Detail from "Rain Dance," an original quilt by Sherrie Spangler

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Chocolate bunny quilt


Karen Musgrave's challenge quilt is hopping along. The vintage fabric we have to use includes brown, which of course made me think of chocolate, which led to the chocolate bunny fabric and the pile of Hershey Kisses foil wrappers in my stash. 


That's the vintage "challenge" fabric in these two blocks. (The strips with the pink and brown print.) It used to have a white background, but I painted over it with transparent SetaColor fabric paints in warm orange, pink and yellow. Much better with my usual colorful palette!


Scary chocolate bunny, glaring out of the garden patch.


Since I have a huge chocolate wrapper collection, I was able to select just the right pink, orange, gold and chocolate colors. I ironed them between plastic sandwich bags (dry iron, low heat, with a press cloth) to stabilize them for sewing.




Part of the challenge is to use Rayna Gillman's techniques from her new book, "Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts," which is why I have all these wavy, wonky strips. She calls them "therapy strips," and she's right. It's easy, mindless, fun sewing -- great therapy!


Now I have to decide how to finish it. I want to leave the irregular outline, but I might mount it on this veggie patch fabric (above). The colors really pop against black, but I've been getting away from black lately in my work. I guess I'd better have some chocolate and think about it.


To read about Karen's challenge and see the vintage fabric, go to her blog post here: http://connectionsbykaren.blogspot.com/2012/01/fabric-challenge.html

Have a colorful day

12 comments:

Edith Bieri-Hanselmann said...

Imteresting and love to follow your project!

Pam said...

By the time you really look at the glaring bunny, your already enveloped with the excitement of the color...infused with Sherrie pizzaz!!

Judy Ferguson said...

Chocolate seems to be the cure for all ills. You can never get enough. Bunnies come in all shapes, and look good in chocolate too.

Vivian Helena said...

Love your color choices also! This was a fun challenge.. Am going to put it in Timberline gallery next month the theme is Metamorphosis. Will fit right in...

Karen S Musgrave said...

I love the chocolate bunnies! You quilt is so cheerful. Love it! Hugs, Karen

Kathy said...

Love the bright colors and painting the challenge fabric made it fit in perfectly. And now I also know how to use a foil wrapper! Thanks.

The Idaho Beauty said...

I'm about ready to try some therapy strips myself this week, although I didn't know to call them that. Hope they truly are therapy!

Unknown said...

Love your colors and approach. Beautiful!

Diane said...

What a wonderful quilt. Can't wait to see how you finish it. So fun!

Martha Ginn said...

Wow, Sherrie, you've been having way too much fun with your bunny fabric; what a clever quilt it is going to be. Mine is finished and on my blog, too. Alas, no bunnies, and I have always loved bunnies.
Martha Ginn
http://www.marthaginn.blogspot.com

Norma Schlager said...

Love that bunny fabric! What a fun challenge.

Suz said...

Brilliantly Done! chocolate bunnies are always my favourite and quilt is so beautiful. I love it!