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Thursday, March 10

Midnight Mystery, Editing, & Wandering Camera

Cheryl's Midnight Mystery Quilt Along was a rip-roaring success!  She had more than 100 people complete their quilts in time for the grand finale.  We've been getting peeks at a few of the finished quilts on Facebook and there were some incredible quilts and quilting to feast your eyes on.  I can't wait to see them all in the big parade today at Meadow Mist Designs!  

This was so much more than a quilt along and quite the social event in Quilty Blogland, so make sure you don't miss the 2016 Meadow Mystery quilt along, which will begin in July. Thank you Cheryl for putting this one all together for all of us and for your ever ready support and enthusiasm!

My quilt top was finished just barely in time, but I strayed from the plan.  I was one of the people who preferred to have a sneak peek. (I love that we can choose to do that!) I wanted to try fussy cutting Cheryl's fabulous blocks and using Parson Gray fabrics, for kind of a modern and more masculine quilt.  The Midnight Mystery block looks so cool done up like this and I loved how it turned out!  It reminds me of looking inside an old fashioned flash bulb:


Midnight Mystery Quilt 24" Block - Meadow Mist Designs

There is a lot going on in the block because of the fabrics I chose.  My family thought my quilt would look too busy with a whole quilt full of blocks like this one.  After making up a strip of three blocks, I could see they were right.  So I did something different with the three blocks; setting them in a column, bordered by wide swathes of Parson Gray "Seven Wonders Settler".  Cheryl was totally cool with that!  

Midnight Mystery Quilt - modified - 72" square

The above shot was taken in the basement with the light filtering through the glass block window.  I thought it looked pretty and mirrored the effect of the quilt blocks.  It still has to be sandwiched and quilted.  I was thinking of doing something plain and simple, like matchstick quilting. 



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Editing at Last!

This past month I didn't get much time for visiting friends or for sewing.  That's because my book Crafted Applique - New Possibilities went into the editing stage.  You might wonder why it took so much work.  The manuscript I turned in was a good one, except it was for a 168 page book with patterns designed for CD.  They decided it would be more marketable to make it over into a 96 page book, patterns included.  It was no picnic to convert.  I feel more than a little burned out.  We have all our kids coming home this weekend, but after that I'll be doing my best to catch up with everyone and make up for lost time. 

Just before the editing started, I did finish Eden's first baby quilt.  I'll share that in another post.   What you get to see this time are the photos of the trimmings.  Yup, that's right.  I think the trimmings from a quilt are pretty and sometimes I have trouble throwing them away, LOL.  Do you ever hate to toss out tiny scraps?  They look even prettier when they are piled into a sweet little thread catcher, which coincidentally is something I purchased from Cheryl's Meadow Mist Designs Etsy shop.  (I bought a really cool pincushion too.) 



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Wandering Camera

Last month in Soma's Wandering Camera group, she taught us about light and encouraged everyone to play with different lighting effects and experiment.  So, when I saw how beautifully the sunshine was filtering through the lace curtains onto my ironing board and nifty thread catcher, I couldn't resist taking photos.  It was a good thing I did, because that was the only chance I got to play with the camera. 

First, I took the photo backlit by the sun, which is usually a no-no, but the effect was really neat.  It proves that sometimes rules are meant to be thought of as merely guidelines:


Backlit thread catcher with quilt trimmings

Next, I turned on the flash and let that light up the foreground.  I usually try to avoid using the flash because it changes the colors.  Do you find that to be the case in your own photos?


Evenly lit thread catcher with quilt trimmings

It has quite a different effect, doesn't it?  Last of all I tried a shot in close up view.  Which of the three photos do you like best?


Close up of thread catcher with quilt trimmings

It was a lot of fun to do that little bit of experimenting and I'm looking forward to what Soma has us doing in March!  Everyone is welcome to join the Wandering Camera Group so stop over at Whims and Fancies and see what it's all about!


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39 comments:

  1. That editing must have been a bear, I thought you were off enjoying the beautiful new grandbaby. I'm glad you strayed on the mystery quilt, it turned out beautiful and using just three blocks as a focal really changed the look, beautiful and masculine.
    I like the first picture with the natural light, it looks like there's a story there, very atmospheric.

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  2. Nice to hear that the editing is done and you can breath again. Those trimmings look good and I'm sure Eden is enjoying her quilt. I love all three photos but if I had to narrow it down I would say the first one is my fav.

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  3. So good to see your update Lara, I also thought you were distracted by baby. I'm losing sleep waiting for the reveal of your 96pg baby!
    Absolutely love your Manly Midnight blocks!

