Colorado Quilt, Quilt in Progress

Quilt in Progress: “Pieces of Colorado”

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Back in August 2021, John and I drove around the southern Front Range area of Colorado to visit the quilt shops in the 2021 Rocky Mountain Quilt Shop Hop.

Each quilt shop on the shop hop had a small panel, displaying something about Colorado, that you could purchase for $5 and make part of a Colorado themed quilt or use individually in project:

And then there were several Colorado themed larger panels to select from that you could buy to make a Colorado themed quilt including this one shown in a sample quilt in one of the shop hop quilt shops:

Here is another sample quilt using the same panel combined with the small panels each quilt shop participating in the shop hop had available:

While attending the 2021 Rocky Mountain Shop Hop, I bought this panel (“Welcome to Colorful Colorado”), collected the small panels from each quilt shop we visited along the shop hop, and bought this pattern – Pieces of Colorado.

And then they all sat in a box together for 4 years…

Recently I decided to finally make the quilt (which is wall hanging/small lap quilt sized) for our basement guest room which I was in the process of redecorating. Originally due to some waterfront/boating art John had from his previous life, the room was ocean/beach/sea themed. But we are “landlocked” in Colorado and the closest ocean is roughly 1000 miles away; and I thought we needed a theme that better represents where we live.

Colorado has the 3rd most National Parks of any states in the U.S. (Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Rocky Mountain National Park) and it’s a beautiful mountainous state.

Image credit: U.S. National Park Service website

So I thought for our visitors, the guest room should celebrate Colorado as well as the amazing National Parks we have in my country.

At a later time I will reveal the remodeled guest room (and all the National Park themed art I havw added) but for now here is MY version of the Colorado themed quilt (“Pieces of Colorado”) in progress (I finished the quilt top) that is going above the bed in the guest room:

In addition to the large and small panels, I used several yards from my collection of Peppered Cottons in green and saffron. I will be using a brown Peppered Cotton for the quilt binding to “frame” the quilt.

Here’s the backing fabric that I found thrifting. It is a heavy cotton duvet that I disassembled to salvage the fabric:

So right now the quilt top and back are with my long arm machine quilter getting professionally quilted. I can’t wait to put the binding on and hang it on the wall (I will make a hanging sleeve for the back) when it returns!

Postscript

Here is the inspiration for the “Welcome to Colorful Colado” panel:

This sign is located at various borders between Colorado and neighboring states.

It was also the 2021 commemorative Rocky Mountain Quilt Shop Hop pin that I got when I completed my “passport” by visiting all the shops on the shop hop!

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Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

40 thoughts on “Quilt in Progress: “Pieces of Colorado””

  1. Hi Tierney, I tried to leave a comment on your blog post, but WordPress is mad at me for discontinuing with their platform and I can’t log in without knowing a password ( which I don’t have anymore). So anyway, great quilt and perfect to entice your visitors to go for a hike! Monique

    Liked by 1 person

  8. well it seems like four years was enough time to let the idea simmer and now come to life.
    And I like the green and saffron.
    —
    Also, it sounds really nice for the guest room –
    we have a guest room and we live in Arkansas (also landlocked) and guess what? The guest house actually has a Colorado theme. I will try and show you later, but it has a photo from telluride, some bear photography we inherited, and even a colorado mug with faux greens. I like it and I think your new colorado theme will be very fun

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      1. It was on accident – but that is my husband’s home state and it was a nice way to use the inherited framed photography. Wee also found little things – like in the winter the sheets are a nice flannel with trees and skiers

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  9. What fabulous panels, and what a great way to integrate them into a beautiful quilt. The artwork reminds me of 19302-1950s travel posters, clean, graphic and bold. It’s going to be a remarkable piece when it’s done.

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  11. I love the idea of a quilt shop hop, collecting squares and mementos along the way. We visited Colorado for a wedding in Winter Park some years ago and we had a great time. I enjoyed the Denver Botanical Gardens, the Sleepy Time Tea factory and time in Boulder and I loved all the open space.

    I’m looking forward to seeing your piece quilted and bound and I’m excited for the big basement reveal.

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  13. Those bright colours were the perfect choice – what else could you have used for a Colourful Colorado quilt? It reminds me of a series of postcards, maybe from someone visiting the state 😊

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      1. I’ve heard that about not using sheets too, BUT: 1) I started using sheets from the outlet years ago when there was very little wide back fabric available, and 2) I suspect the argument against sheets is the tight weave if you were to want to hand quilt.

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  18. Pingback: Quilt in Progress: “Pieces of Colorado” Update #2 – tierneycreates

  19. Hello, I wanted to share the mug from the room the guest house that we have the Colorado theme – there is more – but this mug will show you part of it – 🙂

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