Waiting for Inspiration and Design Walls

Last year I participated in two rounds of a Japanese Fabric Charm swap hosted by AnneMarie of Gen X Quilters.  Ever since then I have been on the look out for the perfect project to use them in.  I didn't want to cut down the 5 inch squares, but I didn't want to make a simple eye spy quilt with them either (I have another stack of fabric set aside for that!).

Then last week I saw a jumbo granny square block made out of 4 inch squares and made into a pillow.   I feel awful that I can't find the link to it now - but it totally inspired me.  Edited:  It was Elena's pillow for the Modern Mini Challenge I saw!  Thanks!!!

I would use my Japanese Charms to make a jumbo granny square quilt!   I started playing around...this was my first layout.  I ran out of space on the bottom of my design wall but just use your imagination.  Not great. I kept on playing....

...and this is how my wall looks this morning.  Much better, but I might try switching the position of the red and green granny blocks.  What do you think?

I also have a stack of My Folklore dala horse fabric by Leicen that I have been trying to find the perfect quilt for.  I want something somewhat simple with largish blocks that would show off the fabric.   Perhaps something that would be a good Christmas quilt.  This quilt by baileygirl might be the ticket.  I might just use the red and black fabric for the quilt so it has more of a Christmas-y feel.  Or I might keep looking for awhile...goodness knows that I have enough other projects going on right now without cutting into more fabric.  ;)

Do you have a stack of fabric that you are trying to find the perfect pattern for?  How do you decide what to make?

 Before I started laying out granny squares, this was up on my design wall.  It was suppose to be my entry in the Tangerine Tango Challenge, but then I got sick and it got put on the back burner.  I used the same process for these squiggles as I did for the wonky fan block.  The wedges are 5 inches tall and I will machine applique the squiggles onto white fabric.  Then I want to do some fun free motion quilting that echos the squiggles.

I usually lay out my bee blocks on the design wall as I get them, but as it was otherwise occupied, here are the blocks that I received for the first quarter of the 4x5 Modern Quilt Bee.  Thanks ladies!  I signed up to be in a paper piecing group for next quarter.  It should be fun!

I Cut Fabric With Scissors!

 Do you remember this 4x5 Modern Quilt Bee block that I wasn't fond of but didn't know if I wanted to redo?  Fate stepped in in the form of my 2 year old.  I came upstairs last week after folding some laundry and she proudly announced, "I cut fabric with scissors!"  Ahhh!!!  At least it was this block that got cut up around the edges.

  So here is the new and improved block  I do like it much better.  It isn't quite so intense.

And here is the little cutie with the new block.  Let's pretend she felt sorry for what she did and will never take scissors to anything important again.   Yeah...

4x5 Modern Bee Blocks

Do you ever make a list of things to do only to realize that you left off the most important time sensitive thing?  That's what I did last week - I totally forgot about my 4x5 Modern Bee Blocks!  I did a quick browse through Quilting Bee Blocks looking for inspiration and decided to make Antique Tile blocks a la this tutorial.  Then I jotted down my groups color choices and got to work picking out fabric and cutting.  That is the point things got a bit sticky.

I had a hard time picking out fabric for each block.  It didn't help that I don't own any gray fabric.  Well, I bought a 1/2 yard of medium gray solid last round of the Bee because gray is a popular color, but that is the only reason I have any gray in my stash.  I don't know why it doesn't speak to me more.  Oh, well.

I liked how this block turned out - simple, rather muted but classic.  The colors were green, aqua and gray.  What I think is interesting is that the middle circle and the next round of rectangles are the same color green.  It is the larger white dots in the center make it look like a different shade.  Kinda cool.

This block took me forever to find fabric for.  The colors were medium blue, light blue and gray.  I picked out the gray and DS print quickly, but none of my other blue fabrics played nicely with the DS blue - and I have a lot of blues.  I didn't try out this plaid at first because I thought it would overpower the other blue and gray, but it turns out they work well together.

Ah, tomato red, lime/chartreuse and gray - what fun colors!  But I wish I had mixed up the placement of fabric on this one.  The red really needs to be where the green is...not bad, but the placement could use some work and I really need to get some different gray fabric.  That gray adds nothing to the block - it is a blob of blah in the middle.

 Pink and lime/chartreuse.  I think this one turned out pretty well - although if I was to do it over I would change out the center square.  I don't like how it has a cream background.

This was the hardest block for me to choose fabric for and I am still not thrilled with it.  Colors:  pink, lime/chartreuse and aqua.  I pulled out every aqua I owned and they all looked horrid with the other pinks and limes I had.  So I went back and looked at the inspiration mosaic and noticed that the aquas in the examples had a lot of turquoise in them.  So I pulled out this turquoise/aqua fabric and believe it or not it was the best fit.  How do you think it looks, really?  I can't tell if the colors are just very bright and not me or if it is ugly as sin and needs to be redone.

 And here is mine.  Colors:  Red and white.  I really liked how this turned out.   But as I was ironing the red scalloped fabric I noticed that the lines were wonky (upper left hand corner) and I though, "Augh, I hope my partner isn't too picky.  Maybe I should restitch those pieces..."  Then I realized that it was my block and I didn't care.  :)

I also chained pieced over 20 of the block units together before I realized I had run out of bobbin thread.  Oh boy...that is the most "sewing" I have ever done without thread.  :)

If you want to participate in the next round of the 4x5 Modern Bee the sign up is open now.

December: The Month of Applique

 I am still chugging away at Block 21 - aka Killer Applique.  I am half way done and on track to finish by next Friday when we will start Curves in the Skill Builder Sampler.  I feel much more confident teaching curves then applique.  Yea! to a New Year and new Skill Builder topic.  :)

 I have also been working on these blocks this month for the 4x5 Modern Bee.  

 I decided because I was going to spend a lot of time on the plane flying to Abu Dhabi that I would do a handwork heavy block.

 Even with over 48 hours of total travel time, I still had tons to do when I got back. 

 Thankfully they take much less thought and skill than the "Killer Block".

The sides of the hexagons are 3/4 inch.  I English paper pieced the hexagons together and then appliqued them onto the background.

I used a lot of 5 inch charm squares that I had gotten in swaps this year in each 12.5 inch block.

 I have found that having a well stocked supply of multicolored "scraps" very handy in swaps.

 And here they are all together.

Enjoy!  Have a safe and Happy New Year!