Since I’ve done ‘Closer Look’s’ at all the other quilts in the Project QUILTING challenge I figure I’d do one for the quilt I created as well. On the other feature’s I typically showed the quilt and then the inspiration – on this post I’m going to show you how the quilt was created – starting with the inspiration.

Quilter: Kim’s Crafty Apple

‘Barn Bones’

As soon as I saw the challenge was ‘Architectural Elements’ I thought about the barn that they’d been taking down for months just down the road from me. I mentioned to my DH that I needed to go take a picture of it for the challenge and he said they’ started taking it down that day! Luckily I still snagged a few bone pictures – at least enough to still use it for my inspiration! I created this ‘Free form quilt’ using the techniques I read bout it the book ‘create your own free-form quilts’ by Rayna Gillman. I love the book and the concept behind the quilts in the book instantly. I love that it’s completely free and you don’t think as you create – exactly by method! Every piece in this quilt was found in my scrap bin. I can’t wait to make another quilt like this with even more scraps! (I may have a few…see upper left corner photo…) In the early stages of the piece…when it was basically just beige and a few little light blue and green my husband Jared looked at it and was like, “What are you making?  That doesn’t look like you at all!” (I’m not a neutral quilter).  I assured him not to worry and it would definitely end up being cool.  It kept growing bigger and bigger (on its own) so I finally just had to stop. At this point, I felt that it needed more dark brown (the ‘barn bones’) so I did some raw edge appliqué to add a bit more depth to the piece. When it came to the quilting I also went with the free-form approach. I love how tight stitching looks and feels so I did that randomly, in different directions all over the piece. I finished by binding with all different scraps found in the quilt.  The brown bits ‘stops’ the quilt while the colored/neutral leaves it feeling open – I think that it has a little of both fits this piece perfectly.  Dimensions: 30" x 42.5" Created in Poynette, WI  

Did you miss the earlier closer looks?

• Closer Look, Part 1
• Closer Look, Part 2
• Closer Look, Part 3
• Closer Look, Part 4
• Closer Look, Part 5

Ready for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along?

• Block 1 is UP!
• Block 2 is UP!

PS.  Please VOTE in the Spoonflower Outdated Technology Fabric Contest (http://www.spoonflower.com/contests/118) for ‘Keys Madness by KimsCraftyApple).  You can vote for as many fabrics as you want – I just hope you include mine in your selection!  Thanks for all your support!