Choosing the fabrics for the border was easy enough but choosing how to incorporate stars was a real challenge. The center has star-like flowers and the first border has liberated stars. I didn't think repeating either in this border was a good choice, especially after trying so many options. I posted about my first idea here. Below are some other ways I considered incorporating stars.
I thought about stars during the day, considered possibilities, then laid out my idea. By bedtime I was certain that I'd found the perfect border. When I awoke in the morning and looked at the border I knew it wasn't right -- yet. Over and over again during the month I repeated this cycle.
Several of the border options seemed too decorative, others seemed patriotic (red/white/blue--which I don't have anything against but just not for this quilt), and others just seemed too confining.
I wish I'd taken a photo after the border was sewn and before I added the star points, but here it is now. The way it's hanging doesn't enhance the quilt itself....
Two good things: the quilt is still close to square and still nearly flat. I stitched the border on, then unstitched where I wanted to add the star points, appliqued them on, then restitched the border to the center. I don't know how concerned I should be about it not being perfectly flat but I'm concerned enough that I'll probably try to fix it. (Maybe I should have started with an 8" x 10" center and I would have had more control?)
I'm writing this before the last border is announced. When I learn what that is and if I think a change in this border will enhance and go with the center and the next border I will have no qualms about changing this border.
I can't help but feeling that this medallion quilt along is a little advanced for my skills!
I'll be linking to Lori's post at Humble Quilts when she opens the link-up. Go there to see several dozen ways that others have interpreted the borders for this quilt-along. It's lots of fun to see the variety.
--Nancy.
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You have auditioned so many options. I have to say that I was really taken with the borders in tryouts numbers 5 and 6.
ReplyDeleteBut you have made a very original design and I like the clever way you are incorporating the star theme.
I just read on Katy's blog what the next round theme is. Really curious to see what you do with it. : )
Hi, Janet. View #5 was one of those I was so very positive about when I went to bed one night and decided against in the morning. I'm always second-guessing myself -- this one, that one, the other, neither.... Always in the back of my mind with this quilt is the question of whether the choice was influenced/inspired by Gwen Marston. That one didn't seem to be -- but I've seen so little of her work to really know. I have to write a post about her one of these day. Most of us know of her liberated style but through 30 or more years of quilting she has many styles. I have her new book, a retrospective of her work, on hold at the library. I'm eager to have a look.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts on which variation you like best. Maybe I'll use that border on another quilt....
Decisions, decisions. Ah, decision making and creativity are my weaknesses when it comes to quilting, so I am enjoying following along with you on this SAL ... seeing what you've auditioned and why you've chosen/rejected your choices is edifying and will hopefully help me in my future quilt designing.
ReplyDeleteOh, Kathy, don't use me as an example (except maybe as one not to follow). I think maybe introverts take longer to make decisions -- look at every possible angle for choosing one or the other of anything. Well, that's me, anyway.
DeleteYour quilt top does not show that the QAL is too advanced for you -- working this way always involves a LOT of pondering, auditioning, and decision making by its very nature. And we all worry so much about finding the PERFECT answer when in reality there are any number of ways that work. I think you are doing very well!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement, Julie. I think part of the challenge for me is that I'm not just making a quilt, I'm trying to make a quilt a la Gwen Marston, but maybe I haven't seen enough of her work to know if the choices I'm making are inspired by her or not.
DeleteYes, I agree, I tend to think there's one "perfect" border, or, at the very least, a best border, so I keep trying.
This quilt along has been a real challenge for me but I'm enjoying the process. And learning lots, too.
Thanks for visiting and leaving an encouraging comment. I appreciate it.
I've read about how even the quilting 'experts' have to go through this process with a new creation. So it's not surprising I think your choices are wonderful and either would work out in the end. I'm impressed with how straight your sides are...always a challenge for me..
ReplyDeleteThanks for you words of encouragement, Jocelyn. The sides are pretty straight but there are tiny ripples here and there. I'll have to deal with them when family leaves after Labor Day.
DeleteThe applique star vine border.....how very creative.
ReplyDeleteI like that border, Karen, but I was thinking I'd seen a similar one (in different colors) on the cover of a primitive quilts book. And I thought Gwen-style in not primitive.... Maybe I'll use that border on some other quilt.
DeleteI love to hear how people go through their design process. I love it even more when I actually get to see the process. I love your solution and I hope the "Something Fishy" will be a little easier on you! This is sensational!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy. I love seeing how people make design decisions, too. So far nothing specific has come to mind for the "something fishy" border but I'm brainstorming ideas.
DeleteYou're doing a beautiful job and meeting the challenges in every way. I so can identify with your process of laying out borders and re-laying them and re-laying them again - I go through that with every decision. (I call it my dithering, and I can't work any other way!)
ReplyDeleteI love the way the stars are carrying through your entire quilt. (Starfish for the final border?) I'm looking forward to your next step!
Thanks for your kind comments, Gayle. I'm surprised to learn that you "dither" yet so glad to know I'm not alone.
