Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Rumspringa

Way back in June, I made six sets of duplicate L-O-V-E letters. Each set looked something like this, with a bit of a difference here or there. I wasn't measuring, just making them approximately the same.

I kept a set, I mailed a set to a mystery someone who may or may not choose to ever play with them, and the others went to: Quiltville Bonnie, SewPrimitive Karen, Knit One Quilt Too Kristin and Threadlines KathieB. I wanted to see what different quilts we'd all come up with, starting with this same set of letters. The goal was to have the top pieced by the end of the year.

For the first time ever, I managed to complete a challenge. I'm usually too slow or can't figure out what I want to do... But this time I not only met the goal, but surpassed it, because my quilt is completely done. Woohoo. And I'm thrilled with it - really happy with how this turned out.

It's not a great pic (streak of sunlight and a Lily intrusion) but I present to you, Rumspringa:

I made a lot more L-O-V-E. Some actually looked like letters, in others the color placement was crazy. I added additional fabric where needed to make all the letter blocks the same size and sewed them into 4-Patches like this:

I wasn't smart enough to take measurements before I packed the quilt in a suitcase. But it is fairly large. Quilted with regular quilting thread in freehand fans spiral-style.

Bonnie, Karen, Kristin, and KathieB: how did you do with the L-O-V-E Letter challenge?

49 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:28 AM

    I LOVE it!!! Fun, bright, happy!
    Louise in Sweden

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  2. Anonymous5:15 AM

    It's terrific, Tonya. I love how the words kind of come in and out, readable and then not so readable. FUN!!!! Thanks for letting me be a part of all this...

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  3. Tonya - this is such a tonic to the drab grey days of winter :o)

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  4. wow what a fun challenge to participate in.
    I can't wait to see everyone elses too.
    LOVE the border fabric wow is that a happy color!
    Really like how some of the letters mush together and some are so obvious LOVE!
    great job tonya and of course just love the hand quilting

    Keep it up!
    Kathie

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  5. What's not to LOVE on this one! I am really curious to see what the others did.

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  6. I am blown away by this quilt, Tonya! Would it be corny to say I LOVE it?!!!
    That border blue is a wonderful choice.

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  7. Tonya, every time you dropped hints about Rumspringa in your blog, I became more and more curious to see it. Finally it has been revealed and it is fantastic!
    I love your colors and the layout, liberated yet contained. Truly worth waiting to see.

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  8. Your quilt is very impressive and so creative. Very Gwen, you should send her a picture. She would love the liberated way you put it together and the way you used the solids.

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  9. Congratulations! It's awesome and amazing! I LOVE it! Maybe your days be filled with LOVE.
    I'll be working on my houses,pantry,home quilt in January. I took a wee bit of a hiatus there! Now back at it! 32 days!!

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  10. Beautiful tiny stitches -- your stitches are much better than mine - i guess I need to practice taking more even stitches.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

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  11. That is one beautiful quilt!

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  12. Wow! I love this. You are so gifted.

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  13. Oh, what fun! Now I'll check out all the others.
    Love your "Love Letters" -- that would be a good title for a quilt.

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  14. Wonderful! I like as you work liberated but as the quilt is tidy at the end.

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  15. OMG! I love it! I love everything about it! Gorgeous! Can't wait to see what the others come up with.
    Thank you for so generously sharing your talent with us everyday. Have a blessed New Year!

    Rondi

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  16. i'm so inspired by this. it's fabulous. i love how when i first look at it i just see piecing and then look closer and letter, and then love. wow...wow...wow.

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  17. Way to go!!!!! It is absolutely marvelous ~ and, can you guess, my favorite photo is the last one with the quilt crumpled and a beautiful kitty curled in the folds...

    Congratulations on a TERRIFIC finish!!!

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  18. Mine are still LETTERS!! I want to do something fab-o with them..and it hasn't come to me yet!

    Your quilt looks awesome...and the quilting is PURR-FECT!!

    Bonnie

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  19. I was looking for an inspritation. OK, you've inspired me.

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  20. Love it (no pun intended...) The border fabric is gorgeous!

