So, if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, does a really BIG one keep him away fore even longer? I've shared a
couple sneak peaks of my latest Basic Grey grunge yumminess here and on Instagram,
but perhaps it wasn't really obvious what those bold splashes of red
would become.
I was totally inspired by a Clare Young's print, and I find that when I look at almost everything these days, I just see applique shapes. I have to admit that her pear print makes me want to tear into my green grunge stash too.
For my standards, this is a pretty small quilt, probably a baby quilt size, but it also boasts my largest applique shape to date... that's an almost a 30" apple there!?!
Because of all the million appointments that one has to push through the end of the school year, I will have to bind this after the kids are finished. I'm a little back and forth on which binding, and would love your two cents... on one hand I like the red and white fabric because it connects to the red in the quilt, not to mention that the cursive letters reminds me of school, and the days where students would take an apple to their favorite teacher. The other black and white fabric is more subtle and let's the apple shine instead of the binding.
But, summer time is my applique time. I've gotten a couple of star blocks already from one of my bee members. You can see how it's grown already... I'm ready to let it grow some more.
In any case, I wish everyone a relaxed start into the summer season.
Some of my bee members like to make fun of me that by the time I deicde on a quilt block, and make up a couple test blocks, that the quilt is almost finished. Well... not quite. Yes, I've made a good amount of progress on my yellow quilt, but am no where near being finished. My bee members will be pleased to know that I am stopping with stars now, and passing the torch for them to carry.
As I had mentioned last week, it is my intention is to keep the applique blocks fairly simple and not get slowed down by such labor intensive blocks... you just can't find any simpler applique shapes than stems, ovals, and orange peels. I've always been really drawn to crossing applique designs.
Here is another Chuck Nohara mix up... I used the stem template, but instead of the multi-pieced flower as in the original, I used simple leaves with a oval accent.
I love the curved crossing stems from this Chuck Nohara block... see if you can spot the original design from my summer garden blocks. No worries, I've not forgotten this project... it's coming back out for summer! It is my travel applique project, and I can't wait to work on it again.
What are you summer sewing plans? Take it with you applique? EPP? or lifting a cold drink as you relax in the garden?
For me it's that time of year again... where I find myself searching, scrambling, debating, back and forthing, all just to find the perfect pattern for my bee blocks... only to be left with that feeling of well, I'm-still-not-sure. I've had it in my head now for a while that I would like to do a yellow quilt (or even green) I love the simplicity of a two color quilt.
One of my biggest back and forth issues is that I want to do a bucket list project... right now on my to-do list are more time intensive or advanced blocks like a double wedding ring, an elaborate applique quilt, or a 100 pieces foundation paper pieced block... and that's not exactly what you throw at fellow bee members.
But I had the idea to do a quilt where I do the applique blocks, and my bee members do the piecing. Usually a more time intensive block utilizes ones bee members a little better, but it just appeals to me to have a simple color palette, with simple applique, combined with simple stars. Here is my original inspiration. So for my first applique block, I modified the leaves a bit on this EQ8 block.
Chuck Nohara blocks are generally a little more labor intensive, and my idea was to keep it simples with leaves and sprigs applique blocks. Even though I've done this block before, I wanted to include it because it's just a few simple pieces.
Here is another block that I found on EQ8, and I've always been drawn to crossing designs. I love the way this Cori Dantini fabric works with the Basic Grey Grunge yellow... I'll be using these a lot throughout this quilt.
What is an applique quilt without including a perched pair on a vine. Here are actually the birds from my Lovebirds Garden pattern, and I simply reduced them in size to fit on this 8" block.
I'm not sure if my colors are too specific, or if these are colors that my members can find in their stash. Who knows, I just might surprise everyone and go a totally different direction... just to keep everyone one their toes...
... kind of makes things more intereting, doesn't it?
It's no secret that I'm a project jumper. While it was my original goal to work on a quilt that I could turn out quickly and easily, I'm still pleased with how long it took to finish this charity baby quilt (story here)... especially considering all the in between sewing. Yeah, another quilt checked off my 2016 FAL list for this quarter! If you're curious about all those other in between projects, I added a "Finished Quilts" tab to share how far I've come... not too bad for just two years of quilting, huh?
