Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Labyrinth

Labyrinth
Here is Labyrinth. Labyrinth is a simple log cabin with logs that finish at 1" wide. The labyrinth forms from the way you place the colours. I pieced the log cabin differently than I usually do - basically I pieced two rows at a time, with the second row one log behind the first.

Labyrinth

Labyrinth is my Emerald Challenge quilt and finished at 20" x 19". She is made of various green prints and solids with Kona White. I explained my inspiration for Labyrinth in an earlier post here, I said:

"I have long wanted to make a log cabin that was a labyrinth, and the Emerald Challenge seemed like the right time. Green makes me think of gardens and then I thought of hedges and lawns and that took me to the labyrinth. When my son reminded me that Theseus had escaped the Labyrinth by following a thread, well there was no turning back - the inspiration had hit."

Labyrinth

I put a bird in the centre of my Labyrinth, instead of a Minotaur. I was thinking it might be more like the canary in a coal mine, which, I know, totally mixes the metaphors or something like that but whatever. I quilted her heavily - about 7 lines in an inch of space - and washed her to get the greens to puff and wrinkle.

Labyrinth

I puzzled over the binding until my other son asked me if I could make it two colours, to carry on the colour changes and make you wonder if this was the full labyrinth or a portion of it. Taking inspiration and guidance (excellent tutorial is here) from my friend Debbie at A Quilter's Table, I did as he suggested.

Labyrinth - Back

Her back is Essex linen in olive green. I blogged about my search for the Pantone Emerald, which is the colour of the year, here. In the end, Labyrinth is a celebration of greens, tending toward the emerald side but she also shows how many greens can work together so well.

Labyrinth

This little quilt looks so good on my cherry dining room table. I expect she can rest here often.

Labyrinth - before washing

That picture above is Labyrinth before I washed her. I really debated washing this mini - did I want the pristine flatness or did I want texture and a rougher look.

Labyrinth

In the end, I chose texture - more in keeping with my inspiration to give you an impression of  walls, hedges, walkways, grass, depending on how you look at her - this last picture is after washing as are all the pictures except the one. And now she can safely lay on the table as a spill or two will not matter as back in the wash she can go.

2013 Emerald Quilt Challenge

The flickr group of all the beautiful Emerald quilts in progress is here. And I am linking her to Ali at a.squared.w to formally join in the contest. There will be many beautiful quilts linked there - the contest closes on St. Patrick's Day, I hope you have time to visit them.

The post travel lurgy has hit, I am trying to pretend I don't have a terrible cold and heading off to work, wish me luck and enjoy your day.

Best,

Leanne

35 comments:

Canadian Abroad said...

Brilliant emerald entry. Love the binding idea. Works really well with the design. Hope you feel better soon.

Annabella said...

I think Labyrinth will be very happy on your cherry tree table and you will be very happy looking at both - it's beautiful! Hope you feel better soon and best of luck in the challenge Leanne.

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Beautiful Leanne! Liked reading about your process and the mixed metaphors made me giggle! I love green and your design shows the different shades off so well. Hope you are feeling better soon :)

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

It's truly magnificent and I love the way you've done the binding. Get well soon xx

Ann @thequiltingcats said...

Its gorgeous! And washing definitely made the greens look like shrubbery!

Svetlana said...

love, love, love!!! It's perfect, fabric, quilting, the story, simply wonderful.

Debbie said...

oh I like this SO much!! Every little detail is just lovely, bringing it all together just right. Congrats on a very special finish!

elle said...

This is pretty neat. A very cool pathway!

Charlotte said...

it is so SO beautiful!

Toni said...

So beautiful, Leanne! I really love how the greens pop out from the heavily quilted areas. This will be a nice hint at the coming of Spring!

Di said...

Emerald Labrynth is beautiful and the binding is just so right. Di x

Shocking Hocking said...

love it - love how you've really thought about what story you want to tell - excellent!

Katy Cameron said...

It looks fab, good luck!

PS, think you totally wimped out on the minotaur ;o)

Kirsten said...

Just so beautiful Leanne! I love how you have taken your idea and brought it to life - the binding is such a special touch too.

MariQuilts said...

I love it.....the binding was the perfect choice.

Sarah said...

Its gorgeous! Binding was the right choice, and I think it looks much better post wash than pre. Then you really really get the puffiness in the greens. Lovely!

Gertie Pye said...

This is such a lovely quilt Leanne! Especially love the birdie in the middle - such a nice touch. The quilting really makes the design pop. Gorgeous x

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Totally wonderful, just as I would have expected xxx

Karen said...

What a great story/inspiration for a great quilt!

Carla said...

Very cool. All that lovely quilting!

Susan said...

This is a great mini Leanne! I love the variety in the colours and fabrics! And you were right to wash it- the texture is just right!

Catherine said...

How do you always manage to pull something new and exciting out of the bag?:-)

Marg said...

It's wonderful Leanne and I love the puffiness that happened after washing. The binding idea is fabulous.

Elisabeth said...

Labyrinth is beautiful, Leanne. I love all the greens together. Good luck for the competition!

OPQuilt said...

Wowsers--beautiful, Leanne.

I also love reading about your process--how your thinking about getting the texture of (what I think of) hedgerows and all into the quilt necessitated washing it so it would shrink up (I'm reading Me Before You and a maze with hedgerows at a castle is a major plot point).

I hope you are feeling better soon, and hope that this little quilt goes as far as your Shattered did. This one's a beauty.

Elizabeth

Esch House Quilts said...

Such a great quilt! I love how you quilted it and it has such a great story too. Good luck with the challenge!

Heidi Staples said...

I love what you did with this piece, Leanne. It's absolutely beautiful!

Grit said...

Wow, this looks fantastic.

Grit from Germany

Rebecca Lynne said...

I LOVE green...and I know Emerald is "the color" this season. Have got to check out this challenge. As always Leanne this is stunning work, I almost prefer the back to the front as it reminds me of some elaborate royal garden of Versailles. Inspiring!

Pink Bicycle Girl said...

This is beautiful. I love the colours and the quilting really makes the colours stand out

Michele said...

I love it! How wonderful that you were inspired by your son's thoughts :-)

Katherine said...

Gorgeous greens, Leanne! Love that scrappy binding, quilting and the sweet bird. Great entry for the challenge. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Love, love your Labyrinth and green is my all time leat favorite color!

Diane

Marci Girl said...

Goodness Leanne the quilting on this mini quilt is just fabulous, and your name is just perfect. I truly do love it!

Lexi said...

Very cool! I will have to experiment with this style of quilting and see where the inspiration leads me. (I found this from an album of quilt backings... can't get too distracted from my purpose tonight. So saving for later. :))) )