Comeuppance

Last week, Paul and I went to watch the movie Men in Black.  I was underwhelmed.  As we stepped out, I sneezed.

On location

Me: AAAHHHTISHOOO...
Paul: Wow that was a big one
Me: (sniffle)
Paul: Your nasal passages are remarkably sonorous
Me: Uh huh
Paul: I am glad that was outside, otherwise they would have to fumigate the whole theater
Me (fed up with his teasing): Well, I could sneeze more daintily, but what is the point? I am already married.

That was my fitting response to his incessant teasing.
This quilt is my response to the challenges of paper-piecing. Hence the name - Comeuppance.

Comeuppance

Bob approves!!!

This quilt has been a very long time in the making.
The pattern is Trinket by Alison Glass. 

Choosing fabrics was fun but making the blocks was a mixed bag. Some were easy.  Others were tricky and yet others were absolute torture.

There were 10 blocks in each of the categories - Lines, Shapes, Things and Life.
Each and every paper-pieced block was made and shared on Instagram according to a pre-determined schedule, in order to be eligible for the weekly prizes.

LINES

Lines#4

I liked this block but wanted to explore how would it look with a range of values.

Lines #4 :-)

Is it a hat or a boat?

These were fun

The skinny strips were tricky.

Line #10

SHAPES

The arrows were easy.

Shapes#5

 These crosses were a bit tedious.

Shapes#8

Although these stars had several steps, I love the finished block.

Shapes#10

Why would I make two identical blocks?  Because instead of making the two halves as mirror images, I made them facing the same way.  So if you look close they are not identical but mirrored.

THINGS

These are a few of my favorite things!!!
Another boat shaped block - time to play with colors :-)

Things#2

 I enjoyed making this house block :-)

Things#7

This has so many little pieces but when it was done, all points matched. It was a miracle. I was in love!!! So perfect.

Things#10

LIFE

This was an interesting block. Very skinny vein in the middle, but overall it looks good.

Life#1

12 small pieces, four template units to make one block and the seams almost matched. UGH!!!

Life#5

Love the cute hearts.  No pesky points.

Life#6

In this case, the little icon does not match the template.  Following the template, I got the yellow/red block but then I decided to replicate the block in the little icon and made the green block.

Life#7

Take a closer look at the blocks below. The purple block looks like a bat (I think) but the green block looks like a starship.  It is the reversal of dark/light colors.  These two were my absolute favorite blocks.

Life#10

And then there was one bonus block - the ribbon block. Yeah, I did not do so well.

Bonus block

Once all blocks were made, the real challenge began. The choice of the background and the layout of the blocks took a hundred different iterations.

Gotta start somewhere

Random

I really liked this layout - just the blocks, no background, arranged to create the Colorwash Effect.
But that would make a tiny quilt and for all the time that went into it I wanted something a little more substantial.

Some method to the madness

So the blocks were spread out to alternate with background blocks.

Almost there and yet so far

A solid black or a solid white will make the blocks pop but may seem uninspired.
Sometimes simple is the best way to go. But is this that time?


All those folks who believe that art just comes naturally to the artist, do not know about our discards.  In quilty terms, you can see where the needle has been but you do not see where the seam ripper has been. There is a lot of trial and error before a project is finalized.

Black Center, graying out to the edges

How much gray is enough? Do I want light grey or charcoal?

Light Center, Darker at the edges

In this case, the design wall was a life-saver.
Should the background start as white in the center and get darker towards the edges...
Or black in the center and fade to almost white at the corners.

Light Grey to Black

This may be it

After several do-overs, many conflicting opinions, I chose the graduated layout with maximum contrast, meaning dark background near the lighter blocks and lighter background as the blocks got darker towards the corners.

Final Layout

Yes it took several iterations but I am sure this process was worth the final layout.

I shared the completed flimsy on Ig as required. There there were a few grand prizes.  No, I did not win anything. But I finished the top and I received the finishers pin.

Finishers Pin!!!

Paul promised me a spa gift card if I finished the quilt.

Choosing the backing was easy but choosing the quilting was not.

