Sometimes all of the stars align and you get to make exactly what you want with the exact fabric you wanted most for the project, and the heavens open and angels sing.

This is one of those projects.

I’m pretty sure exactly NO ONE is surprised that April Rhodes’ new line Observer is like, my soulmate of fabric collections. I’m all about that indigo! I fell hard for the moody blues and those delicious yellows–they’re not quite mustard and not quite citrine, but they feel tangy and rich. And let’s not forget the copper metallic accents! April totally nailed it with this collection. Again.

I knew from the minute Art Gallery announced the line and posted the swatches, that this fabric was destined to end up on my bed. It’s just that good. I picked up a pattern for the Arrowhead Quilt by Initial K Studios this summer while traveling and it just marries so well with Observer.

BEHOLD, the quilt my heart has been dreaming of:

I have this vision of turning that indigo dyed print into an amazing gown with a 5 foot train. Does anyone want to trade quilting services for seamstress skills? Because I need to be sashaying through life wearing that pattern.

This time I had the project quilted by my awesome local longarm gal, and guess what? This time she talked me into trying a high quality bright white polyester batting! I mean, its not the puffy mess we all remember from our childhood (everyone has memories of that batting from their childhood, right?) This was good stuff. As thin as my usual cotton batting, but nice and dense at the same time. For the most part the move to polyester had to do with the way Warrm and Natural can contain flecks that show through white fabric–there is a LOT of white on this quilt. It also holds the fabric better by tending to bunch and shrink less after washing.

So far I am very happy with how is looks and feels…I’m not usually a fan of the crinkling effect like other people. And I cannot wait to see how much it softens with washing and wear. She assured me that it will get more drapey but that it will just take more washes to get it that way than cotton does. That’s ok. I can be patient for that kind of payoff.

But seriously, I washed it yesterday and those quilting lines are just as crisp and clean as when they came off her longarm!

I mean, that texture. Those fabrics. They are eeeeeverything people!

There is seriously so much more eye candy on this blog tour, and you can find links to all the posts on April’s website HERE! Plus, be sure to check out what the hugely talented Christine Haynes has to share on Thursday by visiting her blog at christinehaynes.com.

Huge thanks to Art Gallery Fabrics and April Rhodes for inviting me to participate in this blog tour, and for providing the fabric to make this masterpiece. You both have my little quilters heart for forever!