I have been collecting brown and teal batiks for a while. Ever since Hoffman's Havana colorway hit the shelves and became the newest "it" thing. Not excessive yardage, but fat quarters and half yards of an excessive variety of different prints. Most of the prints tend to run on the larger end of the scale, making it somewhat difficult to find a suitable pattern. And so they've sat in a neat little pile on my sewing table. I'll say, they do make a nice little centerpiece all on their own.
Now, a few months ago, a friend of mine showed me this pattern called Cinnamon & Nutmeg.
It's in this book, More! Laps From fats by Ellen Replogle.
My friend really liked this pattern, but I have to tell you, nothing about this quilt blew my skirt up. I'm not a pastel-y, girly-girl, "isn't that sweet" type of quilter. So I nodded my head, thanks, but no thanks, and quickly dismissed it. I'm guessing my friend did too, cause I've never heard another thing about it.
This weekend, since it was a four-day weekend for many Canadians, many of our quilting friends came down from the Yukon to shop at the quilt store. This is always so much fun. They are a hilarious group of ladies and we love to watch them fight over bolts of fabric. Seriously. We joke that the quickest way to sell a bolt of fabric is to put it in the hands of our Canadian quilting friends. Because as soon as one of them brings it to the cutting table, it's a sure bet that three of her closest friends will need some too. Sometimes, even I need some.
Many of our Canadian quiting friends brought some flimsies for show and tell. This one was by far, one of my favorites. Pardon the absolutely terrible, horrible, no good, very bad (anyone know where that's from?) picture. I didn't have my camera so I whipped out my trusty phone. Trusty because it's always there, not because it takes trusty pictures.
I immediately took to this quilt and couldn't get the words out of my mouth fast enough to ask her about the source of the pattern. She was so excited that she actually had the pattern with her and pulled out the More Laps From Fats book to show us. And there it was. Cinnamon & Nutmeg. I was blown away how different it looked with a darker fabric used for those boxy frames, instead of the lighter fabric used in the book. And Ellen Replogle, if you're reading this, I'm NOT ripping on your book. I love your book. I OWN your book! I was just so close-minded, I couldn't see past the pastel colors long enough to imagine it in another colorway. Which is really weird, actually. I was an art major in college. I normally have no problem doing that. I think I'm losing my mojo. Yes, that's it. I am definitely losing my mojo.
And now I know exactly what I am going to do with my pile of brown and teal batiks.
Just as soon as I finish two UFO's.
Wow! What a striking pattern! That's going to look great with your batiks! P.S. Do I get a prize for identifying Alexander and the ATHNGVB Day?
Posted by: Lesly | 04/07/2010 at 04:09 AM
Isn't it funny how we see something made a wee it differently and then we realize we like the pattern even better than we thought? I know this happens to me as well. Or I spot a quilt a love because of the color only to find out I hated the original pattern and now had to have it!
Posted by: Mary Flynn | 04/07/2010 at 04:22 AM
Love that stack of fabrics and it will look great in that quilt. I have a hard time picturing quilts in different colorways also. That's the great thing about blogs, I can see the same quilt in many different versions.
Posted by: Melissa C | 04/07/2010 at 06:02 AM
I love how color can change a quilt~ your stack of teals and browns is gorgeous and will make a beautiful quilt! I read Alexander so many times to my kids that I knew your reference too. ;-) ...and it was years ago!! :-o
Posted by: call me crazy | 04/07/2010 at 06:02 AM
I always have trouble imagining a quilt in a different colorway but when I see it done by someone else I'm always blown away. Why can't I see that quilt in my mind that way? I guess it's something to work on.
Posted by: Chris | 04/07/2010 at 07:12 AM
I love the 'no good...' phrase so much I use it when it's been one-of-those-days! And, after 30 years in the classroom, I've been a retired 1st Grade teacher for 9 years! Alexander sure knew what he was talking about!! Love the quilt pattern! Go for it! Jan
Posted by: Jan | 04/07/2010 at 07:12 AM
Heather Mulder Peterson has a booklet, "Livin' Large" that contains patterns for large-scale prints. You could that out.
I do the same thing as lots of people...it's hard to get past the book photo and translate the pattern into other colorways. I'm getting better!
Posted by: Kathleen | 04/07/2010 at 08:38 AM
Oh, oh! Those fabrics. I must have some. Love that combination. I am stalled out on my Beach Cottage project because those pales blues and yellows are just too wimpy for me. I should have known better. Now brown and teal? I am there.
Posted by: Nicole | 04/07/2010 at 09:11 AM
The batik pile is yummy!
Sometimes we can't get past a colorway we don't like to appreciate the structure behind it--I feel the same way about pastels as you do. My eye just goes past it to something I like better! Glad you had the opportunity to see it "done right" :)
Posted by: AnnieO | 04/07/2010 at 10:07 AM
I am sure it will be lovely. I did the same thing with the Bento Box Quilt pattern.. picture turned me off.. then I walked in the quilt store and said I love that quilt hanging what pattern is it.. and my surprise was when she said Bento Box...
I now try to think past what I see.... LOL
Posted by: Kim Pebley | 04/07/2010 at 12:44 PM
I've kind of gotten out of the habit of looking at batiks, I don't know why, especially when I look at your lovely stack.
At least you've had mojo, my fabric choices are a constant struggle for me.
Posted by: Thelma | 04/07/2010 at 02:16 PM
Alexander! I paraphrase him myself at times.
I have a hard time imagining things in a different colorway, too, unless I stop and make myself look at the pattern and try to ignore the colors.
Posted by: Stephanie | 04/19/2010 at 11:25 AM