I know that my other scrappy patchwork blocks are considered improvisational quilting, but this felt SO much different. It was the most fun I have ever had sewing! I couldn't believe it was coming together just how I had hoped. And, it looked good? And YES!, I was doing it all on purpose! LOL
If I wasn't working from just my scraps, it would have been much easier, that's for sure. Finding enough white-ish colored scraps for piecing around my girl was a challenge. I used every last one! Good news, I still have a few more Bottled Rainbow Quilt Blocks to make, so I should have a few more soon.
My new (new) plan is to have this block be the bottom left corner of my Scraps Quilt. So, the quilt corner she's holding becomes the quilt itself?
Now I am wondering if I should just leave this as a mini scraps quilt and keep my other all scrappy patchwork? I am quilting as you go, so it's already quilted. I would just have to figure out how to finish off the back if I were to leave this a mini? And, I am seriously in love with improv quilting now, so this certainly won't be the last time I make something like this. What do you think? What would you do?
I wish I had better pictures to share today, but it's a dark and rainy day here, so these are all I have. I look forward to hearing your thoughts! I really appreciate all the comments on my scrappy progress post from yesterday! You guys are the best!!
p.s. I have a giveaway (here's a peek) starting tomorrow, along with a few others throughout the next couple of weeks in celebration of my two year blog-iversay on January 30th!!! Be sure to stop by for a chance at some gorgeous bundles of fabric!!
Take care, friends! ♥ Maureen
wow ! I'm so impressed !!!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! I love that block more than any other pieced block I have ever seen! Just absolute perfection!!!
ReplyDeletei have never seen anything that made me say "okay - it is time to learn paper piecing" until i saw this. HOLY COW. it's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteNo way! That is by far one of the coolest things I've seen since discovering the online quilting world! I don't know what to suggest as far as keeping it a mini or putting it into a bigger quilt, either would be perfectly awesome. You could even mount it in a frame and it would look pretty sharp hanging on your wall! Consider me in awe (and inspired!)!
ReplyDeleteoh maureen i love it so much. i saw it on flickr yesterday and almost died! it is the cutest idea ever. i love the idea of her small block turning into a big quilt so if it were me i would keep going... ;) very cute idea! i am so glad you had such a fun time with it too. your sewing space seems really cozy. p.s. what kind of tea are you drinking? i have a really yummy sweet and spicy tea that i love. but i am always looking for more flavors to try.
ReplyDeleteAs always, so impressed by your work! She is beautiful! Can hardly wait to see what she turns into - I LOVE the idea of her holding the quilt she is part of.
ReplyDeleteSOOOOO cool! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteIt is just fabulous. I love her.
ReplyDeleteAs always awesome.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely WONDERFUL! Now the cogs are whirling in my head. You are a fabulous inspiration. I love your idea of making the rest of the quilt come out of that square!
ReplyDeletewow - too cute! I love the idea of a big quilt with her in the corner. Loving your scrappy quilt too xo
ReplyDeleteThat is totally fabulous. I love what you've come up with and I think making it into the large quilt will look so neat!
ReplyDeleteNot much time to spend going thru google reader today so I almost rushed by your post - but your scrappy girl block made me stop dead in my tracks! She's fabulous and it's a fabulous idea! I, too, vote for her being in the corner of the full quilt! You go, girl!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so adorable!
ReplyDelete*Love* it! Grand idea to have her little quilt merge into your big scrappy one. Keep going, it'll be fabulous. x
ReplyDeleteI LOVE everything about that block!! How cute and clever and fun!!! That is awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Maureen, it's brilliant! The girl has such character and liveliness and the little scrappy quilt leading into the other just looks amazing. You've inspired me to take my drawings off the board and try and work them out. As for what you should do, I'd just keep it out a few days until the idea hits you. Sometimes I just have to work that way.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, this is 800 kinds of amazing! I like her as a mini. Gorgeous gorgeous job!
