Chicken or Egg?
The old saying "which comes first--the chicken or the egg?"--is so true when it comes to designing quilts. Sometimes its the pattern (aka chicken) that inspires you and you find fabrics to fit into the spaces of that quilt. But othertimes, it's the fabric (aka egg) itself that inspires you and you have to find just the right pattern for showcasing it.
For some projects it takes both kinds of inspiration to create a winning quilt. My recent search for finding the right fabric and the right pattern has all come together and I must share where I'm going with it! I started this project with the end quilt in mind--something that can be auctioned off at the annual meeting for the AASV organization. (That's American Association of Swine Veterinarians--my husband is a member!) I was thrilled to be involved in the 2010 auction and honored to have been invited to participate in 2011.
Immediately out of the gate I'm perplexed with the whole chicken and egg thing. I think the final quilt needs to have pigs incorporated into the project--but are the pigs pieced or appliqued or am I using a fabric with a pig motif. Then there is my issue with cartoon pigs. Ok, Olivia is cute but does a grown man want to bid on a quilt that would probably appeal more to a child? So, if the fabric has a pig motif, I want classy pigs, not silly pigs. If I'm going to make a quilt I want people to use it. It's got to have purpose. Since most people think of putting quilts on beds or using them to cuddle under while watching TV, then I'm thinking big. Or it could be a wall hanging to hang in their vet office. In either scenario, the finished design must be something I can accomplish fairly quickly (there is an entry deadline), and livable. Yes, it must be something people won't just throw in a closet and never look at it again. And, how can we miss that this particular quilt needs to be auctioned off and bring in lots of money for a good cause.
So the work begins. First, a trip to my local quilt shop. Nothing.
An e-mail to a few friends that are quilt shop owners. Nothing.
Then a late night search on the Internet. Found it. Well, sort of. It took several more times of researching on the Internet, but I found the perfect fabric. It's called Urban Farm by Keri Beyer for In the Beginning Fabrics. Unfortunately it was printed in 2008 so I had to find multiple sources to see the pieces in the fabric collection. I was starting to formulate ideas of what the pattern would be, but without seeing the fabrics in person I wasn't completely sure. So, I ordered what I thought was appropriate with a few extra pieces--just in case.
Urban Farm by Keri Beyer
Once I had the fabrics in hand, the pencil and graph paper got pulled out and I found the traditional Weathervane block to be my inspiration because of the motifs in the fabric.
Auditioning the fabric is the next stage and this takes me several days. My ironing board sits in front of a window, so I have great natural light in my sewing room. I stack the fabrics up, look at them, leave them, and come back when it's dark. Then I move fabrics around and repeat until I'm satisfied. I had to make one more trip to the quilt shop to get the final piece for the designing puzzle. That's when I get that giddy feeling and I can't wait to start cutting.
There's always a pile of rejects. But I just put them back in the stash for the next project. There's always a next project!
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Today marks the third anniversary of hosting my blog. To celebrate I'm going to give away three sets of three Hen and Chicks Quilt Studio patterns for the next three weeks.
What will you win? Patterns for re-creating Reflections in the Pond , Sunrise Blossom , Candy Dish.
How do you win? Add a comment to today's blog--I would love to hear whether you start with the chicken or the egg.
How will you know who wins? I'll draw three winners on Friday night and post the winners next Saturday.
If I don't win this week, then what?
Not to worry, you'll have nine chances total to win. We'll do it all over again two more times.
For some projects it takes both kinds of inspiration to create a winning quilt. My recent search for finding the right fabric and the right pattern has all come together and I must share where I'm going with it! I started this project with the end quilt in mind--something that can be auctioned off at the annual meeting for the AASV organization. (That's American Association of Swine Veterinarians--my husband is a member!) I was thrilled to be involved in the 2010 auction and honored to have been invited to participate in 2011.
Immediately out of the gate I'm perplexed with the whole chicken and egg thing. I think the final quilt needs to have pigs incorporated into the project--but are the pigs pieced or appliqued or am I using a fabric with a pig motif. Then there is my issue with cartoon pigs. Ok, Olivia is cute but does a grown man want to bid on a quilt that would probably appeal more to a child? So, if the fabric has a pig motif, I want classy pigs, not silly pigs. If I'm going to make a quilt I want people to use it. It's got to have purpose. Since most people think of putting quilts on beds or using them to cuddle under while watching TV, then I'm thinking big. Or it could be a wall hanging to hang in their vet office. In either scenario, the finished design must be something I can accomplish fairly quickly (there is an entry deadline), and livable. Yes, it must be something people won't just throw in a closet and never look at it again. And, how can we miss that this particular quilt needs to be auctioned off and bring in lots of money for a good cause.
So the work begins. First, a trip to my local quilt shop. Nothing.
An e-mail to a few friends that are quilt shop owners. Nothing.
