This quilt has been rumbling around in my head for a year and a half, since my DS Ryan married his love of many years, Kim. We all went on a cruise in the summer of 2013 and then they got married on the beach at Cocoa Beach.
First, Ryan and Kim got to pick the colors, and then I showed them lots of pictures for style. The quilt was loosely based on the pattern for a baby quilt called Flowers in the Sunshine by Sweet Jane on Etsy. But we wanted a larger quilt, so essentially I began collecting fabric by quadrupling the size and fabric requirements. Sometimes collecting fabric for a project is hard to stop, so I ended up with lots to chose from. :-)
As I started the piecing process, I realized I wanted large motifs in the quilt, so worked out a plan to have four; a seahorse, a starfish, an anchor and a dolphin.
But I couldn`t leave out the octopus which was the featured character in Saltwater. So, he got pride of place as the large central motif. For the octopus image, I traced the octo from Tula’s line, then kept enlarging and simplifying it (knowing I was going to have to stitch down every tentacle).
The other images I just pulled from the internet or my imagination and then enlarged. All fabrics were backed with a fusible onto which I drew the pattern in reverse, then cut out. They were fused to the white fabric and then stitched down before being pieced into the quilt.
I was waiting for a sunny day to get outside to take pictures, and once I got out, I kicked myself for not taking pictures when it was cloudy with more diffused light. So, these will need to be retaken.
After finishing, there was a lot of time spent snipping threads so they would not show through the white. And then it was off to be quilted (by Quilted Works in St. George, UT). I love the swirls they did - reminds me of ocean water and looks especially nice with the backing print, Sea Debris from Saltwater. The binding is scrappy leftovers.
Quilt Stats:
Finished Size: 86 x 78”
Fabric: Saltwater by Tula Pink (with bits of Les Amis, Luxe in Bloom and others)
Backing: Sea Debris, Saltwater
Batting: Hobbs 80/20
Easton, Kim, Ryan, Lauren
Although it’s been a year and a half since the wedding, (and over 8 years that they’ve been together as a family) this is the first wedding picture I have posted.
I’m linking up to Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts
11 comments:
There must be something in the air about making quilts for our children! My #2 son and daughter-in-love have requested that 'mom' make them a king-sized (!!) quilt in tones of white. I'm (gulp) not a 'sane' quilter, so it's a daunting prospect!
visiting from crazy mum quilts. Love love the quilt. Great wedding photo
What a beautiful quilt! Lovely.
Very cool quilt, I love all the applique sea animals.
What a lovely keepsake Cathy. Beautifully done!!
Totally gorgeous! So nice that you have such lovely memories attached to it.
Hi Cathy! Whitney from Loop, Swoop, & Sew. LOVE the quilt!! I can tell how much time and thought you put into it. Love the colors. I've always liked Saltwater, but don't have any because that was a bit before my quilting days. That applique octopus is to DIE for. SO cool! I'm sure your family will cherish it for years to come.
Oh it's gorgeous! Love the octopus
Oh, Cathy! How perfect is that for a quilt to memorialize a beach wedding! I love the motifs. It was definitely a quilt worth waiting for!
Popping in from the festival to praise your quilt - its just wonderful! I love the combination of your applique and the design and those colors are so soothing and just perfect. They must be tickled to pieces!
I love this! The combination of the piecing with the big applique blocks is just beautiful. You created some awesome motifs!
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