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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Bohemian Charm

I haven't been absolutely head over heels in love with a quilt I've made since Hopscotch, and that was a couple of months ago, but boy do I love this one!  It was fun to create from the first cut, right up through the final stitch in the binding.


As I mentioned in my last post, all of the fabrics are Amy Butler, and they're a mix of the Lark, Love, Cameo, and Alchemy lines.   Even though they're from four different lines, the fabrics play so nicely together.


As much as I love the surreal colors on the front, I decided to tone down the backing a little bit by using a gray as the main fabric on the back.  The print isn't quite a polkadot, but it does have a small "dotty" pattern that you can see in detail on the picture of the label below.  I sewed the scraps in kind of a log cabin pattern, and added the medallion print from the Cameo line as well.  These fabrics are so fun though, I almost added them to my scrap baskets instead of using them up!


I quilted with a stipple, and kept it a little bit wide so that it didn't add too much busyness to the patterns in the quilt.  It also keeps the quilt nice and drapey.  With its carefree giant prints and vibrant mix of colors that clash just a little bit, I thought that the name Bohemian Charm fit this quilt perfectly.


I used Kona Teal for the binding, and it is the perfect shade.  I think the solid calms the quilt down a little bit too. The finished quilt measures 60x66, so it's a pretty large throw size.


I honestly don't know how I'm going to part with this one.  I suppose there is some consolation in the fact that I already made myself a quilt with Amy Butler's entire Soul Blossoms line last winter, but it's still going to be tough to let it go.  I just love it that much.  Of course, if I kept every quilt I made and loved, we would be literally be drowning in quilts over here!  I sure hope I'm not the only quilter who gets possessive of her quilts and has internal battles over how many I can keep!  Am I?

48 comments:

  1. Kelly, the quilt is fabulous. I made a baby quilt with Amy Butler fabrics about a year and a half ago. I thought it would be too busy, but that was what my friend asked for and it came out perfectly. It is amazing just how her fabrics work together. I am always so impressed with how quickly you get quilts done!

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  2. No, you're not! I have yet to let one go! I can see why you would want to hang on to this one. She's a beaut!

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  3. No, you are not the only one. It must be some kind of motherly instinct. I can see why you have fallen in love with this beauty! The KONA teal binding frames it perfectly! I just finished my first KONA project and my post will be live on Monday morning. Hope you will come visit and enter in my giveaway! http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com

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  4. Super pretty Kelly! Amy Butler's prints are just so fun!

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  5. It's beautiful Kelly! It's funny - I was just thinking today how I really need to keep more of my quilts. I don't have nearly enough in the house. :-)

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  6. I love this! It really turned out well. I would have a hard time parting with it too :).

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  7. You are absolutely NOT the only one....some are harder to part with than others.
    This one is a beauty. Great job!

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  8. This is stunning, I love lots of bright, happy colours.

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  9. It is hard to let go! I have a pile thats growing and I just keep putting it off....they need only the best of homes:) Love the way this quilted, Kelly.

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  10. It's fabulous! And love the wide, loose quilting.

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  11. I once heard a quilter say that she wouldn't sell her children either. I felt a lot better after that. I love the binding you selected. I have always wondered... I saw your label tutorial a while back, and do you turn the edges under or just raw edge appliqué it? If it is the raw edge, how does it hold up in the wash?

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  12. Wow, I'd never have know all those prints weren't from the same line. They work together perfectly. Beautiful!

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  13. Gosh that is one beautiful display of fabric!

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  14. That is one gorgeous quilt!! Love the wide quilting and the binding is perfect :)

    -Soma

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  15. As much as I love the front, the backing is really wonderful. I almost like it better, even though the front is luscious. This pattern and the way her fabrics play together, make it look like a big party where everyone is happy! And the binding is perfect. A pattern would have been too much. You win a blue ribbon! Go you.

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  16. I can see why you want to keep it! Love the pattern, how you pieced the strips together. The backing is perfect too because the front is so "rich".

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  17. Just gorgeous Kelly. Amy Butler works so well! But then I seem to love all your quilts!

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  18. It's so great - both front and back!!

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  19. Amy Butler certainly has a consistent look to her fabrics, which is great for a quilt like this!

