Beauty Shots

 

I finally got outside to take some long overdue beauty shots of a couple of quilts. This is Nonchalant. Everyone who sees it loves it, and I agree. There's a lot to like. It's something anyone can make. It's just bright prints on a white background alternating with White on White blocks. This one has spectacular quilting also.

This is Blitzen, a Christmas themed Macnas quilt that LOOKS simple, but really isn't. The colors repeat in a very specific pattern, each print is kept right side up throughout the quilt (no upside down trees) and the values are very precisely placed. It's a Christmas themed quilt, but I didn't want to knock you over the head with it.

It was my pal Julie who long ago inspired me to make pieced backings for my quilts using leftover blocks and fabrics. The leftover blocks in this quilt are often prints that didn't work on the front surrounding a Christmas themed pre-printed panel. While I was arranging the quilt to take this photo a pinecone dropped on the quilt. It seemed appropriate so I left it there!

The gate to the community garden in my neighborhood is a great place to display a quilt. It was cloudy the day I took this quilt out for beauty shots, but it seems perfect for the mood of this quilt.

I showed this photo the other day, but it's just so pretty I had to show it again.

These are Macnas quilts, inspired by my pal Julie Sefton. She and I have each made about a dozen of these. I still have four that have yet to be quilted. Nothing really special about these - start with blocks that are 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" and have some fun.

Blitzen is Finished

I finished sewing the binding on the Blitzen quilt. I was streaming some tv cooking competition while I sewed.

Here it is on the couch. 

When I brought it to Janet-Lee to be quilted I said, "This is a very simple quilt." She gave me THE LOOK. "What," I asked? "Lynne, this is NOT a simple quilt. It is a very elegant and sophisticated quilt."

So I said the only thing I could say. I said "Oh-kay."

I love it. I love that it's a Christmas quilt that doesn't hit you over the head with it being a Christmas quilt.

Binding Blitzen

 

For the Blitzen quilt, I am alternating holiday fabrics in gold and silver.

I’ve sewn it all around the four sides of the quilt, now I just have to fold it over to the front and pin it all round. 

Quilt PickUp

 

I drove out to Janet-Lee's and picked up Blitzen, the Christmas Macnas quilt, and Nonchalant, the white one, which had been quilted. They are quite glorious.

What I like about the Blitzen quilt is that it's a Christmas quilt, but it doesn't hit you over the head with the idea of it being Christmas. And for me, Christmas colors are red, green, gold and white, which is why those are the only colors I used in the quilt.

The Nonchalant quilt is one of my favorite quilts. It's ridiculously simple and yet stupidly gorgeous.

I love the quilting design. True and funny story: When I first started getting my quilts quilted, I did not like closely quilted designs. My pal Julie told me I might be wrong about that. Over the years I have changed my mind and once again, dear Julie, you have proven correct. When I tell you all that Julie and I influence each other, I am not joking. I have met the most wonderful friends through blogging.

I am probably going to make another one of these. This quilt will fit anywhere, and everyone who sees it falls in love with it.

The Macnas series, which was Julie's inspiration, proves that a simple shape, with its basic repetition, can be more than a "scrap" quilt - it can be elegant and sophisticated  - as both the quilts above show.

Blitzen

 The Christmas Macnas quilt is a finished flimsy. I've decided to call it BLITZEN.

Merry Christmas!