I got my batik blocks sewn into rows! Do I love the way these colors play against one another? Oh yes. As I seem to be doing more and more lately, I made about 16 blocks extra. Some of my blocks were not working with the others, so I replaced them. Remember in the old days when we would bring our report cards home and there was a place at the bottom where the teacher could make comments?
"Talks too much" "Does not play well with others" 'Is not working up to potential" "Distracting". Well, the blocks I removed were loud, uncooperative and disappointing. No problem, I just sent them to the Office. Actually, once I took out the ones that were not my favorites, I could see that at least they were all of a similar type, and would go great in a runner. The Detention Runner.
My biggest revelation was that the border fabric I carefully selected when I got the majority of the rest of these fabrics is completely, utterly WRONG. Ick. I say Ick again.
It is a gorgeous fabric, but has way too much green for this quilt. What I have learned is: Wait until the top is together and is able to express its personality, then go find the perfect border fabric. I am thinking a narrow dark purple containment border and then……I don't know what, but something Perfect!
A shopping opportunity.
34 responses to “I Learn Something New Every Day”
Beautiful as always. I’ve never been much for batiks but you’re changing my mind.
Beautiful as always. I’ve never been much for batiks but you’re changing my mind.
Love the way your quilt is coming together. Like you, I put my blocks on the floor and switched them around for days–some of the differences were really subtle. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect border fabric. The other piece is lovely though–you’ll find something perfect for it also I would guess.
Love the way your quilt is coming together. Like you, I put my blocks on the floor and switched them around for days–some of the differences were really subtle. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect border fabric. The other piece is lovely though–you’ll find something perfect for it also I would guess.
Looks like that border fabric will be perfect for those green batiks you bought last week!!
Looks like that border fabric will be perfect for those green batiks you bought last week!!
Beautiful batiks! Just thought I would pass on some info.. I saw Alex Anderson speak at my guild a while back and she suggested picking the border first then taking it with you to pick all the colors for the “inside” of the quilt. Keep up the inspiring blog!
Beautiful batiks! Just thought I would pass on some info.. I saw Alex Anderson speak at my guild a while back and she suggested picking the border first then taking it with you to pick all the colors for the “inside” of the quilt. Keep up the inspiring blog!
YES, I am with Donna, that border fabric is just stunning with the green batiks!
I don’t buy border fabric until all the blocks are together and the finished piece “speaks” to me. This will be just stunning when completed, I’ve no doubts!
YES, I am with Donna, that border fabric is just stunning with the green batiks!
I don’t buy border fabric until all the blocks are together and the finished piece “speaks” to me. This will be just stunning when completed, I’ve no doubts!
great reminder on the squaring of blocks. I’m a first time visitor and notice your love for the diagonal set!
your quilts are beautiful.
great reminder on the squaring of blocks. I’m a first time visitor and notice your love for the diagonal set!
your quilts are beautiful.
I like how you make “lemonade out of lemons”: to wit: gotta go buy new border fabric. Yay!! It really is a very pretty quilt. And, yes, you’re helping me to change my mind about batiks. Thank you for sharing yourself.
I like how you make “lemonade out of lemons”: to wit: gotta go buy new border fabric. Yay!! It really is a very pretty quilt. And, yes, you’re helping me to change my mind about batiks. Thank you for sharing yourself.
I llike the idea of the dark purple, then something sort of lavender, like is in the quilt.
I llike the idea of the dark purple, then something sort of lavender, like is in the quilt.
Now do you see why I like pieced borders?
Your quilt is gorgeous and I think it’s a perfect example of how quilts “evolve” in different ways. I have never been a border-first kind of person ~ even when I made quilts with straight, non-pieced borders. Unless I was using that fabric to specifically set the mood of the quilt, I always found that the rest of the quilt had a mind of its own and that it wasn’t going to tell me anything about what worked until it was done.
On a side note… jave you been looking at my old report cards? The comments on yours appear to be remarkably similar to the comments on mine ~ particularly the “talks too much” and the “potential” thing. We sure showed them, didn’t we?
