This started as an art quilt in 2014 because I had some fabrics that were translucent and had a sheen. I thought they would make great fish.
I pieced strip sets and then joined them with curved seams to make the background. I inserted some gold streaks to represent sunlight in the water.
Then I appliqued the fish onto the background, and decided it wasn’t good enough. Who knows why?
My original plan was to add lots of beads for bling, but when I found this during my studio de-clutter, I decided against that. It’s going to be a donation quilt and I expect some kid will like it just fine. No beads on kid quilts, so it’s good to go.
Gotta know when to keep going on a project and when to move on to the next one. I just took a class with Lyric Kinard to focus on what comes next. You’ll be among the first to know!
Zippy Quilts 
I think it’s delightful and beads not needed! 👏👏
Thank you!
Your justification for finishing it – not adding beads – isn’t at all fishy. It’s perfect. A child will love it. I’m looking forward to learning how Lyric Kinard motivated you into “focusing on what comes next.” Don’t we all do that?
Well, I guess the real issue is deciding what comes next. And yes, I need to get that post written!
Thank you. I also learned that the translucent-shiny fabric becomes less shiny when fused, so another learning experience!
Looks great and any child (or adult) would love to receive. Beads weren’t necessary.
I like it just the way that it is! I am also looking forward to your post on what you learn from Lyric Kinard! Maybe I don’t need to focus on what comes next, but what is right now. 😁
Hi Laura, Thanks for reminding me to post about Lyric! And thanks for liking the fishy quilt 🙂
“some kid” might just become inspired by this artquilt…you are spreading nuggets of hope and love of the arts with the addition of cuddlyness in your donation quilting. Just sayin’…
Aha! I believe it’s never too early to expose a child to good design. Thanks!
Yep – you’re so right, Zip.
You are a wise quilter. I should borrow a page from your book, but I am now currently making TWO more selvage blocks in order to finish that quilt up. And to show I can also do the other (sending it along to a good home), I once gave away my under-the-sea quilt to a friend. It was pretty cool, with seaweed, a turtle, many fishes, etc. But I had no interest in finishing it. I love that you caught your project at the right time to donate; taking off all those beads might have been a pain. But still – – it’s a very cute quilt!
Thanks!
This will definitely delight a child. Lucky fish!
Thank you.
Yay on finishing an old UFO! The gold streaks were the perfect add.
Thanks. I was just glad to find a use other than throwing it away!