Friday, January 17, 2014

the lipstick quilt

Welcome to finish it up Friday!
This is probably the funkiest quilt I've ever made. I'm very happy with the results! It was challenging at some points, as all quilts are. It started with some mustard colored blocks from Dan's curves class last summer at Camp Stitch-a-lot. A few weeks later I came up with the setting. I love the non-traditional layout and the fact that there are 9 blocks, but it's still a rectangular quilt. (Square quilts are not my favorite.)
It's made up of mostly kona cottons and then just a few prints. I like how the two play together. I also like that one odd triangle.
To continue with the funky theme, I quilted it in one concentric oval. It took awhile and a lot of thread. One of the reasons that I chose that quilting design was because I didn't want the back to be all thread-y. (Pebbling was the runner up idea, but the back would have looked like a hot mess, probably. I didn't want that.)
The backing was a perfect match...an unbelievable match...found at SR Harris. I love how the quilting shows up on the print.
For binding I squeaked by with what I had in my stash. I didn't have enough fabric of either color, so I did a little of each. I would have matched the main color to the binding, if I had had enough, but this is a fun design element, too. I machine bound it. It's been awhile and I need more practice! (I need to let go of just a few imperfections. Sheesh!) But I love the quick finish that it produces. It's durable, too.

It's washed and dried already, so it's all crinkly. It measures 61" x 84".

Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes (and your finishes ONLY, please). Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday!

74 comments:

Frances Meredith said...

Wow, the quilting on this is amazing.

Jade said...

I LOVE the quilting here. Love the hip modern look too. (And the name. :) )

Audrey Mackie said...

Really like this one. I wish I could do the circular quilting

Leigh Anne said...

This is awesome! I love that you are breaking away and doing some quilts that I wouldn't immediately identify as Amanda Jean :)

Darcy said...

Your quilting is always so gorgeous and inspiring :-) Also love the color scheme of this - so vibrant!

Vera said...

I like the colors and quilting as well.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! I LOVE this quilt! It is drop dead gorgeous!

Missenota aka Kristin S. said...

Beautiful! I love this quilt and its' quilting.

Christine S said...


love this, your quilts are always amazing!

Izzy said...

I love this quilt. It really is funky, but in such a gorgeous, fun way. Great finish!

Catherine said...

It's beautiful - I love the rich colours and the quilting.

Flaun of I Plead Quilty! said...

Rossie who? ;-)

Elise Lea said...

Gorgeous colors! This is beautiful!

Jayne said...

I am in love with the curves! Just beautiful. It turned out great!

Kris said...

Wow I love this quilt. I love the colors the design the quilting! LOVE IT!

CapitolaQuilter said...

The quilt is fabulous and I love the color combo and layout. Alway fun to find just the right backing fabric like the last piece of a puzzle that makes everything fit.

Lorna McMahon said...

Great design! And the quilting... Love the new take on spiral quilting. Genius! Seen matched binding before. But again... Genius! I love this quilt!

SarahZ said...

That is one HOT quilt! all the elements work so well together...the simplicity works so well with the vibrancy of the colors! I love it!

Turid said...

A very interesting quilt. And the quilting is perfect!

Little Island Quilting said...

Fabulous. Not you but and not what I would expect so all the more fabulous :-)

Catherine said...

Just love the bright colours and the backing complements it perfectly. Love it.

Sarah Craig said...

it's beautiful, Amanda Jean! I love the hot bright colors against the mustard!!

Cindy said...

I love this! It turned out wonderful. I need to finish all of the projects I started at Camp Stich-a-Lot last summer. congratulations on a Beautiful finish.

DianeY said...

Love the colors so much! And so glad to hear I am not the only one who isn't fond of square quilts!

Anna said...

I love this amanda jean!!! seriously super pretty. The colors suit eachother so well. :) great finish!!!

Lynn said...

Okay, so I'm sitting here minding my own business and I think I check out finish it up friday (no finish for me) and I see this new quilt of yours and I am blown away. I love, it, different from some of your other quilts and again a lesson in color and patterns and fabrics. Awesome!

Unknown said...

I remember this! It turned out wonderful! I love how the blocks float. Thinking about making a pilgrimage to SR Harris on Monday....Federal Holiday.....depends on how the weather shapes up. Have a great weekend!

Unknown said...

Amanda: This is very unconventional for you, but I love it. I'd like to see it on a wall with one of your scrappy quilts beside it to see how they play together.

Question: Have you posted a tutorial or discussion of how you do the circular/oval quilting? And, especially, how you manage it on a domestic machine. I'm really interested in trying it--but timid!

charlotte said...

Love the quilting, but the front colors and the layout knocked me off my chair. It says POW!!!

Jodi said...

Wow, pure gorgeousness! reminds me that I really need to try and design my own quilt and stop using patterns so much! And I want to find myself some "cheddar" solid fabric for a Hunter Star I want to make (oops! another pattern! ha)

Locket Pocket said...

I love the quilting on it! :)

Jean said...

Absolutely love this quilt... the colors, the quilting!! Gorgeous!

Lostinspace said...

What a lovely quilt, the colours are great and the back is just gorgeous.The quilting in an oval business is inspiring!

Amira@littlemushroomcap said...

As always.. beautiful. A little different from your ususal ones but gorgeous! You are so talented and inspiring

Tennjenny said...

that's great! I love little Miss Hope Valley calling out for some attention. I see you and love you, little Miss Hope Valley. I also like Extra Purple Triangle, who is maybe trying to catch the eye of LMHV?

Heather said...

I love your creative setting on this quilt. the colors are quite striking.

Emily said...

