This post is a quick follow up to the “Toward 2050” – Volunteering to Make A Quilt Top .
After seeing the Toward 2050 exhibit and walking the labyrinth at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona in February, I knew I wanted to contribute to the project in someway and ended up volunteering to sew one of the “blankets” (what they were calling the quilts, ouch) to be made from 30 of the flags that people around the world created inspired by their feelings on Climate Change.

So I turned this pile of 30 – 9 1/2″ by 9 1/2″ flags:

Into this quilt top per the detailed instructions provided:

It was challenging as the flags were really more individual art pieces and likely not originally created to be incorporated together into one piece*.
I ran into issues of trying to sew through very thick materials; and dealing with flag original construction and design issues such as sections within a flag not fully stitched together.
*I am not sure if the original participants knew their flags would become “quilt blocks”:
But I got it done (and so appreciated sharing my challenges with my friend W who was also working on piecing a different set of 30 flags) and will mail to the Toward 2050 project team tomorrow for them to send it on to their volunteer longarm machine quilters to finish.




You’ve pulled the disparate pieces together beautifully, Tierney, but yes, a lot of challenges. It’s gorgeous. It must feel good taking part in this amazing project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. I’m glad that it’s over and I’m mailing it off ha ha ha.😀😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get that. Sometimes the relief you feel at the end of a project is the best part. 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing job. It looks very cohesive and like they were all meant to go together
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Helen. I really appreciate that and I’m glad that they look cohesive.😀😀😀
LikeLike
What a creative process. It looks great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. I really appreciate that!😀😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks great, Tierney. I’m glad you had a friend working on flags, too, so you could brainstorm on the construction. What a challenge, but you nailed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and yes, it did help to have someone too chat with over the challenges! And the frustrations!😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool project. Your contribution will beautiful complement to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, I really appreciate that. 😀😀😀
LikeLike
wow! I am so impressed!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are too kind, thanks!😀😀😀
LikeLike
After scrutinizing your photos and seeing the extreme thicknesses juxtaposed with the more ‘normal’ thicknesses of fabric flags…all I can say is: Whew – at least there weren’t any floaty-chiffon-lacey flags in your pile to incorporate into this piece! Gorgeous – and who better to do such a professional artistic job than yourself. I’m not convinced the organizers of the ‘blanket sewers’ realize the level of expertise required for their vision…big clue: calling quilts, blankets. Aside from the cuteness of that, I think you’re right – the flag makers may not have known they’d be used in such a manner. Fantastic finish – and speedy, too!
LikeLike
Beautiful! What a fabulous project to contribute to.
LikeLike
Looks like it was always meant to be what you have made it. I’m impressed by your skill and dedication. I can see how this was frustrating all right.
LikeLike
That’s a fabulous, and worthwhile, project to be part of, Tierney, and you have nailed it! I love the the variety of the flags. Maybe the most arresting is the solid blue one with the tonal white embroidery/material, but it must be fascinating to look at the detail in all of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Anne 🙂
I like that flag you mentioned too. There was quite a bit of craftspersonship in many of them!
LikeLike
A real labour of love. Well done on pulling it off. Some of those blocks are really very thick. The quilt top looks fabulous
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much I really appreciate that and I am so glad it is done and shipped off 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks like such a beautiful project and you have pulled all those pieces together beautifully. What a challenge to decide the positioning of these blocks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Elaine, thanks for stopping by 🙂
I just randomly put them together as they were so different I wasn’t sure how to organize them. Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was definitely a challenge Tierney! But you pulled it all together nicely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much I really appreciate that 🙂
LikeLike
Wow! Beautifully done! I can see the construction of some of the flags would definitely have made it a challenge to sew them all together. But it looks wonderful together!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much and I am glad they are done 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person