Sunday, August 21, 2011

Ugly Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

There has been quite a lot written about the use of ugly fabrics on quilting blogs of late. Tonya's (www.LazyGalQuilting.blogspot.com) Lego top that she has been making; Lynn's most recent post on www.kleinmeisje.blogspot.com. Of course, Bonnie Hunter is famous for using uglies along with pretties in her quilts to fabulous effect. This top was made from her Scrappy Bargello pattern using only my ugliest fabrics. I downsized the pattern to use 2 inch strips instead of 2.5 inch strips hoping to downplay the true ugliness of the fabrics. As Bonnie says, "If it's still ugly, you just didn't cut it small enough"! I must not have cut these strips quite small enough. I am being brave and giving you all views!

At least the old iron bed, and the room are pretty!

I couldn't possibly take a flattering photo of this top as you will see in these close-ups.

How about that peachy fabric? You just can't get peach quilting fabric anymore, can you? Good thing.


Green marbled next to the brown woodsy print - if you've been quilting long enough, you had some of that in your stash, I'll bet.Silver metallic fountain pens next to brown clouds. Brown clouds?!

Yet more ugly. I am amazed at some of the fabric designs that are produced, and even more so that so many of them ended up in my stash!


43 comments:

Jane said...

Oh, not ugly, just colorful & busy! And think of all the fabric that's vacated your stash!

Impera Magna said...

The quilt is beautiful... love all those little squares... didn't see any ugly fabric, just interesting ones...

:)

Pokey said...

You are looking with your critical eye, Jan, I personally see a great quilt that most of us would be proud to own, or make! You've done real good-thumbs up!!
:-}pokey

Karen said...

I don't see one thing ugly about your quilt. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

mereth said...

I like the overall effect of the pattern, but I agree, there are some uglies in there.I recognise lots of them from a certain era, and they were in my stash too.Some are still in my box of "expendables" but most have gone into donation quilts. How wonderful that you used so many of them up.

Teresa Rawson said...

This is a spectacular quilt! Isn't it funny how our uglies aren't ugly to OTHER people?!? Maybe it's kind of like how I'd rather clean someone else house than clean mine! (or organize their quilt room...) I guess it's true that one man's crap is another man's candy.

In stitches,
Teresa :o)

Maureen said...

Ah, but you used a different setting!?! I love it! Yes, I have to agree there are some uglies, but together they look fabulous. Would never get bored looking at this quilt. I wonder myself how so many of the uglies get into my stash. Can't wait to see it quilted!

Nicky said...

Great quilt and its uglies is part of it's charm!

YankeeQuilter said...

One of the older quilters in my group claims if the fabric is ugly you are either standing too close or it isn't cold enough out....

Barb said...

Ohhhh but all together it is fabulous!!

Quiltn Mama said...

Maybe I need my eyes checked, but I think your quilt is very pretty...and maybe the 'brown cloud' is dust since it's SOOO hot here in Texas ;)

Andrea said...

It's fantastic - I love it. I have been quilting for only 8 years but already I look at some of my early fabrics and think "why" - lol. You have some very unusual fabric in this.

Barbara Arcement said...

great quilt...and not ugly at all!
love the pattern...what is it called?

Annette said...

I think your quilt has so much charm. I love how you put all those fabrics together. And when you quilt it, even more magic will happen.

julieQ said...

I am totally amazed at how many fabrics in your quilt...that I have had in my stash!!! Lovely...I love it!

Janet said...

I don't know what you're talking about - I think your quilt looks incredible!! I've been wanting to make that pattern from her website for ages. The fabrics only look ugly when you look at them too closely and individually. Together you've put them into a wonderful scrappy quilt.

liz said...

You sure have some ugly fabric. I have always thought ugly fabric gives quilts a certain charm, so I actually collect them. Although some fabrics are uglier than others. Your quilt has so much character that blocks of pretties couldn't give it.

One Minnesota Quilter said...

I think it looks great! These kind of quilts are like a time capsule.

Been following you a while - never posted. Enjoy your blog.

Mimi said...

OMG! What a funny post. But...yes, those are some ugly fabrics, but I think on a whole, the quilt is just great, it's just old fashioned and sometimes old fashioned is what is required for some old iron beds. Thanks for the smile! :D

Appalachian Mercantile said...

I don't see it as ugly....I see it as an incredible palette of older fabrics! It truly is pretty!!!

*karendianne. said...

What Jan. I didn't see ugly at all. I imagined myself loving that quilt. Using it. Sleeping it under it. And I was inspired. Inspired to use some of the ugly stuff I push to the back of stash. This is SO GOOD FOR MY BUDGET.

