Project Quilting Tuned Into Texture Challenge

Spontaneity is my middle name. And so when I read Kim Lapacek's blog about the challenge for Project Quilting - Tuned Into Texture - I decided right then and there I'd do it!

But where would I find my inspiration 'from the wild'? It's deep winter here, with literally four feet or more of snow on the ground. Not much to see out there.....or is there?

I started by looking out the window of my home in the Wood River Valley in the south-central mountains of Idaho. Little bit of melting going on and a nice ice dam forming. Oh, and then there was a cool rug in our kitchen. Or the blinds create an eerie glow with the light shining in.

 I decided I'd better get my snow boots on and venture outdoors. Heck, it was 5 degrees. No biggie.

I found some neat designs on the snowbank, as the snow had been melting ever so slightly, and it was a little wind blown..

 Then I noticed the tire treads in the driveway from the snowplow and the snow blower. Kinda cool.

And then I really liked the late afternoon shadow that the trees cast across the snow bank.

But it wasn't until the next morning, as I was showering, that I really 'looked' at the window tiles in the shower. They were blue, just like all the winter shots from outdoors. And the light played across the curved bricks in the most delightful way!

That's what I decided to use for inspiration in my new quilt. But how? Think, think, think.  I came up with the idea that simple is better.  I constructed this fun lap quilt - a really easy pattern, but the key to it was the background fabric.  It's an Art Gallery print, with small dots interlaced throughout and then some modernistic stick that remind me of pine trees on one of the outer edges.

The pattern is simplistic, with the blocks representing the shower tiles.  And for the texture of the piece, I used a pantograph that is very fluid and makes the eye move from one section of the quilt to another. 

This was the first time I'd used this panto, and I must say, I'm in love with it! It's a favorite from now on!

I put a soft gray minky backing on, and the texture on that is heavenly!  Don't you just want to run your hands across it?

So. There you have it! My first completion for Project Quilting. It was a good challenge to go from conception to completion in one week. Very fun!  This quilt is a good lap size at 50 x 59 inches.

Quilting with a smile,
Barb
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