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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

NYB, She's Done!

Here it is- I am so delighted I am practically doing the "happy dance". This major project has been hanging over my head way too long so the finish is cause for rejoicing.

I love "finished" projects, don't you? But I also enjoy the process! Does that make me task or goal oriented?
No matter, right now I am enjoying the glow of attaining a [long overdue] goal.
I will load up a few pics of the quilt, well more than just a few because I am really celebrating, maybe even good for an adult beverage,LOL.
This is my second NYB quilt, the other is a KS made for son Matthew in 2005 from a planned colorway and it looks very different.
I decided to leave two opposing corners curved, I just liked the artistic appeal, even though I knew that it would require the construction of yards of double fold bias binding.
Each individual block is a mini quilt, a unique arrangement and combination of fabrics and design, no two the same. Almost all of these fabrics came from my "stash" my personal collection of fabrics. In addition I did purchase a couple of the batiks that I used to frame the blocks.

The piecing of the quilt took a good while, can't remember how long, but the entire thing is paper pieced and then of course the papers have to be removed after construction, a tiresome task.
If you look closely you will see that I also coordinated the border fabrics with each of the adjoining block fabrics. That took some planning, I never imagined how I would put all that advanced math to work!
Making up the fabric combos for each block was the most fun! There's a musical theme, African themes, Monet themes, Oriental themes and so on. Thirty different blocks in all. Who would ever have imagined that all of those very different fabrics would work so well together.
Arthritis and the time required are the reasons I seldom hand stitch quilt bindings any more, but this quilt called for that kind of sacrifice.
If you have ever paid to have a quilt finished by hand you will know whereof I speak. Most professionals charge around .28cents/linear inch to attach a binding to the front and hand secure it on the back. When I tell you that the hand work on this quilt binding alone took me more than six hours, after I made the double fold bias binding and attached it to the front of the quilt, you will understand the .28c/inch! The circumference is 345" which translates to $96.60 just for binding this quilt!

That said, most quilters will never get rich [I never knew a rich one anyway] it is simply not feasible to charge for the labor entailed. I can't begin to estimate the total time invested in this one quilt-the machine quilting alone took me several days, you can see that each block is custom quilted according to the theme of the fabrics, and as previously stated I have no clue how mucht time I invested in the piecing.
Our main reward is the joy of the creative process.

I used Superior King Tut variegated gold thread [Kailua] on the top and a gold Bottom Line thread in the bobbin so that the stitching would not distract from the pretty backing fabric.

This is the Japanese themed backing fabric- I was very pleased to find this and on sale, it coordinates both color and theme-wise with the front, the blocks look sort of like fans.
Anyway, I do love this quilt and I may have to keep it- unless of course, someone were to offer me a great deal of money for it lol, almost everything has a price you know!

21 comments:

  1. WOW this is awesome Roslyn...well done my friend....hugs Khris

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  2. Your quilt is stunningly beautiful. I have one in progress and I may even finish it one day. I hope you will enter this quilt in some big shows--I see ribbons hanging on it already.
    Loretta in Louisiana

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  3. I love this quilt. There is a musicality and flow that is very lyrical. And you know me, so you already know that I love the Japanese/Asian fabrics. It's a beauty for sure. You always amaze me with the color combos you come up with that just flat work together.

    Great job.

    Hugs... and a job well done.

    Helen

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  4. Oh, so beautiful! Words fail me. I did NYB on the back of a vest and that seemed like a lot of work. And, I am hand binding a batik right now: lot of work for my arthritic hands. I feel both your pain and pride.

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  5. Absolutely STUNNING! I know how much work these quilts are since I'm in the process of making one too, although it won't compare with yours! It's really quite gorgeous! What an accomplishment!

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  6. Super cool! That looks like so much work!

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  7. Ros, Your quilt is spectacular. Absolutely beautiful. Did you draft the pp patterns for the indivudual blocks or were from a book? Very nice job.

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  8. Roslyn, this is a stunning quilt. A ribbon winner for sure. Definitely celebration worthy!

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  9. impressive. It is beautiful. I must finish mine. Great Job!!

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  10. WOW! That is absolutely beautiful!

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  11. Fabulous! What a quilt! I'm a Roz, too.

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  12. Oh, that is an outstanding accomplishment. And you know the quilt so well,........ each separate block, ........it's like a journal of memories or something. To hear you speak of it makes one realize how much of ourselves we sometimes put into these creations.

    I hope that it speaks FOR you for many generations to come.

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  13. This is my favourite quilt in the festival, it is absolutely stunning. I love NYB but tried it too soon in my quilting life and made a complete hash of it, you have inspired me to try again, thank you. Gosh, I really am blown away by your quilt, I can't think of a suitable superlative!!Thank you so much for joining the festival and sharing your quilt Roslyn,
    Lis

    www.shiny4444.blogspot.com

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  14. OH I am always fashinated from NYB you did a very great quilt!

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  15. It is a Beauty too! A real knockout! Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  16. Stunning! I love it! Lots of work, but absolutely gorgeous when finished. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. A quilting masterpiece! I really like how you brought the colors of each block out into the border, yet another unique design theme. Thank you for sharing your quilt's story.

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  18. I have always been in awe of New York beauties and yours is no exception. Bravo!

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  19. Gorgeous! I'd love to make a full size one of these someday....

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