This quilt was really special for me to make. I had been planning it for quite a long time, as it was a gift for my academic adviser for helping me through my program.
I couldn’t possibly have asked for a better mentor– Liz was patient, understanding, funny, and really, really smart. She has a somewhat minimalist, modern style, so I knew incorporating some sort of improv into the quilt would work well. Plus, I didn’t want it to be visually overwhelming, so I kept the design pretty simple. Liz loves gray (as do I!), and her other favorite color is purple. I added the green to round things out, and I was pretty pleased with the results.
For the quilt back, I used the method from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. I made a couple of bee blocks in this style last year, and I loved the effect. I had been waiting for the right project to work those into, and this definitely fit the bill.
I bound the quilt using a bunch of the gray fabrics I used in the front of the quilt. I love scrappy bindings, especially on a quilt that isn’t too busy.
I think Liz was really surprised when I gave her the quilt just a few days after my defense. It was well received, and it’s absolutely my favorite sort of gift to give– unexpected and very heartfelt. Plus, the peonies were in full bloom when I needed to take a few pictures, making for a very fun evening.
Love your quilt. What a great gift for your adviser. They are so important in the graduate school experience and I still love talking with mine.
Right…in no particular order I LOVE:
the quilt front
The quilt back (especially)
The light
The setting
The peonies.
Exactly. Jill
The back. I love love love the back!!! And I think I sound like I’m on comment repeat here, but I’m so looking forward to making a quilt for my awesome advisor. I have a couple years but so many ideas percolating in the meantime.
Seriously, agreeing with Alison. What a perfect everything. And, that must have been so fun to give!
Love it all! Liz must be ecstatic to get such a fantastic gift.
It’s really beautiful. I love all of the grays, and that backing is amazing.
You always take such beautiful pictures of your quilts…it makes them look that much more gorgeous! The whole quick is so lovely, but I love that back…it looks like little pieces of confetti. Perfect for your celebration! And I have to say, I love scrappy binding too.
Okay, and just because I’m nosy, any chance I could know what you got your PhD in?
That’s the arboretum! What a pretty time of year to be able to take your pretty quilt there for a photo.
So beautiful! I love that you used 2 different greys for the background and the colour combo in those wonky blocks is just perfect. What an amazing gift!
What a great quilt Natalie! I’ve wanted to try the technique you used for the back too – love the results 🙂
I love your photo shoot!
I love how you photographed it outdoors.
Ah, it’s lovely! And that setting. Oh, the peonies! I just love them, and they are a perfect choice for this fabulous quilt. A heartfelt gift like this is just the best.
gorgeous quilt!
so beautiful. and what fantastic photos..!!
I saw a link to your blog from the A2QG (I’m moving to Ann Arbor later this summer). First, congrats!! This is a great quilt and a great gift idea! I’m just finished my dissertation and have been struggling with what to give my advisor as a thank you gift. Nothing seemed quite personal enough, but your post made me realize that a quilt would be perfect. I love the design of Liz’s and it would go so well it my advisor’s home. I just ordered fabric to work on an improv quilt for him and I can’t wait to get started. Thanks!
what a fabulous gift!! i love the binding and the improvy front!!
I also gave my research advisor a quilt when I defended for my PhD. I have a PhD in microbiology and made her a genome quilt of the virus we study!