Sunday, May 02, 2010

Still Loving Anna Williams

Woohoo, I'm back in the groove and sewing again. It feels wonderful to finally have my brain clicking again. This is my Love Anna Williams quilt so far. This is generally how I think the blocks will be arranged.


Here's a close-up of a block:


This block was inspired by the one Anna Williams used in her quilt "Many Windows" (the link takes you to my blog post from when I first started the blocks, not so many blog posts back since I've been such a bad blogger. A photo of Anna's quilt appears in one of the photos. I've spent well over an hour looking for that specific Anna Williams quilt online, to no avail.)

Her blocks have more "borders" than this. Each rectangle is surrounded by log cabinesque strips, then a frame of the piano keys, a border of strips, then more piano keys. All very improvisational so that each looks different and some are missing some of those layers. Very fabulous.

Right now I really love how my blocks look. I'm almost afraid of adding more and more and more - will it get too busy? (I know, I know, for some of you this is already too busy. I mean "too busy for me.")

I have to decide how big I want this quilt to get. I'm planning on handquilting it and eventually it will hang on a wall so the maximum size is 72" square (that's a size that works well for me). But eek, that's big. So closer to 50" would make me happier.

I really love the odd number of blocks but it would make things easier if I "lost" one of them and just used twelve.

In the past I've made quilts a certain size, opting for the easiest path and ignoring what the quilt is trying to tell me about what it wants to be when it grows up. And then I'm not happy with the results cuz it's not all that great (or even good) of a quilt.

I don't have to make any decisions yet. I need to make more stinking piano keys - I'll need lots more of them for auditions. I know that any leftovers will easily go into a fun quilt, I'm just not thrilled about this stage.

In a couple of quick tv notes, anyone else see "Brown Betty" - the most recent episode of "Fringe?" I loved it. Walter tells a story and the visuals are just amazing. A mix of film noir detective and tech. (I'd call it "steampunk" except that seems to be limited to Victorian times.) I loved it. Somebody make a series like this (although it will undoubtedly get cancelled too soon, just like my beloved "Pushing Daisies.")

Besides how wonderful it looked, I got really emotionally involved with the story. Definitely one of Fringe's best episodes ever. I could have done without the singing bits of the show, except for Story Walter's chorus in his lab - loved them.

Oh and "Chuck" - it's fabulous. I wasn't thrilled with the season at the beginning and didn't like Chuck's new abilities, but it finally got it's groove together (esp after losing the horrible wooden Shaw). Loved the Honeymooners episode. Why not have a great couple? Chuck and Sarah (The Charlesesses) can be to spies what Nick and Nora Charles were to sleuths. I am sooo thrilled to have a show that doesn't stick with the "will they/won't they" until I am long past caring.

Gotta go sew now. Take care.

27 comments:

Jan said...

what a wonderful quilt this will be. Imagine, sleeping under it, surrounded by love.

beth said...

Love. Love. Love. the piano keys are the best!

Kristin L said...

Oh yeah! You've totally nailed this one! All those little piano keys are just what the love needed. This might be my favorite Tonya quilt yet.

I thoroughly enjoyed that episode of Fringe too. I was thinking the steampunk influence as well. It kind of reminded me of teh musical episode of Buffy, but keeping in line with Fringe's mood and aesthetic. I have yet to watch the most recent Chuck, but I'm losing momentum. I want more Jayne and Morgan and teh Buy More guys. OK, I want Firefly back too, but that's totally unrelated.

Marit said...

This is getting quite exiting! Love your letter blocks, love the solids and your new layout, too. Have fun piecing and auditioning your parts. This is a quilt that grows through your process - so fun to follow along watching the steps on the way to a finish...
; )

Clare said...

I love all your quilts, whether they be tiny ickle ones - threadies - or huge ones like Terms or the purple word one.

This is lovely. Do one more block to fill that gap and call it a day. I like the white bits in between so perhaps jiggle them about a bit to show some more.

Just a suggestion ;-)

Susan said...

The quilt is coming along great. No advice there, though.

I agree with every word you said about "Chuck". I hated that show at the very beginning, then I started to like it, then I hated it again with Shaw and now I love it. The Charleseses- cracked me UP! :)

Excuse me- you owe me a cat photo. I feel so cheated!

Barb said...

Looks Great!
I love the way you are bordering them.

SewLindaAnn said...

Love your quilt, it's really spectacular. Thanks for the links one of my favorite things to do is browse around the country thru blogs and art related sites. I enjoyed it and I enjoy your blog as well.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I see a left outer column of four blocks, the next two columns with 3 and 2 blocks respectively plus filler bits as needed, and the final outer (right side) column of four blocks... what fun! So happy to see you designing and stitching!!!

Diane said...

YOWZA! Your quilt is looking fabulous.

Kim said...

I can't believe how fantastic the addition of the piano key borders make the love blocks pop.......I didn't think they could get any better!
Just great looking Tonya!
I basted my small quilt to take on the train tomorrow....hopefully get some hand quilting going.
thanks for this challenge...it has me thinking in new directions :0)

Happy Sewing

Cheryl Arkison said...

I "love" this! I know what you mean about it looking good with the odd number of blocks. That's where I would go with this too.
PS Impressed with you slogging through Photoshop. I'm still trying to get my head around doing layers right!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Your blocks look fabulous...the solids work so well.

I've managed to finish my free-pieced words I was working on and have blogged about it, if you would like to look. Thanks for the inspiration!!

Kristin Shields said...

Spectacular! I was thinking about what a pain it must be to make all the piano key sections, but it's totally worth it. What a great quilt. Lots of seams to hand quilt over though.

Kathy said...

quilts can never be too busy in my book!

Gypsy Quilter said...

I really love it. Ohhh, it makes me want to sew!

Sharon said...

I think your quilt looks great! I love those piano keys....a pain to make, but worth it!

I've not been watching Fringe, but may check out that episode on Hulu. Sounds like fun!

No kitty pix??!

Rosalyn Manesse said...

I looked up Anna Williams and she is a true artist. Love is coming along--

wishes, true and kind said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (well, you get the idea) this quilt!

Victoria said...

Love your Love! Truly wonderful!

As for TV shows... haven't yet watched Fringe, love Chuck, and miss Pushing Daisies, too. (What a great show that was.) The way they keep shows containing mindless drivel on for years, but cancel well written, acted and staged ones, after only a few, make me almost afraid to get hooked on any more good shows.

Lynda said...

This quilt is fabulous! I think it's busy enough too. You either go right off the deep end and add several more borsders or leave well alone - and I know which I favour!

Sujata Shah said...

Tonya, This one looks gorgeous! It looks like flooring with mosaic tiles! Beautiful!!!

jacquie said...

oh my...you are always sooo inspiring. i've been a bad blogger too...but i sure am glad i came here. (i wish you could see the big smile on my face).

Anonymous said...

What lovely bright blocks....cant wait to see what the finished quilt look like.

Deb Rowden said...

tonya! it looks great. just keep going and going and keep looking at Anna's quilt. i don't think Anna would over think a quilt, do you? this one will be FINE!!
deb

Angie said...

It is amazing how the solid colors really make the quilt....Great pattern! I can't wait to see this quilt progress!

quilts lover said...

Your block is amazing.
I really like the idea of border in quilt.It looks fabulous