Friday, April 26, 2013

Modern Family Tree: An Echo Bella Quilt Top

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As some of you already know, I was working furiously on a very secret project in the beginning of March.  In fact, if you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen this in the works.  
Super Sssssshhhhh
I was doing so much sewing and I couldn't share it!  It was killing me...
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I can finally reveal this very special quilt top.  Believe it or not, it is a Modern Family Tree!
For years I have wanted to make my mother-in-law a special quilt.  She is always making quilts for other people and mentioned to me years ago that no one makes quilts for her.  That was when I decided that we just had to make something special for her and I wanted it to relate to our family.  This was in 2008 when I was pregnant with Miss E.  The Mr. and I brainstormed for awhile...a block for each family member, a family tree, a combo, how do we do that, do we pick a fabric for each person, do we pick a style for each person...when finally the Mr. came up with a brilliant idea.  Creating a *key* where each piece of fabric represents a number, then creating a block with each person's birthday worked out in fabric.

Well, the idea was great and I got to work immediately using some really stunning reproduction Civil War prints.  But, I got pregnant again and we had to wait until we found out Miss V's birthday.  Then I worked on it a little more until bam, I was pregnant again!  And same problem...I had to wait to learn Miss O's birthday.
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This year when my mother-in-law's milestone birthday was coming up I realized I had to abandon the first quilt top (maybe I'll finish it someday) and begin with new fabrics.  I chose Lotta Jansdotter's Echo and Bella lines because I know my mother-in-law loves them!
Here is the breakdown...
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The Mr., shown here in the 2nd row at the end with a blue squidgy star, is the youngest of three.  I am the pink squidgy star...to be cute I decided to make my brother-in-law and I, the "out-laws" if you will, a little off center and in our own row to signify our being married into the family.  And the last row are the five grandchildren in chronological order with the three little Misses at the end shown here with their purple squidgy stars!  If you look closely you will see that Miss O (last block in 4th row) and her Aunt (left furthest block in 2nd row) share the same birthday...different years.  Pretty cool right?
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I am so proud of this top because it is really personal without being in your face about its meaning.  Not only that, and clearly I am biased, but I also think it is a pretty gorgeous quilt top.  I can't help but see a little bit of each family member's personality in their individual block.  It was so awesome to collaborate with the Mr. on something so special.  I hope it will give my mother-in-law a great story to tell to people who ask about it.  

I will be using the Ikea Britten Nummer for backing.  
(I love how the written out numbers in the backing fabric will secretly play on the design idea from the top where each fabric symbolizes a number!)  

But, what shall I do for quilting.  Any suggestions?

- rebecca lynne

14 comments:

Jessica said...

Oh my goodness, this is amazing! What a beautiful idea. I love it! I would say organic straight lines, either just up and down or in random directions all across.

Kelli Fannin Quilts said...

Super cool! She will love it and be over the moon for sure!! I agree with Jessica.. :) Can't wait to see it all done! xo

Christine said...

It is beautiful!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

You're a genius - I love it!!! I like Jessica's quilting suggestion xx

Canadian Abroad said...

Wow! What a brilliant way to commemorate a family. Great work to both you and your husband.

Leanne said...

What a fun project! I think either some kind of lines or an all over stipple/loopy/roundy quilting would both look great. If you had time your could quilt the blocks and the background differently too. Whatever you pick will be great, as it is already a wonderful quilt.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

This is a stunning quilt and I love the hidden message/family tree in the design :)

Annabella said...

Why am I not following you on IG?? Need to remedy that NOW. I can't see the birthdates - am I blind? Love the quilt top - just perfect and original :)

Annabella said...

I am following you!! I was already?? How did I not know that?

Farm Quilter said...

Obviously this beautiful modern quilt needs modern quilting ala Angela Walters, but I would mix into that quilted messages from each member of the family to Mom. Kinda hide them in there so they will be lovely surprises for her.

Jules said...

great idea!. And i love this fabric, bought some today actually. Great to meet you today, finally and talk about all we talked about. And we will meet as guilds again, we brainstormed on the way home to the Roc.

Hitch and Thread said...

Not sure how big it is but what about a square spiral? I hope you know what I mean, that seemed to make much more sense in my head...

SIMPLESEW said...

It is a beautiful quilt and great story, I would use just straight lines and just an idea, FMQ an icon of a person on each row to symbolize size, " sorta like the bumper stickers"

Stephanie C. said...

I love this - it looks great!

And I have been pining over that numbers fabric - I just need a better reason then fabric to get my husband to go all the way to ikea!