Then a late night search on the Internet. Found it. Well, sort of. It took several more times of researching on the Internet, but I found the perfect fabric. It's called Urban Farm by Keri Beyer for In the Beginning Fabrics. Unfortunately it was printed in 2008 so I had to find multiple sources to see the pieces in the fabric collection. I was starting to formulate ideas of what the pattern would be, but without seeing the fabrics in person I wasn't completely sure. So, I ordered what I thought was appropriate with a few extra pieces--just in case.
Urban Farm by Keri Beyer
Once I had the fabrics in hand, the pencil and graph paper got pulled out and I found the traditional Weathervane block to be my inspiration because of the motifs in the fabric.
Auditioning the fabric is the next stage and this takes me several days. My ironing board sits in front of a window, so I have great natural light in my sewing room. I stack the fabrics up, look at them, leave them, and come back when it's dark. Then I move fabrics around and repeat until I'm satisfied. I had to make one more trip to the quilt shop to get the final piece for the designing puzzle. That's when I get that giddy feeling and I can't wait to start cutting.
There's always a pile of rejects. But I just put them back in the stash for the next project. There's always a next project!
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Today marks the third anniversary of hosting my blog. To celebrate I'm going to give away three sets of three Hen and Chicks Quilt Studio patterns for the next three weeks.
What will you win? Patterns for re-creating Reflections in the Pond , Sunrise Blossom , Candy Dish.
How do you win? Add a comment to today's blog--I would love to hear whether you start with the chicken or the egg.
How will you know who wins? I'll draw three winners on Friday night and post the winners next Saturday.
If I don't win this week, then what?
Not to worry, you'll have nine chances total to win. We'll do it all over again two more times.
Happy anniversary! I am new to blogging and I have been told that most people quite blogging within their first year. You have been doing it for three years, amazing! Congratulations and I am looking forward to reading your blog for many years to come!
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Congratulations on three years of blogging. And a wonderful blog it is as well. As to which comes first, the chicken or the egg, I don't have a clue. I think it comes from what ever inspires you first, the pattern (aka the chicken) or the fabric (aka the fabric). Some of the time I find a pattern that inspires me and then I wait to find the right fabric for the pattern. Then some of the time I find a fabric that is inspiring and then I wait for the right pattern to come along. Then once in a while I will find both the pattern and the fabric together. This is rare. I guess you could say that the chicken comes first some of the time and the egg comes first at other times but rarely are the chicken and the egg first at the same time. Now this description leaves the age old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, still up in the air. Perhaps the answer is "within the moment" in time at which you see something that brings inspiration.
Now that I have babbled enough on this topic, have a super great sewing day. I think your quilt is going to be spectacular.
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Congratulations on three years. My where does the time go. Summer especially goes too fast.
Your next quilt with pig motiff looks very interesting.I like the shades of blue. Will be anxious for you to share the finished quilt.
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I would love to win some of your patterns. I have to say that lately it has been the egg that has intrigued me and then I have to find just the right chicken! Which ever way we do it, I love the process!
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I usually start with the pattern. but sometimes the fabric speaks to me first. Love the new quilt. Farms still speak to me. Guess you can take the girl out of the farm, but not the farm out of the girl.
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Hm...chicken or the egg? Sometimes I start with the chicken and sometimes the egg...it's a great analogy...and can't wait to see how this chicken/egg combo comes out...
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Thanks for the insight on your creative process. It's always interesting to follow someone else's journey. And, congratulations on 3 years. That's awesome!
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I hope you've enjoyed blogging as much as I've enjoyed reading. I think I always have a few quilt design ideas, either from patterns I've bought or from a magazine in my head, and then hope that a fabric takes my fancy.
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You describe the agony of design perfectly! I love it. AND it's always important to me to have use for the quilt, even if it's just to display over a railing. Color and fabric are my main inspiration, so I guess I'm an egg.
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Congratulations! I personally, more times than not start with the egg. The fabric inspires me and then I design around it. Every once in a while it'll go the other way, but not often!
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I sometimes start with the egg and sometimes with the chicken, but usually start with the egg.
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I do both, but often the fabric is purchased before the desired pattern comes to play. I love fabric collecting! My finished piece often has to have a heart, or the word "love". Your pig added is cute! Thank you, and congrats on 3 years with more to come!
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Hi Heidi, I have to admit i've NEVER bought a pattern and fabric for it at the same time. 90% of the time it's the fabric that speaks to me, then I root thru the accumulation of books/patterns until something just "clicks". And also Congratulations on 3yrs...I so enjoy "your-life" {
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Heidi, Congrats on the anniversary! For me, it's hard to say because sometimes I start with the egg (farbic or pattern) and sometimes I start with the chicken (the recipient or the use of it). Thanks for this wonderful give-away. Take care and God bless, Cory
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Congrats - love your blog. Also enjoyed reading the process you go thru creating a quilt... I think the chicken came first... Diane P
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Congratulations on the milestone!
