The 3rd "Paula" quilt

A couple of years ago Benartex and Paula Nadelstern introduced a tonal line called Marbella. I've used it integrated into other symmetry quilts but this year I wanted to use it exclusively in one design. I knew that there was a good chance that they would not want it for market but she was willing to send me the fabric so why not give it a try. After I finished the 2 main quilts I started playing with these fabrics. 
My original design idea DID NOT WORK at all. But then I got another, simpler idea, that would use the fabrics in a gradient effect.

Here's the simple design. Color placement was based largely on the amount of fabric that I had. It's nothing by 2.5" (cut) squares. I stacked all of them on my side table.

I worked on it in columns creating chain pieced rows. I would pull the pieces for a column so that I could quickly sew the rows.

All the rows pressed and ready for stitching. It took only 2 evenings to get it the top together.

After the top was finished I talked to Paula and she said that there wasn't room in the exhibit for it. I was fine with that and already had an idea for it. I loaded it on the longarm and wavy crosshatched the whole thing in about a hour. 

I used a flannel sheet for batting because I thought it would make a cool set of placemats. But before I cut it I took it to quilt club to show the whole thing before I cut it up. That's when my friend, Peg, saw it and said that she wanted it for a room in her house. I was happy to give it to her with the binding that I had already cut. It was one less project on my list.

Hale Pele by Vicki Welsh and Peg Shealy, 36" square

She said that fabric reminded her of liquid lava, so she named it it "Hale Pele" - "House of the Volcano Goddess". I'm glad I didn't cut it up.