Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Optical Illusion 2 Finished

If you work with your hands you're a laborer. If you work with your hands and your head, you're a craftsman. If you work with your hands and your head and your heart, you're an artist. 
~St. Francis

Quilting


Of course it's spiral quilted because very little shows on printed fabrics and the spiral strengthens the spherical illusion.
Optical Illusion 2 quilt

Look how different this quilt is from the first Optical Illusion. Same size and blocks; the only difference is the values themselves and their order.

Optical Illusion 1 quilt

As I wrote before, the sashing and border took about a yard of fabric. I was hesitant to use the same fabric for both but am exceedingly pleased with the result.  The binding is a diagonally printed plaid purchased for another quilt. Despite being certain it was the solution, it never worked. These strips have been hanging around for years. Finally, some of it has a use. 

Optical Illusion quilt 2, front and back

The back is the bird fabric with a yellow strip to add width. It all looks very soft and sweet. I may make another when enough lights fill my scrap bag. 

Quilt Specifics
Size: 44" x 44"
Design: String quilt
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Premium Natural Cotton
Thread: Aurifil blue cotton thread
Quilting: Spiral with walking foot
Approximate yardage: 6.5 yds

Previous posts:


FUR (Fabric Use Rate)

With very few finishes this year, I haven't kept up with the count. August used 7.5 yards for a total of 40 yards this year... I think. Wow, that's not much for what seems like a lot of work. OTOH several quilts are "in progress" and they don't count until they are completely complete. 

Reading
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir

Since reading The Martian I've looked forward to each new novel by Andy Weir and finally got Project Hail Mary. Ryland Grace wakes from a coma with amnesia in a spaceship with two dead bodies. His memory returns in flashes so the story follows two lines of current and past events. The ship is in the Tau Ceti system to find a way to stop solar dimming on earth. An exciting and interesting read. 

Enjoy the day, Ann

11 comments:

Elle said...

Great quilt.

FANTASTIC book! Enjoy to the last word :-)

Lisa in Port Hope said...

A lovely finish! It's so inspiring to see scraps come together into an artful creation.

Julierose said...

Your quilting looks fabulous and it does show well, especially on the lighter and white fabrics--adds a lot to that optical illusion;))) Great work on this one. Congrats on your lovely finish ;))) hugs, Julierose

Nann said...

Both illusions are wonderful! Congratulations on the fine finish.

Marie said...

Just beautiful! You must be pinching yourself.

MissPat said...

What an intriguing design. I did go back to the first post on Optical Illusion #1 to see if you used a pattern. I'm impressed that you worked out the details and made not one, but two, amazing quilts.
Pat

Mystic Quilter said...

So interesting to see these two Optical Illusion quilts together, `one very dramatic and the other very soft and quiet, but both very exciting.

patty a. said...

It is amazing how each quilt looks so different. I do love the striped fabric in II.

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Wow, both quilts are amazing!

Barb said...

great optical allusion quilts! wow
I loved that book. I listened to it on audible and it was incredible. Such great sound effects.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I think the illusion is greater on the pastel quilt and I like the fabrics grouped. Beautiful quilt!