Monday 14 April 2014

What's in a name?

The absolute hardest part of any project for me is naming a quilt that I have made.

I love picking the colours for a new project, I love making the blocks, I like (not love) putting the blocks together to make the top, I love the quilting and I love, love, love binding my quilts but its there that the love affair stops.

Some people come up with the most inventive and unique names but when it comes time for me to name a quilt I draw a complete blank.  Every single time.

I want to think of something fun and appropriate but I never can.  I really hate this part of the process and I confess to having made and gifted many quilts that were left unnamed simply because I couldn't come up with anything.

Anyone else have this problem?

For example, I have just completed a Japanese X & + quilt for my gorgeous 7 year old niece.







It's been a week since this was bound and I still cannot come up with a name for it so it feels unfinished in my mind.

Whats wrong with me?  Why do I find it so hard to come up with anything?

Help me please.   Where does your inspiration come from when naming quilts?  Is it the colours you use in the quilt, or the style of quilt or maybe its to do with the recipient?  I try to draw on all of these elements but still I get nothing, nada, zilch!

I don't want to settle for the usual "handmade with love blah, blah, blah" so any input or inspiration you can throw my way would be very gratefully received.

Until next time.

Sue




17 comments:

  1. I like Heather's suggestion of Sherbert Kisses! Plays well with the colours and the "X". Love the backing you used, it looks so nice with the front. This is one of my favourite blocks though I'm yet to make a quilt out of it (one day...).

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  2. Gorgeous quilt - I am loving the orange/pink combo at present. This reminds me of a sunset - maybe call it .. "nieces name Sunset"

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  3. That's a beautiful quilt. It would look good in my nieces' room too. :-)
    I am very bad at the name thing, too....

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  4. I try to think if the emotion or image a quilt is trying to capture - some are harder to name than others. It does look great, lovely design and colour choices - that's what matters most.

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  5. What a gorgeous finish! Love that design and the colours you chose. I am thinking Citrus or Tootie Fruity.

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  6. Your niece is a very lucky girl!! Congrats on an absolutely beautiful finish!!! I gift most of my quilts without naming as well. . . horrible at it. . . I really like the creative suggestions so far though :)

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  7. I am no expert, definitely have not named any quilts other than one which is "Girly" not that creative. But I do think when you make a quilt for a specific person especially one in your family, you can think of that person's personality, the reason you are making it for, your love for that person, or your feeling when you started or completed the quilt can all factor into naming that quilt.
    Your quilt for your niece is gorgeous, maybe she can name it when you present it to her. What an amazing aunt to have.

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  8. Real nice colors for one of my favorite bloc!

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  9. For me, names are usually some combination of the fabric/palette and pattern. I can usually come up with a fun name based on the type of block and the colors. And Heather's Idea is great for this quilt. I'd go with that.

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  10. Beautiful quilt. I name it with your niece's name or nickname.

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  11. I'm also horrible at coming up with quilt names. I like the ideas related to Citrus and Sunsets. The colors also make my think of spring flowers. Cute quilt!

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  12. Absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I LOVE the colors!!! Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as you and have no suggestions on a name :-( Hopefully one will come to you soon!

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  13. To me it is the color of the fruit flavored Mentos candy, so I would probably call it Mentos.

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  14. You've got some good name suggestions. I like something Citrus or Sherbert Kisses. I find naming a quilt can be based on many different inspirations. I even have one star quilt called Astronomy 101 because I based the hand quilting designs used off of some of my Astronomy teacher's diagrams. I may or may not have been in class at the time. (I really was a good student, honest! ;P)

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  15. Beautiful quilt, i love the colours.

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  16. Your quilt is really beautiful. I hope you settle on a name soo.

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