A few weeks ago, we went on a crazy, almost spur-of-the-moment road trip to the beach. My sister-in-law invited us to come stay with them at a beach house in southern California during part of their spring break. At first I wasn't sure it was a good idea. We had a lot going on and our kids would miss a couple days of school since it wasn't our spring break yet. Fortunately we threw caution to the wind and did it anyway. And it turned out to be the very best kind of idea.
We went from this the week before...
...to this.
Not too shabby.
Since we were going to be in a nice change of scenery, I decided to finally photograph this project somewhere besides my backyard. (Although, I wouldn't mind if this was my new backyard.) I started this quilt exactly a year ago. I wanted to play with fabrics and create a kind of ombre look using different shades of fabric. I love each of the fabrics that I used.
Then I decided I wanted to quilt it myself using an echo quilting in the white space. And it took. For. Evah. I would work on it for a little bit and then get sick of it and put it away for a while. And then pull it out again for a few more rounds, and then put it away again. Finally I finished it during Season 3 of Downton Abby. Whew.
And now we're back in the middle of school plays, registering for next year, birthdays, and the busy-ness of regular life. Next time I get an invite to the beach, I definitely won't drag my feet before I get there. That's for sure.
Posts
Lots of quilting has been finished thanks to Downton Abby! That's for sure. Great job and thanks for the warm sunny pictures! Gives me hope.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a wonderful trip. Love, love the quilt.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt....given your story of your love/hate relationship with finishing, for a name Cross to Bear quickly came to mind. Enjoy your posts!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures and the quilt is great! I love the ombre. Maybe 'Tracks'? tracks in the snow or sand ;)
ReplyDeleteBautiful quilt! And lovely pictures capturing that wonderful time with your family, little things are great!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt, Amy!
ReplyDeleteYour getaway sounds fantastic. I could use a trip to the beach about now.
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt...poor Matthew! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm still ticked off! :)
DeleteGreat quilt, and great get away!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about names -- I have enough trouble naming my own -- but I love this quilt. I love the cool colors and the ombre look to it. Great work!
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt.....Railroad Tracks come to mind. Making tracks? Down the line? Railway? If you pick my name I would be totally open to getting a copy of your pattern.....I'm just sayin'!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post Amy! So happy you enjoyed your beach time with family. I did too. The quilt is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat??? You? Quilting?? I don't know why you don't do it more often my dear. you did a lovely job - love the echo lines!
ReplyDeleteI even surprise myself sometimes. But notice, I'm still only capable of straight lines and it takes me almost a year to finish it. :)
DeleteIt looks like the old timey light poles with the steps on them. I would call it ladder to the light!
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely setting for your quilt photo shoot. sounds like a great break, ali
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous get away!! Looks so nice and sunny!! The quilt is fabulous and not that you would ever name it after this, but it reminds me of my sons's braces when he gets different color bands put on :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha. My son chooses blue! :o)
DeleteHaha! Why do kids want those crazy colors in their mouth? When I had braces last year I went with clear elastics every time. I didn't want any more attention drawn to my ugly mouth.
DeleteHi Amy. Your getaway looks and sounds wonderful! I am so glad that you had a chance to relax and enjoy your family. :o) Trish xo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt and use of color! I love it! I'd call it "Add it Up". :)
ReplyDeleteYour getaway looks perfect! Still snowing in Kentucky. :( Love the quilt and as soon as I saw it I thought "Railroad Ties".
ReplyDeleteTrain Tracks first came to mind. I love this, hope you make a pattern! :)
ReplyDeleteI really love the quilt! I'd buy a pattern. Your vacation looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt and the surrounds. I would call it Ebb & Flow
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt love the colors. I think this would make a great pattern, it would definitely sell if you made one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful quilt and I love the play with the colors. How about calling it "Detours?" As in, sometimes we need to take them for a little change of perspective... a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI could live with going there for a quilt shoot :oD
ReplyDeleteHow about Quilt To A 'T'
Beautiful! It reminds me of the ladder we built as kids that went up to our tree house :)
ReplyDeleteI would name it Tree House Ladder....as it also reminds me of the ladder to our childhood tree house. You need to write this pattern because I need it!!...LOL
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this quilt! I want to make one for our bed someday...soooo if you want to make a pattern for it I will buy it :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like wonderful memories to have forever! I love your dancer on the beach!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! I don't have any cute name suggestions, but it reminds me of zipper teeth. :) It's only the first day of spring, but your photos made me realize how ready I am for summer to get here.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, what a lovey story about your outing. Got a little chuckle about you quilting your quilt. Love, Love, Love your blog, I will surely be back to visit and I am now your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteShari @ Kashmere Kisses
So glad you took advantage of the wonderful break, and I sure hope you create a pattern for that great quilt! The photo of your leaping little one is fantastic and inspiring on its own.
ReplyDeleteYou could name the quilt Downton 5 (because it has 5 rows). And I'm sure season 5 will be here before we know it! Your beach pictures look so inviting :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe Crossroads? Made me think of a tiny town...minus the houses!
ReplyDeleteI could really do with a break from the cold snowy winter we are having. this winter seems to be dragging on and I cannot wait for spring. Lovely to see your quilt at the beach.