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  20. Very pretty quilt Kelly! The nice thing about AB prints are that they look best in large scale blocks which makes for quick satisfaction. And, you are certainly not the only quilter to get attached to their quilts. I do too, but it's always very satisfying to make them for people you know will appreciate your work.

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  21. I can feel your pain, I would have a hard time parting with it too! It's so pretty! Love Amy Butler fabric, it's so rich with colors! Which I happen to love! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  22. No, you are not the only one. I have a hard time letting mine go to.

    I love the fabric choices, and placement, and the movement on this one. you have done it again! Such a pleasing quilt to look at.

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  23. So enjoyed seeing this one in person! Beautiful!

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  24. Hi Kelly! This is so adorable! Gorgeus Fabrics and I can understand you will miss it! Good name, too! x Teje

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  25. Wow it's a double beauty front and back! Love the grey on the back, just completes it so well.

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  26. Don't you just love Amy Butler fabrics, can't get enough of them myself :D

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  27. Pretty. I'm usually ready to let them go when I've finished them. Putting in the time and closeness it takes to hand quilt a quilt does that to me. :) It's usually not until a quilt is already out the door and gone that I think I should have kept it.

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  28. Such wonderful bright colors, perfect for the winter! Love love love, Amy Butler! Great work! Best, Kate

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  29. Beautiful Kelly and you aren't the only one who likes to hold on to their quilts and projects. I made a large tote last year from Lark by Amy Butler and.....my daughter has it :) Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  30. The colors in these fabrics are wonderful! I love the solid binding too and your tag. Thanks for sharing and linking up with TGIFF!

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  31. What a great quilt - congrats - love all the color and energy from the fabrics you brought together!

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  32. I think your quilt is lovely and I too want to keep all my quilts. It is getting easier to let some go though. I still make an occasional one that I say up front is goint to stay here.

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  33. I love this quilt! The fabrics are lovely.

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  34. Your quilt turned out beautifully! I really love the colors and how full of energy your quilt is!

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  35. Oh, this is so pretty. I'm an Amy Butler fabric zombie...must have it all. :) The backing is lovely, too.

    You're not alone in feeling possessive about your quilts. I liken it to children--we grow them and create them, and how would we feel about giving them away? Crafts are like that too--although on a much smaller scale!

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  36. I really love your labels and was happy to find the tutorial! This is a fun, vibrant quilt. Maybe you could keep it for a little while just to make sure you can give it away without regrets?

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  37. I love the colours - really gorgeous! I know what you mean about drowning in quilts -my mum asked me today what I was going to do with all the quilts I have in progress. I guess it is nice to have a selection to love and use, to give away when the occasion requires etc.

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  38. Love the big bright prints! So so pretty!

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  39. It's a beautiful quilt, Kelly! The teal binding was a great choice. And yes, it is definitely difficult to let some quilts go. I struggle with that quite a lot! ;)

    Thanks for linking up to finish it up Friday!

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  40. I love your fabric and color choices . . . so pretty.
    Wait it's more than pretty, it is gorgeous. Great job!
    Connie

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  41. Loving those floral fabrics...such a super burst of colour !

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  42. This quilt is completely gorgeous. I'm wondering - is this a set pattern or just random cutting and placement? It is just so fun and carefree. And the Amy Butler fabrics are just so luscious:)

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm happy you like it. I actually just cut the strips and laid them out randomly. Then I just sewed them together in sections. It was a really fun, no fuss way to sew!

      :) Kelly

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  43. Some quilts are just hard to give away! I can relate. What beautiful colors and great fabrics in this one@ Congrats on a fantastic finish and thanks for linking up!

    xo -E

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  44. Can I buy this quilt pattern please!
    How do I get them
    Do you have a book of quilt patterns

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    1. I’m so glad you like it! I don’t have a pattern for this one, just a blog tutorial. If you search Strip Tango tutorial, it should come up!

      I do have lots of other patterns for sale in my Etsy shop, and I have a book for sale there as well titled Stash Statement. Check it out!

      :) Kelly

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  45. I love the baby quilt tutorial Afternoon tango using strips. What size strips did you use when scaling up to a larger quilt please?

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Thanks so much for your comment and for visiting! I read and appreciate every single comment, and I reply to each one as soon as I can. If you don't hear back from me, you might be a no-reply blogger. :)

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