o) and just wander down the list till it's time to start again.  It's so inspiring to see what all the blogger folks are up to and I just love finding new blogs, I mean... things to make, a new technique to try... you name it, I love it all. 
A couple weeks ago I was checking in on Ellison Lane Quilts again and noticed there was a challenge to make a modern miniature quilt.  I have been wanting to make another tree quilt using a pattern for Lilly Pilly by Australian designer Kellie Wulfsohn/Don't Look Now.  I already made one regular size for my mom's 60th birthday and had all of her friends attending her surprise party sign a leaf.  It turned out very neat.  So... for the last year and a half I wanted to make one for myself.  I decided to reduce it to half size and had the pattern reduced and ready to go when I came across the Modern Mini Challenge.  I decided to kick it into gear and give myself a deadline to get it done!  Of course, the Flea Market Fancy FQ's were a wonderful incentive as well.  After some careful planning and discussion with my Robert Kaufman classic and bright charm squares, I knew what color all 148 leaves wanted to be.  There are 74 colors.
The quilting inspiration came along just a few days ago when I was on yet another blog.  The leafy branches really fit with the leaves of the tree.  I practiced it with paper and pen and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I used pebble quilting in and around the colored leaves and still need some practice on that... it's very "organic". 

So here is my Modern Mini Challenge entry...
Rainbow Tree
18.5" x 30"
74 Kona Colored leaves raw edge appliqued under white tulle
on Kona White background with Kona Black binding.







27 comments:

  1. Really like this one! Simple but cute and colorful! I love rainbow colors!!

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  2. I'm a big fan of Kellie's work! I love your take on it; gorgeous! And your quilting is fantastic too. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

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  3. It's beautiful! Can't wait to see it in person.

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  4. Just lovely - sweet design & executed so well!

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  5. This is so beautiful! I love the little birds in the branches!

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  6. Very beautiful! The tulle looks like a very interesting technique . . . is that to add stability to the pieces? or just for effect?

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    1. The tulle is to help the raw edges of the tiny leaves and skinny branches to not fray. On the larger one I did I sewed around the inside edge of each 148 leaves and the tree also. Because these were smaller leaves (each is the size of a fingerprint) I didn't want to ruin the crisp look of the leaves. I do like the little sparkle the tulle gives it too, but that is harder to see in the pics. Thank you for your nice comments.
      ~Ann

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  7. This is so pretty! Amazing piece of work.

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  8. I love it, Ann... Is this made from the fabric you dyed?... Also the girl scout in me thinks there might be 100 leaves in it :) Very cool!

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  9. I love love love this. So beautiful. The birds are just perfectly hidden in there.

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  10. I was just thinking about making a mini with a tree on it for my son, and then I found this post through Jennifer's challenge page. Great job! I love the colors you chose :)

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  11. I popped over here from Ellison Lane...LOVE this!Absolutely stunning!!

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  12. This is beautiful - I love the birds!

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  13. Absolutely gorgeous! The little birds and leaves are too cute!

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  14. WoW!! What a beautiful tree. Love your mini! Just an Awesome job.

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  15. wow - this is spectacular. i've never heard of using tulle over it, but that makes a lot of sense!!

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  16. This is my favorite and just exquisite. Well done you!!

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  17. Thank you all for your lovely comments. I didn't make the finalist list for the challenge, but my two favs did! I just voted. I'm happy to have completed a project I have wanted to get to for quite some time. This challenge is just what I needed to get a move on.

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  18. This is seriously one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. Just gorgeous!!! Some day I hope I can do something like this.

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