Monday 22 September 2014

Memory Lane: Mt Rainier, Washington

Back in 2009, i was fortunate to travel to the United States as part of a collaboration with researchers. I spent most of my time there in Seattle, Washington. I'd never travelled to the U.S. before, and i was overwhelmed with the kindness of people and the beauty of the state during summer. The highlight for me was visiting Mt Rainier National Park with my friends Roger and Barb. The mountain was like nothing i'd seen before and i just couldn't believe how big it was! The park with its spectacular wildflowers and alpine scenery was beautiful.



While visiting a quilt shop in Seattle, i came across a McKenna Ryan pattern from the Calling Me Home series called Going to the Sun. It reminded me of the flowering bear grass i'd seen at Mt Rainier and of the alpine scenery. I'd never made an art quilt using so much fusible web appliqué before and thought i'd give it a crack.



Upon returning home, i quickly got to making it, and while i was really happy with my fabric selection (i really liked the colours in the original, so tried to match them as much as i could), my enthusiasm waned over time. It felt very stiff and i wasn't sure where i would hang it once finished. Well, it sat in my cupboard while i completed my studies and worked on some other projects. To be honest, i wasn't sure i'd ever pull it out again, but i was recently looking through some photos from my travels to Washington and was reminded of the art quilt. So, i've been slowly working on it over the last month and it's finished.



It does remind me of my visit to Mt Rainier and Seattle. My favourite parts are the purple spotty binding, the maple leaf quilting in the border and the gold thread (Madeira) that i've used for the quilting in the sunset sky. I can highly recommend maple leaves like these for beginner free-motion quilters like me. I drew them onto the quilt with a home-made template before quilting, and i've found them really forgiving of my pretty messy free-motion work.

I'm still not sure where to hang it, but i do like it. I don't like the stiffness that comes with all the fusible web and i'm not sure i'll make anything using this technique again, but it has been fun trying something different.

Linking up with:
- Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday
- Gemma for I Quilt Thursday at Pretty Bobbins and
- Lorna for Lets Bee Social

15 comments:

  1. it is so gorgeous - what a fantastic memory of your time there.

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  2. that is really lovely! I spent time in Seattle in 2003 and am quite nostalgic about it too!

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  3. This is gorgeus! Fantastic idea and so beautifully made!

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  4. The scene is beautiful. Both in the photo and in your art quilt. You did an amazing job and should be proud to hang this piece! I love how you captured the look of the flowering bear grass, which I had never heard of before. And the gold quilting across the sky is so pretty!

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  5. I enjoyed the scenery and your lovely quilt! : )

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  6. The fusible often softens a bit with washing, depending on the brand. Have you tried that?
    I love the lacy flowers.

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  7. it is fantastic, great job! I love the little flower clusters. I find fusible web softens up when you wash it, but I don't suppose you would wash an art quilt?

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  8. I love the little flowers on the flowers. When working with large pieces of fusible, you can cut out the center of the fusible so you just have the stuff on the outside edge of whatever you are cutting and fusing. This leaves most of the piece fusible free. What a wonderful experience you had. Seattle is a great city and Mt. Rainier must have been awesome.

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  9. Beautiful quilt. I love the 3-D effect on the flowers. It makes it look even more special.

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  10. It's lovely! I especially like the binding and that whenever you see it, you will be reminded of such a great trip :)

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  11. It turned out so pretty, I'm glad you finished it! My favorite parts are the layered sky and mountains!

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  12. This is absolutely beautiful Jen! I love the flowers and your lovely stitching. I agree on the use of fusible -- I made a holiday wall hanging with it once and will not applique that way again. Too stiff!! Luckily, from a distance, nobody else knows that but you and me ;) Take care and thanks for sharing at Pretty Bobbins. Karen

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  13. It's beautiful, and has such strong echoes of your photos, it must be a lovely reminder of a great trip.

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  14. ooh that is beautiful! What a wonderful eye you have for design!

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  15. Lovely work - you are very clever!

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Wahoo.....I'm always stoked to receive comments so thanks so much for taking the time.

Wishing you many happy quilting hours!