Now do you see why I like pieced borders?
Your quilt is gorgeous and I think it’s a perfect example of how quilts “evolve” in different ways. I have never been a border-first kind of person ~ even when I made quilts with straight, non-pieced borders. Unless I was using that fabric to specifically set the mood of the quilt, I always found that the rest of the quilt had a mind of its own and that it wasn’t going to tell me anything about what worked until it was done.
On a side note… jave you been looking at my old report cards? The comments on yours appear to be remarkably similar to the comments on mine ~ particularly the “talks too much” and the “potential” thing. We sure showed them, didn’t we?
it looks great!
and you sew so fast!! you have me motivated!
kisses and cupcakes,
amy
*
it looks great!
and you sew so fast!! you have me motivated!
kisses and cupcakes,
amy
*
It is just beautiful!
It is just beautiful!
WOW – your batik quilt is FABULOUS!!!! I love the selection of purple colors. But you’re right, the border does nothing to enhance the quilt. Best go shopping again! I’m sure you’ll find the perfect fabric!
WOW – your batik quilt is FABULOUS!!!! I love the selection of purple colors. But you’re right, the border does nothing to enhance the quilt. Best go shopping again! I’m sure you’ll find the perfect fabric!
Love it. This is the pattern I chose for my daughters quilt…and batiks, too. Great minds think alike.
Love your blog. I have added your blog to my favorites.
Love it. This is the pattern I chose for my daughters quilt…and batiks, too. Great minds think alike.
Love your blog. I have added your blog to my favorites.
This quilt is gorgeous; you can’t go wrong with batiks!
What pattern is this?
This quilt is gorgeous; you can’t go wrong with batiks!
What pattern is this?
Nicole, I knew your batik quilt would turn out extrodinarily beautiful. As for the border fabric you show in the photo, I quite like it, I think the greens add to the overall affect and make the other colors ‘pop’, but when I’m not happy with a particular fabric I have chosen, I won’t use it either. I know you will find a batik that says “I’m perfect”. Also, I picked up the newest ‘Fons and Porter’s Easy Quilts’ magazine today and on page 18 there is a wonderful batik quilt designed by a gentleman named Butch Myers (see page 24 for his info). When I saw it I immediately thought of the newest array of batiks you picked up. I don’t know if it is something you would be interested in making but you really should take a look. It makes me want to run out and buy every batik I can find.
Nicole, I knew your batik quilt would turn out extrodinarily beautiful. As for the border fabric you show in the photo, I quite like it, I think the greens add to the overall affect and make the other colors ‘pop’, but when I’m not happy with a particular fabric I have chosen, I won’t use it either. I know you will find a batik that says “I’m perfect”. Also, I picked up the newest ‘Fons and Porter’s Easy Quilts’ magazine today and on page 18 there is a wonderful batik quilt designed by a gentleman named Butch Myers (see page 24 for his info). When I saw it I immediately thought of the newest array of batiks you picked up. I don’t know if it is something you would be interested in making but you really should take a look. It makes me want to run out and buy every batik I can find.
Wow, seriously beautiful. I can’t wait to see the detentionees.
DD#1 has agreed to let me use a batik kit I purchased years ago as her project. I am looking forward to playing with them after seeing your lovely job! Shopping will be required for me too; DD wants more browns…
Wow, seriously beautiful. I can’t wait to see the detentionees.
DD#1 has agreed to let me use a batik kit I purchased years ago as her project. I am looking forward to playing with them after seeing your lovely job! Shopping will be required for me too; DD wants more browns…
Hi, gorgeous quilt. I have a whole collection of batiks put aside, not sure for what, except I like them!
If it was me, I’d be picking a really bright orange or lime green batik narrow border to frame your blocks and add some zing, and then a deep, dark purple for the main border
Hi, gorgeous quilt. I have a whole collection of batiks put aside, not sure for what, except I like them!
If it was me, I’d be picking a really bright orange or lime green batik narrow border to frame your blocks and add some zing, and then a deep, dark purple for the main border