fabricologist

fabricologist

Monday, June 2, 2014

My Perfect Picnic

Okay, I took way to many pictures and it's hard to cull some out. So I am including lots here. Consider yourself warned. This is what I started with:
A picnic quilt, to me, needs to be red and white. I sorted by saturation of color and drew it out before I began. That is a first for me. Here is what I ended up with:
I wanted gingham, but I had none. So I used only fabrics from my stash. Didn't buy a thing. And I. Love. It.  I even had the perfect backing fabric in my stash:
So I used it.  And my perfect picnic quilt is also perfect for the beach, which is where it got it's first test run.
 Mr. GQ and I went to the beach to participate in a race on our anniversary weekend in mid-May.
 We took the quilt and the picnic basket, which is soooo awesome, with us. It made the perfect little table between our beach chairs and a perfect place to stash food an beverages out of the sand and sun.
 And the backing being a beach print was serendipity. I loved every minute of it and said so often.

Mr. GQ agreed with me. It was perfect.  Now, it was time for the next test, an actual picnic.  We picnic in our yard or on our deck.  That is where we set up and you will see why.
 This is my favorite planter in the deck area. I can't seem to capture the beauty with my camera, but those flowers are so blue!
                           These little guys come around often.
                                 Pretty...
                         More pretty...
                           And here is our picnic...
 We love snack style picnic meals in the summer. Cheese, sausage, wine, fresh fruits...
                          More pretty...
             Best purchase ever...thanks Madame Samm...
 So cheers! We listen to Pandora with some of our favorite music; sometimes lite jazz, sometimes Frank Sinatra and other great stuff our parents listened to...
 Relax and enjoy. You don't have to travel far to do this. And clean up is easy. We can spend the day, or the evening after a long work week.
          The black and white stripes made a perfect binding to capture all the red and white.
                            Here is the back and front together...
 And this is the view from my deck, so you can see why it is our favorite place to be. It took a long time to get it this way.

So now, I bid you adieu...go and visit all the other wonderful picnics taking place.  I must thank Mary for a wonderful job as our head cheerleader on this one, and Madame Samm, I can't thank you enough for coming up with such an exciting and fresh idea for a hop. I have loved every minute of this one and will continue to enjoy it for a lifetime, with my quilt and my picnic basket. Here are the wonderful quilters I share my day with:
Monday June 2

Sew Incredibly Crazy
How Art You?
The Reluctant Quilter at Hazelnut Deux
GrammieQ's-you are here
I Piece 2 -Mary
Pig Tales and Quilts

59 comments:

Kristen King said...

What a wonderful picnic quilt. I'm sure you will use it and enjoy it often! :)

Anita said...

A perfect quilt for a perfect picnic!

Outback Crafter - Debra said...

what a fantastic picnic quilt. And I LOVE your basket. oh my. I need to find those in Australia.

Gill said...

I love your quilt - fantastic!

Thearica said...

Your "gingham" quilt is gorgeous! Fantastic idea! I guess I never realized you lived so close! You must go to the Duke Gardens... this was our 2nd time since I moved here. Hubby has lived here 60 years and had never gone until we married in 2003.

Mokki said...

Your picnic quilt is wonderful. It's such a nifty idea! I love it.

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Your gingham quilt is wonderful!

StitchinByTheLake said...

What a perfect quilt Charlotte - I can see several fabrics in there that I have in my stash too! I like the beach but I love, love, love your deck and all the flowers and trees. It reminds me of my own back yard. :) blessings, marlene

Dorian said...

What a beautiful picnic spot! Your back yard/deck is just lovely. Great quilt too.

Scrapatches said...

I adore your gingham look picnic quilt! The backing is perfect. I love all your photos. I feel so rested and relaxed just looking at the beautiful greenery and feel like I have my toes in the sand or the sweet green grass. Thanks for sharing your picnic with me ... :) Pat

Linda said...

How clever! I absolutely love your quilt!! Perfect!
Your setting is equally perfect. I miss having a backyard like that! ( I did when we lived on the east coast, but the landscape is a little different here!)

krislovesfabric said...

