I have a confession. I don't consider myself a modern quilter.
Well, I guess that depends on your definition. I live in the modern world, I use modern techniques, I like some aspects of a modern aesthetic. But the "Make it Modern" theme for May's Island Batik challenge had me worried if I could do something modern enough. I had a plan for a courthouse steps variation that would work. But I wasn't excited about it. It would check the box but didn't feel like me, and that's not the point. So I kept thinking about something modern that felt like me. I was taking a walk by a river on a gorgeous day and there were all these turtles sunning themselves. And it clicked. Improv Turtles!!!!!!
I used the
Turtle Block pattern by
Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts. The pattern is for two sizes, 4" x 10" and 8" x 20". I made the smaller size. I absolutely adore Lorna's patterns!
I decided to improv piece the shell part of the turtle and trim to size, then make the turtle block as directed. I used the green/turquoise scraps from the Flea Market collection by Island Batik as well as any greens from my Island Batik stash builder rows.
For the turtle bodies, I used the lighter colors from Flea Market as well as some yellow from the stash builder rolls. The background is a black batik solid. The bright batiks pop so well against the black! These are essentially the same fabrics I used in the
April challenge with a totally different look!
 |
| All Aboard the Accuquilt Express! |
|
|
|
|
I really wanted to take the turtles out for a fun photo op. Our Easter tradition is to go to the
Riverbanks Zoo
in Columbia, SC (about 90 miles away). So I finished up the binding in
the car on the way to the zoo and set out to find the turtles. This turtle statue meant I could put the quilt on a turtle without getting kicked out of the zoo!
One of my favorite non-animal parts of a zoo is a little garden with rocks painted to look like different animals. There was a turtle-rock hanging out by the pond!
There are two huge Galapagos Tortoises at our zoo. I was able to get one of them along a stretch of fence with no other visitors around.
There are also several much smaller radial tortoises. These were harder to capture with pictures, but I did get two of them.
 |
| notice the feet of my short helper |
The fabrics were provided to me by Island Batik and the batting was provided by Hobbs. May's challenge is co-sponsored by Hobbs. Since I had such a dark background, I used Hobbs black batting. This was my first time using dark batting and I loved it! No white puffs on my dark fabric!! And it quilted beautifully.
 |
| Hobbs black batting |
The official challenge was, "Must incorporate one of the characteristics of modern quits as defined by the Modern Quilt Guild: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, alternative grid work."
So let's break it down:
- improvisational piecing
- negative space
- solid color
- bold colors/high contrast
- asymmetrical (not on the list, but I feel like that's also a calling card of modern quilts)
So I guess I am a modern quilter! Or I can at least veer into that territory occasionally. I loved working making the turtles and even enjoyed the improv piecing for the shells. I'm so glad I waited until I had a project that feels both modern and me!
This quilt was #5 on
my list of Q2 finish along goals. It measures 40" x 44" and I'm calling it Modern Turtle Race.
Edited to add: I'm choosing this as my Favorite Finish for the month of May and will be linking up with
Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs for her linky party.
