I’ve been pretty proud of myself for getting up in the sewing room for an hour or more each day and really digging into my WIPs and UFOs. The latest almost-a-finish is Maison Bleue, a UFO that has been around for more years than I want to admit. I got all the blocks together in a diagonal set yesterday.
The red fabric I ordered for the containment border is on its way, and the outer border will be a brown print from the Urban Couture line by Basic Grey. This was actually one of Basic Grey’s first fabric lines when they started designing for Moda. Prior to that, they were known for their fabulous stationery and other paper products used in scrapbooking.
I was re-reading an old post of mine from 2014 when I first shared my blocks for this project. (The search feature on my new blog is just phenomenal.) I had totally forgotten the story, so I’ll share it with you now.
Apparently, back in the early 2000s, I had been in a quilting class, and a woman in it was working on a project using this exact Urban Couture fabric collection. Her blocks were unique, and I just loved them. As quilters are wont to do, I asked her what pattern she was using. She clammed right up and muttered something about not using a pattern, just “doing her own thing”. I persisted in questioning her about what the fabric was, how she was making the blocks, and so on, but she refused to tell me anything more than the name of the fabric line! It was the strangest thing. In my experience, quilters are usually very forthcoming and LOVE to share whatever they are doing. This woman even refused to let me take a photo of what she was working on; she was so worried I would steal her idea.
I do remember getting my hands on some of the fabric, but I didn’t have a clue what to do with it until years later. Then, when I found the Maison Bleue pattern by Crazy Old Ladies, I knew that was what I would do. I got all the blocks made, and when we moved, I never picked up the project box again to finish the project I had been so keen to make. Here we are decades later, and the quilt is coming together.
Who knew this quilt had such a story behind it!
32 Responses
Love this pattern and material ! I would be excited to finish it too !
I think it will really stand out on my front porch. Just the right size for the love seat.
This is a stellar quilt! Fabric makes it perfect. So great!
One of my daughters has a cheese cake recipe she makes for every carry-in. She does not give out the recipe. She will not even tell people the name of the recipe.
I have to admit, I like having my quilts be unique.
I am the person in class/workshop who does not do what everyone else is doing. I am doing a BOM and am (quietly) doing a very different setting than everyone else. I am in a 4 part workshop series (we meet once a month). They are all doing quilts, I am (quietly) doing a jacket. . .
But that being said – I share pattern names and quilting tips generously.
I can understand the desire to be unique, but this woman’s excessive furtiveness made me wonder why she took her top secret project into a public quilting class.
I agree with you, I love to put my own twist on projects to make it my own.
What a story behind this quilt! I have never understood people who don’t share their recipes and now quilting related stuff!
I know. Maybe this woman just didn’t like me and wanted me to go away! lol
Very handsome quilt top! Anxious to see it completed with boarders.
I am planning to work on those today!
I am happy to share patterns and recipes. I could never understand why someone would not. But to each their own.
A coworker made a chocolate cake once and it was the best cake I ever ate. When I asked for the recipe she said “l lost it”. No. You didn’t. When I retired she gave me the recipe. Still my go to chocolate cake recipe. Shoot. Now I have to go bake one.
My daughter doesn’t share because it is what she takes to every carry in. No one else has the recipe, so never a duplicate.
I can understand that.
Now everyone is going to want you to share the recipe here Carole! lol
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1 cup milk (buttermilk, almond, or coconut milk)
1/2 cup vegetable (canola oil, or melted coconut oil)
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by spraying with baking spray or buttering and lightly flouring. Or a 9×13 ” pan
Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk through to combine or, using your paddle attachment, stir through flour mixture until combined well.. Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter until well combined.
Distribute cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the chocolate cake comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, remove from the pan and cool completely.
Frost cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.
Oh my gosh Carole, thank you! I was half kidding about you sharing the recipe, but wow, thanks! I am making this with Eva this week!
Wow what a story! How strange someone would go to that extreme – yet want it kept secret, she could have sewn it at her home if the pattern etc was that precious! But you have made a gorgeous quilt, love it and the fabrics. It’s so nice to get to use the fabrics that you have had stashed away for a while.
Here the weather is yuk, so I’m working on a Sew Fresh bear paw pattern (with a bear!) that I took on retreat 7 years ago. The main top was completed about 5 years ago and now I’m on the borders – lots of footprints – beginning to question my sanity with them! Thanks to the quilt groups I’m able to spend an uninterrupted day (and a half day) on the old UFOs – then that gives me enthusiasm to continue when the weather is poor at home.
Our weather is clear again today and not to chilly, so I think I will do some starching in between sewing.
Too funny!! Nicole the idea thief!! I think that most patterns today are a copy on some level, aren’t they? Just variations of what someone else has done in the past?? I’m wondering if your quilt ended up similar to crazy lady’s or not lol? For sure you deserve big kudos on getting your UFOs done up… I love seeing them!
Now, with the Internet, I agree.
But long time ago – quilters – absolutely could do unique projects.
It seemed so important at the time, but now I cannot recall one single detail about that woman’s project!
You are right, it seems as though hardly anything in quilting is new and unique.
What a pretty quilt! I’m sure it feels really good to have another finished quilt! Brava!
Thanks Lisa. It was fun to take a trip down Memory Lane and resurrect these blocks into an actual quilt.
Your quilt turned out just beautifully! I’ve had quilting friends ask about a Moda Bake Shop pattern that I used & for help putting it together. It uses a lot of prairie points & once they understand how to do the layout, my job is finished. I feel like why not? However, I do feel strongly about copying a designer’s pattern without paying for it. That’s a hard ‘no’! Now, I’m going to go back & read your 2014 blog post.
That is such a good point Jan. In the past I have worked on “stunt sewing” for a couple of different quilt designers, and before the pattern was published, it was supposed to be kept under wraps. Maybe that is what the stingy woman was doing and couldn’t share due to her instructions to keep mum about it. Why take it into a public quilting class though?
Simple explanation: She must have thought I was being a pest and just wanted me to go away, that is why she was so unforthcoming with details!
let me know if you can find the pattern,. i could not. kinda funny, no?
I think it is out of print. I googled it before I posted so I could link to it, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. The Crazy Old Ladies pattern company still exists, though, maybe they can help.
I contacted the owner of the pattern company and asked her if people could buy it. She sells on Etsy under the name Crazy Old Ladies. I will let you know if I hear back.
I know designers have copyright issues with their patterns, and often see blog/FB comments to refer the person to the owner’s site. I think that’s a good way to handle it. Of course, if the pattern is free…all bets are off.
It’s always a dilemma when someone asks for pattern directions on a copyrighted pattern. Designers deserve to be compensated for their creativity, so I always refer people to the designer or pattern company when that situation comes up.
man, I just love diagonal settings….it just make a block look gorgeous. enjoy your starching and sunshine today. I’m starting back to the gym today. after 3 solid weeks I am finally completely over the flu. ugh. I’ve actually been sewing the last few days….yay!
So glad to hear you are feeling better! Take it easy at the gym!
Wow that was a fast finish and what a great story!
That woman should not have taken her quilt blocks outside of her home if she didn’t want anyone to see them and ask about them!