Once again, Amy is hosting the Bloggers’ Quilt Festival. If you click on the button above, you’ll find thumbnail photos from the participants and, if it’s anything like the spring festival, you’re in for a real treat with lots and lots of lovely quilts to see and stories about their making to read. All this in the comfort of your own home!
I debated showcasing Chintz Circles again so soon, but couldn’t resist it as my entry in the Quilt Festival. When the Inklingo Orange Peel Deluxe collection was released, I had played with the various designs and had a lot of fun doing so. One of my favourite variations was the Alabama Beauty block and, while I had only made one block of it, it stayed in my mind. Eventually, the lure of that block, particularly with my aunt’s 90th birthday coming up, and making an Alabama Beauty quilt with shabby chic fabrics was irresistible.
My aunt’s favourite colours are pinks and greens and I remember the chintz that was in her home when I was growing up so, as soon as I started making the quilt, I realized Chintz Circles was the perfect name for it.
Karen Dianne was making Alabama Beauty blocks at the same time and had shown some of hers on a design wall. As soon as I saw that secondary circular pattern emerge, I knew exactly how I wanted to make my aunt’s quilt and I was off to the races. By mid-April I had hand pieced 6 blocks and saw the first two circles appear.
Choosing the fabrics for each row became more complex as I had to be absolutely perfect with the placement of the fabrics that would emerge as circles. I developed a routine for doing that as I finished a row and would sort the fabrics for each block into separate envelopes. During the piecing, I was often thinking about the rousing games of double solitaire I used to play with my aunt at the cottage during the evenings. We would be laughing so loudly that my mother, who was invariably trying to listen to a baseball game on the radio, would leave and go listen to the baseball game out on the porch. I learned then that long nails, while looking good, were also a great deterrent to an opponent in double solitaire as I developed strategies to avoid getting stabbed by my aunt’s perfectly manicured nails as we competed to be the first to put a card up.
By April 21st, a total of 16 blocks had been pieced together and joined and 9 complete circles had appeared.
As the quilt top grew, it took longer to add more rows and see more circles appear but by May 18, there were 25 blocks joined and 16 circles had made their appearance.
I was then in the home stretch and on June 21 a total of 42 blocks were joined, 30 circles had appeared and the hand piecing of the quilt top was complete.
The backing fabric was found, the quilt was basted and the machine quilting began. On July 20, the quilting was finished, the binding tacked down and this photo was taken very shortly after the last stitch was taken to attach the label.
August 1 was my aunt’s 90th birthday. That morning I had washed and dried the quilt and it had that wonderful crinkly look that quilts get after being washed and dried. Then came the best part — when she opened the gift and saw her quilt. She still has those beautifully manicured nails I so remember from our double solitaire games!
Everything about making Chintz Circles was an absolute joy. Choosing the fabrics, making the blocks and joining them together, quilting it, even working the thread ends in was fun as I often found myself reflecting on some of the marvelous memories I have of the time I have spent with my aunt over the years. I still find that I quietly laugh to myself when I remember those double solitaire games and the fun we had.
There is no doubt I would have not made this quilt were it not for Linda Franz‘ brilliant invention of Inklingo. Having perfect shapes with stitching lines and matching points turned what may look like a difficult block to piece into something that was an absolute joy to stitch and blocks that went together perfectly every time.
What a wonderful gift. I agree the best part of making a quilt is when the recipient sees it for the first time…best feeling ever!
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That is a beautiful quilt. I have been toying with the idea of trying Inklingo – your quilt is definitely a big mark in favour!
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Delightful post! I enjoy seeing your work, and reading your stories. I watch a show called Naked Archeologist, which starts out in Toronto- with a street sign “Spadina” and when I see that, I wonder if it is close to you! I am sure the show is now a couple of years old- My son was in Canada (Montreal) last w/e…the pictures were as lovely as they were 36 years ago, where we stayed for our honeymoon….this Nov we will be in Florida for our anniversary- Canada we found out, is QUITE cold in Nov! fondly, Sandy
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Your Quilt is Stunning!
