Examining the Creative Journey

I am starting this blog with something a little different. One of our readers (great idea Jodie Broughton!) has requested a series of interviews with our members and their projects so this week our in depth focus is with the gorgeous Ros Olle and her amazing Kaffe Fassett quilt.

The completed quilt top before quilting.

When I asked Ros to describe her quilt, she said, "It's big!"

And indeed it is!  This quilt was Ros'  first quilt she attempted alone.  Ros' previous experience of quilting had been in The Room's making of "Eli's Quilt".  For those who don't know, Tennille's son Eli passed away from Cot Death in September 2010. Feeling helpless in the face of such tragedy, our community made a quilt in Eli's memory, with the hope that it would go a small way with wrapping Tennille and her family in warmth and love.

"Eli's Quilt"

Ros was involved in that project from beginning to end. She appliqued and quilted and bound.

Ros then decided she was ready to begin her own project and spied Kaffe Fassett's "Bounce" quilt from his "Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts" book I had borrowed from my sister.

And don't let the "Simple" in the title of the book fool you.... there is nothing simple about this quilt!  There are over 1500 small pieces to be cut and pieced; there are circles to be appliqued and it is a Queen Sized Quilt - in short, it is an ambitious project for any quilter, let alone someone attempting their first solo quilt!

When I asked Ros what made her choose such an ambitious project for her first quilt, she laughed and replied, "Because that's the sort of girl I am!"

Ros was also fascinated by how the snowball blocks of the border formed an optical illusion of circles.

The corners are cut off and the tiny triangles are added to each block to give this quilt its distinctive pattern.

Ros has used a beautiful mixture of patterned fabric in her quilt - a mixture of florals, zig-zags, plains and spots to create a quilt that is uniquely colourful and vibrant.  I asked Ros how she selected what fabrics to use and she admitted the process was purely instinctive. "I basically picked any fabric that I liked and hoped it would work out."

Ros has completed several smaller quilts between working on her Kaffe Fassett creation and says her knowledge about fabric has grown and changed during that time.  Ros says she sometimes feels the colours in this quilt clash and if she was choosing the fabrics again she would choose a bit differently.  "I am more aware now of contrast," she says.  "I knew nothing about lights and darks when I started this quilt and I think I am better at picking fabric now."

Hmmm.... maybe.... but I, for one, love the fabrics Ros has chosen in this quilt.  For me the fabrics have a joyful feel... the feeling of discovery and beginnings of passion.... the quilt reflects the starting point of Ros' creative journey.... the instinctive process when a new world opens and you grab it with both hands and possess it in a way that is uniquely yours.....

The quilting process has taken a long time.  Ros secured the blocks with in-the-ditch quilting and is now using free motion quilting to accentuate the 'circles' with a beautiful varigated thread.

When I asked Ros if there was anything else she would do differently she said she wouldn't start with such a massive quilt.  Ros has since completed less complicated quilts and loves the feeling of achievement that comes from completing a creative project.

I think Ros' first quilt is perfect!  It is ambitious and reflects the world of possibility that comes from the discovery of creativity.  It shows that anything is possible with courage, tenacity and desire.  It demonstrates a steep learning curve and a willingness to open yourself up to the realisation that you can learn and achieve anything you put your mind to. Ros' quilt reflects her journey in a way that is uniquely Ros, and I wouldn't change a thing!

So eighteen months down the creative track Ros continues to quilt and she is rounding the curve to the home stretch.... a few (relatively speaking) more blocks to quilt and then the binding to be chosen and sewn.... and I personally cannot wait to see how this beautiful quilt looks when it adorns Ros' bed to bring years of beauty and warmth!

So last night, while Ros continued to quilt, the rest of us soldiered on with various projects.....

Dorothy, having once again abandoned her hexagon project, knitted a gorgeous scarf and Robyn continued to experiment with the pieces for her checkerboard projects....

Tennille discovered bias binding and completed her mini-quilt.  The back and the front are equally beautiful so Tennille is making it into a dream-catcher for one of her children's birthday....

And Yours Truly completed the back for a very special boy's 6th birthday quilt (the fact that his birthday was last Tuesday remains a moot point!)....

Have a great week everyone and any suggestions about what you would like to see on this blog are always gratefully received!
xxxx