Pineapples and Crowns
Pieced, Appliquéd and Quilted
61″ square
No. 145 on my 200 Quilts List
The pineapple blocks were pieced by two different bees and I over six months: the Mid-Century Modern Bee and the Always Bee Learning Bee.
I had forgotten to piece all the signature blocks into the backing from Mid-Century Modern Bee, so I just kind of swooped them onto the back. While they may look a bit unusual, I figure the back of my quilt is like looking in my clothes closet–no one will see it but me–and this way I won’t lose these precious tiny blocks. I wish I had a signature block from the other piecers of the blocks, but that bee didn’t do them, and that bee is now scattered.
The background is a series of petite prints on a white or creamy colored ground–no beiges or grays to muddy the clarity of the colors–and is a contrast to the solids of the pineapple steps and the crown petals.
I quilted this quilt over a week, using seven and a half bobbins, in a free-swirling pattern, outlining the leaves and stems in the border. I got the idea for my border from the masters of borders, the Piece O’ Cake ladies, but varied it somewhat to fit what I needed. I was interviewed for an article on quilting last week, and I noted that if we think we are making something original, we are slightly delusional. Actually I wanted to say we are straight-up delusional, for everything comes from somewhere else, but I qualified it so quilters wouldn’t have their feelings hurt. The idea, I think, is to make that snippet of influence new for you.
Mark Ronson, the well-known DJ-record producer, noted in his TED talk that we are all sampling from everyone else, sampling being his word for when recording artists slip in a line or two from someone else’s recorded song to bring a texture or a reference to the work that has gone before (cue at 6:15 for his discussion). So you might say I sampled some early pioneer in the use of her pineapple block and the Piece O’Cake ladies for the border, and both of these were probably sampled from somewhere else, somewhere. I feel richer for being a part of this quilting universe, with good ideas slipping in from places beyond.
Yes, you did a notice another quilt in that first photo. Stay tuned.
These photos were taken in our local university’s botanic garden, in the gazebo near the iris section, overlooking the creek gully. It’s a very old gazebo and I fully expect that one day I’ll arrive with my quilts and it will be gone. Until then, it will be sampled into my photos, my coda on the making of a quilt.
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 
This is one heart-opening quilt! Thank you for sharing so parts will be “sampled” far and wide.
Just excellent Elizabeth!
It turned out beautifully. It has been so much fun to follow the progress as you brought it all together. It is stunning.
Thank you! You’ve hit the nail on the head. It is all about sampling but modifying. Baking is my first love so when my husband said he reaaaaalllly like the blueberry hand pie at Corner Bakery I told him we could make them. Take the crust from my apple pie recipe, the fruit from my cobbler and the lemon glaze from my cranberry Christmas loaf and voila! Baking and quilting both get me most excited when I can adapt something for my own purposes. It’s nice to follow a recipe or pattern exactly, but it’s even better to make it work for you.
Beautiful Elizabeth!!! Every time I see this quilt it makes me smile . . . and want to head off to a tropical island. It’s a happy quilt! You made the right choice to widen the border and use all the scrappy pieces in the background. The gazebo is a great place for photos too. I think you’ve used it before if I’m not mistaken.
I LOVE the white/bright prints in the background. I would have never thought to do that, but I may “sample” that idea later!!
Where will the article you were interviewed for appear? You will not be surprised to know that I agree with your thoughts on non-originality and adaptation.
I like the bright colors; I love the switching so that solids are the figure and prints the ground. And I see you figured out how to quilt it without changing colors or marring the bright colors by not changing threads. After doing two quilts that required changing threads, I’m gonna avoid that henceforth.
Hi, I’ve been meaning to comment on your posts for some time – thank you for sharing your beautiful quilts. So full of life and color! Your vision is inspiring me to develop more skills and get out of my comfort zone.
Wow! Love the label! Great documentation!
The wow was for the quilt, not just the label!! Love the gazebo too!
What a gorgeous finish, Elizabeth. But of course you already know that I love this quilt. Not sure what else to say that I haven’t said previously, except to tell you how much I always enjoy the give and take of our various discussions — regarding this quilt and many other things as well. When shall I expect the package? 8<)
This is such a beautiful quilt and I’m thrilled to have a little piece of me and other good friends included in it. I also like what you said about “sampling.” You know I always love your writing and it always gives me something to think about.
The quilts are exquisite and the setting so beautiful!!!! I love that phrase/word “sampling” and will definitely be pulling it into my vocabulary!!!! Love the “Ted Talks”!!!!!!! A “sampling”/quotation from a well-known book “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Eccl.1:9
I love this quilt Elizabeth! The trailing vine is the perfect way of opening up the pineapple block centre, giving it space to not just breathe, but to shine in its own right! And of course your writing adds another dimension to your creativity!
I love how it turned out!! Just the right distance between the tendrils and the pineapples 🙂 And that Back!!! Wonderful! And your label reminds me to up my labelling game, that last step is just as important. XX!
I like your pineapple quilt- great colors but I really LOVE the back. It looks pieced,is it a pattern or freelanced?
This turned out so wonderfully! I can’t believe I even had a hand in it – twice! What a really special finish!
I so love this quilt! You have inspired me to get going on my own pineapple quilt! And it just might have applique’ in the border as well! I wish I could talk myself into quilting a 60″ x 60″ quilt myself, too!
Absolutely stunning! So happy to have been a small bitty part of this ; ) Lovely
Your quilt is just stunning!
It is a lovely quilt! I love your photo spot too, I hope it remains there for the long run.
This is a beautiful quilt and such a wonderful way to capture all the friendships. I too agree with your comments on sampling and influences. I used to worry that I wasn’t creative enough if I mostly followed the pattern or loved a color way someone else shared but I am getting over it! Thanks for sharing your work and thoughts.
I love your post. I took a graduate class in creativity. Most “new” products are a spin on another product, borrowing from something else.
Ecclesiastes 1:9New International Version (NI
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
I love your quilts. We all have our strengths and you certainly have found yours and are utilizing them. WTG
Beautiful!
What program do you use to make your patterns for EPP? I’m just starting EPP and would like to make my own designs and love your system of organization, etc. Any help would be appreciated. Diana Nelson From: OccasionalPiece–Quilt! To: dinel12@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 7:48 AM Subject: [New post] Pineapples and Crowns #yiv6100884845 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv6100884845 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv6100884845 a.yiv6100884845primaryactionlink:link, #yiv6100884845 a.yiv6100884845primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv6100884845 a.yiv6100884845primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv6100884845 a.yiv6100884845primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv6100884845 WordPress.com | Elizabeth E. posted: “Pineapples and CrownsPieced, Appliquéd and Quilted61″ squareNo. 145 on my 200 Quilts ListThe pineapple blocks were pieced by two different bees and I over six months: the Mid-Century Modern Bee and the Always Bee Learning Bee.I” | |
Hi Elizabeth! Beautiful! !!! In your post you mention ” I got the idea for my border from the masters of borders, the Piece O’ Cake ladies, but varied it somewhat to fit what I needed. ” Is this from one of their books? I did not see a book on borders. Yours is so sensational!! A real work of art!!! Thank you!
Cat