Monday, August 19, 2013

An Ant Farm Quilt : :

Ant Farm Quilt -- qayg
Last week, on our way out to have dinner at my parents house, we took a drive to take these photos of my finished Ant Farm Quilt, a request & gift for my Nephew Owen. Since we couldn't think of a "hill" to take these photos in front of, we decided to take them at the very top of the prettiest hill around, Dutch Hill. It was windy and the sun was just starting to set, but it was so pretty! You may have already seen the video I shared here on my Instagram, it was a beautiful evening in Potter County!

This quilt came together super quickly, once I finally decided on a pattern! It's made up of scrappy, improv log cabin blocks on both sides, separating the colorful fabrics from the lighter, white, & grays that I used. For the center of the quilt I made four courthouse step blocks, keeping that same color separation. I really love the combination of these two quilt blocks, and have a second quilt all planned out using them once again!

Ant Farm Quilt -- qayg

It's quilted using my quilt as you go method, with a gray Aurifil 50wt and straight line quilt stitches spaced about an inch or so apart. In this photo below, with the sun facing the finished quilt, you can really see all those pretty quilt stitches!

Ant Farm Quilt -- qayg

One of my favorite things about finished qayg quilts is having that contrast of a heavier, more densely quilted quilt for the front, with the softer, square grid pattern for the quilt back.

Ant Farm Quilt Back -- qayg

Since I made my blocks for this quilt rather large, at an 18" square, I added a simple tie with a pale gray cotton floss to the center of each block, as well.

Ant Farm Quilt -- qayg & center tied

For the binding I chose a Lizzy House striped fabric from her Hello Pilgrim collection. I love using a small scale striped fabric for binding! The colors in this one worked perfectly with the Backyard Baby fabrics!

Ant Farm Quilt Binding -- Lizzy House Stripe

Here's that extension table binding trick once again! 

Ant Farm Quilt -- binding

Ant Farm Quilt -- binding
Along with the Backyard Baby prints I used lots of Riley Blake Basics -- their Cotton Dots, Solids, & Ombre Dots. I really put my overflowing scrap drawer to good use on this quilt, as well. That always feels so good!!

Ant Farm Quilt -- qayg

Ant Farm Quilt -- qayg
I'm tucking this quilt away with the others I've made and are making for my children, nieces, and nephews. I'm hoping to see that pile grow by seven more between now and Christmas! I've already made lots of progress on my Butterfly Quilt -- more on that one soon!!

Happy Monday, friends!     Maureen

44 comments:

  1. This is so beautiful, Maureen. I wouldn't have thought an "ant farm" quilt could be so pretty! LOL That video was so lovely, thank you for taking the time to share that and all these pretty pictures with us!

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    1. Thank you Carla! I'm very lucky to live in an area with so many picture perfect backdrops! We've been having so much fun taking my quilt photos this Summer, hopefully that will continue through the Winter! Thanks again!!

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  2. Wonderful quilt!! Love the color -- and the whimisical binding! Great photos, too.

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  3. There are going to be so many happy giftees this Christmas! Lovely scenery as well.

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  4. Beautiful quilt and backdrop! And inspiring, I really must do some "on location" quilt photo shoots!

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    1. Thank you Carla! These photo shoots really do make finishing a quilt that much more fun and special! :)

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  5. Very nice! Love those ant farm and bug fabrics--and love that they don't over dominate your quilt!

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    1. Thanks, Donna! I really want this quilt to grow with him. He's 7 now, so the bugs & ants work, but I'm really hoping all the oranges, blues, and grays will make this quilt something he'll enjoy as he gets older, as well!

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  6. This is incredible Maureen. Owen is going to love it!

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  7. Beautiful Quilt M. :)

    Such inspiration to use my scraps now I have sorted them all (at last, YAY!!! :)

    Have a lovely week, cheers, T. :)

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  8. Fabulous! Thank you for sharing. Your nieces and nephews are lucky to have you as their aunt!

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  9. What a beautiful setting for your quilt photos! I am sure your nephew will love this graphic quilt - the colours are just great for a little boy.

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  10. It looks great, love the scrappiness :o)

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  11. I love the grey in the quilt and stripes.

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  12. I love love the combination of the two blocks! Just too cute. The photo session is beautiful.
    have fun
    xo jan

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  13. Very nice - do you get your husband to display your quilts on location? Beautiful quilt as usual.

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  14. Maureen, I just found your blog. The quilt is almost as beautiful as you. Very creative and talented, great choice with colors.

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  15. Never a huge fan of orange, but it sure works with the grey. Great quilt.

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  16. This is one of my favorite quilts ever! So bright and cheerful, and I ALWAYS love a log cabin, any log cabin.

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  17. I love it! it`s sooo beautiful, i like the combination colour+greys! great!

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  18. how do you do it! how do you complete so much? lovely as always

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  19. Great photos :o) Only you could manage to make a boy's quilt so pretty without being 'pretty'!

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  20. Just fabulous! It turned out so wonderful.

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  21. Love the quilt as you go method and your Ant Quilt turned out lovely! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  22. The fabrics are great! Who'd of thought they went together so well.

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  23. It's such a happy quilt. And a lovely spot for photos!

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  24. I was hoping I could get this pattern, I just love it!
    Ella Mae Collett
    elivinfaith@aol.com

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  25. So it goes without saying that the quilt is incredible, but that field! That sky! I want to be picknicking with that quilt in that setting, like, every day of the rest of my life. Stunning.

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  26. Cool quilt, Maureen! Your nephew is going to love it, I'm sure.

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  27. gorgeous quilt - love the photos and thanks for the binding tip - very clever :)

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