Serengeti Serenade Revisited

Hello Everyone,

It has been a long time since I spoke of this quilt.  The last post I did was in November, you can click here to read it.  There is a bit of a backstory about the quilt.  Since November, I quilted, bound, and gifted it to my hubby for Christmas.  So it is time to show you the finished quilt.

It was a beautiful day on Saturday, so I took it outside for a photo shoot.  But not until after I de-furred it from the cats laying all over it... black fabric and cat fur don't really mix well.

A close up of some of the African fabrics that I have collected along the way.  I just love how scrappy and colorful it turned out. 

The quilting I did was an African leaf design.  I thought this went well with the theme of the quilt.  I chose an edge to edge design as the fabrics were so busy you may lose some of the quilting.  Also, since this quilt is getting used, putting my blood, sweat and tears into a custom job wasn't going to work.

I pieced the backing, but you really can see the quilting here on this black section.  Ooooo... looks like I missed some stray fur.

Here it is... Serengeti Serenade.  My husband loves it and so do I!  If you come to the quilt show in November you will see it hanging there.  You can also enter a quilt in the show, if you like.  Just click here for more information and to download an entry form.

Do you collect interesting fabrics?  What kinds?  

My "interesting" fabrics categories are African, Silk, hand dyes, and black and whites.  But as you know, I have tons of others in my stash and shop.  

Until Next Time...

Serengeti Serenade Revisited

Serengeti Serenade... The Story Behind The Quilt

Hello Everyone,

Many of you have seen this little preview of the quilt that I made on my recent retreat.  So I thought I would give you a little background.  

This is truly an African quilt from my heart.  Let's start from the beginning.  In January, 2005 my husband, my brother and three friends went to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  It was a dream of his and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Here they are at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  My husband is on the far right in the black.  My brother is holding the American flag.  He fulfilled a dream he had.  It was exciting and difficult all at the same time.

Here is their view from above the clouds.  Simply magnificent!  I admire him and everyone who went.

Following the week long summit adventure they went on a safari.  Another opportunity of a lifetime.  Of course, I had to share some wonderful kitty photos with you.

Don't you just love a mama and her cubs?

 How beautiful is this mama lion?

So what does this have to do with fabric and a quilt?  When my husband left he asked if there was anything that I would like him to bring back from his trip?  Of course I said fabric.

He brought these two pieces of fabric home for me.  About a total of 6 yards.  I was ecstatic! Then began my journey of collecting authentic African fabric for the next six years.  My intention was to collect enough fabric to make a quilt for my husband to commemorate his trip to Tanzania.

In the process, I fell in love with the fabric.  I always had a particular design in mind, but then my issue of McCall's Quilting Jan, 2011 came and this pattern captured my eye.

It is all done with 2.5 inch strips and in batiks, but I thought "WOW, wouldn't that look great in the African fabrics?"  Just perfect!

This became the year of the African Quilt!

When I went on retreat last week, the cutting and sewing began.

And the smiles got bigger.  Lots of love went into the making of this quilt from the first day that my husband brought me home those two lovely fabrics straight from Tanzania.

I used one of the fabrics, the yellow and black, for the four highlighted pieces in the borders.  I also used strips of both of the fabrics throughout the quilt.  The larger pieces that were left of the fabrics my husband gave to me, will become part of the backing.

Let me introduce you to Serengeti Serenade...

 I will be quilting this over the next few weeks and giving this to my husband for Christmas.  I hope that he loves it as much as I do and that will remind him of his trip to Africa.

I am so glad that my husband doesn't read my blog, so if you know him... shhhh!  Don't tell him about his gift... Thanks!

Until Next Time...

Serengeti Serenade... The Story Behind The Quilt