December 05, 2010

The Golden Goose

A few weeks ago I was pretty certain that I wouldn't make the deadline for Project Modern's Inspiration Challenge. But it all came together, thanks to the long weekend. (I feel a little strange posting this since there seems to be such radio silence about Project Modern but I saw a comment on the above link saying that it's ok to blog about it!)

I'll start by telling you a story of how I took my toddler into Anthropologie during our Milwaukee trip. Hubby had to make a call into work so we entertained ourselves by browsing the stores. Anthropologie's clothes are out of my price range, but I always find that the pieces they carry are unique and inspiring. Unfortunately, in addition to clothes, this store also sold lots of little breakable things. Things like candle-holders, that were stored at toddler height. I thought I had my little toddler under control until one of those candle-holders was on the floor in pieces. I sheepishly brought the shards to a saleswoman, who was dismissive about my offer to pay for it. "Don't worry, it's just breakage" she shrugged. Still, I felt compelled to make a guilt purchase and so I carried Destructo around the store a bit looking for something small. A tin of garden-themed postcards fit the bill and we paid for them while entertaining the other shoppers in line with us.

Now I know you will think I'm silly for making that guilt purchase, and I completely agree. But, if I hadn't gone to the cash register, then I wouldn't have seen this on my way out.


Are you thinking what I thought? Is it something like "GEESE! What a cool thing to do with geese!"? Of course it is, because we're quilters and you can't turn that off even if you just paid $10 for some postcards. I took a picture with my phone and we hurried off to torment other shops.

I thought for a long time about how to get some slightly irregular geese into this arrangement with the least amount of work. There were lots of crayons involved. And daydreaming of owning quilt design software. And what I came up with was not a goose at all.  It was on-point squares with a triangle in each corner. So simple! So doable!


Six rows of that became...the Golden Goose.



It is 53 by 58 inches. I am quite happy with it. I like the way the geese sometimes overlap and other times "float".


The yellow is Kona "banana" and I know that because I made a couple cutting errors and needed to go find more. In normal circumstances I would have just used another yellow but I really really wanted the on-point construction to be sort of a "secret", not to hit you over the head right away. I quilted it with free form vertical wiggles, to mask the diagonal construction a bit too.


The back uses some scraps and this big piece of strange fabric from "Blank Textiles" that I bought two years ago. There wasn't a designer listed on the selvage (I checked! That's a first!).


I gave it a stripey binding, which seems to be the only kind of binding I can contemplate at this point in my life. I wonder what I'll think of all my striped bindings ten years from now?


So there it is. The Golden Goose. My second quilt finished quilt of 2010. I had thought this would be a baby quilt for my little niece due in two weeks, but then I remembered my sister hates red (say what?) and uh.... there's a lot of red up there. So maybe I'll sneak in a third quilt under the wire before 2011. Deadlines are good for people like me.

18 comments:

Lucky Duck Dreams said...

I love this! Inspiration is everywhere! Im adding this to my stash buster quilt list for 2011! Thanks for sharing!

C said...

This quilt is really pretty - I love what you did with the back too.

Dora, the Quilter said...
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Dora, the Quilter said...

I love your Golden Goose Quilt. It's fun to look at and allows wonderful space for pretty quilting!

Suzanne said...

It reminds me of flags blowing in the wind. I love it!

NorahS said...

It's gorgeous! I love the yellow and I love the inspiration story. Fun times!

Karmen said...

Great story and great quilt! Karmen

Sarah Craig said...

That is a beautiful quilt! Great interpretation of the inspiration!!

edeenut said...
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edeenut said...

This quilt turned out so nice and it looks great with the wavy quilting. I love how you found your inspiration.

SewHappyGeek said...

Your quilt is really beautiful! I seriously love your blog- the free motion help is much appreciated! Wish I had stumbled over here earlier; would have done the quilt along! really awesome stitching!!! (I just started quilting so am...bumbling along?!) Thanks so much!

Eat Sleep Quilt said...

Christina, how clever! I love your design - it's definitely a doable!

Linda
http://eatsleepquilt.blogspot.com/

Rachaeldaisy said...

It's amazing where and when inspiration hits sometimes. I love that you followed through and made your stunning quilt. And what a perfect name!!

Kim said...

I just got finished reading about your Grandfather's quilt....I'm married to an electrical engineer that is a new grandpa and I think my husband would melt if he ever got a gift like the quilt you made......he's a big marshmallow too.
What a lovely gift....what year did you make it?

Happy sewing,

Helen in the UK said...

Love your Golden Goose quilt and the story that accompanied it!! How clever to come up with the construction method you did, much easier than flying geese and not obvious how it was one on first look :)

June Calender said...

I read a lot of blogs and quilt magazines and it seems like they're getting more and more complex and "technical". It is wonderfully refreshing to see this quilt in it's simplicity and sense of lightness and fun. I'll keep it in mind and possibly make one like it.

teaginny said...

The construction of this quilt is genius! Love the idea!

Jeanie Dreyer said...

This is such a creative way to make a "scrappy" quilt. I can't wait to try it. Thank you for sharing it.

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