Community Gardens // Finished Modern Quilt

The Quilt Patch hosted a local quilt challenge this year. It is probably an annual event--all I know is that I picked up my "mystery fabric" sometime before Christmas. The fabric? Tomatoes. Tomatoes. Tomatoes. Not usually something I would choose or even know what to do with. (Although I do remember seeing the fabric on a bolt that day and thinking, "huh. that's kind of cool. what on earth would you do with it?) The rules were simple--you had to use the fabric (on the front) in the quilt, the perimeter could measure no larger than 144 inches, and it had to be turned in by April 1. I accomplished all three things. Go me! I think I got my entry to the shop about 45 minutes before closing--I seriously overestimated both my mothering and my binding skills on the first of April. I couldn't believe it took me all day!

I had several ideas--a hexagon quilt renamed "Grandmother's Vegetable Garden," a color wheel quilt a la Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, a boring but fun nine patch. Then I remembered the Ticker Tape Quilt by crazymomquilts, and thought, that's it! A garden patch!  My husband and I are both involved locally in preserving historic neighborhoods and working towards complete streets (pedestrian, bike, and car friendly), and have really enjoyed our own little neighborhood. Community matters to us, and I wanted to create something that reflects that. (The townhouse to the left with the bike in front of it? That's our house.)

VOTE! If you have always wanted to check out the Quilt Patch, now is a great time! And vote for my quilt (unless you like another one better...) Voting goes through the entire month of April, and the prize is a 300 dollar gift certificate to the Quilt Patch!!! They have a fun selection of fabric right now, including some new modern lines--Nicey Jane, Riley Blake's Rainy Days and Mondays, and a few others I really wanted to stop and look at but of course can't think of right now. I had a toddler I had PROMISED I would take to the park and a baby who was sleeping. I ran in, gave them my quilt, bought three 10 cent pieces of fabric for Mr. L. (for an I-spy quilt), and walked out. We did make it to the park. :)

Lessons Learned: If you have 4 months to complete a quilt, don't start the week before. And don't start the week of spring break, when you have no preschool time and so many fun all day activities planned with friends. And don't leave anything for the day of.  I had a rough sketch of what I wanted it to look like, and then pulled out all of my fabric and scraps and went to town. I liked the Katie Jump Rope in each block. I thought it unified the quilt a bit, and was cheery.

Favorite Part: My house. And the sun above. It is just so cheery!

Funniest moment: The quilt shop worker's reaction--wow, its bright! What do you expect if you give me bright red tomato fabric as a starting point???