Friday, 3 February 2017

Chinese coins and a bit of déjà vu

For slightly complicated reasons I find I can't work on the yellow birds today so thought I'd have a think about the AHIQ challenge set by Ann.  Funnily enough I have always liked Chinese Coins, and looking back there are a couple of quilts where I started with the explicit idea of using this sort of structure.  

The first was Inner City:my original idea was to use bigger strips of the city fabric along with lots of 'coin' strips.  You can see from this early picture what I had in mind.

 I kind of veered off a bit after that, but I think you can still see elements of that initial idea in the finished quilt.



By a strange coincidence I started with a similar basic idea in the current quilt. Again, looking at an early picture you can see how this would work, incorporating the bird bits with coin-type strips.


This one has, of course, moved even further away from that starting point.

So I am going to try again.  My starting fabrics literally just came from a pile sitting on the table waiting to be tided away, though I may add stuff from my boxes as I get going.  I'm interested to see whether what I will end up with this time.  My personal challenge (thanks, Stephie) is to see if I can produce something that works whichever way up I look at it.


Linking up with NinaMarie for Off the Wall Friday.




13 comments:

Quiltdivajulie said...

Liking this newset pile of fabrics for another coins project. Great post, btw.

patty a. said...

Your Inner City quilt is fabulous! You have an interesting mix of patterns for your next try at a Chinese coin quilt and the colors remind me of early summer.

The Inside Stori said...

I really like the composition......esp. the colorful squares at the top and bottom.....which added an unexpected but successful spark!

Mystic Quilter said...

Good idea from Stephie! Neat fabrics you have there - I'm still deciding on mine!

Ann said...

This wonderful post highlights how designs evolve during construction even when we start with a different idea. Thanks for the look back at the beginnings of some of your quilts and the look ahead at your next fabric pull.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

Your city quilt is amazing and I love your blocks with the birds. I'm interested to see what you next.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Amazing how we can end up in a very different place from the starting point! Looking forward to seeing how you go with the coin quilt!

Janie said...

Inner City has the 'Chinese Coins' going and the 'medallion' thing going. Both have great design possibilities.
The design adventure begins!

Mary Marcotte said...

You know, one of the things we (your followers) seem to love about your work is that you start with a great idea--like the Chinese coins start--and always seem to find another, better idea. I am happy to see these fabrics (love the combination) and that you're going with the Chinese coins attempt, and of course, I'd love to see how you stick to an initial idea, but I won't be surprised if something better appears. That's what improv is about, right?

liniecat said...

Your brain works along such interesting pathways!
Seeing your thinking process is abit like listening to
Chinese Whispers .... (let alone coins!) seeing how the kernel idea, alters and blossoms as it travels along lol
Great fabric that city scape and a wonderful finish there.

Unknown said...

Nice to know someone besides me uses the floor for a design board.

Monica said...

That's a great collection of fabrics to start from! Very warm and rich.

Lisa J. said...

I love the way you start with an idea and then diverge as you build your quilts.