Here is the finished London Steps top. While I realize it is not something that is everybody's taste, I am pretty happy with it. I enjoyed experimenting with more non-quilting fabrics and mixing lots of different kinds of fabrics, and it has the look I was going for. To finish this I think I am going to combine two quilt ideas into a two-sided quilt, so I will be soon be working on another "top" for the back of this.
I am now working as a teacher's assistant in a pre-K classroom at a public school. This is still not my long term final destination job, but as jobs go it's a definite step up from substitute teaching, and I'm enjoying it so far. It has put a limit on my sewing time, I think mainly because it's been taking me longer to think about and transition between projects. I've had other jobs where I actually thought about sewing projects at work and came home ready to work on them, but so far I find I don't have time to let my mind wander while corralling three and four-year-olds all day. I actually kind of like the fact that the job absorbs me while I'm doing it. It has made me realize, though, how much thinking I actually do about quilts before and while I work on them, and that thinking time is an essential part of the process.
As a bit of an aside, flipping through my Hancock's of Paducah catalog I notice they are selling Gee's Bend quilt kits with a pattern to make a Gee's Bend style quilt, and a fabric line called Gee's Bend solids. I admit my initial reaction to that is not a positive one, given that patterns, quilts, and fabric lines seem so far from the things I love about Gee's Bend. Am I being narrow minded? Maybe it's just a way to make the aesthetic more accessible to people who have trouble working in a liberated way? Maybe it's positive because it's ostensibly making money for Gee's Bend (says they "partnered with the Gee's Bend Quilter's Collective). What do you think?
6 comments:
That's a great pattern. I like the color mix.
Your quilt has great graphic appeal. I like it a lot!
I totally agree with you on the Gee's Bend selections. I was very turned off with the same impression. Since when is working from a kit liberated? I love Gee's Bend quilts but this is not what I think about when I think of them. Nope.
Glad to see you gainfully employed!
Congratulations on the new job. It may not be your dream job, but it sounds challenging and I'm sure you'll learn some new skills.
I think your blocks look great. I love these random combinations of colors and fabric. I also find it hard to imagine Gee's Bend kits, but I know that lots of quilters are hesitant to choose fabrics and patterns for themselves, so I guess to each her own. On the other hand, I'm like you. Pillow cases are my new fat quarters, and I enjoy mixing as many colors as possible.
I'd be surprised if the Gee's Bend ladies are actually getting any money. Not all of them belong to the collective, in any case. I hate kit quilts on principle- I don't like anyone bossing me when I'm not at work!
it's so beautiful! I've been wanting to make a quilt with all different fabrics and I love how you matched two fabrics together for each block and the whole top looks so fun and lovely!
wow! congrats on working as a teacher's assistant!! I really admire teachers and I hope to be like you someday!
This is a really neat pattern, lots of possibilities. I like it!
And congrats on the job -- hope you enjoy it.
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