Design board

A TRULY
AMERICAN ART
FORM

CHOOSE A
STORYBOOK QUILT
THEME

MATERIALS
AND QUALITY

WHAT IS A
STORYBOOK QUILT?

PLACING AN
ORDER

CARING FOR
YOUR QUILT

OUR HISTORY
AND VALUES

PERSONALIZE AND
CUSTOMIZE

DanZy the Rabbit finds his place in life
Some stories pretty much write themselves--and I thought this was one of them. Well, it wasn't. It
took some serious revision to make it work. And I can't even remember how any names this rabbit
has had!

Feb 4th: The rabbit has been cut out and affixed to the
background, although I might decide to change the
background. I now am beginning to lay out the
squares--seeing where they look best, looking at colors,
thinking about how well they depict the story and
whether they or the story can or should be changed.
As you can see, I still have several squares to pick--and
that assumes I keep the ones shown here. The next
step is to explore other fabrics, possibly replacing some
of those shown here.

Feb 2nd: I have cut fabric for many of the squares.

Jan 30th: I have searched for and selected fabrics that work with the story line and with the general
color pallette I have in mind. After some false starts, I have decided on a shape and created that
with a graphics package.

This is an abbreviated story of the creation of the DanZy Storybook Quilt.

The rabbit shape pattern has been
created and sized to fit the central
rectangle.

Feb 8th: A trip to the Amish fabric shops found additional
fabrics. Now I am testing fabrics for "sashing"--the strips
that hold the squares together. The board is covered with
a possible fabric--here, a turquoise batik--and the squares
laid on top of it to judge effect. Photos are taken of this
and other fabric options and used to think about what
works best.

New fabrics have given me new ideas for the story and
mandated a few changes in it. I still may change one or two
of the fabric squares before sewing can begin.

DanZy Design Story

The

Feb 19th: The fabric choices have been made--several have been
changed, the embroiderer has done the custom squares and I am
putting the top together. The sashing is cut and the strips are
being sewn together.

Hmmm. Is it just me, or does he look like he's falling out of
a window? He's supposed to be dancing! I don't think this
works. I'll have to think again and maybe stick with the
other shape.

BUT WAIT! Is this the best
shape for the rabbit? Or is
it too tame?! Over a period
of days, I developed a
dancing rabbit, to better fit
the end of the story.

Feb 21st: OK! I think I have it. This dancing
rabbit is being quilted!