The dramatic appeal of Moonflower

If sleek elegance and vibrant colors speak to you, we'd like to introduce you to Sandi Irish's "Moonflower" quilt. Featured in the fall 2013 issue of Quilt Trends, this contemporary design uses magenta and olive green to pop off a black background, courtesy of the gorgeous prints of Kanvas' Floral Philosophy collection by Maria Kalinowski. 

"Moonflower" designed by Sandi Irish;
featured in Quilt Trends magazine, fall 2013

Here's what Sandi had to say: "The magazine picture is stunning! Can I borrow those vases?" Keep reading to learn what she has to say about designing this beauty.

What attracted you to the Floral Philosophy fabrics?

I LOVE magenta and the colors just pop on the black background. The color combination is a favorite of mine, and the quilt turned out simple but elegant.

Do you have a favorite print in the collection?

It's a tough choice to pick just one but I really like the paisley print. It would make a great tote bag, I could even see it in a shirt.

Talk about your design and fussy cutting decisions.

I had actually designed this wall hanging several years ago and had been saving it for the right fabric. Big fabrics need big spaces. This fabric almost gives the impression of hand applique and it's a good fit.

Why did you choose the olive color as the tonal print for the quilt?

When looking for an accent for the main fabric, I didn't want to "over pink" the quilt; since olive is a near opposite on the color wheel, the contrast is nice.

Want to see more Floral Philosophy? Read our post about Kanvas' spring Quilt Market booth, decorated in Floral Philosophy.

See the entire Floral Philosophy collection here.

Find the kit for this project (and learn more about Sandi) here.

Find Quilt Trends here.