Oi Emu! - Bloggers Quilt Festival
Here's is one of my very favourite quilts, an oldie but a goldie.
Oi Emu! was created when LeeAnn from Nifty Quilts encouraged us to celebrate Corduroy Day, 11/11 in the auspicious year 2011. I got a bag of corduroy pants from the op-shop and pulled out a Emu panel by Sydney screen printers Cloth that I'd gotten not long before. To add some more Aussie talent I threw in some Prints Charming. As for the design I simply played with shapes and had fun with liberated piecing. The quilt just grew from there. When I felt it needed more colour and pattern I added some pieces of old upholstery samples and some coloured linen I'd bought in a scrap bag.
The result is a really earthy quilt that for me has Australian bush look to it.
It measures about 80inches across with a drop of 45inches
Oi Emu! is my second entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I think it was easier before when we didn't have to classify our quilt into different categories, when we would just show off our quilts. I'm a ditherer at times so I wavered over which category to put this in. At first I thought I'd enter it into the scrap quilt category but in the end I decided to put it into the Art category because of it's modern art leanings.
To get into the groove of the theme here are some arty close-up photos..
Either way it looks great on my lounge room wall where it lives.
Thanks to Amy for doing a wonderful job of organising the Blogger's Quilt Festival!! Usually I show new quilts but this time around I've found it a great excuse to share an old favourite, or two - you can see my other entry in the previous post. Let me know in the comments if you have a quilt in the festival so I don't miss popping over to have a look.
42 Comments
Deffinately an Art Quilt. Strong color blocks and an Aussie feel with Mr Emu walking by.
ReplyDeleteHi Racheal,wow it's gorgeous,clever you.xx
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly identifiable as a true blue Aussie quilt Rachael! I contemplated entering an 'old' quilt this year but couldn't get organized.....
ReplyDeleteDefinitely art! The Australian colours are beautiful, and the way you've added the thin strips of fabric is inspired. It's also got a bit of wagga quilt in it.
ReplyDeleteIt perfectly suits it's home - amazing! Not many quilts work horizontally but it seems many suitable locations in the home demand a horizontal art piece.
ReplyDeleteLove Mr Emu and his snazzy backdrop
ReplyDeleteIt's magnificent! I think you have a case for it being art as well as being a quilt. Either way, I love it! It looks beautiful on the wall with your fab orange chairs (they look so comfortably plush!). I love emus. They are one of my favourite Australian animals. Along with echidnas and bush babies!
ReplyDeleteI understand why this is one of your favourites! I love, love, love it and the way you've displayed it is outstanding. The corduroy really adds texture and interest! Good luck in the Festival with this terrific quilt!
ReplyDeleteHmmm that's strange you ask that question because I think the clamshell quilt is art too! Yes, definitely art:). I hadn't seen this quilt before. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteArty farty.... Whatever... It's AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteYes Mam, It's art for sure! Good luck in the festival, I'll be voting for you !
ReplyDeleteIt looks perfect on the wall, but I have a sneaky feeling it would look great almost anywhere.
ReplyDeletehi again.... i love this quilt ~ improv is the best!
ReplyDeletei can see why oi emu is one of your favorites...xoxo
Wow! That is so perfect over your chairs - very nice tableau together. I love this quilt - such fun piecing and the overlay bits add so much. It would be a favorite of mine, too.
ReplyDeleteOh it's Art baby!
ReplyDeleteThat's art Rach ! And scrappy too, but definitely gorgeous art!
ReplyDeleteI think it's art!! Love it!! Looks great hanging!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this quilt! It's an exciting composition. Then I love the little details of pockets and pant seams and little bits of hand stitching. So fun. I will never tire of seeing this quilt!
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ReplyDeleteWow that looks amazing on the wall, what a fabulous quilt. Honestly, you inspire me.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a unique quilt with lots of texture. You are right it looks perfect on the wall!
ReplyDeleteI've always been mad for this quilt -- everything about it, love, love, LOVE!
ReplyDeleteHow come the first comment always start with the words I was going to say. But yes, this is definitively art and when <i saw it first I fell in love and haven't fallen out of love since. I actually got a warm and happy feeling when I saw it here again, like meeting an old friend. I could say I was Happy as a Clam. Lol.
ReplyDeleteWhich brings me to your last post, what can I say, I just love that quilt too, what is not to love.
Oi! What a quilt. It speaks to me of 1970s Canberra and Parliament House, phtographs of dry paddocks from the air, heat and a nation just embracing its difference from UK. How do you make a quilt say so much? You amaze me every time.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy the way you like to play with your fabrics and really embrace a challenge. It is so good to see it hanging on display in your home and looking like it is in the perfect place!
ReplyDeleteStunning!!
It is a wonderful quilt and you are a quilting superstar.
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely ART. And I love it, it's gorgeous... great how you combined the different fabric types.
ReplyDeleteOi! I love this quilt. Definitely art, Rachael. I love that you included the photo of where the quilt lives. It is perfect for that spot. I can see why this one is one of your faves - there is so much to look at. I love all the details you put in the quilt and, of course, the improv aspect of it too. Art!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous quilt! I love the photo of it on your wall, it makes such a striking feature. You are a very talented girl, creating a piece of art from such an array of pieces of cloth. Yes, definitely an Art Quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat looks great on the wall, art quilt was a good choice! Normally I enter in that category but I'm not competing with you this time round ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Art all the way - this is fabulous! I LOVE it on the wall. I think you must have come out of the womb with needle and thread in your hands, hon - you are so talented!
ReplyDeleteSo great to see this quilt again. I can understand why it's a favorite.
ReplyDeletethe colors and textures are so great and look fabulous with your Orange chairs!!
It's very cool Rachael! I've never quilted with corduroy before -- it looks like it would make for a soft, cozy quilt!
ReplyDeleteWOW - this is definitely an art quilt, dear Rachael!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Deborah
I havent seen this one before, it's perfect! I love all of the shapes and colors and really love the Emu!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an art quilt! So original and fun! I think I'm going to have to re-think my living room decor after seeing this quilt.:)
ReplyDeleteIt's art and It looks beautiful on your wall! I like the touch of purple with the earthy tones and the emu of course. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYum on the wide wale corduroy in the quilt and smiling at the emu. He fits perfectly on your wall. I had wanted to participate in the 11/11 affair..... but to no avail. My corduroy is still stashed away. :( Thanks though for answering a lingering question on the festival.... Does anyone enter an older made quilt???? I have been pondering entering the festival. I need to make a decision today.... Yes or No.... time is running out. Hope your day is beautiful . Janita
ReplyDeleteI don't have a quilt,in the festival, but I do have my DH corduroy quilt from boyhood. Very fun.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt, it is exquisite on your wall. I also enjoyed the close ups.
Your quilt looks fabulous as art above the 2 orange chairs Rachael...love it!
ReplyDeleteLove your emu quilt. I just got some old fabric samples and upholstery fabric added to my stash to make myself some ART too. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI love it. You have inspired me to get out my half finished Sue Spargo quilt from her workshop a couple of years ago. I used old upholstery fabric samples in the border, which I think raised a few eyebrows, but when you get down to it there are no rules. Just have fun and I think you had a lot of fun with this quilt. One day I hope to make a quilt with corduroy, denim and tweed.....One day.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.