    The first photo looks pretty cool, but I think the 2nd puts the emphasis on your product. Which do you like? I should take the time to play with settings like this!

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  4. I love your quilt along blocks. The fussy cutting really makes the blocks.

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  5. Wow, I love your version of the mystery quilt, Lara. The detail to the placement of your fabric looks great, and I love it offset in the quilt top. Very modern!

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  6. The fabrics you selected for your Midnight Mystery Quilt is very interesting. Since you mention it, it does look like looking into an old lightbulb. Can't wait to see the new baby quilt and maybe a recent pick of the baby?

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  7. Your photos look great Lara! I especially love the shadow play from the curtains. Love your version of the Midnight Mystery. I had too much going on to start on time and am just now piecing mine. My daughter claiimed the pattern and picked out fabrics to match her "teen" room.

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  8. Wait, writing a book? How did I miss that/ Wow am I impressed. Puts all my puny efforts to shame, I can't wait to see it. I love all the photos actually and thanks for the link I've been looking for some photo challenges to help me jump start my picture taking.

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  9. Your quilt stood out for me on the parade of quilts on Cheryl's blog this morning. Your fussy cuts are perfection! What a stunning composition!

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  10. Love your flashbulb quilt! Very creative and intriguing. As to the pictures, the effect is very different in different lighting conditions. I like the first one the best, but then I always liked that mood that is created when the light is shining in the windows.

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  11. Forgot to say, I noticed the book in the sidebar. It looks like it is going to be great. It does look like the book will be missing quite a bit of goodness, but maybe you can put them in another book?

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  12. I love your Midnight Mystery Quilt! I think your instinct was right in how to arrange your blocks. What a cool light effect you captured!!
    My favorite "Eden Scraps" photo is the second one.... with the lit background. These scraps are very sweet....
    I hope you will be able to do your grand "Happy Dance" when you are finally done with the editing!! You deserve it!!
    Susie

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  13. Your quilt stands out from the others, mostly because of the design you came out with, you really made it your own. Well done! The picture taken in the basement gives your quilt a magical feel. I prefer the third thread catcher picture, the close-up one; more artistic.

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  14. Great job on Cheryl's mystery quilt. Seeing all the pretty finishes, I wish I had joined in on the fun. Congratulations on getting your book a little closer to the finish line. It will be published before you know it!

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  15. I can't wait to see your book Lara! Your little basket of scraps is so cute and the lighting is neat!!

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  16. I love that mystery block, it is stunning.

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  17. I've just been having fun looking at the quilt parade (so neat to see the quilts "big" instead of in thumbnails in a usual linky party). I squealed when I came to your quilt because I noticed you'd been absent from blogland for awhile. It sounds like a huge undertaking to change the format of your book, but I know it will be awesome. I sort of laughed when you talked about the masculine quality of your quilt because when I saw the picture of the whole quilt, I thought of lace! I think it will appeal to anyone. Doing the fussy cutting was so worth it. Your photos are all delightful--my favorite is the first one because of the quality of the light coming through the curtain. Looking forward to seeing Eden's quilt. And welcome back!

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  18. I love the quilt with the 3 focus blocks. The blocks are very interesting with the different patterned fabric.
    I also like the first photo with the natural light, all are pretty cool! Thanks for showing me the site, Wandering Camera. I want to learn more about my camera and get better photos of my quilts.

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  19. Oh, I love your layout and the fabrics! Great job!

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  20. Wow! Fuzzing cutting for your block has really paid off. It's impressive. I applaude your choice of making a column. You also paired the blocks with a gorgeous fabric that enhances the blocks quite beautifully. I had to pin twice--the block alone in my block board and the whole quilt in my quilt board. The light from your window indeed makes it look pretty.
    As for your book, you must had to take heartbreaking decisions. Like cutting a child. (Maybe that's too dramatic... lol) I hope you kept the trimmings!
    I really like your first picture. It's darker, but I like how the curtain and the table look. I find there's more susbstance. :-)

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  21. I can see the analogy of an old fashioned flash bulb in your blocks. The quilt looks wonderful with the three blocks set in a column. Love the photo you took of the quilt - the refracted light shining on the middle block! Cheryl’s thread catchers are beautiful, I love mine. I have trouble throwing away the trimmings too!
    Back-light is really not that bad, you can have a lot fun with it. I like the first photo the most with the basket gently lit up and the trimmings looking very soft. I don’t generally like flash either, but I like how you used it for your second photo. That worked really well with bringing the basket into focus. I love how you experimented with different lights. That is fantastic!! Thank you so much for linking up on Wandering Camera!
    So glad to hear that you are done with editing, Lara! Congratulations! Enjoy the family time and relax!

