Octopus's Garden
Octopus's Garden!!
I think taking photos of a finished quilt would have to be one of my favourite parts of the quilt making process. When you have as many unfinished projects as I do a completed quilt is always worth celebrating! It's especially fun when it means going to different locations. Knowing we had an upcoming visit to a beach gave me the motivation to get Octopus's Garden quilted and finished. I couldn't have picked a better location for this quilt, I'm sure there were mermaids watching us from the waves.
It was the day I went to the Kaffe and Brandon class, so we were up early and only had a time window of 45 minutes to get our photos. No time for the weather to clear or the sun to come out. It worked out perfectly though, the moody greys and neutral sandy background really help to set off the colours in the quilt.
Gbf was such a patient quilt holder. He climbed rocks, moved an inch this way or that, and luckily didn't get blown into the water. I was running around saying "Just another quick photo" and "How about over there?".
Meanwhile Mr Seagull is thinking "What are those silly people doing?"
I know I should show close up photos of the hand quilting but there's enough photos in this post so I'll leave it for another day. I still have to sew the label on so I'll have to show that too. The quilting is very understated. I used perle8 threads that matched the colours of the parts I was quilting, leaving the fabrics and pattern to be the features of the quilt.
Octopus's Garden Quilt Stats
Size: 51x 69 inches
Pattern : Emperor's Wheel by Chris Jurd, (I made a few small changes to suit the fabrics I was using)
Fabrics: Tula Pink, bits and pieces from 8 different ranges collected over 5 years!
Quilting: Me. Machine stitched around the blocks, and hand quilting with perle 8 cotton.
Photo Location: Narrabeen, NSW, Australia
More Photos - June 2013
62 Comments
What a great finish for 2014...it's a beautiful quilt...well done!
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me! This is incredible and stunning pictures! The prints and colours look beautiful x
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is AMAZING...amazing, like, make me wish I could sneak over to Australia and gawk at it in person AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous. I so admire your ability to put fabrics together. If I tried that it would end up looking a muddled mess!
ReplyDeleteI adore this quilt, Its just so perfect - the colours, the pattern everything!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful, wonderful quilt Rachael! Such balance of colour and design! I especially love that last shot! You are a talented quilter and a talented photographer!
ReplyDeleteLove that quilt! Your fabric choices are so fun!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful....well done! Great pics too! Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful what an accomplishment!.....I was hoping that it did not fall into the water because it sure looked like it could!
ReplyDeleteGolly Molly! This is a fantastic finish! I really dig the picture fourth from the top. I like the placement of the quilt with negative space on the right. Nice!
ReplyDeleteLove what you do!
Gorgeous quilt and wonderful photographs at the beach! Do hope it didn't get wet... Don't worry about you two - just save the quilt?!
ReplyDeleteHilda
This quilt is stunning! I agree the earthy tones of the sandy beach make the colors sing in the quilt. The fabrics are beautiful together and I can't wait to see close ups of your hand quilting. For sure this is a quilt you should be proud of!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about Chris Jurd but I'm going to look him/her up!
What a stunning quilt you have assembled there! I really adore the colours, they simply sing!
ReplyDeleteYou always have the best pics of your quilts! This one is fabulous! Love how you finished it up. Congrats on a great finish.:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Rachael. Can't wait to see it at the springwood quilt show!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! And what fun you have had photographing it too - although I was holding my breath seeing it balancing on the chain, hoping the wind didn't blow it into the ocean in search of living octopi!
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite ins the last photo.
Magnificent! Love the beautiful fabrics and how well they play together.
ReplyDeleteShe's a real beauty! Lovely colours and playful patterns ... now quick, pick that quilt up out of the sea water puddles!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing finish. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteA stunning stunning quilt! I just love it!! Congrats! Such talent!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have had a great time and the end result is some wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is stunning. So much work!!
It is a wonderful finish!
Narrabeen is a great location for your happy joyful quilt.
ReplyDeleteYea! "Octopus's Garden" is absolutely beautiful, and looks SO good there at the beach. I'll bet it was a fun photo session with your sweetie. The colors and fabrics you chose are really stunning together--large prints and small prints, pastels, jewel tones and a few darks. I always love seeing your creations!
ReplyDeleteWow, you really managed to pack a lot in to one day! I would've been terrified that it would fall off the chain and land in the drink - GBF can fend for himself, lol. And that is a fab quilt, as always. Tula should see it! (can I tweet your post to her?)
