The design for this quilt came to me on the edge of sleep, which is both cliche and true. I suppose it would be more cliche if it had come to me in a dream, so there’s that. I loved these fabrics, and I didn’t want to cut the prints up, I wanted to really let them shine. I envisioned them in large pieces, overlapping each other, creating a sense of depth and layering. I made a quick sketch in a notebook, and then continued with my nap, because I mean come on. I have not reached the superhuman level of being able to be on the edge of sleep and then decide NOT to have a nap.

The execution of my vision…well that sounds harsh. It wasn’t executed so much as gently coaxed along. I did the sketch for this design in April of last year. I calculated about what I wanted the scale to be and how much fabric I had and decided what sizes each piece should be based on that. I cut and pieced the top, and pin basted. I started quilting it pretty soon after, I think in May. At that point, I had already started packing for our cross-country move in June, and I decided to pack up all my quilting projects and focus on what needed to get done to move.

Packing my big projects up early allowed me the mental space to focus on practical matters, and as it turns out it was great because to fill the small breathing spaces of the day I started crocheting toys for my favorite littles. It was a perfect solution – the projects were small and finite, portable, and given away when they were done so they didn’t add to the packing.

Fast forward a few months, I started working on this again in earnest in September after we had settled in here in Minnesota. I quilted it in layers of different motifs, to mimic the feel of the top. I started with parallel but not quite equally spaced lines, cathedral window, and pebbles. I started with those and needed one more, and I just wasn’t able to stop myself from putting in feathers. I LOVE FEATHERS. I MUST HAVE THEM. My favorite.

I make all my quilts hoping that they will be well used, but not necessarily by me. So began my epic quest for how to determine good pricing practices, where I discovered that the entire topic is a shitshow and nobody agrees. That is partially freeing. The first thing I read said to add up materials, plus all the hours you put into a handmade item and make sure value your time at a fair hourly wage. Then double that to make a profit. Hmm. No. I mean, I believe in my work, but also no. I want people to want to buy what I make while still making sure I value my time adequately. I also don’t want to be undercutting or devaluing the work of other quilters and artisans. My search for the perfect pricing formula is ongoing, but I have settled on something that works for me for now.

So, I am happy to announce that I have named this quilt Blue Depths, and it is for sale in my Etsy shop! I am working on more projects as we speak (… as I type? as you read?) and I hope to have at least a couple more finished in the next few months. Stay tuned!