Never Too Old To Play With Dollies!
This seems to be the year of Doll Quilts here at Blue Mountain Daisy. In January I was lucky enough to get into Doll Quilt Swap 1o. This is the Doll Swap that started it all and this is the 10th round so it's very well organised with lots of fun along the way. Not to mention the amazing talent of the participants!
It's a secret swap so we don't know who is making a quilt for us and we try not to let our partners know we're stalking them. We all posted mosaics of our favourites as inspiration for our partners as well as a brief description of our likes. Megan of BoutiqueNutmegDesigns posted this mosaic as well as saying she likes wonky stars and houses. In addition I had a thorough read through her blog and spent time going through her Flickr stream. Stalking is an apt word!
Playing with the wonky star suggestion I used lots of the bright colours Megan likes and picked up on the black/white dots that popped up a bit in her favourites.
But... I felt it wasn't quite snazzy enough, so it was back to the drawing board. I then came up with this little 18 inch quilt.
I had to play with the colours a bit and I admit I made 3 center stars before I had one I was really happy with. Then I had to walk away and leave it for a week before I could decide what colour binding to use but I was so happy with the result.
Playing with the wonky star suggestion I used lots of the bright colours Megan likes and picked up on the black/white dots that popped up a bit in her favourites.
But... I felt it wasn't quite snazzy enough, so it was back to the drawing board. I then came up with this little 18 inch quilt.
I had to play with the colours a bit and I admit I made 3 center stars before I had one I was really happy with. Then I had to walk away and leave it for a week before I could decide what colour binding to use but I was so happy with the result.
It played on my mind that Megan had also said she loved wonky houses. There was also a reminder from our Swap Mamas to everyone that DQS10 should be on the label. The idea for the backing/label came to me in the middle of the night.
One rooftop on the house has my details and the other rooftop has Megan's ( it's covered in this photo as this was before I sent it off and it was still a secret)
I had so much fun being part of the swap that I signed up for the DownUnder Doll Quilt Swap.
This is my partner Sally's mosaic.
The bubbly circles quilts jumped out at me and I planned to make pieced circles. I had to laugh when Sally posted her progress photo and she was making a bubbly circle quilt for her partner. I thought it too obvious to continue down that path.
so I settled on a bright star! I auditioned a few backgrounds but black was the obvious choice. The Star almost looks it's floating off the background.
The backing is a parade of flamingoes and more black/white fabric and a little lady pointing to the label.
The bubbly circles quilts jumped out at me and I planned to make pieced circles. I had to laugh when Sally posted her progress photo and she was making a bubbly circle quilt for her partner. I thought it too obvious to continue down that path.
so I settled on a bright star! I auditioned a few backgrounds but black was the obvious choice. The Star almost looks it's floating off the background.
The backing is a parade of flamingoes and more black/white fabric and a little lady pointing to the label.
The little circles from my first idea weren't wasted, I whipped them up into a mug rug that went to Sally too.
A few people have asked how I can part with my little creations. I guess I know from the beginning that they're not for me so I don't get attached. My reward is the challenge of making the perfect quilt for my recipient and learning new things along the way.
Both my partners have received their quilts and have said they loved them. I'm still waiting for my little dollies. It seems my quilt from the DQS10 has gone missing and my lovely, kind partner has had to make another one for me. The Downunder Swap final sending date is the 27th May so it might be a few weeks away yet. One day there'll be a parcel or two on my doorstep.
Cheerio
13 Comments
Your partners should have been very pleased with all your efforts to match such beautiful quilts to their preferences! Waiting..waiting!
ReplyDeleteYour mini quilts are lovely Rachael, lucky partners indeed!
ReplyDeleteHope yours turn up soon.
I do hope yours turn up very soon. Your partners should have been so very pleased with your beautiful quilts.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed that yours arrive any day now.
Aww! i do hope yours turn up soon! I would be beside myself with joy if i recieved one of your lovely doll quilts , its so obvious the amount of time and effort you put into each one. Your partners would be very happy indeed!
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd had swap partners like you, you have gone above and beyond in finding out what your partner really likes and then making them the perfect present! Well done, I bet they were loved and really appreciated by your partners as well. Hopefully yours won't be too long in the post. I am involved in a granny square monthly swap at the moment and my first parcel is still missing in the mail....but hope springs eternal, I just keep busy knitting and regularly check the PO box :-)
ReplyDeleteYou all do so well in that swap, the quilts that come out of it are amazing and you made some incredible ones that anyone would love to recieve. I'm just working on my second swap and I feel the same way about giving aeway, it's being made especially for someone else. Your backs are part of the fun, I love them all.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented! I love all the planning you put into your creations. They are just fantastic....love the large star on black. I must make a quilt like that someday....
ReplyDeleteYour color selections are so great! I really like how you took the time to make them perfect. How sad your's is missing, your partner must be heart broken. I hope it is found.
ReplyDeleteI think sewing for others gives us fresh perspective. One we can carry through to the stuff we make for ourselves. It all adds up to more fun in the sewing room. And who doesn't want that? I hope your little dolly quilt shows up soon. Too bad it can't talk about the adventure.
ReplyDeleteAs usual just gorgeous. Love the mosaics of the likes. That idea should be used more often.
ReplyDeleteMust say though that the post heading had me remembering PSM playing with the squishies which made me smile all over again. Wish I had the camera then.
Love those creations talented miss!! People often ask me how I can give them away too but I think you hit the nail on the head-on you know they are not for you from the beginning. But also I get such joy out of the surprise giving part. Seeing their excitement and appreciation is a total buzz! (And I have to say that it was a total let down when mine didn't even thank me- but let's not go there *sigh...)
ReplyDeletePs I'm so sorry to hear that yours has gone missing! I hope that it arrives safely soon and I'm sure it will be well worth the wait! Xx
ReplyDeleteLove love all your color!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.