Plus, Plus:: a finished quilt

My dad loves that maxim, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." With so much to do pulling me in all sorts of different directions (and I know you feel that way too), there are times when I wonder how anything will ever get done. Truly done. All the way, completely resolved, fully done.

I was about to start this post with "one thing at a time" and then I remembered, ironically, that while I attached the binding to this quilt I was also on the phone with a longtime friend, planning a trip to California this December for ABM lessons... So, perhaps, my new motto is: At least two things at a time! Ha.

Quilts can be finished. And this one is. Ahhhhh. I'll enjoy it.

Making this simple plus quilt was just what I needed. I challenged myself to work within a limited color scheme, as all included solids are from Kona Cotton's 2014 color release. At the same time, I comforted myself with a relaxed use of scraps for those "plus" centers. And you know what? The quilt turned out rather better than I imagined! I think the dark plusses and black/white prints are key to my feelings about the finished work. It has a bright, funky vibe for sure!

For the back I used a large piece of Denyse Schmidt Florence, one of Anna Maria's Folk Song florals and a leftover plus block framed in Kona Malibu.

The quilting is all over free motioned loops. I do my loops in rows across the quilt, which is easier on my brain than nesting them together like a stipple design. Loopy rows are a great first free motion pattern, by the way. Do try!