Inspiration In Progress: Audrey Hyvonen

Our annual quilt contest is all about Inspiration this year.

We’re working with our partners at stkr.it to offer all contest entrants a chance to document the story of their quilt as it unfolds through a StoryPatches Slide Show. That feature should be ready for photo uploading soon and until then, we’ll feature entries in progress here on our blog. Want to share your entry? Email your photos with captions to Amy Milne.

This week, I’d like to share the story of Audrey Hyvonen’s contest entry, that was inspired by this 1920’s Split-Nine Patch Streak of Lightning quilt made by an unknown quiltmaker and documented as part of The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey.

: 1920’s Split Nine Patch Streak of Lighting Quilt, made by an unknown quiltmaker

: Referencing a classic Streak of Lightning pattern

: Figuring out the original pattern repeat of the combined patterns.

: Dark squares cut and layering with their red accents.

: First iteration- which I was set on for many days- i loved the yellow in the center

: A third iteration?

: Trying the “dirty” blocks towards the center again.

: Flipping it!

: Flipping it back- keeping the lines longer

: Isolating the greens- making the light blue communicate a bit more

: Converging the points- getting closer

: Leftovers look interesting- perhaps the back? perhaps another quilt?

: Prepping a paper window.

: Window cut and ready to use

: Trying the window on the original idea

: Trying it on the points

: Finding my favorite! (loses the yellow center focus, shifts vision to the nine patch light blue echo between the light and dark, keeping the “dirty” blocks on the scene and the greens isolated.)

: Audrey Hyvonen, quilt artist, pictured with one of her daughters

Here’s how to enter:
1. Pick an inspiration quilt. Choose a quilt from The Quilt Index or the Quilters’ S.O.S.- Save Our Stories (Q.S.O.S.) projects, (see the Inspiration Gallery on our contest page for a few quilts selected by our members as examples of the variety and richness found in these resources). Browse and explore the projects to find your own inspiration quilt.
2. Find something(s) about the inspiration quilt that inspires you (like color, line, texture, subject matter, …)
3. Make your own quilt–work your magic–all techniques, materials, and styles are welcomed, but no replicas or copies allowed. All entries must be 16″ x 16″ and comprised of 3 layers (top, filling and back).
4. Sew a sleeve and a label on your entry and mail it to us with your entry form and fee by June 1, 2014.