30 January, 2008

Help Me Decide

My Bee met this past Monday night. Our gracious hostess had many quilts to show us, one happened to be the finished product of a block swap that I participated in, approximately six years ago. On the drive home I began to wonder where my blocks were. I found them yesterday morning, tucked neatly away in a box in the stash closet. There were fifteen! The exchange was a fat eighth swap with no construction rules other than a 12" block, my feature fabric is shown here. I spent the day setting them together. Please help me make a decision on the side borders. Since it's long and narrow the side borders need to be wider than the top and bottom. (The top and bottom will carry out the same 4" sashing with cornerstones as the interior portion of the top.) I have two side borders auditioning below. One wide black border where the cornerstones float and one with a red batik accent stripe (it will run all the way through the top and bottom borders). I plan to do elaborate swirling feather quilting in these borders with a vibrant thread. The quilt will finish approximately 64" x 84".

What do you think? Where do I go from here?
Life is Good!
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29 comments:

  1. quiltkeemosabeJanuary 30, 2008 7:26 AM

    I love this exchange!!! The red stripe definitely adds drama. It will be on all 4 sides, right? The floating cornerstones look good, but the red says, "WOW". Glad you found these blocks.

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  2. *karendianne.January 30, 2008 7:41 AM

    LeeHaven votes for the red, too!

    What great blocks. Fun, fun, fun.

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  3. zizzybobJanuary 30, 2008 8:13 AM

    My vote is for the red stripe also. Don't you just love this type of swap?

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  4. Salem StitcherJanuary 30, 2008 8:31 AM

    Now I'm going to have to find my blocks! Was it REALLY six years ago? Time flies...

    I vote for the red border too. It frames the blocks up nicely.

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  5. Mama SparkJanuary 30, 2008 8:45 AM

    I guess I will be the rebel here, I like the floating look with just the black, especially if you plan to use vibrant thread and a lot of quilting.

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  6. Cheryl M.January 30, 2008 9:36 AM

    Mamspark is not the only one that thinks the floating squares looks better. I think the red border will take the eye away from the blocks to much. IMHO
    Cheryl M.

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  7. QuiltdivajulieJanuary 30, 2008 10:26 AM

    Add another to the list voting for the narrow red border... and I LOVE the idea of vibrant thread and lots of feathers. WOW! What a gorgeous quilt!!

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  8. Pat at Bell Creek QuiltsJanuary 30, 2008 10:59 AM

    I would vote for the red inner border. It would be a zinger!

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  9. TeachergirlJanuary 30, 2008 11:05 AM

    Solid black!

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  10. NaneJanuary 30, 2008 11:14 AM

    If you left the border solid black it may not be as noticeable that the top and bottom are narrower than the side...just a thought

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  11. Laurie AnnJanuary 30, 2008 11:45 AM

    Very cool! Glad you got these back out! I like the red stripe, definately.

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  12. Ancestor CollectorJanuary 30, 2008 12:35 PM

    I like the solid black if you're going to use elaborate vibrant-colored quilting. Does my vote count since I'm not really a super-quilter? I don't think three quilts makes me very qualified to be a judge.

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  13. MJMRJanuary 30, 2008 12:43 PM

    Go for the Red!!! It needs that extra POP!!!!

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  14. AmyJanuary 30, 2008 12:52 PM

    Why not do the black border, and add red piping along a black binding? It would give the pop, but let the cornerstones float.
    Amy

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  15. PamJanuary 30, 2008 1:04 PM

    I love the red accent stripe. I think it is fabulous. Thats my vote :)))

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  16. Three Birds InspiredJanuary 30, 2008 2:00 PM

    Floating cornerstones...no red border. The quilt is really beautiful.

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  17. Nancy AnneJanuary 30, 2008 7:54 PM

    Oh, I hope you aren't just counting up the responses and choosing that way. I vote for the floating cornerstones - it's definitely not ordinary!

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  18. Quilting MemoriesJanuary 30, 2008 8:04 PM

    Love that red!!!! really speaks to me.

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  19. quiltmom annaJanuary 30, 2008 8:26 PM

    My vote is the red stripe- it adds some extra zing and makes some of the red in your beautiful blocks pop. what a great find to finish..

    Regards from a Western Canadian Quilter,
    Anna

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  20. meggieJanuary 31, 2008 1:55 AM

    What a lovely quilt it is. I can't believe it has been languishing in a drawer!!
    Red looks nice & dramatic!

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  21. LindahJanuary 31, 2008 2:51 AM

    Definitely floating cornerstones. The red distracts from the beautiful blocks.

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  22. SherryJanuary 31, 2008 9:52 AM

    I like the red striped border; but when considering the thread you plan on using it might disappear on the red. Hmmm, sounds like I'm a fence sitter to the "nth" degree, doesn't it.

    If the quilting will show up prominently on the black then that would be the way to go. . .if the quilting will not be prominent & visible easily I think the red adds a "punch" that works.

    Beautiful quilt either way.

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  23. tirane93January 31, 2008 2:40 PM

    i like the red stripe but i'd do it ASYMMETRICALLY. put the red on just one side like you have it, possibly making it just a bit wider.

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  24. atetJanuary 31, 2008 5:13 PM

    I'm going to go for the float, just because it would really give the feathers and swirls some place to float as well :0).

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  25. mcquiltJanuary 31, 2008 8:47 PM

    I'm all for the red. Seen my sofa lately?

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  26. mcquiltJanuary 31, 2008 8:48 PM

    I'm all for the red stripe. Seen my sofa lately? mcquilt

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  27. mcquiltJanuary 31, 2008 8:49 PM

    mcquilt says, "this quilt wants red."

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  28. ShelinaJanuary 31, 2008 9:20 PM

    Lots of different opinions here. I like it with the red stripe.

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  29. LauraQuiltsFebruary 08, 2008 12:16 PM

    I love the floating cornerstones. It has my vote!

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