Sunday, March 17, 2013

Marcelle Medallion, part one

I discovered this quilt through Instagram.  Lately IG has been the venue for a lot of informal quilt alongs, including the Scrappy Trip Around the World and The X and + quilt.  Then some people started up with the Marcelle Medallion from the book Liberty Love by Alexia Marcelle Abegg and I got bit by the bug.

marcelle medallion 1

I ordered the book almost the instant I heard about it and, thanks to Amazon Prime, had it in my hands in a couple of days.  While awaiting delivery, I rummaged through my fabric and got my color palette ready.  When the book arrived, I immediately traced the templates onto freezer paper and got all the pieces for the center star cut out.  I wanted to really show off the actual star, so I chose solids in some of my favorite Kona colors, and a little Essex linen.



Then I stalled.  Not because I wasn't excited anymore, but because I needed to get other things done.  Bee blocks, commissioned sewing, things like that.  And then I found the time to start up again.  The center star went together way faster than I thought it was going to.  I have never used templates like this before, and I've never sewn with set-in seams.  I thought it was going to be very hard, but it wasn't at all, not even a little bit.  Now I'm not afraid of those things.  I was even really brave and cut into my secret stash of Tula Pink's Neptune.  That didn't hurt either.  Imagine that.


My center star is off at some points, but it doesn't look so bad.  The triangle border is off quite a bit, but I still don't mind.  I am just having fun with this quilt.  And after seeing some amazing quilts hanging at QuiltCon with the same types of lovely inaccuracies (even some that placed!), I've decided to stop being so hard on myself about perfect matching seams and points.  Time to start having fun again!

I know I have been very sporadic with the blog posts lately.  To be honest, I am finding it hard to balance keeping a regular blogging schedule with actually sewing.  If I don't sew, there's not much to blog about, but if I do sew, there's not much time for blogging.  The old catch-22 if you will.  So I hope you'll forgive the lack of posts while I try to find some sort of a balance.  Like I said before, it's time to just have fun with sewing again!

I am very active on Instagram though.  So if you'd like to keep up with me there, I'd be delighted to hear from you.  I am @kristananne.  

12 comments:

  1. Looks great! I'm crazy about those mini herringbones. I keep seeing them and haven't got any for myself yet.

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  2. Set in seams were easy? That's great news =) I have done very few, and plan to do some more soon. Congrats on your lovely start!

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  3. It's looking fantastic, and I love the Neptune border in there! I here you with finding a balance, I've found it hard to blog lately, and rarely even keep up with others blogs, which makes me feel a bit sad and guilty but I am super active on Instagram! I wish blogging and following blogs was as easy as Instagram, but it just isn't!

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  4. Good for you my dear! It loos wonderful. I just bought the book yesterday ; )

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  5. Such a beautiful beginning! This will be a fabulous quilt and I always vote to keep the fun in sewing!

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  6. Great colors you've chosen! Some are very busy but yours is easy on the eyes which I really like.

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  7. It is absolutely beautiful! I like that you used solids in the center and the color palette is very calming!

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  8. I really love your choices for this quilt, the colors are just gorgeous!! It's hard to resist a good quilt-along, especially with such good inspiration on IG!

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  9. It's gorgeous. Those solids were a perfect choice, and I ADORE Neptune. :) One of my favorite quilts was made with it.

    -Amanda-

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  10. I really like yours! I am thinking of doing solids in mine too, whenever I get to start. I'm busy too. I feel you on the blogging sewing balance. :)

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  11. Well, you've inspired me! I have the book and I just keep looking at the picture of Marcelle Medallion, and petting the pages, thinking one day I'd like to try it - I too am a little nervous, the star looks complicated. But you've made me realize to just jump in and try new things and don't be a fraidy cat. Thank you! This is truly gorgeous. I love the colors!

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I'm so excited that you've decided to join the discussion! I think what you have to say is so interesting and it's valuable to share our thoughts with everyone. I'll reply here on the blog so please check back and keep the conversation going.

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