Sedona Sunset, Draft #3

There are times when a new quilt design doesn't make the first cut.  Sometimes, it doesn't make the second either.  Hence the saying, "third time's a charm"!  This story began when I started designing a quilt for my boyfriend over three years ago.  I designed a whole cloth quilt in which the design was all in the free-motion machine quilting.  I thought Draft #1 was a great design but it didn't translate well in the materials I chose.  I used wool batting and let's just say it was the first time and probably the last time I'll use it.  So after spending at least a year working on it, I knew it just wouldn't do and I decided to start over.  Sigh...

Draft #2 didn't seem to work much better.  I got the clever idea to paint the southwestern motifs on this quilt to mimic applique.  I used Elmer's Blue School Glue Gel as a resist to keep the paint where I wanted it but I wasn't happy with those results either.  For an example that this technique does work, check out the white flowers in the background of my banner.  That is where the glue was applied to the fabric prior to me painting it.  Anyway, I didn't care for the effect in this instance and went back to the drawing board.  Sigh...

Draft #2 was designed with Electric Quilt 7.0 software and I still loved it but it needed a little tweaking.  Gone were the painted motifs.  Appliques stepped in to take their place.  In order to get the effect of the painted shapes, I decided to use batiks and my hand painted fabrics using raw edge applique.  Yum!

My hand painted fabrics with my printed design from EQ7.

I have to admit that starting a new quilt is so exciting.  There's all the beautiful fabrics and threads from which to choose and maybe, if you're really lucky (and willing to start over), you will create a quilt that not only meets your expectations but exceeds them!!  Right now, I'm at the beginning of Draft #3 and let's hope it's the last one for Sedona Sunset.