This
quilt is packed full of favorite fabrics... come on now, who didn't
fall completely in love with Heather Ross' Tiger Lily fabrics when they
first came out?!? I waited for this bundle for a really, REALLY long time (too long of a story to go into), so it's fun to see it finally made up in this quilt!
Remember this pretty little stack of Lizzy House and Heather Ross Spoonflower additions from last summer?... you might recognize several of these prints.
"Becoming Frog" is one of my favorites... not only the print, but the color is the absolute perfect shade of pink, with just a hint of coral in it.
For the quilting, I decided on straight line quilting (of course), radiating from a focal star. I'm glad that you can't see from the pictures how croooked my stars got as they radiated out. Please note: this not my way of fishing for a compliment... I really was frustrated at how wonky they had gotten along the way. But I suppose washing and the magic of the crinkle should help, right?
The backing is, as always pieced, with the addition of Cori Dantini's Daisy Chain fabric and a few others in the mix.
The layout of this quilt was actually the first one that I got to put my Christmas present to good use. It's been part of my ongoing/yearly goals list, to learn the ins and outs of the EQ7 program. Obviously there are a few things off, but this really gave me a good idea about color placement. I've been experimenting more recently, and hope to share some secret sewing sooner rather than later.
Quilt Inspiration: "Super Star" from V and Co.
Blocks: "Simple Star" from Farm Girl Vintage book, in both six and twelve inch blocks. Additional flying geese arrows.
Started: December 2015
Fabrics: Heather Ross, Lizzy House, and various stash fabrics. Low volume background
fabrics.
Backing: Cori Dantini, Heather Ross, Cotton & Steel, Blend Fabrics
Finished quilt size: ca. 48 x 60 in. (122 x 152 cm)
Linking up to Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
Are you the same as me, that you almost feel as if you are walking just a little bit lighter when you first start seeing those spring buds appear everywhere? It's no secret that green is my favorite color, or that spring is the season where I feel the most alive. I would say that it is more than obvious where my color affections lie when you look at the projects I've been working on this week.
Backing for my Penny quilt? Check. I'm hoping this will go rather quickly... especially since I am using this method to baste it.
So far I have been able to sew all the leaves for my Green Smoothie quilt either from scraps or fabrics in my stash. I realized that I needed to add some additional prints to really give it the depth and variety that I am wanting. And besides... adding more greens to my already green heavy stash is just so much fun!
It's been helpful to me to lay this out on the bed to see the progress that I've made.
It's been on my wish list now for far too long to make some new curtains for our bedroom.... why does it take so long to motivate me to do a little practical sewing?!? Tja, I guess because it is not very creative, but wow... did these light colored curtains ever make a huge difference in the room.
April showers bring May flowers... what are your spring projects?
Linking up to Let's Bee Social and Sew Cute Tuesday.
I've been whittling away at my 2016 goals list, slow and steady like a carpenter, and I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised (an amazed) how much I've accomplished this quarter! These past weeks have been
whirlwinds of colds, sniffles, birthday parties, and anything and
everything but time at my sewing machine. With
a little luck, and some concentrated time, I hope to finish up
my Farm Girl Vintage quilt, which is the last thing to be completed for my quarterly goals! Hmm... still contemplating that border!
I'm right on track with my bi- monthly goal of finishing my bee blocks early instead of waiting until the last minute. I have to admit that what I have enjoyed the most is that everyone's taste's are so different... it's nice, and sometimes a challenge, to work with colors and combinations that are a little outside my "norm". Magda is a master of manipulating a softer and more neutral palette.
Speaking of a softer palette, the blocks for my Penny quilt have been done for a while, but I just had to put them together. I was needing some mindless sewing a few weeks ago, and straight line connecting blocks did it! This came together rather quickly, but that was also kind of my intention with such simple blocks.
I'm still pinching myslef on having finished my major milestone, aka Facing East quilt top.
I honestly never dreamed that I would have the top done so early in the
year. I just finished the quilt back this week, and it actually feels
like a doable goal for the second quarter! (mind you, I put this wopper
of a quilt on my yearly goal list)
Where are you on your quarterly goals list? Do you finish early or do deadlines push you to finish just in time?
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Sew Cute Tuesday, and Modern Patch Monday
