Improvirobin Quilt comes home

Back in early January, I started two things I hadn't done before.  I started on my healthy weight management program, and I joined the Improvirobin hosted by Stephanie at Venus de Hilo.  In both cases, what started out looking like one thing in January ended up looking like something very different by June.  Someday, I will tell you all the story of my weight loss journey, but today is about the quilt.

Stephanie and I had both been excited by a round robin quilt that Victoria made with a friend that was very non-traditional.  We both liked the idea and Stephanie got us started.  She invited her sister Abby (Quiltiverse), and Jackie from Canton Village Quilt Works.  I invited my sister-in-law Willa, and off we went.

I had been playing with warm colors at the time and built this center from a block a friend had made me and some of my favorite scraps.  I really liked it and thought it had wonderful possibilities.  I never imagined it would go where it did.  One of the rules for this robin was that you could do anything you wanted to what you were sent.  (Another important rule, since this was one of the rules, was that you couldn't complain about what was done.)  I sent this block to Willa.  She slashed it beyond recognition and added some incredibly wonderful African fabrics that I just love. Unfortunately, I cannot cut and paste photos from Flickr, but you can see it here.

Next, it went to Abby.  She created some beautiful liberated log cabins and added them to look like, as Stephanie put it,"a gathering of tribal huts in an African village." Here is Abby's addition. From Abby, the growing piece went to Stephanie.  Stephanie lives in Hilo, HI, one of my favorite places to visit.  She added a touch of the island to the quilt with beautiful tropical leaf appliques, and a couple of borders of stunningly beautiful fabric in the warm colors I love.  Here is Stephanie's addition.  While I was watching these transitions, I was wondering what Jackie would do.  She found just the right fabrics and added a pieced border on two sides that really spoke to me when I saw the photos.  When it arrived in the mail yesterday, I liked what she added even more.

So, without further ado, I give you Metaphor

Metaphor

40" x 40"

Improvirobin 2012

Why Metaphor?  It struck me that this quilt can be a metaphor for life.  At least my life.  If I cling to one way of doing things, stay in control of everything, I can pretty much predict the outcome.  If, on the other hand, I stay open to the possibilities, immerse myself in the process instead of focusing on the outcome, wonderful and exciting things may happen.  I am not sure I would do another robin with the same rule about being able to completely alter what was sent to you, but I am glad I joined this one.  It was a wonderful adventure, and I had great fun working on the other quilts and being part of a talented group of quilters.

And as a bonus for reading this far, I will share the beginning and current photos of the other journey I started in January. (Aren't you excited!)

Stay tuned for more exciting news in the next few days.

Joyful quilting, everyone.