Because it's Wednesday, and I'm feeling giddy that the week's half over, I thought I'd dig into the archives and pull out one of my favorite pink quilts to share with you. Plus, one week from TODAY, our first cruise ship comes, and that just tickles me PINK.
I haven't worked with pink all that much. It's not that I don't like pink, because I'm a girl, and I really do. But I think, in the far back recesses of my brain, I worry that collecting pinks would inhibit my collecting of reds, which I love even more. However, about seven years ago, I scored a smokin' find at a garage sale that changed how I looked at pink forever. A fellow quilter from our group was moving to Anchorage, and decided to lighten the load a bit with a moving sale. Always looking for a bargain or an adventure, I pedaled over to her house early that Saturday morning on my bike. I think I might even have still been wearing my plaid Mickey Mouse pajama bottoms. It's a small town. We do that. (This is where most of my cultured city friends would roll their eyes and sigh disgustedly, but hey, I moved to a small town and I'm all about committing.) Fashion faux pas aside, my efforts were rewarded. I found two big black garbage bags full of fabric scraps. And by scraps, I mean anything ranging from little pieces, to orphan blocks, to full-on, folded yardage. And here's the best part. For FIVE BUCKS! I was ecstatic! Do you know how many days of entertainment two black garbage bags of scrap fabric provides? And all for five dollars. I'm a cheap date, plaid pajamas and all.
The moving quilter, however, shared an enthusiasm for pinks very similar to how I feel about reds. So as I spent the next few days sorting and ironing (yes, I iron my scraps. I can't help it.), my pile of pink was turning into a mountain of pink, while all the other colors of the rainbow were mere anthills. I had a veritable cornucopia of pink scraps and no idea what I planned to do with them.
Enter Mesha.
Mesha is the sister of my college roommate. Mesha is the embodiment of pink. Mesha was engaged.
So I set out to make a pink wedding quilt for Mesha. I picked out a pattern and proceeded to cut ALL of my pink scraps into the squares I needed, thinking I probably wouldn't have enough and would need to go buy some more pink. The cut squares made an impressive pile, for sure, but I still worried it wouldn't be enough for a king sized quilt. I began sewing anyway.
This is Mesha's pink wedding quilt. It is a monster. It's seven by nine rows. I just started sewing those pink and white 4-patch blocks and kept right on sewing until I had used up my whole pile of pink squares. I didn't even use half the blocks in this quilt. I have enough to make two more of these puppies. What was I thinking, cutting up all those pink scraps? Holy toledo, I need more pink-lovers to get married.
My favorite part of this quilt is the border. It's from a Pam Bono book, but I can't remember which one. I think Quick Rotary Cutter Quilts. Or maybe it was MORE Quick Rotary Cutter Quilts. At any rate, Pam used this design in a cross-hatching pattern and it was quite pretty. I thought it would make an excellent border, to make an otherwise rather ordinary scrap quilt look more interesting. In the end, it's still one of my favorite quilts, made better only by knowing it now lives with one of my dearest friends.
PS. You should have seen me trying to get home with those bags of scraps on my bike. Where is America's Funniest Small-town Videos when you need them?
*pink flower photo from www.colourlovers.com
What is the weather like end of may-first week in June. My cruise is scheduled then and I don't know waht to pack. I can't wait to see Alaska
Karin
Posted by: Karin Efman | 04/28/2010 at 03:43 AM
What a terrific and cheerful quilt!!
Posted by: Lori | 04/28/2010 at 05:27 AM
Oh Allyson, what a wonderful story, when you were talking about getting those bags of pinks I was thinking to myself, "how did she get them home on her bike"....a site to see for sure.
The quilt is lovely, I too love pink, I should make a pink quilt, just for me! I love that border, it looks like applique, how clever is that!
You spoil your friends with such wonderful quilts, I hope my friends don't get any ideas after reading your blog.
Posted by: Thelma | 04/28/2010 at 05:31 AM
That quilt is wonderful! You are right, the border could not have been a better choice. In fact, it is perfect against the simple pattern of the blocks. Love it.
Posted by: Nicole | 04/28/2010 at 05:46 AM
This quilt is adorable! Make me want for grandgirls someday even more so I too can make fun little quilts like this PINK one! Fantastic...oh yes...a visual of your bike and getting home stash would be grand!! Hee!!
Posted by: Mary Flynn | 04/28/2010 at 06:47 AM
BEE-YOU-TI-FUL!! I KNOW the bride absolutely LOVED it!! I do, too.
Posted by: Sherrill | 04/28/2010 at 04:30 PM
Oh for the love of Pink--that is me--I am in love with that color!!
and that quilt is to "die" for!!!
love the pictures of the pink flowers too!!! and I am chuckling to myself--picturing you with two big "black" bags on a bike--way to go girl!!!!
Hugs, Di
Posted by: Di | 04/28/2010 at 04:40 PM
The pink quilt is a great example of how a fabulous border can make a regular quilt something special. The thought of two black garbage bags full of fabric scraps makes me just smile. What could be more fun than sorting through them all looking for treasure.
Posted by: Angela | 04/28/2010 at 05:26 PM
Absolutely love that quilt, the color, the border. It's all good. Would really have loved to see you getting those bags home.
Posted by: Melissa C | 04/28/2010 at 06:26 PM
Great story, and very pretty quilt! I love the border.
I'm not a pink lover, never have been, so it is not in my stash in any great amount. Recently I wanted to make a pincushion for my son's new girlfriend. Her favorite color, I asked? Pink. Of course, the color I DON'T have scraps of! A garbage bag of pink would have helped :)
Posted by: AnnieO | 04/28/2010 at 07:58 PM
What a beautiful quilt! I'm sure she was tickled...pink! Love the border. At first glance I just assumed it was applique. Now I'm wondering how to get my hands on the pattern!
Posted by: Kathleen | 04/29/2010 at 11:44 AM
I love this quilt. If you have lots of extra blocks you should make yourself a quilt. Wish I could have seen you hauling those two big bags home with your bike. Lucky you getting such an awesome deal.
Posted by: Carol | 04/30/2010 at 07:06 PM
I love the quilt! It is in my guest room, so my cat won't sleep on it and get it all fury. I have my barbies in on shelves on either side of the bed. I think it looks live a little fairy land. Thank you again for making it for me and for putting it on the blog so I can show the ladies at work! Miss and love you!
Posted by: Mesha | 05/03/2010 at 11:18 AM
I'm working on a replica of this lovely quilt right now. Will send a photo when I'm done!
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