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Friday, August 21, 2015

Running Free



 I started this quilt for two reasons.  One, I wanted to challenge myself, by "Thinking Outside the Block".  This book by Sandi Cummings inspired me to try a different type of piecing.  Two, horses.  After attending a beautiful horse show I had to try to capture the majestic ways of these fine animals.

I used the technique of vinegar and metal to create the center panel fabric.  Then with colors that capture the outdoors, created blocks of random shapes and sizes to border the center panel.  The horses are fussy cut from a novelty print and machine appliqued to the center panel.  The quilt is lightly hand quilted.  I tried to follow the center fabric to create the look of canyon walls.  The quilt is 19 inches square.

This quilt makes me smile. It was fun to make.  I will use the techniques in "Thinking Outside the Block" again.  The horses look like they are having great fun, running free.  Hope it makes you smile too.

This is my entry in the Pets on Quilt Show 2015 category Animal Themed Quilt.  Click on the link to see all the wonderful entries and to vote offered by Lily Pad Quilting




18 comments:

  1. I like when someone steps outside the box as well as learn a new technique. I love the look you got with the 'rusting' and perfect for the horse theme.

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  2. Jan, this is so wonderful! You really captured the excitement and beauty of horses running free! A lot of the Pets on Quilts folks love horses, me included!

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  3. I love everything Western and this mini sure captures my heart. It is a very lovely quilt!!

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  4. Oh wow, what a neat idea! I think you did a great job, thank you for sharing it with us!
    ~Brandy

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  5. What a great idea to challenge yourself with new techniques - it is brilliant - those horses really are running free!

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  6. I like everything about this, the offset center, the colors, all of it. I guess the vinegar and metal makes the rust color for the center piece? Beautiful.

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    1. Yes, I wrapped the cloth around the metal, poured vinegar over the cloth, placed in a plastic bag, tied it tight and put it in the sun. It took a few hours. Then washed by hand and dried. Fun project and you never really know what you'll get till the process is complete. Always a surprise. Thank you for the kind comments

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  7. What a beautiful quilt with such an interesting process! You've captured the spirit of the horses perfectly.

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  8. What super work! Love how this turned out.

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  9. How beautiful to see the horses running wild.... I love the colors.
    Susie

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  10. Beautiful quilt. Love all the implied movement.

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  11. I need to try this technique... Love it!!!

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  12. A beautiful piece of art work. It should be hanging in an art gallery. Interesting way to make fabric. I read the comments above to find out how you did it.

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  13. Beautiful quilt. It did make me smile:)

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  14. I love the horses! They look so wild and free as if they could just prance right off the quilt!

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