Melanie Wilkes Revisited

Remember my Quilt for Melanie Wilkes?  The one that was made out of the yield from a CW swap of Nine Patch blocks and 6.5 squares?  The one pictured to the left?  The quilt I'd expected to sleep under of a cold winter night?  Until someone asked so nicely if she could have it?  Yes, that Melanie Wilkes.

Sometime after Melanie was completed and sent to her new owner, one of the swappers wrote and told me that she'd discovered that CW just wasn't her thing; she'd made a quilt for her sister out of some of the swap blocks and was going to send me the rest.  That was all it took to get me going again; perhaps I'd have a Melanie, after all.  I quickly organized another Nine Patch swap and yesterday started putting blocks and squares up on my design wall.  But this time, on point.  Almost immediately I realized that this quilt was going to be bigger than my wall, and I drew out a simple pattern and started making the rows blindly, randomly, without any knowledge of how the blocks would fall.  The side triangles are a nice brown with blue CW print.

It is going together quickly and I'm having fun with it.  Trouble is, it needs its own name.  There was just one Melanie for me.  I can't name this new quilt for Scarlett; it's much too sedate.  And I've got Rhett's name reserved for another project.  I'm sort of thinking "Twelve Oaks" or perhaps "Mrs. O'Hara."  But I'm open to suggestions. 

Progress pic tomorrow.  Perhaps.


Comments

Melinda said…
I like Twelve Oaks for a name. I loved your Melanie Wilkes and am sure this one will be as lovely - or more.
Anonymous said…
I'm not one to work in Civil War fabrics, but this is a beautiful quilt. I love the simplicity of a nine patch quilt - it looks like a quilt "should." As for naming (possibly my favorite part!), what about Aunt Pittypat? Or Margaret (Mitchell)? Plantation? Charleston? Antebellum? Or you could go to the movie side of things with Olivia or Havilland. And there's always Bonnie Blue!
LizA. said…
I think it's only fitting that it should be Ashley Wilkes.....
Salem Stitcher said…
I like Patches for Aunt Pittypat myself.
quiltmom anna said…
In Celebration of Tara as a tribute to the great plantations from the south.
It is a beautiful quilt design Nancy and I am sure that the new will be just as glorious as this one.

Warmest regards,
Anna
Amy said…
How about Melanie's Counterpoint?
Webster's 9th New Collegiate Dictionary's first definition of counterpoint, 2b states "use of... interplay of elements in a work of art." And it's 2nd definition 2 states "to set off or emphasize by juxtasposition. Sounds just like what you and Melanie are doing! And I can't wait to see the picture! Thanks for sharing!
Pat said…
I do like the Ashley WIlkes suggestion, but there's also "Melany 2", or Auntie Bellum. You have craved this quilt for so long, maybe Nancy's Fancy would be appropriate.
Nancy said…
Wow, what a great surprise gift... and the quilt is awesome. I so wish I had had time to make all of those nine-patches.... maybe next summer :o)

Hugs!
Mrs. Goodneedle said…
The Auntie Bellum suggestion made me laugh out loud. I know you'll come up with something witty and clever but I love the sound of 12 Oaks. Can't wait to see more!
Quiltdivajulie said…
I like Twelve Oaks.

But, Auntie Bellum? What a great name!
orsaCan't wait to see the layout you come up with. I'm working with CW nine patches right now. CW is not my thing and I'm struggling so I need inspiration as this quilt is a gift for a friend.
I'm axiuos to see your layout. I'm working on a CW nine patch right now as a gift for a friend and CW is not my thing so I need inspiration! Your quilts are always so wonderful!
altar ego said…
Twelve Oaks is good. Then there's Mellie, Charles Hamilton, Auntie Bellum, Pitty..., so many choices.
AnnieO said…
I love the CW fabrics, so warm and welcoming. I'm sure you'll find the perfect name for the "new" Melanie.
Nancy said…
I vote for Prissy... would be such a nice tribute to the first black actress to win an Academy Award and she is my favorite of the book...(hate the movie! how do you just eliminate a whole marriage?)

How large are the 9 patches?