Making this quilt has been an exciting creative journey for me that has encompassed so much of what I've wanted to do as a quilter this year. And I'm so happy with the final product. As such, I've decided to share my quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. I've entered it in the Small Quilts category. For years now, I've enjoyed following along with and being inspired by the other quilt bloggers through this Festival, so I'm super excited to participate this year! You should definitely go take a look around!
This was a fun quilt to play with on my design wall. I squared off each curved piece at 6.5" square (to give a 6" finished block). I believe I started with 40 blocks with a low volume center and 40 with a bold center. I really had no idea how I wanted the pieces to go together, but in the end I came up with this concept. And, with this layout, I did have to make a few extra low volume blocks.
Oh, those raccoons! That print and several others from the Acacia collection by Tula Pink, were the basis for this palette and the reason I decided to make this quilt in the first place. The truth is, I really don't do a lot of pink. But, I happen to adore it paired with olive green...sigh. Such a lovely match, those two. So, Tula sold me on that gorgeous palette. To it, I simply added a bunch of low volume prints, some black and brown, deep burgandy, one of my all-time favorite Joel Dewberry florals, and that fantastical paint splatter print by Jay McCarroll. And, perhaps a few more I'm missing.
Although not a dark quilt, the curves remind me of a dark moonlit night, with woodland animals peeking out through the glow. Filled with feathers, flowers, branches, and scripted text there is something very mysterious and soothing about this quilt.
For the quilting, I really wanted something wavy and somewhat abstract, reminiscent of the wind blowing through the night forest. I used this great tutorial for Ultra-Wavy Quilting by Janice of Better Off Thread. My friend, Valerie, introduced me to this method after she used it on this amazing quilt. It is such a fun design and I felt so happy with how it tied in with my whole concept for this quilt. Not to mention, it makes for a very squishy quilt.

For the binding, I used this gorgeous tangerine dottie print from Cotton + Steel - with metallic gold, of course. I love how it just adds a bit more glow to the quilt.

I'm extremely proud of this quilt and I feel like it ties together a lot of things I've wanted to accomplish this year in quilting. I stepped out of my comfort zone with colors and design and came up with something that I love so, so much. And, that's truly the type of quilting that makes me happiest.
I told Maggie that this quilt could be her cozy couch quilt, although little sis is already trying to steal it. As am I! I'm just happy that it's staying with us!