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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Quilty Pleasures Wednesday-Unplanned Community, A Freddy and Gwen Inspired Quilt

Today it's a guest post by sis-in-law Pattie, quilter extraordinaire, the person who inspired me to start quilting. A couple years ago we went to an Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar, California, for a class with Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran.  I'll let Pattie tell you the rest of the story:

 This quilt is a product of a Gwen Marston-Freddy Moran collaborative quilting class I took 2 1/2 years ago.  My quilting history has always been as a traditional and conventional "interpreter" of quilt design...i.e. I just copied a pattern and added my own fabrics, usually civil war or other 1800 repos.

Taking a Marston-Moran liberated quilting class was a huge step out of the box for me, so huge, it took me 2 years to complete the project.  Deciding on what 'parts' to use and how to arrange them without any absolute design threw me into creative anarchy: Anything goes....nothing is wrong...everything matches...there are no wrong choices....all colors and fabrics go together...the more the merrier.  There was only one rule: use some black and white to rest the eye once in a while.


In truth, I didn't feel very "liberated."  I felt like I had to make decisions based on my preference,  but what was my preference?  How do you build a quilt without dictated shapes, sizes, borders, measurements?

I had a plethora of block designs from Freddy and Gwen to choose from...houses, wonky stars, trees, pinwheels, four patches and even some really cute chickens!   I loved them all!  No fabric was left out; everything went together!


 Each time I sat down to sew I experienced a mixture of frustration and angst combined with manic euphoria. Over the course of 2 years I tenaciously struggled with my new found "liberation" and finally completed my "Unplanned Community," called that because there are lots of houses:) and because the only 'rhyme or reason' was mine.

That's the back of the quilt



10 comments:

  1. What an inspiring quilt. You've really got the liberation now! I just love how you've put all the pieces together. The fabrics you've used are so bright and fun. I could look at this for hours. Lucky you getting to snuggle under it.

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  2. OMG!!! That is so beautiful. I would never get tired of looking at it. June

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  3. Can I have this Mom since my life seems "unplanned" lately ;-) Great quilt!! I love all your work =) Now, can I pretty please have it??

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  4. no, darling....you may not have this quilt while i'm still alive;=/ and as far as 'unplanned' things go...this quilt and you are good examples of the rewards of living an unbridled and liberated life...woo hoo! not too shabby...

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  5. Beautiful quilt. An inspiration to me. Thank you.

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  6. Awesome quilt, perfectly described quilt story filled with so many colorful emotions and stories. It was worth all two years of your hard work as it is absolutely gorgeous, Pattie!!!

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  7. Totally inspirational quilt, and as a parent of 5, 22 to 35 yr old kids, I love the response to the Billings family. If only my quilting were as cool as my kids! But of course, I had more practice with them, so maybe there is still hope. Wonderful, wonderful quilt and I love the discussion of the process. Sue in mid-MI

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  8. You've made a wonderful quilt with an inspiring story to go with it. I understand your "angst" that occurred when you chose blocks, fabrics and stitched them together. Liberated quiltmaking can be tough at times, but very rewarding. Congratulations on a great finish.

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  9. That is really really pretty. I just love it!

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  10. I LOVE this quilt. What an amazing job.

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