Great quilt and the looks of a fabulous picnic :)

JudyCinNC said...

Just absolutely wonderful - I have always loved two-sided quilts and yours is so colorful. We are working very hard this summer to create that same tranquil, restful and natural landscape for our backyard - we love spending time there. Thanks for sharing - Judy C

Carol Swift said...

I'd never leave my yard if it looked as beautiful as yours! You created such an inviting picnic with the quilt, the basket, and the yummy food...wish I was there! The quilt is so lovely and looks perfect for your picnic. Thanks for sharing!

Nancy said...

Charlotte, I Love how you came up with the Gingham look for this Beautiful Quilt! Your Yard looks so enjoyable and relaxing, a perfect spot for a Picnic! So true that it takes a while to create, we are working on that too, a little Oasis...Retreat, Resort style.

Thanks for sharing your Lovely Picnic!
Huggs, Nancy

Vickie said...

Oh yes Charlotte, your back yard is beautiful !! Kuddos to you for using stash fabrics....you definitely had the perfect ones....the binding is just the ticket and frames the quilt ! I do. I love. it too !

Brandy said...

How great of you to create a gingham quilt, it turned out very well, and I love the dice plates. And your backyard is fabulous, nice job. Aren't damselflies so neat? We used to have them visit all the time at my parent's old house that was next to a creek. How did the race at the beach go? And I guess, what kind of race was it? Thank you for sharing your picnic!
~Brandy

Patty said...

great picnic and quilt. i love the dry run at the beach!

KaHolly said...

I love the gingham look. How very creative and what a delightful post!

Shari said...

Beautiful quilt! Love the gingham-ness of it! Such fun for a dry run for your quilt, and beautiful backyard. Very peaceful and rejuvenating!

Lisa in Port Hope said...

That is a super design to use all types of scraps in a harmonious whole. Have a happy month!

Amanda Murphy said...

Love the red and white look and what a pretty backyard!

tink's mom said...

What a wonderful picnic spot you have. Simply lovely and oh so peaceful. Love how your scraps worked up to that perfect gingham look. Wow, very impressive.

Corrie said...

I totally agree that picnic blankets should be red & white! Very cool how you did the gingham look. And look at your new basket. Totally jealous of that.

Farm Quilter said...

You did an awesome job to get your quilt to look like gingham!!! Adore you picnic basket...need to go hunting for one of my own!!!

Sparky said...

Helloooo Charlotte...just flew in....and I am ready to come over if I am not tooooo late.....listen, I love your gingham affect and to think you got it all from stash..I am soooooo darn impressed..with everything...the menu, the ambience...lovely lovely photos and YOU....sooo bright and sooooo inviting...x

Jane's Quilting said...

What a perfect spot for a picnic. I love your landscape! It is beautiful....just like your quilt. I too agree with red and white for a picnic blanket.

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures said...

Great kwilt and all that yummy food! Lovely inspiration.

Doris Rice, The Quilting Queen said...

Oh I love how you made the gingham with the fabrics from your stash! You're so clever! And your back yard looks divine; to die for in fact! Yes, I would spend lots of time there too!

DebraKay Neiman said...

I love your quilt. Your inspiration for a picnic on the deck is so nice. I love your flowers. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

gpc said...

What a beautiful quilt and what a beautiful setting! I love those picnic meals, too. :)

Kathy H said...

I love the red and white. Looks so relaxing. Your quilt is beautiful.

Cheri the Quilting Nanny said...

Love the red..makes me want to make one too!
Cheri
quiltingnanny at yahoo dot com
www dot fabricandmemories dot blogspot.com

Janarama said...

Love your gingham quilt. Did it drive you crazy trying to get the fabric in the perfect position?

Cindy said...

I like how you created the gingham with the patchwork. Perfect for a picnic quilt!

pinsandneedles said...

Love your red gingham picnic quilt! Great job!

Judy B said...

Love how your red and white quilt came out! What a lovely yard and sew perfect for a picnic. Thank you for sharing.

