Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Clowns?

What do I name this quilt?


With a Little Help From My Friends springs to mind but too long and unsurprising. My husband calls it the Lego Quilt, but I'm thinking that's a better name for the technique. Inch Madness? Ugly Uglies? Lost My Mind? Clowns? (Clowns??? read on, dear friends)

Rather ridiculous how much I love this quilt. I obviously must be having fun cuz I been sewing like crazy. Oh, did you figure out where my inspiration came from? Here's another clue: I've pinned the antique quilt in my Pinterest quilting board. Go and look because there are some amazing quilts to see.

On to fabric. I stole these from my friend's bin o' crumbs.  When were Dusty Pink and Williamsburg Blue so popular? Early 80's? I remember this color combination everywhere, including cutesy country kitchen stuff like geese. Or was that just my house?


Okay, I just got back from a tangent, trying to find a website with photos of popular home decor styles throughout the decades. I came up with nada. Anybody? Anybody? Buehler? (and that blast from the past was brought to you by 1986).

I've received more uglies etc in the mail. First up, I think these are from Heidi B in Germany. Am I right? hope so. The dull sickly green on the far right spreads sadness to whatever its next to.


Next, Linda D and Julie P. I haven't used these yet cuz they just got here yesterday. More blasts from the past. Look at the selvage - Northcott Silk Inc - that is old fabric. But you know what, it really does feel silky, especially compared with others I've been using. Sunflowers - gah. Always hated that trend. Don't remember when that was from either. The hideous green? One of my new favorite colors.


Lucy D sent fabrics neatly stacked. Whilst I admired all the fabulous surprises, I was interrupted. What? Pokey and Bibi couldn't possibly be interrupting.





Okay, I can't resist those blue eyes - Pokey can have a head rub. Uh oh, look out for the Clowns - one of the ugliest, funniest fabrics I have ever seen.


Agh, there's another one. (ooh, and Hershey's Kisses - mmmm)


I used the Clown fabric in a single strip. They're staring at you now


I shouldn't say that - my husband will refuse to sleep under this quilt. (Never Sleep Again as a quilt title or does that sound too Freddy Krueger?) Yes, I'm considering making this a king-sized quilt. Am I insane? Just in case though, I'm not sewing them all together yet...

Last but not least, Kat K-B sent strips, many of which can in no way be called ugly. I think that was cheating! (but I'm happy nonetheless).



Thank you so much to everyone who sent fabric - love it. I gotta wrap this post up now, even with bazillions of things left unwritten. Time to take little Pokey to the vet for her weekly saline infusion.


P.S. if you have asked, but not received, my mailing address it means you are a no-reply commenter. (or I'm an airhead. possibly both are true). Please send me an email or comment again and inc your email. Later, ya'all.

58 comments:

Michele said...

Clowns scare me. The quilt is looking fantastic! It's one of those you could look at and see something new each time.

sewkalico said...

Oh, those blue eyes!! They have me weak at the knees. In fact I have been umming and ahhing about sending you uglies, but Pokey got me. So please send me your addy, because I have UGLY, so ugly, they're bugly!!(I worked with a girl who said I was so ugly, I was bugly = butt ugly LOL - she was a hoot!)

Nancy said...

What about "Confetti" or "Ticker-Tape" for possible names?

Gypsy Quilter said...

Love those little teeny weeny pieces! Keep going, king size is a great idea.

Laura said...

Okay, why would anyone at anytime want that clown fabric? How do designs like that get printed? So terrible! I like how it all looks together. Guess it goes to show you shouldn't obsess about the fabric!

Wow! Scary clowns!

YankeeQuilter said...

I'm with those afraid of clowns...

Just came back from the vet with Goldie and Mac...I think I am putting his kids through college...

Kim said...

Oh Nancy beat me to it.....I look at it and think confetti.....
"ugly confetti"?
"Confetti trash"
"confetti gifts"
Give me your uglies and I will make
beauty :0)..You rock Tonya!

Beuhler,Beuhler, Beuhler? I hate clowns too!
Happy Sewing

Vicki S. said...

It looks like a drunk barcode. Or confetti.

Laurie Ann said...

I like "Never Sleep Again." Priceless.

