Blogger's Quilt Festival 2013

I'm so pleased to have remembered to participate in this year's Blogger's Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy's Creative Side!

This year, I've decided to link up my "July in January" improv wall hanging that I made to match these sweet Echino-centered pillows. (Improv sunshine this year, improv chevrons one year ago!)

I love how Amy encourages bloggers to tell a quilt's story, and here's what's behind this one, made for  couple of oldest friends. (I was the ring bearer at their farmhouse wedding at about 5 years old, and I still remember the fluffy yellow dress I got to wear!)

They gave me freedom over the quilt design, just requesting that it be improvisational in style, easily hung on a wall, and matching those pillows I had made them earlier.

When I do improv work, I tend to go at it all at once, and feel driven to piece everything together ASAP so I don't have to worry about "losing" my ideas. Maybe it's time for a design wall :)

I made this one during a cold day this winter while on break from my graduate studies. Now that my program is over, it is kind of wnderful to have this record of the sewing I was still able to do during the past year.

This quilt measures about 45x58 inches, and is bound in a scrappy mix of the fabrics used in the quilt. I quilted it in wavy, organic double lines that often cross. The result is wonky but clean, which I think fits nicely with the feel of the quilt.

For many, many inspring quilts, head on over to the festival!