You did good on many levels (as far as I can see). I have to say good job on a fantastic finish because a finish is a finish, right?

Janet O. said...

Oh, but I love such a scrappy quilt. If you don't I would be happy to give it a caring home. : )
I recognize far too many of those fabrics. The brown woodsy next the green marbled--I know they both live in my stash!
I think it is a great looking, true scrap quilt!

Marilyn Robertson said...

I agree, it wouldn't call this an ugly quilt at all! :) I even have some of the fabrics you used in my stash right now...so if you want some more of it just let me know!

Jo said...

It's not ugly in my eyes...a beauty to be sure.

Browndirtcottage said...

Well heck yee-ow...some of them are ugly since you are POINTING them out to us!!!
You've just looked at these fabrics a LOT longer than we have...they've been in your stash all this time and not ours!! HA!!

It's an amazing quilt! I.LIKE.

p.s. with the high price of fabrics these days we may begin to LOVE some of those ole ugly fabrics in our stash again!

Lori said...

From a distance the quilt is a real beauty!!

Barb said...

The sum is great that it's parts, lol.
I love the overall look of the quilt - so comforting and homey.
The close ups of the individual fabrics is a fun tour through fabric history.
Thanks for showing us your great quilt.

Holly said...

The quilt looks great! The contrast of color is all you need to make this a huge success, and you've done it! I've made 4 of these quilts this summer and I still have ugly fabric... we all know what that means. More of my family will get great quilts with a bit of ugly thrown in!

Lynn Dykstra said...

Don"t listen to the nay-sayers, that is one ugly quilt full of ugly fabrics. BUT, it is so bad that it switches to the charming side and I love it.
Hang onto this one!

Elaine Adair said...

Charming is an excellent word and description! I LIke what Lynn (above) said - Is it quilted yet?

Donna said...

The fabric tones of color is what I love about it, looking from a distance, you did very well I think.

merrily row said...

I breeze through over a hundred different blogs everyday. I am only looking at the pictures. Kids, keep going, fabric someone just bought, speed on by.

I was stopped dead in my tracks by your gorgeous quilt. The overall effect is gorgeous. Remember, Monet's Water Lilies are horrible globs of paint up close, but a masterpiece from across the room. Great job!

daveandlo said...

It's BEAUTIFUL! I have some of that brown woodsy fabric-in several colorways. I think it was one of the first "big" (that's relative) floral prints available. Everyone bought some becuase we were so tired of ditsy calicos. Lois

Abby and Stephanie said...

Those "uglies" just blend right in and only pop out when you highlight them. :o) I think it is truly a wonderful quilt. Peach...it can be such a pretty color if it's the right shade...soft and creamy. :o)

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

It turned out to be a beautiful quilt. This pattern is definitely one I have to make,. All those interesting fabrics can keep you occupied for quite some time.

Tonya Ricucci said...

no way, this is a BEAUTIFUL quilt. you've just seen too much of it individually to appreciate it. You did a great job with the contrast and that's the only thing Bonnie worries about. I've seen the UGLY fabrics in her quilts close up, and believe me, they are just as ugly.

Kyle said...

I recognize a lot of those fabrics, they're in my stash too. Your quilt turned out great. It's a good feeling to use up and get rid of some fabric pieces that have lingered way too long. Thanks for the inspiration.

Ann Champion said...

I love your quilt! The overall effect of the fabrics is very pleasing.
I look at some of the older fabrics in my stash and think they're ugly. Then I remember I thought they were nice compared to the others in the shop when I chose them. Those unbought fabrics must have been REALLY ugly! LOL

Valerie the Pumpkin Patch Quilter said...

It is absolutely beautiful - and I think much must be said for the artistic eye that can turn ugly into beautiful. It is a gift, not everyone can do it, and you have done quite a magnificent job at it.

beth said...

It sure is pretty in the pictures. But then you gave ne the closeups and remind me how many of those uglies are in MY stash! How did they get there??? Your guess is as good as mine!

Nanette Merrill said...

it is lovely, really lovely

Michele, a distracted quilter said...

Some blog posts should come with warnings. I'm thinking: Caution, avoid drinking hot beverages while reading this! I didn't just laugh out loud, I howled with laughter (more than once). And here I was asking myself just the other day "why don't they make peach fabric?" Now I know. Personally, when dealing with ugly fabrics, I just take off my glasses and being near sighted, it all becomes a homogenous blurr.

Lovely quilt! I hope to make one of my own ugly quilts one day.

Donna said...

Gorgeous! The art of quilting lies in taking what comes to hand and making something beautiful of it.