Tonya Ricucci said...

ooh, another option. Scavenger Hunt. Siobhan and I had a list (ages ago) where we joked about having a list that came along with a quilt and folks would have to see if they could find that fabric or image in the quilt. this would be perfect for that. I'll have to find that list...

Rachael said...

Hideous green? Hmmphf.

Michelle said...

I'd absolutely give a quilt a Freddy Kruger inspired name! :-) The first word that leapt into my mind was "vibrant" -- but it needs something else... "Vibrant Nightmares"?

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh it is SO COOL! It reminds me of something, but it quite isn't coming to mind. But boy is it an eye catcher!

Sharon said...

Circus Circus. I like clowns, but those are crazy. I can't imagine buying fabric like that, but then again, I look at what i have and wonder who picked some of it out!
This is looking really good!

ratty said...

you just reminded me of the buglies i put in the donate box... send me your address and they're yours, all yours!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

This is such a cool quilt! I love the reference to Buehler!

Andrea said...

This is brilliant. I'm sure I have some ugly stuff somewhere - so if you'd like a bit more please send me your address. How about "Ugly snuggly" - geez that's terrible - lol xxx

Lori R. said...

Dusty blue and pink - I worked in a dress shop in the 80's and remember when we got in a shipment of sweaters in those two colors and I did the display. I thought they were beautiful!!!

Now, as a shop owner, it SCARES me when someone comes in wanting to match something like that because there is nothing among my bright fabrics that will work. Oh dear.

pwl said...

I love the quilt, and I think I would call it Inchworm. :-)

Staci said...

When I first saw it the word that came out of my mouth was INSANE! But in a really wonderful way!

Elaine Adair said...

Name of quilt: One word, "Astigmatism"! LOL Honestly, that's the first thing I thought of, while I fiddled and futzed with my glasses in order to see it clearly! 8-))

Kim said...

"It's not ugly if you cut it small enough"

Happy Sewing

Vesuviusmama said...

OK, I'm not calling that yellow with the bright paisley ugly. I love paisley, in all of it's manifestations!

ladibug said...

I like Lego's for the name, but how about..... "quilters Insanity"

Diane said...

Clowns ARE evil. And that fabric just proves it once and for all.
I think I like Lego best too.

It sort of looks like there's a secret message hidden in the pieces, if you could just decode it, or look at it through a magic lens or something.

9patchnurse said...

Ooooo, I love that quilt. I am almost sorry that I got purged so many of my scraps. I like how you put it together. Just goes to show ya, even ugly fabrics can look good in a quilt.

Mamma Bears Fault said...

The first thing I thought of when I saw your quilt was "Pixels" or it reminds my of those magic eye posters where if you stare/cross your eyes, the image pops out at you. Either way, fun quilt!

Nina, the Wonder-Wench said...

Oh, the clown fabric is soooooo ugly, plus clowns and ventriloquist dummies give me the screaming heebie jeebies!
...You'll be receiving a letter from Finland soonish, with some colour combos that give me migraine... :)
Have a good day... <3 :)

AnnieO said...

The green fabric spreading sadness to whatever is next to it is the perfect description of that ugly one!

You crack me up. The clown fabric is pretty scary. If you name this Clown something, your DH will not want it on the bed for sure!

The mauve and blue era was most definitely mid 80's. OMG I hated that era!

Contented Caroline said...

I can see why you love it. I LOVE it too. It's amazing - I want one too!!!! You could call it 'Inch by Inch' although, having said it needs a much jazzier title.

Clare said...

Do you still need uglies? I've been pulling stuff, but haven't sent it. Let me know if you do.

I like Scavenger Hunt.
Sorry - not being very imaginative. Massive thunderstorm last night kept us awake until the small hours.

Mauve and blue and little flowers says Laura Ashley.

cauchy09 said...

Okay, that clown looks destined to be on Death Row. Seriously deranged. I'm gonna go hide now.

Apart from that face peeping out, this is my idea of scrappy perfection. It is not insane; it is frugal, resourceful, and beautiful.

Barb said...

Love this quilt -
Hate clowns. Never understood how dead crossed fish eyes were supposed to mean happy and fun

Cheryl Arkison said...

Ack! So awesome. I need to get my fabric in the mail for you. I've got some special ones picked out for sure. I'm working on a new all scrappy project and what is surprising to me is that even though the fabrics are actually fairly recent, together it isn't always pretty on the small scale! Not that I mind, though.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Have not read all the earlier comments (yet).