ReplyDeleteI would name this quilt Stacked Ladders. It reminds me of a ladder to a treehouse. What about Treetop Ladder? Sounds like you had a great vacation. Take care and God bless, Cory
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to get together with family, especially if it isn't planned ahead of time? The whole trip kind of takes on a relaxed feel with nothing planned down to the minute. I am glad you were able to get away and enjoy family and a gorgeous beach!
ReplyDeleteI would call it giant stitches. It reminds me of stitches on a football.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to the beach for Spring Break too! I'm taking stuff to photograph now!
Thanks so much for the love!! You know when you've looked at something so long that you can't decide if you even like it anymore? That's how I was feeling about this quilt. Now I'm feeling a renewed love as well. Sounds like I need to write the pattern...
ReplyDeleteWell, it kind of looks like T's sitting one on top of the other, so if I had made it I'd be calling it my "Mr. T" quilt
ReplyDeleteOh your quilt it's so gorgeous!!! I love it :)
ReplyDeleteNice and relaxing place, at least is what I felt looking at the pics,
Have a great day!!
Lluisa x
You had a great getaway and quilt is really gorgeous. I would call it same as your post "Quilt at the beach"
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt!! How about "Southern Cross". Don't know where exactly you were, but when I think of beaches, I always think of the South!!
ReplyDeleteHope you decide to do a pattern as I would LOVE to get it!!
Fantastic quilt! I love that you thought to bring it to the beach to photograph.
ReplyDeleteT-Zone - immediately came to my mind as a name for that quilt
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that quilt. I don't care what you call it. I would have bought the pattern. LOL!
ReplyDeletehow about "Off the Grid"? sounds like you went off it for a bit which is always refreshing, and the pattern looks like an "off" grid!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS!!!!!!!! (quilt, AND beach) !!!!! (:
ReplyDeleteReally nice and soft look. As I saw it I thought "timeline" since I'm a teacher but then you never gave a name!
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt, it reminded me of a Ladder Stitch...
ReplyDeleteI think you should have desert somewhere in the title. The colours definitely say 'desert' to me. It's lovely. Hope you do a pattern as I'd like to try it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I did a little echo quilting on your "Chain Linked" pattern and it likewise took forever. :) But it looks so good when it's done!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a spaced apart zipper, so I'd name it "Deconstructed Zipper" though that might be a little too artsy-fartsy for a pattern name, I don't know. :)
So glad you were able to have a get away, and to such a beautiful place. The first thing I see on your awesome quilt are the crosses, which make me think of the the amazing, redeeming sacrifice our Savior Jesus Christ made for us. So my vote for a name would be Resurrection, the story doesn't end at the cross but in the promise of eternal life that He gives us all! I love all the fabrics you've used and a pattern would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteI think Climbing the Walls. It looks a bit like a trellis to me, or an old school video game ladder. Plus I think it fits the amount of time it took to finish.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt. The quilting was well worth the time. I would call it Fence Rows.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt design and choice of fabric. I would call it "Positive Changes". It reminds me of plus signs moving/changing from dark to light.
ReplyDeleteI knew I couldn't be alone in this one. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that quilt and am begging you to please make a pattern for it and soon. I mean really soon. I need it so I can make and have it finished by June 1, 2013. It's just stunning.
ReplyDeleteRailroad tracks, or tie bars. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteHow about "Crosswalk"? So pretty!
ReplyDeleteLovely quilt...glad you followed through and took that beach vacation! This quilt reminds me of "Almost Crossroads" for what it's worth. Lot's of nice names being bantered about.
ReplyDeleteLucky Lady to have a wonderful and well deserved beach break... and with your family too! Can't say why, but "Making Tracks" comes to my mind. Totally love the quilting and know what a labor of love it is to complete a never-ending quilt project. Many thanks for all you share.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do write a pattern! Cool quilt.
ReplyDeleteI, too, thought "Resurrection" when I saw your beautiful quilt! I love the energy...fabrics and echo quilting really made it come alive:) Thanks for sharing it with us:)
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt. My first thought was T-Bone. Then looked a little more and maybe Random Rails suits it better.
ReplyDeletelove your choice of colors and the ombre effect!
ReplyDeletehow about T time? (and a pattern, pretty please!)
I'd trade snow for the beach any day. Great photos and great quilt. You can call it "Chutes and Ladders"
ReplyDeleteHow about "Crossroads"?
ReplyDeleteHey!? I was going to say "Crossroads" to... :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice quilting, it was worth it!
Maybe it's a little macabre, but it reminds me of Frankenstein stitches. How about "stitches". (I love the colors in this quilt.)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was an Easter quilt when I saw it. So I would call it Easter cross or Resurrection. Love the colours and pattern.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. If you don't write a pattern for it don't be surprised if it gets copied a lot. It's really beautiful and the echo quilting sets off the pattern perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt! seriously! "You've got talent."
ReplyDeleteI would name it "Season 3."
ReplyDeletewho cares what you name it I love the pattern sew write it and get it out there. The 77 comments before me all had great names, you could just make the pattern cover with all of them like sweetwater does with there fabric
ReplyDeleteLove this quilt sew much!!! Please make a pattern :) I love the name that Cathy,on March 20 at 5:19PM suggested, Tree House Ladder, because it also reminds me of the ladders we would make to our tree houses as well. We would hunt for any bits of wood we could find and our ladders as well as the tree house would be a lovily combination of differant colored bits of wood...much like a quilt:)
ReplyDeleteLove your blog Amy!
Have a nice day!