To commemorate Earth Day 2009, I thought I’d design a couple of quilts using earth colors. Real earth colors. I created a palette using photographs I’ve taken in my yard over the past six months, made squares and then arranged the squares into a quilt pattern. I decided on a Double Irish Chain pattern, as the Irish were among the first Europeans to settle in Cow Bay.
The first quilt employs colors taken from feathers and fur: Bunny Brown, Blue Jay Blue, Jay Tail Feather Blue, Ring-neck Green, Pheasant Grey and Squirrel Red. I don’t think Martha Stewart could have come up with a more beautiful selection.
For my second quilt I made use of colors found in photos of trees and leaves: Inner Birch Bark, Spruce Green, Balsam Green, Ivy Red and Sapling Bark. The white is an authentic ‘Snow White.’
As a quilter, I’ve often wondered how strange it must seem to non-quilters that we cut fabric into small pieces, only to sew them back together again. As crazy as it may be, the process of creating a virtual quilt (without a program for doing such) is even nuttier. (This is what happens when you spend too much time with the squirrels).
Happy Earth Day!
Double Irish Chain Quilt with Snowy Trees and Leaves Palette
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I love the first one. It looks absolutely gorgeous! How long do you think it will take you to finish one?
Thanks uninvoked 🙂 These were meant to be virtual quilts. It took a couple of hours to create them on the computer without using a quilting program.
I’ve never made a Double Irish Chain quilt before so I don’t know how long it would take to complete. Any larger quilts I’ve made have been created in a group. To me, the best part of quilting is sharing the process with others. The last queen size quilt I participated in making was a sampler that took a few years for 5 of us to complete, working just a few hours a week. Several months ago, I completed a single size prayer quilt with the assistance of others at different stages, and that only took a bit over a week. Much depends on the pattern and the method used to attach the three layers together.
… so lovely and gentle. There is something very reassuring about quilts. I love the idea of snuggling down under one of these two quilts lovingly pieced together from fragments of nature. I am sure, if you ever get to make one – it will be totally imbued with the spirit of the place.
I dont know much about quilting – i had not realised it is a group activity – which must make it even more pleasurable, and dare i say it – connecting!
My granny used to crochet beatiful bedspreads, and also, I used to love being with her rag rug in front of the fire – made from the family’s old worn-out clothes etc.
Yes Linda, quilts are indeed comforting and quiltmaking is a very ‘connective’ activity. Quiltmakers connect to one another while making the quilt and to the past when they make use of remnants of old clothing for their fabric pieces. Prayer quilts, which are my favorite, also serve to connect people spiritually. Quilts originated in Africa where they were used as burial shrouds.
I love rag rugs 🙂 They’re similar to quilts in their softness and coziness.
Beautiful “quilts,” Amy, especially considering you designed them on the computer.
I am repeatedly “blown away” by your creativity, both in your ohotographs and in your writing!
Thanks Joan. That’s a huge compliment coming from such a creative person as yourself 🙂
Love the idea of “virtual quilts”! And would love to see them “made flesh”… 😉