Sticks and Stones is a quick little improv mini that came to be this week. It always amuses me to see where the blocks lead when I begin working on improv. It all began with these blocks.
I added another block, then let it sit a few days. On Wednesday, I finished my Sunrise Sunset quilt top (more on that in another post), so I thought I’d pull these blocks out and play with them a bit. My idea was to just keep making blocks; I wasn’t planning to sew them together.
Somewhere along the way, I began thinking about sticks and stones. I thought about how the blocks could represent stones of different shapes. I just needed sticks, which could be made from the strip piece on the left.
Going along with that train of thought, I wanted a background that had some noise to it, something a little bit graphic.
Why? Because the old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones . . .” was banging around in my head and I was giving thought to the error of that statement. Words can either heal or hurt. When they hurt, it is painful, and while the pain of sticks and stones eventually eases, the pain of words can be felt for a lifetime. In the chaos and noise of our world today, I can either choose words that will heal or hurt. My words, if I choose them rightly, can build up and encourage and hopefully brighten someone’s day. So this little mini is to remind me of that. See? This quilt was really making me think.
Anyway, let’s get to the quilt itself. This little mini measures 14 inches square. The background fabric is Zen Chic Modern Background Essentials, and Kona solids are used in the blocks.
Once I found the background fabric the blocks all fell into place. The backing fabric is a piece from my stash, an Andover Modern Quilt Studio in gray with words scribbled across it. It was just the right choice for the back — words!
Here’s a closer view.
I used a lime green Aurifil (#1231) to quilt straight lines of three thoughout the quilt at different angles.
I’m happy with the way the green thread worked with the quilt.
Even the little piece of chocolate I nibbled seemed to have a say in the making of this quilt.
So, how about you? Do your quilts talk to you while you are making them? Please tell me I’m not alone (haha)!
2018 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop
Just a quick reminder to visit the Blog Hop, read this week’s posts, and sign up for the giveaway!
Linking up today with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts, Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sherry at Powered by Quilting, April at Janda Bend Quilts and Tish at Tish’s Adventures In Wonderland.
Happy quilting, everyone! Share some encouraging words this weekend!
Wendy
This little quilt is great! You thought it out so well — and I love how you quilted it.
Hi Wendy,
What a fabulous post sharing your whole process. I love how sticks and stones turned out – every bit of it. The lime green quilting is a fun surprise, the words on the backing are PERFECT, and like you said even your chocolate got into the act. This is definitely a meant-to-be project. LOVE it. ~smile~ Roseanne
Such a cute, colorful mini! Every quilt has a story, and this quilt has a big, powerful story for it’s size. Love your quilting, too.
🙂 I see we nibble the same chocolates! can’t have a day without at least one or two. Such a novel way to put that quilt together – I like it !
I am having a cloudy day and this rainbow of a post from you definitely brightened it up. I may have to come back for a second dose this afternoon 🙂
Thanks, Preeti!
Thanks Wendy for sharing your thoughts with us…..I find that improv quilting frees my mind so it can go running with my thoughts.
Me too, Linda! Enjoy your weekend!
I love your rainbow mini quilt! Thanks for sharing your thought process — I’ve never tried improv piecing. Everything I’ve read says it’s really freeing to do. I do like the look of modern quilts.
Thanks! Give improv a try. I really enjoy it!
Oh WOW! This is wonderful Wendy, from conception to symbolism to finish…and the backing – terrific! I love the lime green thread you used to quilt it too, just an allover smile reading through this!
Thank you, Sandra! I love it when my quilt projects surprise me 😊
Your mini Sticks and Stones turned out really well. As you describe the process, it’s amazing how it all fit together with symbolism and the wordy backing, etc. I could see a larger one like this one.
Thanks, Karen!
I love what this quilt had to say to you! One of the reasons I follow your blog is that I can sense your kindness. I often notice the warm and supportive comments you leave on other blogs, too. You’re so right that words can be more powerful than sticks and stones, and I love how you took that idea and ran with it in this mini. It’s meaningful AND super cute 🙂
You know that my quilts talk to me, and I talk back to them all the time. So you’re not alone! A bit crazy, but not alone!
Thanks so much, Louise! Love my crazy friends 😜
How great & so nice to read about your creative process!
Great choice of background fabric Wendy and a very nice job with the quilting. Right now I have started working on a quilt that I hope will talk to me as i figure out how I am going to put it together.
Thank you, Lisa!
Oooooooh, I really love this quilt and reading all about it. Sometimes the little creations are the best ones made. Did I mention that I really love this quilt.
Thanks, Rose!
You are so creative Wendy! Your mini quilt is a beautiful statement as are your words. I agree, I heard that saying a lot as a kid and never agreed with it.
I just made some “wonky” mug rugs similar to your blocks. The fabric speaks to me but I’ve been waiting for a quilt project to do so too!
Encouraging words are healing, thank you for yours 😊
Thank you, Abbie!
I really enjoyed seeing those first blocks and then to read how it became a quilt, great fun. I also have some of that writing fabric you used as backing. I’m using in a ‘signatures’ quilt I hope to complete really soon (only 2 borders to finish quilting). Thanks so much for sharing this.
Thank you, Lynn! I hope to get to see your signatures quilt!
I love your mini and the thought behind it! 🙂
Thank you, Izzy! It’s a special one!
This is so inspiring and I love the thoughts that went into it. Great use of some of those gorgeous snippets.
Thank you!
You really had your thinking hat on, it is so fun! So right about words hurting for a lifetime.
Thanjs, Vicki!
THIS IS AMAZING! Knowing just how much improv hurts my brain… I LOVE this!!! <3
Thank you, Sherry!
My quilts talk to me quite a bit…it’s the ones that are quiet that I question the most 🙂 Wendy, this is awesome from the quilt to your whole quilting process.
Thank you, Tish! Yes, those quiet ones are worrisome!
Thank you, Tish!
Such a fun mini, you are so multitalented Wendy, I never know what you will comeupwith next.
Aw, thanks, Kate!
It’s fabulous! I love the improv piecing, it’s so gorgeous!
Thank you, Liz!
Thank you, Liz! I love the improv process!