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely fantastic!!! I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt,looks fantastic against the rocks and the sea. Is this the one that you are entering in the Springwood Quilt Show? If so I very much look forward to seeing it in the 'flesh'
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilt! I don't like Parisville prints, but on your quilt they look so great! You're a master in making quilts.
ReplyDeleteyour quilt photos are always so gorgeous, as your quilts !
ReplyDeleteThumbs up to the patient GBF :-)
Your 'Octopus Garden' quilt is stunning and your photos breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteStunning, stunning quilt!!! And the perfect location for photos.
ReplyDeletesuch a wonderful quilt - I just love your use of colour and the mix of designs within one quilt :-)
ReplyDeleteOctopus Garden turned out very beautiful Rachael, it certainly shines against the rocks and water !I can't wait to see the quilting up close, I recently tried perle cotton quilting thread, I thought about you when I used it ! :O)
ReplyDeleteJust stunning! I love the pattern and all those glipses of Tula Pink - especially at the Parisville.
ReplyDeleteBeyond amazing. Really gorgeous. Congratulations on the finish!
ReplyDeleteAnother stunning quilt and the pics are brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful finish! This is such a unique and interesting quilt - the fabrics and color combinations are just awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous photo shoot - the beach and rocky cliffs are stunning! I think the low lighting really made the quilt glow.
I'm go glad it didn't blow into the water.
congrats on finishing this winner
What, none under the sea? ;o) Love this, and the beach location :o)
ReplyDeleteBello, bello, bello!
ReplyDeleteImmagini fantastiche!
Utterly utterly gorgeous. I think Im in love. The colours , the shapes, the fabrics. This quilt is perfection as is the photo shoot location .
ReplyDeleteAnother stunning winner from Blue Mountain Daisy! This one definitely need to go into a show somewhere ....
Absolutely perfect! I love the clamshell fabric in the border! It is perfectly balanced....oh so perfect!
ReplyDeleteAn absolute stunner. Amazingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is so beautiful and the fabric just shine. Despite a cloudy day at the beach, the photos of your quilt are stunning. Thanks for your continuous inspiration!
ReplyDeleteAwesome location for your fabulous quilt. Love that your quilt has feet in some photos... LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt! And how cool to have it ready in time for a location shot. I like the dark and moody sky for a backdrop. I am looking forward to seeing the quilting detail.
ReplyDeleteI love the colours of this quilt and I love the beach photography! Well done!
ReplyDeletelove the photo shoot....the quilt looks fantastic.........
ReplyDeletegorgeous quilt and gorgeous photos Rachael!
ReplyDeleteAh, a perfect day for your compasses to point the way out of the stormy gloom. This quilt loves the seaside. Your man clearly loves you. All is well with a freshly made quilt. As exciting as always.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome quilt finish! It's neat to see you having fun taking photos of it. There's such a great feeling when you finish a quilt and you capture that with this post. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful Rachel. You always take awesome photos of your quilts. Love everything about this one.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt Rachael! Love the photos and the location, I must get out more. I'd love to borrow gbf, he's a great height for holding quilts. In the first photo I didn't notice his legs and wondered how you had got the quilt there, lol.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt, and wonderful photos, Rachael! I love overcast days for taking quilt photos because the colours come up so well, not washed out as they can be in the sunshine. Great work! xx
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT Rachael !!! Perfect location shoot too... Narrabeen is close to my heart...
ReplyDeleteWow - stunning quilt. Love the colours and different fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun shoot! I think it's the most rewarding process after the quilt is finished. You seem to enjoy it to it's fullest. I always smile when I see all different location you travel to. Fun!
ReplyDeleteOh and the quilt is gorgeous!
Bravo Bravo Rachael...oh I'm in love with your quilt!!!! Perfect location and perhaps I did spy a Mermaid there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a BEAUTIFUL quilt! I love everything about it!
ReplyDeleteI'm pottering through, catching up on everyone. Your quilt is just beautiful, your colours and those New York Beauty-esque points, and the coloured ones in your outer border - I love it!
ReplyDeleteStunning quilt, Rachael!!
ReplyDeletewow...like wow...I finally turn on my computer and what is waiting for me??? Stunning work from my favorite quilt artist. I love the ocean pix. Makes me feel like I am right there.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful quilt! Love the design and your excellent choice of colours, contrasts and fabrics. The photos are super, what a great beach location. Hope you enjoyed the Kaffe/Brandon class.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.