Park City Girl is hosting a virtual Quilt Festival, asking folks to post a photo and the story behind their favorite quilts. My Kowabunga quilt has to be in the top 5 of my favorites - you can see I even turned it into my blog banner!
In 2006, I gathered some terrific orange fabrics which were so completely out of my comfort zone. I started searching for the perfect pattern to use with them, and decided on a pattern called Zuzu's Petals, designed by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Putting the scrappy orange and white blocks together was so much fun, and the colors just made me smile the entire time I worked on it. There are some really sparkly orange fabrics in it too, and I really love the added pizazz (like an orange quilt needs extra pizazz!!).
I found a wild surfboard fabric for the border. In retrospect, I think it detracts a little from the orange and I wish I had stayed with something more subdued, but I tend to overthink these things.
When I finished the quilt in early 2007, I emailed a picture of it to Carrie Nelson. Later that summer, I was lucky enough to take 2 classes from Carrie at the Buggy Barn in Reardan, WA. One of the participants asked her how she felt about different interpretations of her pattern designs, and she began to tell a story about a wonderful quilt she had seen made from her Zuzu's Petals pattern in wild oranges and pinks. It took me a few minutes to realize it was my quilt she was talking about, and I've never been so flattered.
What what a bright and cheery quilt! I think it looks great! Thanks for sharing about it.
Posted by: Jocelyn | April 20, 2009 at 01:25 PM
What a great story and terrific quilt! Isn't Carrie wonderful? I attended a trunk show of hers recently and had a terrific time...learned lots!!!
Posted by: sherri | April 20, 2009 at 02:02 PM
Gorgeous! Love the oranges.
Posted by: Gayla | April 20, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Terrific story, Lisa! You should be very proud!
Cheers!
Posted by: Candace | April 20, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Love love love it! I love orange and am always collecting fun orange fabrics. Orange and pinks together are so yummy to work with. It's beautiful. great for summer.
Posted by: Allyson in Alaska | April 20, 2009 at 02:41 PM
Great story and a really beautiful quilt!!
Posted by: Terrie Sandelin | April 20, 2009 at 02:58 PM
It's so pretty! It reminds me of sherbet icecream! Such a pretty colour combo!
Posted by: Andrea | April 20, 2009 at 03:48 PM
This is beautiful! I love orange and pink together :)
Posted by: Zonnah | April 20, 2009 at 04:34 PM
Love the color combination and pattern
Posted by: Cindy | April 20, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Very cute quilt! The border fabric looks great. Well done!
I appreciate the kind comments you left for me. Happy Quilting!
Posted by: Shelly | April 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM
I love that quilt, Lisa.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | April 21, 2009 at 02:47 PM
So expressive! Wasn't that just a flooring dropping out from under you moment, when you figured that out? Great quilt!
Posted by: Nicole | April 21, 2009 at 03:46 PM
Wow - what great colors and prints. I love it. So fresh and sunny.
Posted by: cjh | April 21, 2009 at 03:53 PM
This is pure sunshine in a quilt love that cheerful orange
Posted by: The quilt rat | April 21, 2009 at 05:08 PM
It's great! I love it! I love the colors, and the "verve" and I even like the surfboards. What a tremendous compliment that your quilting teacher told the story of your quilt!
Posted by: Lynne | April 21, 2009 at 06:14 PM
Fantastic use of orange. I would never think an orange/pink color scheme would so striking!
Posted by: Shari | April 21, 2009 at 07:33 PM
Love that! So bright and cheery!
Posted by: Ginger | April 22, 2009 at 06:04 AM
I have enjoyed seeing your quilt. Rosie patterns are always good ones. Your color combo is refreshing!
Posted by: Karen Beigh | April 22, 2009 at 08:53 AM
Kowabunga is still one of my favorite quilts ~ I smile every time I see it on your banner. And the look on your face was pretty funny when you realized the quilt was yours. I suppose it would have helped if I had described the quilt perfectly ~ I remembered it exactly, except for the border. From the picture, I thought the surfboards were big leaves.
Again ~ it's still one of my favorite quilts. :)
Posted by: Carrie | April 22, 2009 at 10:36 AM
I wouldn't have known it was surfboards....it really MAKES the quilt from what I can see. This quilt is just wonderful, fresh and rejuvenating!
Posted by: Mary Flynn | April 22, 2009 at 04:57 PM
It's beautiful - I like the border a lot! Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Amy @ parkcitygirl | April 22, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Fantastic colors and the design is amazing. The surfbooard border adds so much. Brave choice that paid off.
Posted by: Penny G | April 23, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Your Cowabunga quilt just makes me smile. It looks so fun and happy. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Melody | April 23, 2009 at 12:33 PM
What a yummy quilt. I love the design and the colors....great job!!!!!
Posted by: Rhonda | April 23, 2009 at 05:46 PM
My very favorite!!!
Posted by: *karendianne | April 23, 2009 at 07:07 PM
lovely quilt and lovely banner :-)
Kristina
priscillacraft.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kristina | April 24, 2009 at 06:43 AM
This is beautiful, and I love your blog layout with the orange...nice. The colors in the quilt is so cheery, one of my favorites.
Posted by: coloradolady | April 24, 2009 at 04:19 PM
I once had an aversion to orange, but it is such a great color to work with. I LOVE your quilt! L O V E it!
Posted by: smack | April 24, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Wow. I LOVE this quilt. It could be that I'm totally in a pink and orange mode right now. Regardless, everything about it is perfect!
Posted by: Live a Colorful Life | April 27, 2009 at 09:51 AM
This is a lovely quilt! I've never stepped out of the box and used orange fabric, but this combination with the pink has inspired me to try something new! And, what a neat story about how Carrie loved the quilt, and commented about it in the class you were in! Great quilt - great story!
Posted by: Kelly G. | April 29, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Your quilt makes me smile- it's so happy!
Posted by: Sara | April 30, 2009 at 01:39 PM
I just found your blog through the Sister's Choice blog - I love your quilts! Such awesome colors - and beautifully made. The pink and orange is just wonderful. How cute is your daughter! I'll be checking back for more inspiration...thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Jean Burke | May 01, 2009 at 11:16 AM
I was hoping I'd get to see Kowabunga again! It is my favorite quilt of yours, too.
Posted by: Nan | May 04, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Wow, orange, pink and yellow. I think I will have to challenge my SIL. she hates them together. I love them. I use them just a little. I'll have to try that. thanks
Posted by: Gayle Bong | May 06, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Gorgeous colors! It's such a cheerful and happy looking quilt.
Posted by: Lemon Tree Tami | May 10, 2009 at 11:17 AM