Luminous Layers Quilts
I have two Luminous Layers quilts to show you today. Tomorrow is the day Sandra of mmmQuilts has set for the parade, because it marks the birthday of a very special Canadian, someone who was a giant star in her universe and is deeply missed. So we celebrate by sharing our quilts of Luminous Layers of stars.
Thankfully, Sandra was kind enough to allow us to share just the quilt top, or flimsy, for the parade. My quilt top has been done for a few weeks, which allowed me time to get it quilted. However, I could not settle on a quilting design, and I think I have decided that it will go to my longarm friend, Connie, who can make it look so much better than I can. So here is my quilt top. I made the baby quilt version.
I’m very happy with this quilt, and delighted that I managed to make it using fabrics I had on hand. The backing fabric I’m using was from my stash as well. You can see that, and read more about my quilt in this post.
For those of you who have been reading my posts for awhile, you know that every now and then my friend, Eva, quilts along with us if she has the time. Eva does not have a blog and is not on social media, so I show her quilt photos when we sew the same patterns. When she saw the Luminous Layers quilt, she knew she wanted to make it, so she got to work. Eva also made the baby size version. Here is her quilt top.
Rather than pull all her fabrics at once, Eva started by making those brilliant inner stars (aren’t they pretty?) then chose fabrics from her stash that worked well with those stars. She works with a limited fabric stash, and prefers to use what she has rather than buy more fabric. I’m always amazed at what she creates – she has a good sense of what fabrics work well together. Here’s a close up of those center stars. I like all the scrappy purple!
Eva will use this quilt top as the back for her Stay at Home Round Robin quilt, which you can see here. This quilt will be gifted to a friend who likes elephants, which is the theme of her SAHRR quilt, so Eva thought the Luminous Layers quilt will work well as a backing. It makes me think of the sunsets of Africa that I’ve seen in photos, and the twinkling stars, too. Eva really wanted to have the quilt finished to show you, but she had to order batting and it has not arrived. So the quilt top will have to do.
She also wanted to share that she enjoyed Sandra’s pattern. English is not Eva’s natural language, so it is a challenge at times for her to understand quilt instructions. Sandra’s instructions were simple enough for her to follow, and Eva found the coloring page very helpful. She learned that using contrast really helps those stars shine!
Thank you, Sandra, for another fun quilt along, and for another fun pattern to add to our stash. Both Eva and I are wishing you a day of fond memories of that very special Canadian!
Wendy
A Day to Play
25 Comments
Vicki in MN
Both of you have made a very pretty quilt. I love the brightness of your quilt Wendy. And The purple stars in Eva’s really caught my eye.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Nice quilt tops, Wendy and Eva!!! Love the animal prints on yours, Wendy, and that bright gold star in the middle of Eva’s!!!
Kate
Both versions turned out beautifully! How fun that Eva planned ahead and now will have a two sided quilt.
texasquiltgal
Beautiful job, both of you! Love your colors, especially that bright pop of Grunge (?) and those little animals! Eva’s quilt almost glows, and how clever of her to use it as a back for her SAHRR.
karenfae
I love all of them! I have seen several working on this quilt and with the various colors they all look a bit different.
laura bruno lilly
Eva: the setting of your ‘baby’ quilt top is what really draws me in to look more deeply into its construction. It inspires me to try that type of setting – with the incomplete star as a finished edge – in future blocks of my own. Brava!
Wendy: yours is such fun for one lucky baby. Thank you for keeping us informed on your friend Eva’s projects, too!
marissthequilter
Both quilt tops are indeed luminous. Well done Wendy and Eva. It is fascinating to see how they shine in different ways because of the fabric choices
eva
Dear Mariss, love to see your comment. I never saw darker sky and stars sparkling than in SA. And you know it is for the african SAHRR 2023 … so no question that I loved this SAL. Thank you – greetings to SA!
marissthequilter
Dear Eva. Thank you for the greetings. You are right about the spectacular African night skies
rmgsummers413a14ca5a
Both you and Eva have created beautiful quilts. A great idea to use this as part of the back to another quilt. What could be better than having a reversible quilt!! Thank you for sharing both quilts.
Eva
Hi there, thank you very much for compliment. Yes, I love to give this star a try – i do not know how perfect i could do the little ones and thought for the back they will be ok. And I will put the star a little bit wonky on the back so it will work very well (hopefully), running out of fabric I have to improve a little bit more again… it must be a little bit bigger than now.
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Both quilts have a beautiful sparkle to them!
Eva
Hallo Yvonne, thanks for this nice comment. Follow your work on your blog as well and it is always so nice to see here often the same people or “circle of friends”. :-)))
have a good summer
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
I just love the animal print you used in the large background area, and the way you pulled your coordinating colors from it, Wendy! Eva’s purple stars are really fun – they glow! You both have made wonderful version of Luminous Layers!
Eva
Diann, thank you so much for your compliment :-))
Sandra Walker
Well, I must say, Wendy, after the first paragraph I was a bit emotional, and by the last one, got tears… Yes, I miss my Dad a lot, even though he’s been gone now 16 years. That just doesn’t seem possible. But also because of what you wrote about the design and the instructions and colouring page for Eva. I am SWOONING over her centre, colours-wise but also scraps-wise!! Also very cool how she flowed into a different colour palette. As you know from your previous post on your own quilt, I just love your baby quilt, the theme, the colours, such a happy baby quilt that I know Connie will bring alive even more. Cannot wait to see what she does. Thank you for sewing along with me yet again for another QAL; it means so much to me that several of you come back every year. 🙂
Eva
Sandra, we have more in common than only the love for quilting. When I see what the background was for the timing, I had a moment with tears as well. My dad is gone 13 years now and I think .. and I am 100% sure, your special canadien met my Dad and they sit on a cloud look at their girls and think, they have a wonderful hobby and this brings them together. Do you know what I try to say? So far away and so much in common.
Thank you so much for liking my work and it’s highly appreciated.
And yes, Wendy’s quilt top is wonderful. Love to sew along next year again with you! Will buy your pattern like I did this year. It was a good invest. Thank you for creating this!
Kathleen McCormick
It is so much fun to see your quilt and Eva’s quilt. Both are so different and that is what is so much fun about the SAL – you see great versions – all unique all gorgeous. I love the idea of Eva’s two sided quilt and can’t wait to see how Connie will quilt yours. I will load mine today, but the quilting plan is elaborate so it may get edited. Does yours have a destination? It is a happy quilt to keep looking at, whether it finds a new home or gets to stay with you for awhile!
Eva
Kathleen, thank you so much for your comment. Yes, I do most of my quilts two sided, often srappy – but in this case with the super star from Sandra.
Tracie
This QAL was another fun one. Two great quilts!
Quilting is in my Blood
Both of these quilts are wonderful, and what an awesome idea Eva had to use her Luminous Layers quilt as a backing for her SAHRR quilt.
tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles
Those are great quilts and they are quite luminous 🙂
The Joyful Quilter
Nice work, you two!!
Cheree Hull
Both quilts turned out so cute; they’re quite different from each other but I love the fabric choices in each. Always love seeing variations!
Anja @ Anja Quilts
Both quilts turned out great. You’re a good friend to share Eva’s quilts.