Oh my, it has been a long time since I made an entry in regards to the Lana Bates Memorial Quilt Project. In fact, it has been about a year since I first wrote about the Birdhouse Quilt and project plan. Whoops! I am not sure why I lost steam with the LBQP, maybe lack of response to the floral appliqué quilt took too much wind from my sails, but I am happy to be back and inspired anew.
Quilt Process
The Flock Party Quilt is completed and up for sale on Etsy. It is truly amazing that after I started working on this one it really came together quickly. I stayed pretty true to the original plan to use the Tula Pink All-Stars bundle I had purchased from Stitch Central Shop in April of 2021. I had planned to use the row of birdhouse blocks made by my Aunt Lana as the jumping-off point for not only the theme but also the color palette. Typically, I use a less colorful combination of fabrics, but here the choices were made for me by my aunt almost 15 years ago. The fun part of this project is not only seeing someone else’s hard work completed and out in the world creating happiness, but also the ability to be pushed out of my own comfort zone.
I purchased the “Pretty Bird” quilt block pattern from The Sewing Loft on Etsy to use to create my bird blocks. Once I laid out and measured the birdhouses row, I decided that the best way to utilize the bird pattern would be to make three of the larger-sized bird blocks. The Tula Pink print with all of the flying sparrows was an excellent background print for the blocks. I used the other more bold Tula fabrics for the bodies of the birds. I also mixed in some fabrics from my stash to add a pop of solid and other contrasting colors.
In total, I made twelve bird blocks using all of the Tula sparrow and rose prints in the background. When I still needed a bit more background prints, I hit my stash for a retro reproduction which I felt continued the feel of all of the other Tula prints.
Working with the pattern from the sewing loft made all of the bird blocks come together quickly. I really had fun mixing the fabrics and playing with color combinations.
Completing the Quilt Top
Since I had a strip of birdhouses, I again decided to follow the cue of Aunt Lana’s work and piece the rest of the quilt top together in strips. Aunt Lana’s birdhouse strip naturally became the central row, which I flanked top and bottom with a bold blue vine print to ground and set off her work. I grouped the bird blocks into rows of three which I slightly off-centered to fill the space and create a little more visual interest than if they were stacked directly on top of one another.
To bring the width of the quilt out to a better crib or baby quilt size, I added two softer tonal vine strips around the vertical edges. I think the addition of the few vine rows serves as a nice place for the eye to rest amid all of the bird and birdhouse activity.
Backing and Quilting
The backing for this quilt magically existed in my fabric stash. I kid you not, I had a large cut of fabric with a bird mosaic print that perfectly matched the colors of the fabrics I used to make the blocks. I love when the quilty gods smile down on your projects, don’t you?!? To complete the backing I used a few leftovers from the Tula All-Stars bundle and another light blue floral and leaf print.
The binding of the quilt was difficult to decide on. I finally went with a solid soft blue color. This seemed like the option to most compliment, but not distract from all of the prints already featured.
I quilted the entire project with simple straight line quilting in a medium purple thread. I almost never use purple, but this time is was so fun to step out of the normal and go for bold even in the quilting thread color.
I am extremely pleased with the final result of the Flock Party Modern Baby Quilt. I know Aunt Lana would be so happy to see her work finished and part of such a fun-loving quilt. She truly loved to make people smile with her creativity, and this quilt will do just that I am certain.
Design Ideas
I see the Flock Party baby Quilt as the perfect inspiration piece for a bright and bold baby nursery. The colors work so well with a soft blue-green wall color and a few bold color accents, like my yellow side table. If you love Key West or that tropical vacation vibe, the Flock Party Quilt would be just the piece to create that theme around. In my photoshoot, I just popped in the ceramic birdhouse and a faux fig for a sophisticated, yet fun menagerie feel. Simple sheets in a soft blue-green, lilac, or baby blue would work well with the other colors in the quilt.
The Flock Party Modern Baby Quilt measures 47.25 by 59.5in (120x 151cm) and is perfect for a crib, cot, or travel, simply wash with mild detergent and dry low or air dry to enhance the soft texture of the fabrics over time. The quilt is for sale in the La Rue de Fleurs Etsy shop here. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Flock Party quilt will be donated to a women’s cancer charity in accordance with the Lana Bates Memorial Quilt Project promise.
Thank you so much for supporting my micro-business, legacy quilt projects and handmade in America! Stay creative friends! Janice
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