Making progress!



Had a full free evening last night - which hasn't happened for a while!  Took advantage, and make some big strides in assembling my Color Challenge quilt top. 
The sewing itself is not difficult, but I created this quilt improvisationally.  The creating part was great fun, but fitting everything together proved challenging, even for a seasoned sewer as myself! (I won't even tell you how many years I've been sewing.)



Sorry this photo is blurry - I just wanted to give you a peek as to the progress on this quilt top, without showing the entire top.
Suffice it to say - I am very happy that I figured out how to make it all fit!
My final project will be creating corner blocks on this design.  Maybe I'll start on that tonight - I've got an idea at least!



This hydrangea is right next to my front sidewalk, where everyone walks by every day (we live very close to our downtown, so we have lots of foot traffic, plus all of our neighbors of course).  At first glance, it appears to be a prize-worthly blossom!




But as you can see, this seemingly giant blossom is actually many blossoms, all on the same main stem, but clustered close together.  It doesn't diminish it's beauty, though!



Color Challenge Setting Options - and Pulled Pork Sandwiches

So - I went to my LQS and bought three fabrics which I thought might, just might, work with my color study blocks.  Here is option 1:  I love this blue border print, partially because it was on the sale table (half price!), and partially because of the lime green motif (my fave color).  I won't tell you which I option I have chosen until later. :)

Option 2:  I bought this gorgeous print in two colorways, first with this ochre background...

...and then with this deep blue-purple ground.
Not sure if I will use any or all of these choices.  The jury is out!

But - the jury is IN on this recipe!  We made Victoria's rendition of Columbian Pulled Pork (find the recipe here).  It is super easy, and fills the house with a delicious aroma while cooking.  Give it a try!

Scott enjoyed his sandwich open-face style, on a toasted bun, with some potato chips (and a beer!).  Enjoy!

Back in the (Quilting) Saddle

Isn't it funny - how playing with little scraps of fabric can make you so happy?
I have been on vacation for the past week...I usually work TWO jobs, so being off from both of them has been...delicious!
And all of the uninterrupted sewing time has allowed me the chance to get going on a long-neglected project. 

This past summer, I made 16 Color Study blocks over at 15 Minutes Fun.  Each 12" block was a different color, many of them  considered by some to be "uglies", or at least, difficult to work with - like mauve, ochre, or bubblegum pink.
I have been trying to think of a suitable setting---did I want to use sashing? Set it straight, or on point?
Then I decided to use 4 blocks, edge to edge, as a center medallion on point, surrounded by the remaining 12 blocks.
I started by adding a scrappy HST (half square triangle) border.

Here is the quilt so far - I went to the fabric store today, to get some inspiration (and fabric) to use in the open triangles, and the open corner blocks.
Let's see if I can name all of the color studies:  center medallion, top and clockwise:   grass green, grape, ochre, and dusty blue.  The surrounding blocks, starting top left, and clockwise:  mint green, burgundy, bubblegum pink, avocado, bright orange, aqua, rust, lemon yellow, mauve, tomato red, peach, and - my favorite color - lime green.
More later!

Quilt Tour 2012 Part III

So - I'm beginning to think that I have WAY too many quilts displayed around the house! My family is used to it, I guess!

Hannah's Sweet 16, made in 2006. It was done as a surprise for Hannah's 16th birthday - I got signatures/messages from family and friends, and traced them onto these simple blocks using a Mickey Mouse light box I got at a garage sale for $1. This was a challenge for me, as I used "Hannah colors", which are not my colors! Hannah's colors are, for example, olive green, salmon pink, teal, dusty purple, golds, and browns. I usually go for the jewel tones. Not a great shot of it, sorry but this is where it lives.

Brenda's Dresden, received in an online bee swap in 2011. The one I made lives with my new friend, Helen, in New York.

Lime Green with Hearts, made around 2002. I had collected the lime green fabrics (my favorite color) and was just playing with them. My only quilt with beading.

I figured I should include my studio's design walls - this is my Color Challenge blocks, just made this year. The challenge was issued by the lovely Victoria over at 15 Minutes Play.

My other work-in-progress on the wall, this is Gypsy John - a gift for a special friend. More on this later.

Color Challenge #4 & 5 - Peach and Bright Yellow

I have always loved the color peach, and I had a nice selection in my stash. One of my favorite fabrics right now is the dotty print, which ranges from peach through yellows, into green - with splashes of hot pink. The fabric provided a starting point for my scheme. Here is one piece of my made fabric. From the made fabric, I cut triangle sections using a paper template and rotary cutter and ruler.

Finished peach block - I love how it turned out! The pink/gold print, used for the "X", is also a favorite. This block reminds me of the actual colors of a peach - not just peach, but the goldy-yellow tones, and the hot pink/magenta inside. Yum!

Bright yellow proved to be a very fun - and also delicious - challenge! For this block, I assembled all of my various yellows, plus a couple pops of pink and lime green. I used a pale lime for the "X".

Finished block - I call it Lemon Meringue Pie - sweet and tart!

Color Challenge #3 - Avocado

Time to catch up on my color challenge posting - and on posting in general!

Our home laptop is a little old, and a little slow, and - well - that's about my only excuses. So here we go:

To review - Victoria, over at 15 Minutes Play, has been issuing a weekly color challenge. We assemble scraps of the assigned color, plus other colors to match and/or contrast . It has been interesting to see how different colors work together (play together?), which I would not have usually chosen to "match". I had lots of green prints - from my deep stash - including this spashy Alexander Henry print, which is gorgeous! I ended up adding hot pinks, oranges, and golds with the avocado.

I used a red batik for the "X" of the block.

First three finished color challenge blocks: mauve, ochre, and avocado.

Stay tuned for more colors!