Paprika

I'm beyond thrilled to share this quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  This is Paprika. It was a pattern by Colleen Reale in the February 2010 issue of the Fons and Porter magazine.  

It is the copiest of copycat quilts (except I added a row of blocks to make it a bit bigger than the original. It finishes at 72" x 84").  I fell so hard for that line of 19th Century Reds fabric by Nancy Gere - I just had to have them all.  

I used a large-scale print for the back that was some kind of fabric reproduction from a museum - alas, I trimmed the selvages and trashed them before I realized that I had forgotten the name of the fabric. It's a tan print with big black flower baskets - you can just see a bit of the back peeking out (upside down, doh!).  

I used a wool batting for this quilt, and quilted with a swirling meander. The wool gives it a higher loft than regular cotton or bamboo and it really gives the quilting some definition.  It's on my bed now and is it ever toasty, now that the weather is on the turn. 

I love the striped border on this - don't you think this part looks like a coral snake?

 I think the colours are perfect for fall, and while I was quilting it, I had an earworm that I couldn't get rid of: that beautiful, melancholy song "Autumn Leaves".  Here it is, by the late Eva Cassidy. 

As I said, I'm entering this into the Blogger's Quilt Festival, and I encourage you to go see what everyone else has entered. You will find loads more blogs to follow and inspiration galore!  And if you are looking for my birthday party and the loads of fun Person Below Me comment thread, it's here.