Sunset Inspiration

Back in September of 2011, my nephew got married in a "destination wedding" at the Outer Banks, N.C. Although the day started with hints of a few clouds, and perhaps rain, it cleared up and produced the most amazing sunset.  The rainbow colors were something out of a picture postcard.

Miranda's dad created the wedding arch out of some old wood, accented with fish netting and seashells.  We all gathered on the beach for a special ceremony, for a special couple.  

Although this photo is not from the wedding day, it echoes the same purples, oranges, and pinks we saw that night.  This was from their wedding website, and I used it as a "map" to create a wedding quilt keepsake gift for them.  First step, shopping for some gorgeous batiks! (never a bad idea)

Sorry I don't have a better photo of the finished quilt! I asked Nathan to send me a picture of the quilt hanging in their house...I will post it when I receive it.  I simply cut rectangles and pieced in a bricks pattern.  Quilting was done in organic horizontal lines, in various thread colors.

Quilting detail.

I do like the look of parallel lines quilting, but it is quite time consuming! I was so pleased that Nathan and Miranda were happy with the outcome.  Pretty memento to a their beautiful wedding.

Cupcakes, Sunsets, and Batiks

Great weekend! Went to Chicago this morning with Emily, who's visiting from Austin, Texas.  

Where to go when you need a cupcake? To the CUPCAKE ATM, of course! This is real, and their cupcakes are yummy! I had the lemon meringue pie cupcake.

One of my current projects - an abstract interpretation of the sunset photo next to it. Photo was taken at the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina, where we attended the wedding of my nephew a couple of years ago.  This is to be a long-overdue wedding gift.

Lucky me, look what I got in the mail? A sweet package of batik rectangles from my friend, Wanda of Exuberant Color.  If you have never visited her blog, you definitely should! Wanda is a very talented quilt artist, making all kinds of gorgeous, yummy quilts full of - you guessed it - "exuberant color".  Plus, she is one of the most prolific quilters I know!

The face of quilt inspiration!

This is The Therese Quilt by Therese May.  I first spied this quilt many years, ago - I think I saw her interviewed on television, and loved this quilt with its many faces.  This idea was tucked back into my brain somewhere, simmering...until...

...I saw this funny photo of my older daughter, Emily.  Emily was on her church choir spring tour, and someone caught her at 6 a..m. - not her favorite time of day!  Somehow, the sight of this photo reminded me of The Therese Quilt.  I photocopied the photo, and broke it down into its simplest components, about 7 pieces, chose some colorful batiks....

...and voila!  A Portrait of Emily was born.  I used only fabrics that I already had - that factor seems to really push creativity for me.  Anyway, The quilt just kind of made itself, and I enjoy it every day.  Hope you do too!