Delete"Something fishy" surprised me for this last border. I think it's as open as "childhood" was. I'm brainstorming but don't have any clear ideas yet, though I'm considering your suggestion of starfish. I don't know how many more varieties of stars this quilt can take!
I LOVE hearing/seeing your thought process as you add each border. So far, I'd say you're 'spot on'! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement, Gayle. I appreciate it.
DeleteI think this is a brilliant way to handle the stars challenge! If I'd had star prints I thought were appropriate for my medallion I'd have used them and called it good. As it was, I got nothing done on my medallion (except for adding a few more log cabin strips) in August. That dance between design options is one I'm very familiar with. You're doing great; keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words, Sue. I appreciate them.
DeleteIt seems like you had some medical challenges so it makes sense that it would have been difficult to get much done on your medallion. Sometimes just keeping up with essentials is challenge enough. I hope your health is better (or at least getting better) than earlier.
Oh, those design options! Sometimes there are so very many of them!
Ingenious use of all of those star fabrics. Now you have fish to ponder. Can't wait to see where you end up with that!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennie. I can't wait to see where "something fishy" takes me, too. So far I've come up with very little. One of my problems is that I take so long to come with up with and decide what to do that I have too little time to do it (when there's a deadline, as in this case). It's a good thing I don't work full-time these days!
DeleteBeautiful quilting and appliqueing. Looking forward to seeing your fish round :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Danice.
DeleteI love your interpretation of the star theme! I think this border is brilliant and really adds to the center. I would have been hesitant to add more stars as well. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katy.
DeleteJust LOVE your interpretations! I also was drawn to the 5th layout, but love your final decision... to make a final decision after the next round. lol That is what I am doing, also. Love the balance of your colors, also.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra. It's such a challenge not knowing the next border's theme when working on the previous border. No ideas for "something fishy" yet, either!
DeleteI think we all go through these quilting quandaries. Although we may not document it in detail the way you have, I'm sure we can all relate -- I know I can. Anyway, I love your subtle star border, and I can't wait to see how you work out the fishy theme. Your blog posts on this project are the ones I enjoy reading the most.
ReplyDeleteYou are so kind, Martha. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy my posts. I often think I go overboard with the detail on this quilt, but it's a good reminder to me about the process I went through in coming to decisions.
DeleteThis "something fishy" is proving to be a challenge. With the holiday and family in town I haven't given it too much thought but nothing's come to mind yet with the thought I have given it. To some extent it feels like I've worked myself into a corner, color-wise. I hope I can get myself out!
The process you describe is familiar to me and probably most of us - problem, solution, rejection, another solution, new problem... etc. It can be agonizing but so worth it! I had wondered how you would interpret the star border, having already used stars, and you came up with a subtle and beautiful border! Still, that 'boro' indigo border with the white stars really catches my eye!
ReplyDeleteHi, Cynthia. My husband occasionally questions when I find the process of making quilts fun, or interesting, or entertaining. It seems that he perceives my process as difficult and unsatisfying, I guess because I sometimes try so many options before making a decision. I am glad to learn that so many other quilters (as evidenced by comments to this post) go through a similar process.
DeleteThis star border was a challenge for me but I think "something fishy" may be even more challenging. No clear ideas to try yet and we're a quarter of the way through the month!
I hadn't thought of that blue border as boro-like until I read this comment.
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I appreciate it.
I loved the version in the 5th picture. You certainly are thorough when you audition a border. It turned out lovely.
ReplyDeleteSeveral readers have commented about the border in the fifth picture. I keep going back to look at it and wonder if it would have been a better choice. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.
DeleteWow, you certainly came up with a lot of ideas! I think they all work. Yes, making a quilt this way is a painful process at times. Lots of decisions, lots of problems to solve. But it is rewarding and makes for a very personal quilt. I think you're not out of your element - you're doing a great job! I love your quilt!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sharon --
DeleteI tried out lots of ideas because the first ones didn't seem right. Looking back through the photos now I think several of the earlier ones would have worked.... I agree, it's challenging but rewarding to make quilts like this. Thanks for your encouraging words about this top.
Steam. =) I like your final choice, as well as several of the intermediate thoughts. You might be in cognative dissonance, but you aren't out of your depth, just your comfort zone, in my opinion. =) You're doing fine, because the top is still gorgeous and you've found creative solutions to your piecing problems.
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm wondering if I've backed myself into a corner with my limited color use -- and with no ideas for the "something fishy" round, either! Now that the holiday's over I'll start to seriously think about fish!
DeleteYour skills are stupendous! Don't underestimate yourself. I really like what you chose to do on this last round. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement, Lori. I appreciate it.
DeleteYour options are fun, I did lean towards the first one with the stars on a vine with leaves and the pink triangles on the right. But now knowing about the fishy theme it will be fun to see what you come up with next. Love all you stars, I kept mine wonky!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sandi. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about my border options. This "something fishy" border will be even more of a challenge than stars was, I think. Now that the holiday is over I have to give some diligent thought to the options.
Delete