Mamagus

I have been collecting black background fabrics for an "Erin" quilt. She graduates from university with her teaching credentials in August and I want to make a quilt that tells the story of her life so far.

I have at least 8" of the 29 fabrics listed and maybe 10 more on the way. What pattern can I use to showcase the fabrics? I am OK with using sashing between the blocks.

Just so you can get an idea of what I am dealing with so far I have:
Cupcakes ( she was Poppa's little cupcake)
Volleyballs (high school sport)
Flames (she goes to Burning Man festival each summer)
Apricot poodle (like her Brady doggie)
Calico cats (like her Tabitha kitty)
Oranges (favorite fruit)
Sunflowers (favorite flower)
Frogs (her dad collected them)
Shamrocks (because she's Irish)
French Fries ( because she's a french teacher)
Sunglasses ( because she collects them)
Popsicles ( because it was her favorite summer treat)
Choir (because she belonged to SO many choirs)
Totem poles (because she lived in British Columbia for two years)
Saxophones (her instrument in school band)
Crayons ( because she still loves to use them in her art work!)
School buses ( teacher)
Pencils ( she still uses them for journal writing so she can erase the "bad stuff" after it has lost its power over her... she is a deep thinker)
Angels (obvious choice!)
Jigsaw puzzles (our favorite past time when she was a tween- teen)
Bingo cards ( she played TV bingo with her nan and cousins on Saturday evenings... a reminder of her nan...)
Dance words (she loves to dance)
Playing cards ( as an adult she loves to play a game called Wampoo)
Sneakers ( favorite footwear)
Rain boots ( #2 favorite footwear)
Chocolates ( represents me her chocoholic mother)
Seashells (represents her marine biologist brother)
Stars (she'll always be my shining star)
Words of love in french and english

I am also going to scan the fabric and print a little book that details why each fabric was used. She won't be able to take the quilt with her when she goes to France to teach in September but she can take the little book with her.

clem55

No suggestions, but what a great idea!!

woody1229

My daughter goes to college in Boston (3,000 miles away!) and spent a semester in Dublin recently, and she has taken her 'special' quilt (done with a very similar philosophy as yours) everywhere she has gone. Despite the fact that it's pretty dang bulky, she is willing to ship or shlep it around because she says it brings her home, wherever she may be. It's a true comfort item, just as I had hoped and planned.

I did a sampler quilt to accomodate all the different 'fabrics of her life.' I tried to choose blocks that fit thematically with the memory/memento that the fabric represented, and to link various themes/memories within the blocks. I also quilted meaningful little symbols in the sash blocks, like musical notes, drama masks, peace signs, etc.

I think there's a picture of my daughter's 'fabric of her life' quilt in my profile. Although the meaning behind the individual blocks may not be immediately apparent, you can get the idea!

ctack2

Attic Windows with the feature fabric in the window part.

Signature Quilt with the ff where the signature should go.

Farmer Girl

I go along with the Attic Windows. After seeing others here on the Board, think there are a lot of great "sashings" to put them together.

Quiltsbybarb

I make a lot of this type of quilts. I posted a pattern before using 5 inch squares although it is easy to change the size of the squares. Take a look at this link. I am in the process of making one right now for a customer and I am using a dark brown sashing and border. The squares are really showing up great.

Your quilt will be a real keepsake and a great conversation piece in her new employment.

Barb

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-40739-1.htm

amma

Oh Mamagus, what a wonderful idea!!! I love how you are going to inccorporate so many thoughtful fabrics into it. She is going to flip over this quilt :D:D:D
I agree with the attic window pattern... it would replicate DD gazing into the various "windows" of her life...
And the creative way of making this into a book to commemorater her quilt is brilliant!!!

Pam

You have so many possibilites, this one is going to be fun, and cherished.

cpfrog

Mamagus,
Wonderful idea! esp. the book!

Not sure of any help here... bordering each of the fabrics with one or two thinner borders was my first thought, but perhaps Attic Windows is a good showcase for the lights/mediums and darks of the blacks. Another is to use BowTie to "tie" it together in every other block perhaps? and... last idea: what state are you/she from?... tho' I'm thinking you're out of the USA... perhaps alternating blocks of your state, or province or county, etc. would help bring "home" to the black fabrics. Those state blocks can be found if you google "state quilt blocks".

Anything would be striking with black as the "accent".
Best wishes to you and your project and to your dear Erin!

Mamagus

LOVE the Attic Window idea.
It will be like looking out at a dark night (Black backgrounds) and seeing all those bright pictures!

Excellent! I knew I could count on the people on this board... I had such a block!

Thank you everyone for all your ideas!