Friday, January 24, 2014

Stamp of Approval

Sharing a new quilt - what a great way to start the new year! I can't believe we're almost in February already! This is "Stamp of Approval" and it will be featured in the April 2014 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. It's my take on a postage stamp quilt - well, half-ways anyway!
“Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2014 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.”

I love antique postage stamp quilts but find the million-plus little one inch squares a little daunting. Our quilting predecessors were champions of using every last scrap, right down to the little one inch squares that would be scrimped, saved and stitched together. A postage stamp quilt was a badge of honor reflecting its maker's frugality and resourcefulness during hard times and could take many, many years to make.

Mine, not so much. I came up with the center blocks that are inversions of each other so I would only have to make half as many! I also used strip-set piecing to make them go together a lot quicker. Lazy, maybe, but I do like the result. Originally, I only had planned to make the center but once I got that far I felt like it just needed a little somethin'-somethin' so that's where the leaf and vine border came in. It framed whole project and gave just enough curve and flow to an otherwise very linear grid design.
“Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2014 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.”

Just about any project that will eat up some of my scraps is sure to be one of my favorites and this one was no exception. After falling for the aqua blue in a previous project, I was bound and determined to use it again, this time in a big dose. I pulled out all of my 1 1/2" scrap strips (the smallest size I usually keep) and then filtered them down to just the ones that looked like colors you would find in an Easter basket. To up the scrap-factor in my quilts, I usually expand my search to a color category instead of a single color and I am usually pretty pleased with what the additional scraps bring to the party.

The finished quilt measures 63"x 63" and the lovely quilting was done by my friend and wonderful, long-arm quilter Tracey. Thanks also go to my quilting buddy Yvonne, who gave me the idea for stitching down the yo-yo "berries" in the border using decorative embroidery stitches on my machine. There is a nice detail shot and also a quilt diagram in the magazine spread.

I have been told that this issue hits the newsstands and goes out to subscribers the first week in February. So while "Stamp of Approval" is not a cover girl, she's still one of my favorites! Hope you enjoy it too!
“Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2014 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.”

Happy stitching,

Tonya

7 comments:

  1. Beautiful quilt! This will definitely be on the "I am gonna make this" list. I'll look forward to purchasing this magazine issue.

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    1. Thanks Pam! You're always so sweet. I think Carol's going to make one out of Kansas Troubles. Can't wait to see it!

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    2. Thanks Pam! You're always so sweet. I think Carol's going to make one out of Kansas Troubles. Can't wait to see it!

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  2. Your pattern in AP&Q caught my eye! I am always on the lookout for new designs to use 1.5" squares. I've forwarded your post to the Postage Stamp Swap Yahoo group, too.

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  3. Can you tell us the name of the blue fabric and who makes it? This quilt is just yummy. Can't wait to make it!!!

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    1. Sure thing Michele. It's a Kona Solid Cotton by Robert Kauffman fabrics called "Caribbean". Have fun!

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  4. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quilt. I keep telling myself 'no new quilts" but I really feel drawn to start this one - especially with the winter we have had here in the northeast! I also was looking to see what color and make of that blue fabric is - thanks!!! Also wonder what it would look like with a hot pink or lighter green background.

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