Mod Peels? Are you curious yet? Today is my day on the Art with Fabric Blog Hop, hosted by Alida at tweloquilting.blogspot.com.
This is my second time participating in this fun blog hop. Each time, Alida gives a prompt to get us thinking about how to reinterpret “traditional” art into a quilted piece. Go to her link to hear a bit more about what she has to say, and to see the full schedule for the hop, which started on Monday.
The traditional art style I used as inspiration is Mid Century Modern. I kept seeing this style popping up on my Pinterest feed. Here’s the link to my board where you’ll see several pins that influenced my quilt design. (Note: not all pins are Mid Century Modern)
The prompt Alida gave us was our favorite color. For those of you who have been following me, you know I love orange. So you’ll see some pops of orange in my quilt.
My Mod Squad
I used Kona solids for the quilt: Silver (background), Orange, Jade Green, Grass Green, Banana, and Cerise. Aurifil Dove in 50 wt (not 40 wt, as in the photo) for the piecing and quilting on the background and Black in 40 wt for the quilting in the peels. A scrap piece of batting was used for the quilt. The orange peels were made using the Impressions Quilting Templates from It’s Sew Emma, which had come in a Sew Sampler box.
The first step was to make the quilt sandwich and get it quilted. The applique would come later. I did a practice piece first like a good girl, in orange, of course!
Once I felt comfortable with the mod spiraled squares design, I switched to the Dove thread and got to work.
Note that I used my walking foot. It went well and I found it fairly relaxing.
Once the quilting was done, I made the orange peels in varying sizes. I used the fusible interfacing method, which you can see in this Missouri Star video.
Then it was time to lay out and fuse the peels to the quilt.
Auditioning the Quilting for the Applique
Once that was done, I drew out the quilting design on a photograph of the quilt, so I could see how it would look as well as have a pattern to follow when I started the quilting. I actually drew out three patterns, then combined them to come up with this one.
Time to begin the quilting, using the Aurifil black 40 wt thread. The thread worked just as I had hoped it would.
I drew the designs onto the quilt very lightly using a white chalk pencil and light pencil (on the gray background).
The last step was to finish the quilt with a facing.
I like the nice clean edge it gives the finished quilt.
Nothing left but to hang it on my wall!
The quilt measures 11-1/2 inches by 30 inches.
My thanks to Alida for hosting another fun blog hop! Here are the rest of the bloggers posting today. Please stop over, take a look at their projects, and say hi!
- Bea: http://www.beaquilter.com/
- Irene: http://Irene.grimes.wordpress.
com - Wendy: http://www.piecefulthoughts.
com/ - Judith: http://www.frimart.ch/
Have you made a quilt inspired by a piece of art or an artist? Tell me about it! I’m always looking for inspiration!
Wendy
Beautiful! I love the colors and the three dimensional flowers.
Thank you, Eileen!
This is so cool. I am going to do this (or something very similar to this) very soon. It’s so pretty and such a fun take on orange peels.
Oh I hope you do! Can’t wait to see it 😊
Wendy, your wall hanging is beautiful! I especially enjoyed reading your process — well done!! You constantly inspire me 🙂
Aw, thank you, Karla!
Very cool and mod, Wendy! The black thread quilting reminds me of crewel work I used to see from that era. You really captured the vibe with the shapes and colors!
Thanks, Louise! It was fun to create!
Oh for cool!!! Very inventive, Wendy!!! Love how you shared your entire process. Great job on the quilting! And how neat, to add the black lines with doubled over stitching in black!!! Plus, I love the inspiration you pinned on your Pinterest board.
Thanks! I was glad the black stitching worked!
I love what you have done. What a great way to use the orange peel pattern. The finished wall hanging looks fantastic!
Thank you! It’s looking good on my wall!
OMG for sure you didn’t disappoint!! I love it and I want one! I thought it looked pretty cool without the quilting and then I scrolled down and had to wipe the drool off my keyboard, LOL So what did you think of adding the applique after quilting? And btw the quilting is great too:)
Adding the appliqué after the quilting is so much easier! Thanks for the tip!
Absolutely beautiful!! I really love the inspiration and the way you used every step of the process to add more creativity and character… from the color selection, to the quilting design, to the arrangement of the shapes to the final thread sketching… absolutely fantastic!! Thanks for being part of the blog hop!!!