ReplyDeleteit's GORGEOUS!!! what a wonderful imagination you have :)
ReplyDeleteLove it!! So adorable. I'm not a huge fan of the mini quilts, but that's totally a personal preference on my part. I would love to see it as a full quilt!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! i am feeling inspired to try something like this now.
ReplyDeletethis is unreal. ilke, you literally gave me goosebumps. I'm in awe.
ReplyDeleteas much as i love it has a mini quilt i think the idea of her being a part of a bigger quilt is just brilliant. it's genius.
you can also create another mini down the road.
i can't wait to see this come together!!
Awesome. I love the idea of the woman holding the quilt that is the quilt. Very cool. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteI was just about to write "I'm in awe" when I read the comment above. I'm not surprised - your work really is marvellous. It's so charming - what about a book with patchwork illustrations?! Find an agent!
ReplyDeleteThat is just amazing Maureen! I kind of like the idea of this on the corner of your quilt, but I would really choose to make this just a mini. It's a piece of art for sure! If it's already quilted, just add a back and bind. WOW!!
ReplyDeleteHow did you even make this??
ReplyDeleteMaureen, what an amazing block! I LOVE, LOVE , LOVE!!!! it sooooo much. It's fabulous! and I love your idea of the girl holding the real quilt, fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThis rocks my socks! Seriously. I would love to see this as part of a larger quilt myself, but it is awesome either way. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! You are so talented!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful piece - I love it! It's very inspirational. I vote to keep her as the lower corner in the larger quilt. The idea of her little corner turning into the whole quilt is just too perfect. Congratulations on such a great piece!
ReplyDeleteWOW. Just, WOW.
ReplyDeleteYes, WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!! This is truly inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSuch a brilliant idea! Amazing! LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is probably the most awesome thing I have ever seen in my whole entire life.
ReplyDeleteI shared this on my face book. It is so awesome! also, I agree what other people where saying about making it a full quilt with your idea of putting her in the corner.
ReplyDeleteoh my this is gorgeous!! I love it to bits!
ReplyDeleteThank you guys so much!!! You all are so kind!
ReplyDeleteMaureen, I love it! The girl is so fun, and you executed your idea perfectly! So fun. Keep going, keep going!
ReplyDeleteI love this block. I wish I had that kind of creativity. You are very blessed. Keep up the good work. I really enjoy seeing your creations.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! Is is paper peiced? Or appliqued? Do you not have to paper peice if you quilt as you go? Anyway, I think you should do as you originally intended with this one - make it part of a larger quilt! THe great feeling you have with it coming together so nicely will only increase as you put into into the big picture of what you had in your mind.
ReplyDeletelet's see..what would I do....other than completely copy your idea of this brilliant block? seriously, the best thing i have seen in a long time!!! amazing! i dont think you need any advice, you have found your groove! just keep moving!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! This is the sort of thing that shows up in my google reader and literally makes me say OH MY GOSH! Literally. I feel like I NEED to make something like this right now (such a silly time to have to go to work right?). This is so cool and I love your idea of adding it to your scrap quilt so that she's holding the corner of the quilt. Ridiculously awesome. Who knew. Amazing. I'm pinning this to give it a try soon!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I love it. Are you sure you haven't been quilting long?
ReplyDeleteUmmm, this is pretty much the most amazing piece of quilting I've seen in a long time! WOW! I absolutely love that she is holding a quilt. I think it would look wonderful as part of a bigger quilt or a mini. Thanks for sharing...really, really fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love it...no matter what you do it will be lovely...is it hard to do?
ReplyDeleteWow, incredibly gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteShe's wonderful, what an inspirational idea to have her handling the quilt blocks ahead of her like that! Now you could sell that foundation 'lassie' block pattern and we could each applique her face and hair, to suit ourselves!
ReplyDeletePlease!
A weekend sewing with you is now on my bucket list talented lady!