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What a really beautiful quilt, the shapes look so wonderful and what a fabulous gift – I now have to go and find out what Inklingo is!
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What a beautiful quilt and a wonderful story. I love photos of people loving their quilts. And that is a gorgeous quilt. Love the visual illusion it gives. First it looks like little butterflies, then you see the circles. Very cool.
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Nice to see this quilt again, Cathi! The one I think looks great, even though I really don’t like pink, LOL.
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Ahhh, we do love this quilt!
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This quilt is so beautiful! Wow.
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A great one to showcase Cathi. I wish I had a completed quilt to enter LOL.
Crispy
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Awww, revisit of Chintz Circles. I never get tired of admiring it. How precious is your Auntie. She is beautiful and deserving of such a wonderful gift.
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I love it and the story is wonderful.
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Happy to re-visit any of your designs any time 🙂
Such a heart warming story.
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it’s so beautiful… I love this design. 🙂
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Such a beautiful colors and pattern! I’ll have to peek at this Inklingo!
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Beautiful quilt. I love the secondary circle pattern too.
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What a wonderful read Cathi 🙂 and so lovely to revisit the pictures of the beautiful Chintz Circles.
Ellyx
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Wonderful quilt and story.
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Cathi, What a beautiful quilt. I love the fabrics you used.
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I am so in love with this quilt, I can’t imagine the time it took to make those circles appear intact in the background – and you did say hand-pieced? *swoon*
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I enjoyed your progress since the spring and enjoyed reading all about it again. Congrats on a beautiful quilt!
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This quilt is stunning! I love the subtlety of the various fabrics and the secondary circle pattern is crazy awesome. A beautiful quilt and a lovely story!
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Beautiful quilt! And fantastic story to go with it. I love hearing the stories! Thanks for sharing.
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This is just a beautiful, beautiful quilt! I’ve heard on Inklingo-great to see it in action.
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Beautiful quilt and a great story.
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Beautiful quilt, and a great story!
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Beautiful gift – I like the curves that the quilt has. It really adds a lot of dimensions.
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Cathi,
We have so many wonderful tools available to us now so that quilting complicated patterns is easier. This is a wonderful pattern – I have made a Winding ways quilt which is not quite as intricate but I remember how challenging it was to carefully arrange the color placement so I could get the secondary circles to emerge in the quilt.
Your aunt looks like she loves her quilt- It is obvious that you have enjoyed a really lovely relationship with her over the years.
The memories are ones that you will treasure all your life- how nice that a quilt helped you remember those special times.
Thanks for sharing.
Warmest regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
Anna
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It’s absolutely stunning!!
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There is so much work involved in this quilt. It looks stunning. Beautiful fabrics and a great choice of design!
I really enjoyed reading your story too. What a wonderful woman your aunt must be.
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You weaved a magical story around this quilt and the pictures made it come alive.
Your quilt is a work of art!
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I enjoyed seeing the progress of your quilt, which is simply lovely to admire. Your great aunt must have been so pleased to receive it. I can’t help you on the fabric – wish I could.
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What a lovely quilt!! And such a fantastic story to go along with it 🙂 I think it’s wonderful you have such fond memories of time spent with your aunt. We play a game called Nertz, that I think may be the same game as your Double Solitaire. Fun!
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what a beautiful quilt! I haven’t ever seen this pattern before–love it!
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I have never heard of this, but am SO curious now! Your quilt looks so complex!
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Beautiful quilt! And, a great story, too. We also play double solitaire in our family…
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I agree that those secondary circles are just AWESOME! You did a wonderful job, and it is such a great way to show your Aunt how special she is to you!
~ Meagan
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What a lovely quilt! The colors are beautiful! A great gift for your aunt! 🙂
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What a wonderful story and beautiful quilt.
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Wow, you can tell a great deal of thought and planning went into the quilt. I know your aunt would love it.
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what a marvelous quilt and the story is just great. thanks for sharing such a pretty quilt. have a great day
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