Sandy said...

You arranged those squares to look just like gingham!!! Great work....very pretty.

Suze said...

I love the red and white quilt. It came together amazingly well. The black and white strip binding is perfection. How wonderful that you also had the beach fabric in your stash. A picnic on the beach is perfect. What a great way to celebrate an anniversary! And I can see why you adore your deck. I have a couple of Peterboro baskets and you will love your picnic basket, I'm sure. I love the picnic table in the yard, too. That looks inviting for a great picnic, too. Thank you for participating in the hop and bringing back some good memories of family picnics.

the girlfriend gap said...

Grammie Q , I LOVE this and I want one really bad.:) I'll be Adding it to my LONG list of quilts to make. Time to start collecting more red and white fabrics. Everything is beautiful . I am loving summer a lot this year.... The winter was long and very cold.
Thank you for hoping along and sharing your inspiration. Janita

Amy said...

What an adorable idea! I don't believe I have that much red fabric in my stash or I would do the same. Too cute. Your yard is beautiful, we are working on creating a oasis in our yard. Only a few more years for it to mature. Your picnic looked so lovely, when is the next one?.... ;)

Marcy said...

You must be a patient person. That's a lot of small blocks to make one gorgeous quilt. Great idea and love the binding with the red gingham pattern. You'll enjoy your quilt for sure.

Needled Mom said...

What a delightful place to enjoy a picnic. Your red and white quilt is beautiful.

Joanne said...

What an awesome quilt and to think it all came from stash! I loved all the pictures!! :-)

Kay said...

Wonderful quilt, i love the design you achieved with all of your stash. I have not done anything in just red and white but the effect is stunning. x

Mary said...

I love your quilt. The red and white is fabulous. Sounds like you have fun on your picnics. Thank you for playing along.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful settings, first the beach and then in the shadow under the trees, what a peaceful area and a perfect place for you picnic! You know what I like most .... your plates!!! LOL!

LJ said...

You sure did capture the idea of gingham in your quilt - you and MS have the eye for gingham!! The backing is wonderful and I liked the way you pieced it, too.

Calicojoan said...

Oh I love your gingham! What a delightful idea. What a gorgeous back yard you have. I am so jealous. You have beautiful trees and shade. I can't get a tree to grow for the life of me! Fabulous little friends that come visit your plants too! :-)

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Your quilt turned out gorgeous and love the gingham look. Red is my favorite color. You have a gorgeous yard.

Michelle said...

Love your quilt. Picnics in our own backyard are the best!

Kathleen said...

I love how you recreated the gingham look with your squares! Excellent! Nice backing too. Makes it so versatile.

Carla said...

I loved your post from start to finish. Your quilt is wonderful in red and white. LOVE. Your two outings are to die for. The beach and your back yard. Thanks for all the sharing, it was a beautiful experience.

Charlene McCain said...

Love your red and white quilts! I am so envious of your backyard. It is beautiful and the perfect place for a picnic!

Susie said...

Hi Charlotte love that picnic quilt, my Grandmother had a table cloth which was red gingham and she always brought it out in the summer for picnics. Loved seeing your garden, so pretty and the flowers are all out, ours are only just getting going. Thanks for sharing. Susie x

Linda C said...

Why go anywhere else with a great view, yard and garden such as yours? Lovely! I love that your picnic quilt is reversible and worked well at the beach or right there at home. Red and white, perfect combo.

evelyn said...

Can I say-perfection! Love the gingham look of your quilt. Your yard is awesome with sew many pretties surrounding you.

Mary Pat Callihan said...

Hi Charlotte! Sorry to be commenting so late. The last week of school was crazy, but now it is done and I can actually read and respond to what everyone wrote! I agree with you, this picnic challenge was so much fun! Your quilt is beautiful! I didn't realize until I read the post that all the fabrics were really reds...brilliant! The black and white border really sets it off. Sorry you are under the weather. Hope you're feeling tiptop soon....mp

Quilter Kathy said...

A perfect picnic AND beach quilt :)
Looks like a wonderful picnic!