Saturday 2 April 2016

My Small World - it's finished!

I'm thrilled to say that My Small World is finished and hanging on the wall.




I started this quilt back in May 2015, but I wasn't happy with my piecing, or some of the fabrics I was using.  Scrappy quilts are a lot harder than they look if you're a perfectionist!


I made a second attempt in January and was much happier second time round.  I finished the quilt top in February and you can read about the piecing process here.


Since then I've been hand quilting it.  I've been experimenting with Aurifil 28wt and 12wt in preparation for hand quilting my la passacaglia quilt later in the year.  The 12wt is lovely and silky, but the 28wt is skinnier and will allow me to take smaller stitches on the la passacaglia.




I quilted in straight lines on all the buildings and coloured parts of this quilt.  I tried to quilt a few clouds into the sky, but when I realised that they wouldn't show up, I just went free form and left the sky quite natural.  It has quilting and texture, but there's no defined pattern in the sky.







I have an ideal place to hang this quilt in our hall way.  Visitors will see it as soon as I open the front door.

I've decided to call it "Wellington 6037" because it does look a bit like where I live. We have tall office buildings in town, but I live on the edge of the city and can see sheep and cows from my house. The 6037 is my postcode and a bit of a throw back to the TV show Beverly Hills 90210, which we all thought was quite funny many years ago.

I didn't think I'd get any quilts finished in the first quarter of this year, so I didn't join any finish alongs.  But I will link up with Crazy Mom Quilts like usual.

Finished size 33" x 52"





36 comments:

margaret said...

Wendy this is one of the most beautiful quilts I have seen and hanging it in the hallway sounds a great idea, just wish I could pop around and see it.Have so enjoyed watching this being created it is SPECTACULAR, ill be sharing the link with 2 ladies that have started but fear abandoned theirs.

Customieze said...

it's so beautiful! <3

Turid said...

What a lovely quilt. And the perfect combination of colours. Great inspiration, too.

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

Stunning!

Linda said...

Your quilt is lovely! I think you have chosen an excellent title. The quilt reminds me of a picture we have back home in the UK which is of Wellington, depicting colourful and geometric buildings just like your quilt. When I get home I'll take a photo and email it to you.

quiltergirl said...

You are such an inspiration. I love scarp quilts but you take it one step further. Some day I may attempt something like this. For now I will enjoy your work and strive to achieve enjoyment out of my quilting. I live in Nova Scotia surrounded by forest, no tall buildings in sight.

Val said...

Your quilt is lovely, just beautiful.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

what thread & weight did you use to stitch(applique) your wools? I see a piece here in there in piece I think? How big is the piece it looks bigger hung outside than I though it was - good job on this piece as always - love your work.

linda said...

Thank you for the quilting tips. I need to finish my rainbow and I will start handquilting mine. I have been curious to try the 12 wgt. Is it similar to perle cotton 8?

Betsy said...

Your quilt made me smile. All the fabrics and colors look so nice together. And your quilting - wonderful.

HeathersSewingRoom said...

Wendy the quilt is awesome. I really like your use of the bright deep Colours in the quilt. A perfect quilt to hang in an entrance of your home.

Laurie said...


I love your Small World quilt!
Laurie

Joan said...

It's amazing! Love it!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

A wonderful finish! Love your use of the bright colours with this!

Melody said...

Oh Wendy, your quilt is amazing and very very beautiful. You clever cookie

Deborah said...

Your quilt is beautiful!

Frances Meredith said...

A lovely finish Wendy.

Jean Campbell said...

You depicted a tremendously beautiful Small World.

Tomorrow I am going to sit and just look at each photo, enjoying how you chose colors, pieced together the various components like sky and town, and take in the patterns and stitching.

As a sometimes cobbler of quilts, I appreciate your work and your expertise.

Julie said...

Such a beautiful finish. Perfect for an entrance way. Are we showing our age talking and knowing about Beverly Hills 90210.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

This turned out to be a spectacular quilt! It is a masterpiece for sure. I missed the Small World craze when it went around and now don't have access to the magazine.

Jan said...

that is just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Just perfect!!
I so want to make one of these but we have literally NO where to hang one and what a shame if it wasn't seen!
Thanks for the review on Aurifil numbers! Off to order some to get a feel for something new!

Unknown said...

Your quilt is wonderful - thank you so much for sharing every aspect of it. Your fabrics are awesome too. I am very jealous of your quilt! I may live long enough to make my own but who knows. ha ha
Pauline
perry94022 at hotmail dot com

Carol said...

I'm totally in love with your quilt! I'm moving from my small town to a larger city 600 miles away to be near my kids and grandkids, and I've been wanting to incorporate some favorite buildings in my area into a quilt of this type to keep the memories close. Your quilt is a great inspiration to motivate me once I get settled and unpack my sewing supplies. I've been taking a lot of pictures to help me. Thanks for sharing!

Katie said...

Only one word needed. Awesome!! :-)

Donna~~ said...

It's absolutely wonderful! I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions and photos. This is on my "want to do" list for my daughter, but I think I'm going to have to wait for a more patient time to do it. Do you have a special place where you plan to hang it?

Susan said...

All your details are just perfect! It will be wonderful in your entrance way!

Ariane said...

Your quilt is just beautiful!!! You did amazing work. I love it!

Staci said...

Just completely wonderful!

Sandi said...

Congratulations on finishing this spectacular piece Wendy. You went to colours I love, very inspiring. Now that you've finished I want to go and see the path that you started and then changed.

Enjoy!

Maryse said...

What a beautiful piece! It's such a delight to look at your work, everything you make is so perfect. I enjoy looking at all the close-up pictures you posted; it's almost like being there and holding it. The quilting is fabulous, I say well done!!

Live a Colorful Life said...

This is an amazing finish. Great name. Again, your work always astounds me.

Johanna said...

Simply fabulous! And the handquilting is such an special extra detail.

Unknown said...

I am loving seeing this! I am about to start this quilt tomorrow and feel so energised to do so seeing yours! I have decided to use that bit of blue in the sky as you have done. It looks gorgeous. Well done - labour of love.

Granny Maud's Girl said...

Great finish!!
Beverley Hills 90210. Ha ha haaa! It does sound a lot more like it represents Wellington: offices and cows rather than shirtless men repairing motorcycles by the pool. (Or was that Melrose Place?)

Susan said...

Of all the ones I've seen, this is the one I like the best. =) If I ever get around to making it, this will be my model for colors.