I am in shock a bit with this quilt (that YOU made it!) since it is so different than your norm. With that being said, it is truely FANTASTIC!!! Way to break out of your routine in the most fabulous way possible. You never cease to amaze. And that background color is to die for. (ok, enough gushing...)

Snowcatcher said...

So unique and SO beautiful! I love the bright, cheery feel!

Suzanne said...

Fabulous quilt! Love the quilting.

Tilkunviilaaja said...

I love this quilt, it is very original! You have made great choices with the sashing/background for the blocks, with the backing, and with the binding. Really! Go you! Fantastic success!

LisaAnn said...

That is a very fancy quilt! Lovely!

Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said...

Whoa! I love it! I mean really really love. It's beautiful!

Clair said...

I like the name of the quilt. The background does look like some bright lipstick.

Katherine said...

Mine, mine, mine! (thought maybe it would work like calling, "Shotgun" to ride in the front passenger seat) ;o)
I am SMITTEN with your lipstick quilt. TOTALLY. Mine? :o)

cindi said...

great quilt and great quilting. how on earth do you find the time to do all that you do? definitely not low volume but highly fabulous.

Sara said...

Very serene looking and the mustard with the other earthy tones reminds me of a desert scene for some reason or another. Love this!

Gillian Grimmett said...

Gorgeous quilt! Love the colours and i really love pieced bindings. They make a quilt look even more interesting in my opinion.

Sjen said...

Wow. One of my FAVORITES. Gorgeous. I love the jump of the colors and the layered blocks... and the quilting is impeccable... and shimmers somehow.
Thanks for sharing! Love it!

Nicole said...

Love the colors you chose!

Carla said...

I"m joining the chorus of commenters above....what a fun quilt!!

S Staum said...

I was there at Camp Stitchalot last summer and saw these blocks when you first created them. What a transformation! I am blown away at the colors you've added- WOW! Such a good example of stretching your imagination!
Now my sample blocks from Dan's class... not so sure if they can be saved but you've given me a spark of inspiration!!!

S Staum said...

I was there at Camp Stitchalot last summer and saw these blocks when you first created them. What a transformation! I am blown away at the colors you've added- WOW! Such a good example of stretching your imagination!
Now my sample blocks from Dan's class... not so sure if they can be saved but you've given me a spark of inspiration!!!

myrtovl said...

What a gorgeous quilt! When you had shown us the blocks you had made in Dan's class in the summer I did not very much like the colors as brown is not what I like... But seeing it now with the background fabrics that you have chosen and the way placed the blocks, I love it! This will help me to start thinking of trying to use up some blocks I made not very much of my taste....
Thank you Amanda for sharing it with us!
Myrto

azuliverde.21 said...

I love this new quilt, the colors and the concentric quilting.

And asymmetry surely is a good friend :)

Stacy Olson said...

So impressed with your skill and patience when it comes to the circular quilting. It sure makes for a beautiful and fun result.

Suzanne said...

One thing I like about this quilt is the staggered layout. I will have to spend some time looking at how you got them to float as it appears that there might be a wee bit of size variation. Another thing I love is how you used what you had. Great choices on binging and backing.

Gina said...

Great quilt and I love the quilting idea for it

Lea said...

I really, really like this quilt! The colors are so fun and I love the circular quilting!

Michelle@factotum-of-arts.com said...

I love the colors and the curves are wonderful!! Love the circular quilting.

Anonymous said...

A masterpiece!

Shari said...

Incredible---really. I loved pulling out the pictures from camp to see before and after.....really demonstrates your skill as a designer. You embodied what we hear Tim Gunn say all the time --- Make it Work!

lnfol said...

I loved the back ground colors that you chose. The backing and quilting look awesome. QUESTION: Your binding reminded me of the "matching" binding you did on your "Missing U" quilt.I checked your tutorials and couldn't find any info on how to make one. Do you have any hints or where I should go to find out how to match my binding to adjacent blocks?

Sandy Panagos said...

I love that quilt. The quilting is very cool and you are right - the backing is perfect! Well done!

Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts said...

Do finished flimsies count? I hope so!

Stunning quilt, by the way. Love the oval quilting on it. And I'm not a big fan of square quilts either. They are never quite right!

margaret said...

an unusual desugn that works really well and as you say backing is a great match

Unknown said...

I love this quilt. I quilt my own at home on my Juki and agree with Sally Ann above that a tutorial on spiral quilting would be great. I would love to spiral quilt one of my quilts and would love if you would post sometime on any pointers or problems or just thoughts on the process. Your spiral looks absolutely perfect.

Nancy E. Banks said...

I always enjoy your sense of design and color--you have a playful, loose approach that makes for quilts that really appeal--but this one is just spectacular.

lindaroo said...

Tell us again, please, how do you sew your concentric circles?! They are awesome. Do you really turn the quilt around and around as you go, or do you FMQuilt it? If you do FMQ, how do you keep the space between the lines so perfectly even?

Dianne said...

Wow, wow, wow!!! I really love this quilt. No really, really love it!!

Andrea said...

Fabulous!!

Live a Colorful Life said...

I really REALLY love this quilt--the funkiness of it is just really fun.

J said...

Wow Amanda Jean - you really made this into a beauty! I love it.

Janet (who sat across from you at Camp Stitchalot)

grapes and hearts said...

Amanda, I think this is my favourite ever of all the quilts you made. Not only because it uses many mustard-y yellows but the design and the quilting is oh so nice, too!
So very well done!
Greetings from Germany
Christine

Jayne said...

I love it! Beautiful colors and great design. The quilting is perfect too!