
For the spring 2019 challenge, Christopher Thompson, both an MQG member and fabric designer for Riley Blake Designs, chose four featured fabrics. It included Shades Robin, 1/8” Stripe Denim and/or Navy, Blossom Baby Pink and Blossom on White Navy. Participants were required to use these fabrics as well as any other Riley Blake Designs fabrics to construct a quilted project.
I had an inkling before I saw the fabrics that I wanted to do a curved piecing project. I love curves and never use them enough in my projects! As soon as I saw the fabrics selected, a very soft palette, I knew exactly how my project would come together.
I wanted to create multiple dimensions with my piece. There would be several circular movements acting as a guide. I also knew that the only other color I’d introduce to the project was white. I used Confetti Cottons in Riley White for the background and backing on the project. I wanted to keep that soft, cozy feel to the project.
I utilized the fabrics in various dimensions to construct a compass. Each piece played a role in developing the story. The pink fabric serves as the compass point. The outer blue and white striped piece, in the upper left corner of the quilt, serves as a guide. I also thought of it as a bumper you might see at a bowling alley, placed in the gutter, to assist bowlers in keeping their ball on track to hit the pins. This served as a metaphor for my life and a meaning behind many of my quilts. Life throws you off course every day. As an orienteer, I’ve learned to stop, take a bearing, course correct and move forward to the next checkpoint. That bumper is a reminder that you may step off course, get lost, lose your way, feel defeated, but somewhere along your path, something/someone will help you get back on track.
This is how I named my piece – it’s called Guide.
And this piece placed 3rd in this national competition!
[Insert so many emotions here. Shocked and humbled top the list.]
It will be displayed at the Riley Blake Designs Garden of Quilts event from September 12-14. Held at Thanksgiving Point, the exhibition will have over 1,000 quilts, including the top 3 winners and other finalists of this competition.
If you happen to be at this event, I would LOVE to see a picture of my quilt hanging! Feel free to message me on Instagram (I’m @maeberrysquare) if you see it :)
So there’s one more important point I want to share about this quilt. I quilted it myself. It’s not perfect. It’s not even intermediate. It’s very beginner. I have struggled with quilting because I haven’t studied it enough to really nail it. I worked very hard on this quilting as it plays a key role in the meaning. In fact, I was going about it all wrong, and about 15 rows in, I called it quits. My husband talked me off that ledge, I spent an hour ripping out seams, ironing it smooth and starting over. And my perspective: I nailed it. It’s not perfect, but it’s perfectly representative of the quilt and me. I hope you enjoy!
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