Friday 17 February 2012

Modern Mini Challenge



To say I`m excited to be participating in Jennifer`s Modern Mini Challenge is an understatement, and today`s my day! I`m sharing it with Twin Fibers, so be sure to pop over there too.

When I got Jennifer`s email inviting me to take part, ideas whizzed around in my head.  I certainly didn`t want to let her or you down. The mini quilt I`m sharing with you was made for the challenge.  It is the first mini I have made, the first quilt made completely from scraps, and the first made from solids (well almost - the red is from Moroccan Mirage by Kristian A.Howell).

I am currently participating in a solids swap and my partner loves improv.piecing. In my research to see how to approach this style of patchwork, I came across the Gee`s Bend quilts and I am head over heels in love with them.  The Gee`s Bend quilters are a group of women who live in Alabama in the isolated hamlet of Gee`s Bend and create amazing improv.pieced quilts. They are bright, unique, abstract and just a little bit crazy.

Using the blue and green (Delft, teal, olive, artichoke and peridot) Kona scraps left over from my partner`s quilt and adding in some Kona charcoal, Kona ash, white and a pop of red, I made this mini. It measures 22in.

Gee`s Bend Inspired Mini
The Gee`s Bend quilts were a big source of inspiration for some of the block designs...



...particularly the house top quilts - examples of which you can see here and here.

I didn`t use a ruler to measure or cut, and simply pieced different sized scraps of fabric together, making it up as I went along.  There are 12 blocks of varying sizes in total. It was liberating and huge fun but to get the design looking `right` was a lot harder than I thought!

There`s a certain wonk to this quilt as is typical of the Gee`s Bend quilts.  Whether or not that was deliberate, I`ll leave you to decide!

Jennifer`s challenge certainly inspired me to try something new.  I really hope you have been left inspired by the bloggers participating in this blog hop.  As Jennifer says, "Think big make small". Why not make your own mini and enter it in Jennifer`s challenge. The linkie opens on March 5 and remember, you don`t have to have a blog to enter.

The Modern Mini Challenge is generously sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop.





Your mini could be one of 5 winners! 

James’ choice (Jennifer`s husband chooses his favorite) 
Viewer’s choice Mug Rugs
Viewer’s choice Mini Quilts 
(mug rugs and mini quilts- the viewers choose from a selection chosen by myself and three other bloggers) 
Luck of the Draw (Random Number Generator chooses 2 winners)




Both Viewer’s Choice Winners will receive a fat quarter bundle of the FULL LINE of Flea Market Fancy reprint by Denyse Schmidt. 

James’ Choice Winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop

Both Luck of the Draw Winners will receive a $75 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

There are still a couple more days of the blog hop to go.

 2/18: Cut to Pieces & Sew Sweetness

I can`t wait to see what you come up with.  Good luck!


Modern Mini Challenge

41 comments:

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Bloody hell Annabella, that is absolutely awesomely wonderful!!!

Well done you - I love it xxx

Canadian Abroad said...

For someone who didn't do wonk or improv a couple of weeks ago I think you have aced it. Beautiful mini and you should be so proud!!

Susan said...

Oh I love this!!! May I use it for inspiration? And 'pin' it?!!! Fabulous, stunningly fabulous!

Fiona @ Poppy Makes said...

Oh it's fantastic Annabella!I love everything about it!

Isisjem said...

It's really fab - I love the less than obvious colour scheme and the wonk is perfect!

Karen said...

WOW! WOW! WOW!
(am speechless)
PS LOVE THIS!

Katy Cameron said...

Oooh, absolutely fab Gee's Bend inspired mini, your partner is going to absolutely flip for it!

Annabella said...

Thanks Katy - this isn`t my partner`s quilt...I made this one from the scraps of my partner`s quilt!

Ansell said...

WOW! This is seriously 'awesome'. I am truely impressed by the design and the colour choices.
Well done daughter - you have surprised yourself
Lots of love, M xxx

Unknown said...

Seriously. Wow.

Where have you been hiding that talent for improv?! I think you've found your calling!

Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane said...

That is awesome Annabella! Love it. Thanks so much for taking part in the inspiration hop. You've certainly inspired me!

Cindy Sharp said...

Do you know...can I enter one I made some time ago?

Cindy said...

THIS IS GORGEOUS! Annabella, you've outdone yourself. The colors, the piecing and the quilting are just striking. Well done!

Simone de Klerk said...

Absolutely inspiring. It says: 'try to make me' everywhere!

Kati said...

This is fabulous!! I need to try this. I love how it turned out.

Leanne said...

That is a stunning quilt! And totally inspiring! I love it.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

You have been holding out on me. This is so amazing and I love Gees Bend quilts. They are what inspired me in the beginning to quilt and I have still never tried to make one! I love everything about this quilt, especially the pops of red!

Valerie said...

I always love your stuff! Your quilt is awesome!

Sheila said...

This is spot on Annabella, fabulus quilting, very edgy!

Laura said...

Amazing, amazing, amazing. I would love to try that. Thanks for sharing.

Catherine said...

this is amazing - well done to you!

Tamie said...

Love your mini. Very cool.

Jennie P. said...

I don't know why but it reminds me of the interlacing on a monitor. Very nice!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

It's fabulous! You've taken to improv piecing like a duck to water!!

Indianna said...

Fantastic- I love the wonkyness of it.... And that quilting.

Helen L said...

Love your quilt!! It's a great salute to the Gee's Bend quilters!! I love that you used mainly scraps, because the reason for the wonkyness and scrapiness of Gee's Bend is that they were so poor that they used all their fabric scraps for quilts. Love the quilting you did on it too :-)

Helen L said...

Love your quilt!! It's a great salute to the Gee's Bend quilters!! I love that you used mainly scraps, because the reason for the wonkyness and scrapiness of Gee's Bend is that they were so poor that they used all their fabric scraps for quilts. Love the quilting you did on it too :-)

dutchcomfort said...

Fabulous Annabella! You’ve become an improv Pro!!

Prof. S (the enchanted bobbin) said...

Great work, Annabella!!! There is so much energy and movement in your little quilt...I love it.

Geri said...

This is an amazing quilt! Love it!

Kirsten said...

This is amazing work Annabella - love the colours with the pop of red especially!

Anonymous said...

Oh! Love this! I am also a huge fan of the Gees Bend quilts!! I love the quilting pattern in this one, too.

Dianne Neale said...

Wonking wonderful! Outside my normal comfort zone but really must have a go.

leanne said...

love it - really gorgeous and those little pops of red just make it - congratulations :)

Anonymous said...

absolutely amazing, love the quilting too!!!

pinsandneedles said...

This is beautiful! This has inspired me to look into making a Gee's Bend improv quilt! Thanks!

Simone de Klerk said...

Somehow I can't get this quilt out of my mind. Looking at it closely again, I see that you quilted it round and round. So pretty!
I am really thinking of making this for the MMC. Maybe not original, but fun!

Kersten said...

I just want to sit and stare! I love it.

Shelley said...

Wow! This quilt is so beautiful. The colors and patterns are so lovely.

Josée Carrier said...

I love your mini quilt! I particularly love the pop of red in all the greens and blues.

Frederick Nunley said...

Gees Bend inspiration comes through loud and clear. I think you have a winner here. Wondering how you got that quilting so nice and neat ? I have to try one, like this soon as possible for a break from the routine of English Paper piecing.