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  21. ...OMG Tonya...when the picture finally scrolled up I SWEAR I thought it was a GWEN MARSTON quilt!!!..WOW...MY FAVORITE...MY FAVORITE...MY FAVORITE!!!!

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  22. Once again, you've made a truly gorgeous quilt. I thought of you yesterday as I bought 15 different solid fabric colors.(1.50 a yard!) (Since I've only ever done one, the B's Gee's bend quilt.) This may inspire me to try another!

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  23. Beautiful quilt! I love it. Pun intended. :-)

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  24. I LOVE it too! It's like the LOVE stamps of the 70s hooked up with an Amish quilt and had a wonderful baby. :-)

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  25. Incredible quilt, Tonya! The bright blue border is inspired, too. Took me a moment to realize that ALL the fabrics are solids...just amazing. I never would have thought to try that, but it works SO well. Good on ya!

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  26. Your Love Quilt is breathtaking. Great work. So colorful.

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  27. Oh Tonya, It was worth waiting to see this quilt. I love Kirstin L's comment above. That's exactly what I thought! And as for the comparison's to Gwen's work ~ pointless! This is your unique idea and style. Fabrics, piecing, sashing, turquoise border and exquisite hand quilting are yours alone! Comparisons to any other artist are unfair ~ to YOU!

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  28. Beautiful. And oh the quilting! Posted mine.

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  29. Anonymous6:55 PM

    Wow!! So vibrant and unusual! Thanks for sharing it.

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  30. just gorgeous color on this one....it really does have some Amish thing going on. very striking....

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  31. It's fantastic, Tonya! And so you! I didn't realized we could reveal right now. I will take my photo tomorrow and post. I did get my top done in a day on Saturday (pretty amazing for me!) and got it basted and started hand quilting. I really love it. Thank you so much again for the opportunity and for the letters. By the way, I'm calling mine Love Letters for now. I haven't got any more inspiration but perhaps I can take suggestions when I get it posted.

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  32. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

    Best, Kyra

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  33. Anonymous12:55 AM

    I 'love' it and what a neat challenge!

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  34. Tonya, your quilt is absolutely stunning! What a great piece of work - ART! I love your colors - that border is an awesome color - and your hand quilting adds the perfect finishing touch. You should be very proud of yourself! Whoo-hoo!!

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  35. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!

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  36. What a beauty! I love the colors you used and the placement, just gorgeous, Tonya. Lily looks pleased, too.

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  37. I just love, love, love your quilt. Happy new year Tonya!

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  38. Congratulations on another fabulous finish! How could you bear to pack it away after finishing it???!!! I'd want to hand carry it on the flight home (whenever that may be). Did you at least sleep under it one night, or for a nap? ;- )

    BTW, I love the fabrics you brought home from the Netherlands. And two of my favorite Christmas gifts this year were actually Halloween things!

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  39. I love it...the name, all of it. What a masterpiece! I am quite awed, it is so beautiful. Hooray!

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  40. it is utterly Love-ly *vbs* another fantastic example of your quilting and wonderful color mixing...great letters...I would say this is truly gorgeous..thanks so much for sharing the finished quilt.

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  41. I love, love, love this one!

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  42. It's wonderful. So lively and fun and so you! thanks for sharing it.

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  43. Tonya, This turned out beautifully. Good luck with your trip and all it involves. Safe Journeys!

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  44. This is amazing!
    L
    o
    v
    e
    those bright colors too!

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  45. wow-awesome! I love the way the fans look and of course the colors are wonderful too-

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  46. Gorgeous! From the comments I guess I'm not the only one who loves the love quilt!

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  47. I've just started sewing again after some 15yrs away from the machine and I think I may be developing a mini-obsession with quilting... quilts like this one are EXACTLY what is drawing me to this craft.
    Beautiful!!

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  48. What a fabulous quilt. I colors, the combination, and the word. Reminds me of the Stamp that came out years ago. Now I need to go buy your book!
    Great job.

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  49. Years ago I made a quilt which I dubbed 'Rumspringa' because of the unusual use of bright solids unlike the more subdued tones favored by traditional Amish Quilts. Guess we both had the same concept, different application! I'd attach a photo of it if it would let me.

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