ReplyDeleteI love this piece and it will be so nice on your scrap piece. It is a great challenge to use what you have and sometimes they become out greatest creations.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Wow! I am so impressed with that block - it is absolutely beautiful! Such a lovely idea aswell! I could just imagine a whole quilt made in the same way/style!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that! I don't really get into that much quilting, but THIS type of quilting I could get into. Nice work! :)
ReplyDeleteAMAZING! So neat to see it come together! I have a tonne of scraps,but when I start putting them together, they never lay flat... yours are adorable and so professional.. great job!
ReplyDeleteYou have to explain this for us! It's awesome!!
ReplyDeleteNice job,
Angela
again, awesome! i love this block so very very much. you're a rock star!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is perfect just as it is. Maybe mount it to something for an art quilt/wall hanging. It is really just fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen! Your scrappy quilt is going to be amazing! I love all the busy clourful patchworks! This new lady of yours ... hmmmm ... she is so gorgeus that I can't find right words! Your idea to have her to hold the quilt is really good but I see her also as a painting on your wall! She would be so special and unique in frames! You are so talented and I'm happy to hear how you get ideas and you have to try them at once! Often I 'see' also and idea - sometimes it becomes as I saw it and sometimes not - still always I enjoy to create something!
ReplyDeletex Teje
Darn it woman! That is the most awesome piece of sewing!! If I could lay my mitts on it, it would go straight into a frame and up on a focus wall. How about getting that picture put onto some cards? Keep on having fun :)
ReplyDeletethis is amazing. i would keep it as a mini, just because it deserves its own focus. your talent at improv is mind blowing. really. her holding the scraps is a stroke of genius! i am gushing. but i can't help it!
ReplyDeleteThat's freakin' awesome! I wish I knew how to do that. Was it paper pieced or something? I love love love it. I've never heard of improv quilting before, but then again, I'm a newbie wannabe who's trying to learn, so the things I DON'T know isn't surprising! :) Anyway, really great work and thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteSo amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous!!!! And super impressive! I love the idea of having her corner of the quilt turn into the rest of your scrappy quilt, but can see wanting to frame her too. Whatever you end up doing with her, she's going to make you smile whenever you see her. Would love more details on how you made her...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness.....that is just the most adorable, cute, beautiful thing I have ever seen. Very well done!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, what a brilliant idea!!! She's marvelous and will be the perfect addition to the corner of your scrap quilt.
ReplyDeleteOh that looks absolutely fab! Love the combination of techniques you've used :o)
ReplyDeleteHow cute is that! love your idea and your sweet girl.
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly awesome. I absolutely love it and your idea! As for what to do, I'd lay it out with the others and see how it looks/feels. I can't wait to see more.
ReplyDeleteInovative, fresh and exciting! This post is why I read thru blog after blog to get a gem like this.Keep on sewing, I will be reading!
ReplyDeleteOh my, this is so AWESOME! I think either way, it is super adorable. But I do think the idea of having it be the corner of the larger quilt is really neat! I love your original ideas!
ReplyDeleteTotoally impressive work there Maureen. You really let yourself out and made something amazing! Great work...way to go....!!!!
ReplyDelete:)toni-anne
your talent is staggering. which of course means you are a jewel!!
ReplyDeleteOMG Maureen, you just stole my heart. That is just so darn stinkin' cute. Are you going to put the pattern out there for us to buy? Doing more of these cuties to make a set? Love it!!!
ReplyDeletePhenomenal! Simply Phenomenal!!
ReplyDeleteLove it. I'd like to see it as a big quilt because I think it would be absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat is just GREAT!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is amazingly beautiful! Oh, pretty please, do a tutorial! I would love to learn how you did this. My vote is for the mini - that way you could put it up on a wall or prop it up on a desk and look at it throughout the day and remember how amazingly creative you are! Just in case you ever forgot...
ReplyDeleteOh it is incredible and so sweet! I'd go with framing it as art.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented.
I think this is my favorite block you've made to date! I think I'll go make some tea and see if I'm hit with incredible inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that scrap quilt situation could get any more beautiful and then you go and make this incredibly beautiful and creative (oh my goodness so creative) block. I am in awe.