Bright Backing

Walking Foot Quilting

Nothing should distract from the painfully paper pieced blocks. Since I firmly refuse to do a stitch in the ditch and my several attempts at a spiral failed miserably, I chose a simple straight lines at 45 degree angle.

For binding I chose a greenish/aqua/striped fabric.  It just seemed to fit.

Aqua/Turquoise Striped Binding

Finished it!!!

And here are a few more pictures because I cannot stop showing off this jewel of a quilt.

So happy

It glows

Me (reading the news): Natalie Portman will wield Thor's hammer in the next Marvel movie
Paul (smiling naughtily): It is about time.
Me: This is not a sexual reference.
Paul: I beg to differ.
Me: You don't have to beg.  You can have anything you want!!!
Paul: You can have anything you want too.
Me: How about that spa gift card?
Paul: Sure babe!!!

This is me at the spa, after the massage and shower - in a state of pure bliss.

Ah bliss!!!

There is only one thing that can add to my bliss - your comments.  I'd love to hear from you.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties.  See full list on the sidebar.

Women of Color

Yesterday I had an appointment with six sisters.  They all wanted pink gowns with matching headdresses. I was ready. Here are the six complete outfits (in the show window) I had chosen.

Fishes, Florals and Spools

Imagine my surprise when not six but eight sisters showed up.  I was prepared for six.
Now I needed two more complete outfits.

Paul: Do you have enough for eight?
Me: I think so.
Paul: Do you need my help?
Me: May we get pizza for dinner?
Paul: Consider it done.

I busied myself with the task at hand, one sister at a time.

Sister #1

Sister #2

Sister #3

Sister #4

Sister #5

Sister #6

Sister 7: What do you have for me?
Me: (pointing to the show window) Do you like any of these?
Sister 7: I was hoping you'd have something different for me.
Me: What would you like?
Sister 7: Something with a geometric design.
Me: I'll see what I can do.

Geometric Design

Sister 7: Ooh this is perfect.

Sister #7

Sister 8: Do you have anything else?
Me: Floral or Geometric?
Sister 8: Floral but unlike anything my sisters are wearing.
Me: Of course. Because you are unique.


This is what Sister #8 chose.

Sister #8

All eight sisters stood in front of full-length mirrors, admiring their new dresses, laughing and giggling, while I gathered the pins, the fabric bits, loose threads etc.  Just then the front door opened with a bang and Sister #9 tumbled in - hot and disheveled .

Sister #2 - What happened?
Sister # 4 - Oh poor baby
Sister #1 - Did you get lost?
Sister #6 - Did you miss the train?
Sister #9 - I was listening to this podcast and I got so engrossed that I missed my stop.
Had to wait for the train and then I power walked from the stop here.
Sister #3 - I am so glad you made it here.

Someone offered her a glass of water and another one fanned her face.
Someone helped her out of her shoes and another one massaged her feet.
And all of us (eight sisters and me) gathered around her to find her the most perfect gown and headdress.

Sister #9

What do you think?

All nine sisters left my showroom/studio feeling happy and looking beautiful.
I will be sharing with Angela's linky party.

Women of Color - in Pink

Of all the ways I identify myself, my identity as a woman is the strongest.  So when two (or three) more sisters showed up, I could only do one thing - open the door wider!!!

Every complexion is different but all palms are open. And whereas the open palms initially signified a willingness to dance, it also means that I welcome you with an open heart. Because whatever affects you affects me too and if you are being attacked, I am under attack as well.

It does not matter whether your name is Alexandria, Ilhan, Ayanna or Rashida, I stand in solidarity with you and my house is always open for you.

Purple Dress Materials for the next visit

The sisters promised to be back and this time they want purple gowns and matching headdresses.  I had so much fun dressing them up that I am looking forward to their next visit :-)

These traveling sisters may visit your studio too. Consider yourself warned, they may say that they need three outfits but then five will show up. Cathy, Kaholly and KiwiKid had similar experiences. Do let me know if you encounter the traveling International Sisters (link to the tutorial).

I finished!!!

In other news, I just received my Finisher's Pin for the Trinket Sew Along.  I will be showing off my completed Trinket quilt in the next blogpost.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
As usual, I'd love to hear from you - my quilty sisters in the blogland!!!