Prism Quilt Finish & Q3 Goals

Despite the fact that my Prism bee quilt was already on my Finish-Along list for this quarter, I've actually had it in my head that I needed to get this one done before I start with another "queen bee" project. It just so happens that this meets that just-in-the-nick-of time deadline for both... it is my turn again already in July/August with my Summer Smoothie Block and the FAL quarter ends in June! Talk about killing two birds with one stone?!?

It all started with a jeweled color palette inspiration that I just coulnd't get out of my head... you may remember my Jeweled Kaleidoscope quilt and this improv project? While I was waiting for my busy bee members to finish thier blocks, other quilts just "skipped line". When you pack away a project for too long, then there is a real danger that something else moves up on the to-do list.

This quilt really only really started to make sense to me when I started grouping the diamonds together by color... it was quite a challenge since I hadn't planned it this way, otherwise I would have given my bee members different instructions. Once I had re-arranged, there were a couple of blocks that had to move to the back, but I really like the single "flower" shape that came of it. I kept it simple and did straight line quilting echoing some of the lines within the design.

Quilt: Pattern: Prism from Brigitte Heitland for Zen Chic (free quilt pattern)
Started: June 2016
Fabrics: various prints in jewel colors, low volume fabrics
Finished quilt size: ca. 62" x 62" in. (ca. 160  x 160 cm)

 Thank you @blockmquilts @iloveneutrals @machenundtun @mellmeyer @qvilted @venivedivicky for all your lovely blocks that went into making this quilt!
 
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Since I only have just one finish from my FAL list, pretty much everything goes back on the list. Hey, better one finish than none, right? 

AMH Quilt – basted, partially quilted, but I took the stitches out. My second quilting attempt wasn't a hit either, so I will most likely invite my good friend, Mr. Seam Ripper, to the party, and hope that the third time is the charm. These were my very first quilting blocks, and needless to say it makes straight line quilting a little difficult.

My third quilt pattern top is FINISHED, which I’m pretty excited about since it was my pre-packed, take-it-with-you basket project. The back is partially pieced, and this has moved up to a top spot on my priority list.

My fourth quilt pattern top is ALMOST finished... just two side borders for a flimsy finish. This is another high on the list project as well as pattern writing. I consider it an accomplishment since I only started it last quarter, and the quilt is pretty heavy on applique.

Green Smoothie, Penny Sampler, Orange/Purple HalfSquare Triangle, and my Orphan Block quilts are back on the list just to have them on the list, but with two big deadlines, the reality is that they are low on the priority list.

Just for fun, I am putting my two summer projects on the list… my Chuck Nohara blocks, and my Summer Smoothie bee blocks quilt on the list. Like my Penny Sampler quilt, these are a no pressure, no deadline projects for me.

Linking up for Finish-A-Long 2017

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Quilting Broccoli

While digging for fabrics for a project recently, I ended up stumbling onto a whole stack of leftover linen triangles from a pillow that I had made for my husband. Then the idea hit me that I could use them with the leftover scraps from my Modern Improv paper piecing pillow to make another coordinating pillow for my parents... but I wanted this one to just happen.

Am I the only who does this?: As I sat down to finish my husband's pillow I was quite perplexed because I didn't have enough triangles to finish all the blocks... so, what did I do? Cut some more... of course. You cannot imagine how annoyed I was with myself to find out later that I actually had cut them (like I thought), but they had fallen behind my sewing machine where I didn't see them.

I suppose if they come to good use in the end, then it doesn't matter how they get there, right?
 

I first started out with a random color layout, but found it to be a little chaotic. When I grouped the colors and organized them a bit, it seemed to have a better flow. There have actually been several projects where it felt like I had just hit a roadblock, until I reworked the color organization.

I also let the shapes within the pillow dictate how I did the quilting by first following them, and then simply echoing the quilting in various widths.

As I've said with just about every improv project that I've ever done, it's an uncomfortable stretch for me, and I'm still left asking myself if I will ever warm up to it. I guess it's a little like eating broccoli... it's ok to try it every once in a while to see if you still don't like it.

What's your "quilting broccoli" that you have to keep coming back to, just to see if you still don't like it?

Linking up this week to Let's Bee Social.

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