Sunday, September 22, 2013

Dreaming of Italy

My Dreaming of Italy quilt is finally finished! Well, it has been for a while, but heavy rain clouds have made it difficult to get a good picture. These aren't ideal, but they will have to do for now.
The idea for this quilt started with some prints that have been in my stash for ever, it seems. The warm terracotta, mosaic, and vines all speak to me of holidays in Italy and that warm golden light of a Tuscan afternoon. I have been adding different fabric with an Italian vibe to my stash for ages and finally the time was right to get going. A simple layout of four-patches and rectangles seemed just right to show off the fabrics, while the black and white fourpatche tiles setting the colours off nicely, while adding some structure.
I used the remaining bits and pieces for the back, along with some Mediterranean azure and quilted with a peach rayon thread in loose flowery swirls. The result may not actually shout Italy to you, but to me, all the elements come together to remind me of happy times holidaying in Italy, and that should serve to fuel my dreams of warmer places for many a winter night.
I found a black fabric with teal, brown and olive stripes in my stash that was perfect for the binding, tying the whole concept together. And finally here it is: my Dreaming of Italy quilt!