In my very short quilting career, I have always started with the "chicken"! I do want to learn how to let the "egg" talk to me, though
Thanks for the chance to win!
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Love the classy pigs! Can't wait to see the finished quilt. I too never know whether the pattern will start the quest or the fabric. I think it is often a little of both.
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Hmmm - I think that the Chicken was created first - When I create I usually find a fabric I really like and build on it. - But that same as you - leave it lay and keep looking at it - sometimes take a day or two or three!!!
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Sometimes the fabric is first, but then sometimes I get the pattern and look for the "just right" fabric. Either way, I like the search. One of these days I will need to finish a project.
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WELL - I am dealing with kinda the same issue - I have a piece of challenge fabric and just can not decide what to do with it - quilt? table top? Wall hanging/, etc.? Then there's the pattern, so many to chose from? Thank you for your inspiration!
Vicki
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Happy blog anniversary ! Thanks for sharing--have really enjoyed the posts from the fair. It can be the chicken or the egg, but it always comes down to the fabric doesn't it ? Even if the pattern first caught your eye, it will be the fabric that makes or breaks it.
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I'm glad to see so many people are like me! Sometimes I start with the egg, sometimes I start with the chicken. Honestly there are a lot of eggs and chickens in my sewing room waiting to find their sole mates. LOL Congratulations on three years of blogging, keep it up!
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This is a toughie. Sometimes the pattern screams at me, sometimes the fabric is the starter. I love the processes any way it comes together. I love your blog, I admit I love ones that combine real life with quilting.
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Congrats on the 3 years! I usually "collect" fabric and then have most everything I need when I see a pattern...but I have to say the precut jelly rolls, etc. make you really want to own a whole collection of each fabric! Danger, Will Robinson!
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Happy Anniversary, Heidi, on 3yrs!!
Most often it's the fabric that grabs me, but.......... like others, if I see that pattern and it happens to have my favorite colors, - well, I just have to have it also.
Can't wait to see your piggy quilt!!
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Well, Heidi, when I did my quilting thing, I started with the pattern and then found the fabrics to go with it! An interesting question to pose! I'm sure it just depends on what you encounter--patterns or fabrics that you LOVE and have to find something wonderful to use them with!!
kay johnson
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Happy Blogiversary Heidi! Congratulations on 3 years. I think the patterns are what draws me to a quilt. I love to find fabrics to enhance the pattern. But I've been known to purchase some beautiful fabric, but it usually is with some direction in mind. Thanks for such a fun giveaway
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Then also i am confused...Who comes the first..The chicken Or an egg???
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Congratulations, Heidi!
You are the only one I know that posts on her blog often. That's the main reason I've not considered blogging. How do you find the time while being creative everyday!!??
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I have loved every blog you have written, Heidi. You need to write a book, the way you express yourself just always catches my attention. I usually go with the egg. It is the material that gets my juices running.
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Ever since I was a little girl and could buy fabric in the "five and dime" store, it has always been the fabric that inspired. I loved to scour the remnant bin and see what treasures I would find, then take it home and see what fun thing I could create. It's a habit that has never changed.
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We at AASV are excited to learn that the AASV Foundation will once again be the beneficiary of one of your beautiful quilts! But we never suspected it would take chickens and eggs to get pigs! We are looking forward to watching the progress on this quilt - it's already off to a GREAT start! Congratulations on your blog's third birthday - we're proud to be one of your three year-end projects!
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Happy Anniverary Heidi. I have learnt so much from you. First from Patchwork and Quilting and now from your blog. It is such great information and thank you for sharing it.
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I usually start with the fabric. Then I try to find a pattern to fit that perfect fabric. Sometimes I'll find the pattern that catches my eye and then I try to find the perfect fabric to fit. So, hmmm, I guess I go 50/50. Chicken 50/ Egg 50. Right now I am working on a project that started with the fabric. Lots of different "Apple" fabrics. I then had to choose the right pattern to showcase those fabrics. Slide Show was that choice. Simple. I didn't want to cut up the beautiful apples fabrics so this pattern was the perfect choice.
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Congratulations on your 3rd anniversary of blogging. I've read your blog for over a year and enjoy "watching" your kids as they grow. When I make a quilt I am usually inspired by the pattern, but then again......sometime there is a really great piece of fabric that speaks to me!
Cheryl
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Enjoy reading your blog, and watching your children grow. For me, sometimes it's the chicken first, I see a pattern or finished quilt and just want it, other times it's the egg, the fabric just speaks to me and I want it.
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I am usually inspired by the pattern first and then the fabric. Great giveaway.
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Wow! Time does seem to fly. Congrats!
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