Thank you, Alida, and thanks for hosting such a fun Hop!
Wendy that is beautiful. The black lines really finish this piece. I love the wood hanger as well.
Thanks, Jan! The hanger was made by my brother 😊
“Like a good girl” you created a wonderful project for the QAL-I love this so much-makes me want to finally try some other machine quilting styles. I’m smiling!
Thanks, Rose! I have to be good now and then 😉
beautiful piece love this art piece
Thank you, Karen!
What a wonderful conversation piece for your wall, will bring color and happiness to any room.
Thank you, Barbara! I do like it hanging on my wall!
I love this! It turned out great!
Thanks, Sherry!
Oh, what a fun little quilt! I’ve done a similar quilting design on a small quilt I made a while back. It’s harder than it looks.
Thanks, Barbara! Yes, it is a bit challenging, but I sure enjoyed it!
What a great retro-looking art quilt! Fabulous!
Thank you, Anita!
Wow, just wow–thanks so much for a different take on the orange peel template–absolutely love your finished project
Thank you! It was a fun way to use the templates 😊
That is really neat! I enjoyed going to your Pinterest board to see what inspired you. That quilting design fascinated me – did you do it with your walking foot? I also made something with a faced binding this week – it was interesting to try something new!
Thanks, Diann! Yes, I did the spiral square with my walking foot.
You nailed it on the mid-century modern vibe – very, very nice!
Thank you, Tami ☺️
Wonderful, Wendy! It was fascinating to see how the quilt came to life during its creation. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Sandra!
Wendy, I love the variety of quilts you create. Your style is eclectic and it makes things so interesting! I really like this piece – it has a strong retro feel to it which I love. The dark quilting on the orange peels is perfect! Very nice! Heading over to lose myself browsing your Pinterest feed! see ya!
Thank you, Bernie! I definitely have an eclectic style! 😊
Great interpretation Wendy, lovely to read about the process of making this quilt too.
Thank you!
WENDY!!! I am so very behind on reading posts, but look at you!!! I just love the geometrical quilting pattern – one of my favorites to do with or without a walking foot. And then the embellishments!!!!! You just go, girl. This looks fabulous. I know you were nervous but you did it. Happy Happy FRIDAY! ~smile~ Roseanne
Aw, thanks, Roseanne! I’m pretty happy with it. The quilting on the background was pretty fun 😊
Hi Wendy!
And welcome to The Endeavourers! I’m Maureen from Josephina Ballerina. Your orange peel quilt has taken me right back to the art of the late 50s and early 60s. The crisscross quilting on the blue and yellow peels reminds me of the Sputnick-inspired designs that were around then. Fun and happy!
: ) Maureen & Josephina Ballerina (the cat)
Thank you, Maureen, I’m excited to meet the rest of the group! Glad you like my quilt 😊
This is a lovely piece.
Thank you, Nancy!
As I said before, I just love this. I spent time in Palm Springs a few years ago and it is all over the place. I just love the feel, the quilting on the applique as well as the quilting on the piece.
Thanks, Kathleen! I really enjoyed making this one. 😊
Hi Wendy, what an amazing piece! It would seem that I also like Mid Century Modern. I had no idea 🙂
Thanks, Andree! 😊
Very nice piece… I definitely think you were successful in the “mid century modern” theme. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! 😊
This is awesome Wendy. I really like the background quilting and the lines on the applique pieces which are true to the period. The colours you used , are as well. Very well done.
Thank you, Lisa!
Wendy, I love this so much! It looks like Calder to me in such wonderful ways.
Thanks, Emily, I see what you mean 😊
Awesome project!
Thank you!
Wonderful piece Wendy. Thank you for explaining the process of making this. I was surprised that you did the quilting with your walking foot! And I like how you quilted the peels. I saw leaves and now they make me think of flowers or buds!
Thanks, Sandra! I love my walking foot, and find excuses to use it. 😊
This looks so awesome that I have no smarty pants words for you. You win this round, Wendy. Hats off to you!!!
I love this retro mod quilt. Just my style. The quilting design is perfect for it, as is the facing for binding. Very modern and crisp.
Thank you!
I love this. You really have captured that mis century feel and it looks great. ThanK you for sharing all the details about how you made it et
You’re welcome, Janine!