Not so fond of the name Clowns.

I like "Cleaning Out the Closet" for this ...

No you are NOT insane (or an airhead) - you are amazing and I love this project, too.

Nifty Quilts said...

This is just the most fabulous thing I've seen in a long time. It's one that people will stare at forever, finding more and more treasures. Ya-hoo!

Heidi said...

yep, you were right with the fabric, this was mine.
And don't you see what you do to us all ? Now most of us want to make such an insane quilt, too ;-)

Terri said...

When first I saw your quilt-without-a-name I thought it should be "Quilting Room Floor" or "Everything But the Kitchen Sink". But now that I've read Heidi's comment, I think it should be "Insane Quilt".
Love it!
Hugs,

Kelli Fannin Quilts said...

Okay, the pic of the 80's pinks and country blue.. I'm not kidding, we had kitchen curtains made out of the pink fabric on the very right, with the little tiny white flowers on it. Whoa. Flash from the past! This quilt is going to be the most beautiful ugly quilt ever. :) Love all the tiny pieces. My silly name suggestion: Cross-eyed. If you stared at it for a really long time, you might go cross-eyed. :)

Angie in SoCal said...

Colorburst

This is an eye popping quilt - love it.

Diane said...

Thought I posted this before but it didn't show up. Your quilt is fabulous, Tonya! That clown fabric CREEPS ME OUT!

Have you ever eaten Scrapple? It’s a Pennsylvania German dish, made with chopped bits of pork, cornmeal, and spices. Apart from the obvious inclusion of the word “scrap”, it would be a great name for this quilt which is made from leftover bits of dubious prints.

Anne said...

A couple of possible quilt names: This Way and That, Every Which Way, Mother Lode of Legos.

Is there a prize for the winner?
;-)

Katie said...

Your comment about your hubby made me think of my Dad who will never sleep under printed sheets. He always says they are so loud they'll keep him awake. :-)

Diane said...

LOL...I love "Scrapple" as a title too. LOVE LOVE LOVE "Kitchen Sink" too, I might just highjack that one for a quilt of my own. I've taught a class using odd scraps and blocks (usually larger pieces than these little guys) and I call it "Cooking With Leftovers".

I could definitely get into sewing one of these babies. I do save ridiculously small scraps sometimes... but usually that's because they're so pretty I hate to toss them. Unlike these!

joe tulips said...

I am not a big fan of clowns, so I like the lego name best. That is exactly what it looks like...a bunch of legos. The more I think about it, the closer I get to attempting this. Would be nice to actually use some of my uglies here too. I just worry that it will be ugly to me!

Quilter Kathy said...

Your blocks are gorgeous! How can they be from "uglies"??
I would love to send a few little treats to be included...is it too late?
Thanks for the Buehler smile this morning...loved the reference!

Maggie said...

Ticker Tape Parade.

Sherri ~ daintytime said...

Pokey's LOVE Quilt

Little Bluebell (Adrianne) said...

I saw your quilt on Pinterest today and came over for a closer look. It's so scrappy and delicious! Then I followed you back over to your Pinterest to see your pins. Now my head is spinning with inspiration!! Thank you... I think. ; )

Karen H said...

I think you should name it "Send in the Clowns, Don't Bother They're Here... " :)

bernie said...

It is cool. I think confetti. It looks like confetti to me. Your cats are funny, not camera shy are they? Bernie

Anonymous said...

Lego (let go) the Uglies!!

I think the quilt is coming along awesomely

please shoot me your addy for a few bits and pieces

Sunny said...

I vote for "Insanity" as the name for the quilt. Love it!

Nyima said...

Name that quilt contest entry from Mungpoo:

MANIC-IMPRESSIVE.

Deb said...

Having reared three boys...and have more Lego's than should be allowed. So, yes, I like the name "Lego"!!
Deb

Quiltsmiles said...

When I see it I see a pixalated pattern so perhaps an electronic name like pixi fibers of something like that. Jane

Shelly said...

I absolutely love the look of these blocks! I can't stand clowns so I would probably name the quilt anything but "clowns". LOL

jeifner said...

Quite fun. And you've got some really wonderful quilts pinned!