quilting

Harmony

May 1, 2024

Harmony is this quarter’s prompt for The Endeavourers, an art quilt group I have been a part of for the past few years. I pondered this prompt. I thought about harmony in nature, and in music. I thought about the harmony of color. I asked hubs and friends what came to mind with the word harmony. I had ideas, but nothing that really clicked.

I had this quilt panel that I wasn’t too in love with. I asked a few quilty friends if they would like it – none of them wanted it either.

A thought came to mind as I studied this panel. Could I take something in harmony, out of harmony, and put it back into harmony in a new way? Hmm. A fun idea to explore.

There was cutting involved. Quite a bit of fussy cutting.

I started with large scissors, and ended with small scissors to cut around some of those shapes. Then it was time to attach it to the new background. I considered using the same method as my hummingbird quilt, but didn’t want to mess with the liquid glue. I decided to use a glue stick, which was just as messy, and not easy to use on the small pieces. I pressed on (pun intended), then got to work free motion quilting over the raw edges. I matched the threads so that I could hide the quilting. Here are a few photos; hopefully you can see a little of the quilting.

The background fabric is from a Tula Pink line. For the quilting, I used a light blue thread and just randomly followed the swirls in the background fabric. It was a bit tricky to see where I was going, but it worked out well.

And here is Harmony!

This little quilt measures 20″ x 24″. With the exception of the background fabric and the face fabric, all the rest of the pieces are from the panel. It was really fun to see if I could make this work taking the panel out of harmony and creating something new.

You can see the more challenge pieces at The Endeavourers.

Wendy

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29 Comments

  • Sarah Craig
    May 1, 2024 at 5:26 am Reply

    I actually like the original panel, but like what you did with it even more! Really lovely!

  • texasquiltgal
    May 1, 2024 at 7:18 am Reply

    What a beautiful piece! Your fussy cutting and stitching amaze me, you are such a patient stitcher. Did Wilbs help with this one? I agree with you about a glue stick. Mine is hard to move on fabric and hard to use on small pieces. I have one that “dots” glue that I prefer to use, but it is still messy. You did good!

  • Cocoa Quilts
    May 1, 2024 at 7:41 am Reply

    Wendy you always amaze me with your thinking! And then how you turn your thoughts into some beautiful pieces! Great work!

  • J Mur
    May 1, 2024 at 8:11 am Reply

    Wow! Didn’t anyone tell you that panel quilts are supposed to be EASY, Wendy? You were SEW successful with reimaging this one for the Endeavourers challenge. Kudos to you on having the courage to take this unexpected track with your entry!

  • Cindy Berry
    May 1, 2024 at 9:24 am Reply

    What a great project Wendy! And to salvage a piece you didn’t really like into something beautiful.

  • Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
    May 1, 2024 at 9:28 am Reply

    Great improvement, Wendy!!! You want to know something funny? I have TWO of those panels!?! I don’t know where/who they came from. I can’t imagine I bought them because I don’t care for them, either! Not sure what I’ll do with mine–cut them up, put them on the back of a quilt (might be cruel!?) or put them on the free table at the guild meeting?

  • Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
    May 1, 2024 at 9:33 am Reply

    What a fun challenge, Wendy! I’ve never done much with panels because they just don’t inspire me, but cutting one up and doing something different with it is intriguing. Your final result definitely does have a feel of Harmony to it!

  • Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
    May 1, 2024 at 10:05 am Reply

    Harmony is a challenging prompt! I really like how you unified elements from the panel to seem like a flower from a distance but it is clearly made up of many unique and different things up close. Great response!!

  • TextileRanger
    May 1, 2024 at 10:15 am Reply

    I enjoyed reading about your thought process for this theme. And my favorite thing about visiting your blog, is that you have done so many other projects over the years — I love to just click around and find posts that I have missed, or even ones I have visited but forgotten about. I am always inspired!

  • designsbyheidi
    May 1, 2024 at 2:44 pm Reply

    What a great idea. I like what you created! Oh, I forgot to acknowledge that yes, we BOTH know Bernie. She is a lovely person. I’m happy that she is happy living in WA state now. I really enjoy reading your Newsletter/Blog and learning new things at the same time.

  • Bernie
    May 1, 2024 at 3:41 pm Reply

    Wendy – this is such a great response to the prompt. The panel isn’t to my liking but this quilt sure is. Super results – lots of work went into this, I am sure.

  • laura bruno lilly
    May 1, 2024 at 4:35 pm Reply

    “A thought came to mind as I studied this panel. Could I take something in harmony, out of harmony, and put it back into harmony in a new way? Hmm. A fun idea to explore. ” What a great idea! A variation on a theme of sorts and your idea has sparked some new thoughts for my current music improv & compositions. Thanks, Wendy!

  • Kathleen McCormick
    May 2, 2024 at 9:23 am Reply

    This is such a great piece. I love the cutting apart and reconfiguring it to something you want. It is a stunning piece – an angel or a flower or an angel flower! Great job, Wendy.

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