If you are visiting my blog for the first time while touring the Blogger’s Quilt Festival, welcome!  Those of you who are not new to my blog have already seen this quilt.  It’s a fairly recently finished paper pieced quilt with an Artist Studio theme measuring 45″ x 55″.

 

The blocks in this quilt were made by the members of the Cocorico Bee.  I asked them to make me blocks with the Artist Studio theme and I received everything from a Fashion Designer’s Studio to a Pottery Studio. I love the variety.  Somewhat unexpectedly, I also received blocks that are really cohesive!  I was surprised at how comfortably the blocks worked with each other.  They don’t compete with each other as bee blocks sometimes do. I think that it helped to be a part of a group of individuals who really know each other’s styles.  These blocks are all made with fabrics that are very “me.” 

 

I didn’t ask for blocks that were the same dimensions so I was challenged to piece them together.  As it turns out, though I feared that part of the process, I absolutely loved doing it!  A quilt wall at retreat was a major help. I used some sashing and designed a few small paper pieced blocks to fit into the sashing for added interest (the brushes and pencil).

 

 

After much hemming and hawing, I decided to finish my quilt by quilting it with an irregular grid. I really liked the quilt top without quilting and didn’t want to add a lot of texture to the crisp blocks. I am happy with this solution though I did get anxious each time I stitched through lovely piecing and some mighty thick seams!

 

Here is a little close up so you can see the grid.  The lines are straight but spaced irregularly–2-4″ apart.

 

 

 

I pieced the back of the quilt with light colored prints since I used a very soft grey thread for quilting. I made a label with my brayer block and stamped words that read “Blocks by members of the Cocorico Bee/assembled and quilted/by Amy Friend.”  I rarely include such a label but thought it was important to document the collaborative effort.

 

I feel like it is important to give credit to each of the members of the Cocorico bee:



 

 

Top Left:  Sewing Studio by Charise

 

 

 

 

I used the navy Architextures print for the binding. 

 

I’m going to treasure this quilt! 

 

Thank you so much for visiting today!  I hope you will click my “follow with Bloglovin'” button up on the top right sidebar and keep coming back!

 

 

Enjoy the rest of the Festival.