    -Soma

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  22. I love what you did with your mystery. Very nice indeed. Good call on fussy cutting the blocks. I'm looking forward to the next one.

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  23. What a great variation you made of the mystery quilt. Love the fabric choices and layout. Congratulations on the rewrite, although it must have been a pain. And I thought you were just busy snuggling the Eden.

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  24. I saw your lovely Parson Gray version in the parade yesterday! Fabulous use of the fabrics Lara! Oh! My! Just love. As I do your trimmings and a oh yes, feel the same as you about tossing them, but consider doing what I did this past few weeks with all my trimmings from the Swoon Mini and whatever else I was seeing on: I stuffed them with the piece of poly batting into Bella's cat cushion! A little more cushiness for her tushiness ha. Eep but you know how ecstatic I am for the upcoming release of your book and I can totally relate to how you feel about that when I think of how I felt after marking (grading in American) 30 essays...I will have to investigate Soma's Wanderring Camera more, as I love the effects you got! Enjoy all your family this weekend and just hit "mark all as read" on your bloglovin feed and read what you can when you can no worries over here at all, and I'm sure I speak for most if not all of us.��

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  25. and don't answer my comment! Just snuggle that wee babe instead.

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  26. As for the photos, for the trimmings themselves, #3, for the overall picture, I like the first one :) Your Mystery Quilt in Parson Gray is awesome! Love the setting, and the flash bulb analogy is perfect! These are all such fun, I hope to join in this year! (I may have to sneak peak too!)

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  27. I adore mysteries. I bet I could have looked at the quilt and figured out who done it.
    Amalia
    xo

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  28. Your quilt is beautiful - I love your fussy cut blocks. And I enjoyed seeing your photo experiments. I'm not sure which I like best. I love the filtered light in the first one but also the sharpness with the flash... :)

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  29. I love your version of the mystery quilt, the fussy cutting makes for a really cool effect. Congrats on finishing your book editing, I can't wait to see the finished book!

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  30. Your version is wonderful! I love that you made it your own :)
    Glad your editing is over finally. I'm so excited to see your book!
    I have trouble throwing out my Art Gallery scraps. I have some ridiculous small pieces that I will use somehow!

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  31. OMGosh. Lara, I cannot imagine have to do that much editing to reduce it to that extent. I can see why you would be worn out.

    I love your version. It looks like crystals dangling in the block. Very nice. Your camera shots are wonderful too. I love seeing the different outcomes.

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  32. Your quilt top is mesmorising.

    You must have felt overwhelmed when they asked you to change your book so much. At least the hard part is over now.

    I like the atmosphere of the first scrap bucket photo, but I think I like the second photo the best. By the way, cute scrap bucket, and cute scraps :)

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  33. I am in awe of the quilt blocks you have made Lara! They really do have a sort of shattered light about them. Such an interesting effect with the light coming through the window too. The final arrangement looks great and really draws your attention to the complex pattern of the block itself. Of the three thread-catcher photos, I like the first one the best. Being able to see more of the lace creates a really nice background, and the light through the lace is lovely.
    Congratulations on finishing your book editing. It sounds like it was a real headache! You must be so relieved to have finished with it. I hope you had a great time with your family on the weekend!
    Wendy x

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  34. you have been very busy Lara, between the massive editing job and making these gorgeous blocks. The blocks look like broken glass to me, but I see the flash bulbs, too. Your setting is perfect as it allows the beauty of the blocks to be the focus. I like your first photo the best. The lace makes a beautiful backdrop and adds such interest. What fun!

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  35. I love your blocks - such a clever use of the fabric - and I like how you have set them a lot. Those fabrics do make a really good 'man quilt'. I like the first photo the best: the lighting is much more atmospheric and the lovely details, like the shadow from the lace, show up better.

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  36. Your blocks are beautiful. And I think I like the first picture in front of the window the best. Some rules are meant to be broken!

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  37. I don't know which one is more impressive - your quilt block or the shimmering light that you captured with your camera. Your block is lovely and I am sure that the quilt will be gorgeous!!!
    Hugs,
    Preeti.
    http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com

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  38. Sounds like you had a blast participating in the Mystery quilt along, Lara. Your blocks are fantastic. I can't wait to see them all quilted up! I feel for you on the subject of editing. Not fun. But so worth all the efforts once you are done! I guess writing a book is a lot like childbirth. You memories of the pain disappear over time. Looking forward to seeing Eden's new quilt!

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  39. Hi Lara...stopping in to see what your are up to....and it's a lot of exciting stuff. Hang in there and enjoy making Eden's quilt. :)

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