ReplyDeleteGenius!! I LOVE that block!
ReplyDeleteThis is so AWESOME-on so many levels. You are so seriously talented, just don't stop surprising us like this :)
ReplyDeleteOMG!!!! this is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf I were you I'd go run outside and start yelling to everyone about how AMAZING I am!!! That is utterly, unbelievable the prettiest improv I've ever seen. SERIOUSLY TALENTED you are :)
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely speechless. Just ditto all the above comments for me. I would love to see it as the basis for a large quilt but wonder if it wouldn't be more eye catching as a mini. I think I would be afraid her awsomeness would get lost in a a large quilt. Absolutely love her. Hope
ReplyDeleteNo you didn't! That is sew awesome. Reminds me of Rupunzel but a quilt!
ReplyDeleteHi - I saw this on Flickr and came over for a better look! This is really great! So fun. She'd be great either as a mini or a full size quilt, but I really ike the mini idea.
ReplyDeleteYou are so artistic! I really want a quilt like this one! I think it would show up better as a small quilt--easier to see the new square, but what a surprise it would be in a larger one! That was no help at all, was it? LOL
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I would want to make this into a mini quilt to hang on the wall where I could enjoy seeing it every day.
ReplyDeleteOh I really really like this!! I am not a traditional -piecy- basic pattern quilt kinda gal. I like pretty and non traditional. And I absolutely love this! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks *awesome*! That's so cool how she is making the quilt around her. It's so creative!! I think it will look great with the scraps quilt!!
ReplyDeleteThat is the coolest quilt block I have ever seen!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteReally cute block!
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! I love that she's holding the quilt and that the whole quilt will be what she's holding. Did i word that right? :) I would include it in the bigger quilt.
ReplyDeleteI would like to make some tote bags.
ReplyDeleteFollowing Maureen Cracknell on FB
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm with an online vintage dress boutique called Shabby Apple (www.shabbyapple.com) and I adore your blog. Shabby Apple offers affordable, stylish attire perfect for a day at work or play, or a night on the town. We would love to partner with you and offer your readers a 10% off coupon as well as the opportunity to giveaway one of our dresses on your blog. Please check us out at www.shabbyapple.com and let me know if you are interested.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing back from you soon!
Thanks,
Chelsea Wakley
cwakely@shabbyapple.com
(this is only open to US residents, if this is not a possibility please let me know)
I love either idea! I like the idea of her holding the whole scrappy quilt but don't like the idea of her getting lost in a big quilt. I don't think think I can stress that enough. She is simply too amazing to get lost in the bottom corner of a quilt. Seriously amazing!!! Don't let her get lost.
ReplyDeleteOMG, I'm so glad I visited your blog and saw this! I saw the completed piece on Flickr and thought the girl was an appliqued fussy cut from a piece of printed fabric. Geez, was that ever wrong. Seeing your sketch and the steps of the sewing was incredible.
ReplyDeleteSince I haven't learned to improv piece or even paper piece, I have no idea how you managed to sew this, but it's brilliant!
Stunning block! Love your attention to detail.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I have always wanted to try improv quilting, but don't have the confidence. Your block is so beautiful it is inspiring me to try. I love she is holding the edge of the quilt.
ReplyDeleteWow, this block is AMAZING!!
ReplyDeleteI'm late but this is just amazing. So gorgeous! You have a gift, m'dear!
ReplyDeleteO my...you've done a lot of meticulous projects! I'm definitely awed :).....you make me want to quilt :) though I most probably would never finish it :)
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen, I stumbled across your blog today and your little quilt is adorable. Turning your drawing into a pp project can be very complicated and you have a winner. I think you should finish your small piece and have it framed in a shadowbox frame like art for your wall. Be proud and hang it out where everyone can see it. Then make your next one into a quilt because I'm sure there will be more.
ReplyDeleteWOWWWWW!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWOW! I just saw this on Pinterest...it is amazing.
ReplyDelete