Quilt News! BB2 Quilt Improv Design Challenge Update, Challenge by Audrey @ Quiltyfolk...In the Quiltosphere?

BB2, 4 Tiles Medallion Quilt with second border, piecing not finished.

I started with these 4 'Old Italian' type quilt blocks, influenced by Audrey's prompts. I'm calling them Tiles.

My BB1, 'Three Cone Flowers' in progress with 1st border.

 

This is my BB1 Three Cone Flowers with 3 Borders top finish.

Hello Quilt Friends! 

More spring showers and more May flowers here in the valley.

I've had some fun with Audrey's BB2 newest challenge following up my BB1 Three Coneflowers with 3 Borders quilt top finish. Audrey suggested 'solid connections' between the two challenge quilts using leftover scraps/pieces and again using 'languishing' fabrics. 'This looks like it could be interesting,' yes!

And so because it's the right time of year, spring, I pulled out my 'languishing' but beautiful Cherry Blossom fabric scraps made in South Korea (South Korea manufactures some beautiful quilt fabric). Then I mixed the cherry blossom fabric with left over scraps/pieces from my BB1 challenge quilt top. I also decided to use the sawtooth border design again.

I liked Audrey's improv blocks but I decided to be a little less improv and did not cut free hand but used a modified stack and whack approach to cutting the blocks. And to me the blocks are the 'Old Italian' block design so I'm calling my blocks 'tiles'. I'm choosing to make smaller projects rather than full size bed quilts. I don't have time or space to commit to more big quilt projects. The smaller size quilts look good on tables.

These projects are certainly loosening my 'design gears,' which in turn lets the ideas roll out smoother, as Audrey said would happen.

That is the BB2 progress news! What are you working on or dreaming up in your corner of the quiltosphere? Did I just make up a new word or what?

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News! Curating Scrappy Quilt Orphan Blocks, Color and Why it Matters, Fleur Woods, Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden Tour, Federal Way, WA

Peonies in the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden.

Bonsai display in the RSBG, one of many...

Splendid yellow Rhododendron...

The Untamed Thread by Fleur Woods, slow stitch goodness and inspiration!

'Interviewing' scrappy, left over blocks, fun with design...

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 'The season of singing has come,'

Enjoyment of spring has been the top priority around here. Walks in parks and botanical gardens high on the list. 

We toured the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, located in Federal Way, WA, yesterday. In the garden is an amazing display of Bonsai in the Pacific Bonsai Museum, they are works of art. And the garden has growing many other plants that naturally grow with rhododendrons. The azaleas perfumed the air and we kept our distance from the bees. Gorgeous garden scenery everywhere.

I saw a review of the book by Fleur Woods, The Untamed Thread Slow Stitch to Soothe the Soul and Ignite Creativity. And yes, reading it did in fact ignite creativity! Specifically in the category of color. Fleur is a virtuoso with color and encouragement, her book is unbeatable for reference.

Rachel @ Roxy Creations interviewed Fleur Woods in one of her videos. All of Rachel's videos are super for stitching  and color. Take time to go through them and you'll be transformed from not knowing what to do with color and stitching, to suddenly, ' Yeah, I can do that!'

This last week I've been arranging my left over scrappy blocks from my latest project, Sunflowers with Borders. I like letting the blocks 'talk' to me, dialogue with color.

And that is the news from the valley where birds start singing at 4 AM, slow at first, then they insist on waking everyone up. That's okay:)

I'll be by to visit!

 

 

Quilt News! Improv Log Cabin Blocks Process, Orphan Blocks and Leftover Pieces Now Leading Useful Lives, Plus General Busyness....

Orphan blocks sewed into new 'family' to add color to the kitchen.

My Improv Log Cabin blocks as of today... blocks are approx. 14" sq.

Log Cabin blocks ready for piecing on more logs/strips...

Extra blocks/pieces now pieced into useful table mat.....

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends! More spring showers and busy stuff going on here in the valley. 

I've made progress on my Improv Log Cabin Blocks by adding onto blocks and auditioning placement etc. Most blocks are now about 14" square. I started this quilt last summer, challenging myself to use up small scraps. I started with small squarish pieces and decided to piece the blocks into Court House Steps configuration and most of the blocks are just that, one is not, just for fun. Now I ask myself, 'Should I add borders?' and my other self says, 'no.' 

Mary Hogan's book Log Cabin Improv has been my inspiration lately. I love her fearless exciting way with color and design! Her tutorials are excellent.

And visit Susan Stuklis @ susies-scraps.com to see her latest post titled Quickstep Two Four Six Eight Block, which is a Log Cabin block in Court House configuration tutorial made easy. If you want directions for Court House Steps blocks spelled out clear and easy this is it!

Last week I began piecing orphan blocks and left over bits/pieces into table mats, coasters and table runners, very useful items for the kitchen/dining room and they're washable. 

So I've made progress with projects and in between times I've watched the little Grand Muffin. Children are very creative aren't they?

That's the news and I'll be by to visit.