Blossom Heart Quilts, June 28

COOL STREAM

It's summer already and half way through the Modern HST Sampler blocks.  In fact, the block's title is Rock Pools, so I reversed the suggested color scheme and made all the light backgrounds dark and the small dark highlights became light and bright in my watery version.  To me it speaks of cool water in a shady creek with the bubbling sound of the ripples over the rocks.  What better place to spend a hot summer day!

I also just complete my slab block for June, which is done in teas and lime also, the Rainbow Scrap Challenge colors for the month.  I spent a lot of time thinking about it as it grew into an image reminding me of a neighborhood flower shop.

Here's hoping all of you will have a good week full of stitching fun.  I link up with Blossom Heart Quilts and Rainbow Scrap Challenge .

RSC16 week 26

HALF WAY AND A BLAST FROM THE PAST

It's summer already and half way through the year for many quilt projects, but for Rainbow Scrap Challenge it's less than that for block making.  Some of you friends have amazed me with the amount of work you've accomplished.  I'm not in that category, but it's not a race, is it?  

My latest block for the Modern HST Sampler at Blossom Heart Quilts is done in the teals and lime.  In fact, the block's title is Rock Pools, so I reversed the suggested color scheme and made all the light backgrounds dark and the small dark highlights became light and bright in my watery version.  To me it speaks of cool water in a shady creek with the bubbling sound of the ripples over the rocks.  What better place to spend a hot summer day!

I've also made significant progress on my pair of Pinwheel Row quilts.  I finished the back of this one using strips and remainders from the front fabrics.  Here they are folded in half lengthwise.

The second one will be ready to show next week and I also have the batting purchased, after a fun visit to Hobby Lobby.  

While sorting through some very old quilt projects I was surprised to find four blocks done with curved piecing.  I recognize my fabrics from 20 years ago, but I have no memory of making these blocks.  I had no idea I had even attempted curves.  Guess I was fearless way back when.

I arranged these pieces until I decided this was the best format.  I'm calling it Spinning Curves and will have to let it percolate in my brain awhile to see what comes next.

I'm looking forward to July, but not for the heat.  I have a week to go to work on my Brave Quilter challenge for June, run by Pink Doxies, and finish my slab block.  By the way, did you notice that all my photos this week include teal and lime?    

Have a fun week and check out Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy    and Sew Cute Tuesday at  Blossom Heart Quilts 

RSC16 week 25

A COLORFUL WEEK

This has been a week of fun times and colorful projects.  The highlight of my week was a visit from my family nearby.  My granddaughter Sarah has a high school student visiting from France for a month.  They came over so I could meet Ilena, a lovely girl who speaks English quite well.  Sarah is in her third year of studying French.  They have been laughing and enjoying each other.  Here are Ilena with long hair and Sarah beside her.  They will be celebrating their July birthdays together.

I showed them my latest Project Linus quilt idea and they got right down on the floor and laid out all the charm squares, then stacked up the rows so I can use them as leaders and enders.  I've done two  rows so far of ten planned.  The packs are Riley Blake Solids and Northcott Colorworks Concepts.

My Rainbow Scrap Challenge Twinkler block was again challenging but satisfying.  I found some great teal pieces including, appropriately, the starry sky one.

If that is not enough color, look at what came from Connecting Threads recently.  I'm trying to add more solids to my stash.  This stack of 17 fat quarters was under $15, just what I "needed". 

The fabric in the foreground is the dress I was wearing that day.  That's why I am the Rainbow Gal around here.

I hope you all have fun this week working on your projects.  See what others are doing at Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy    and Modern HST Sampler at Blossom Heart Quilts    

RSC16 week 24

OCEAN MEMORIES

I grew up in Rhode Island where salt water was the defining element of summer.  When I was just a toddler my father took me into the shallow bay waters where I loved spashing and paddling around him.  Later on I went to the ocean beaches near my relatives' homes.  I learned how to dive through the breakers and float on the calm surface father out. I took my share of tumbles of course, but I would spend hours in the water. No sunning on the sand for me.  I went sailing on my uncle's 30 to 40-foot boats, the happiest place on earth for me.

When I moved to the West Coast after college I loved the beauty of the long deserted beaches, tall cliffs and tide pools teeming with sea creatures.  Collecting shells and driftwood was a new hobby.

So this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge colors bring to mind all those happy moments.  Here is my fleet of 6-inch one-masted sloop blocks like Uncle Charlie's succession of them.

The Modern HST Sampler block this week makes me think of warm Florida waters and beach umbrellas.

Here is my 16-patch block for the month, aqua and lime tones like cool drinks at a seaside restaurant.

 Don't know how the fox got in there so close to the henhouse, probably while we were watching the fireworks.

Recently I've ordered some very fun charm packs and lovely solids, which will make a very easy leader/ender Project Linus quilt.

That looks like enough color for this week.  I hope all of you have a good time playing with your colors this week.  I link up with RSC16 at   soscrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts

Blossom Heart Quilts, June 7

ROWS AND CIRCLES

Blossom Heart Quilts,Rainbow Scrap Challenge,Pinwheel Row quilts

When searching through my quilt photos I found two Project Linus quilts for kids which have circles on the fleece backing.  The first one has bright colored circles, a fun addition to the I Spy theme on the front.

The second one has a fleece backing of sports balls, soccer, footblall, baseball and basketball.  It goes well with the boy themed charm squares on the front.

These next two quilts have been really fun to do.  Two of my major WIPs have now become flimsies except for white borders.  These are my Pinwheel Row quilts 1 and 2.  The first one was pretty much done a while back, using HSTs from a giveaway to make the larger pinwheel blocks.  I used two rows of them and added other rows and strips of little pinwheels.  The bottom row consists of yo-yoes and a strip of round gear shapes, lots of circles there.

I boxed up all the leftovers and forgot about them until last week.  Ahah!  Maybe I could add a good bit more to make a second one of the same size, about 42 x 42 inches.  When I unpacked the box I was really surprised to find two more complete pinwheel rows plus two extra blocks and other strip groups already done.  There were also plenty more of the small pinwheel strips.  In less than an hour I had the second top completely laid out.  Another half hour and it was all pieced, using every pinwheel block and strip.  This quilt also has circles in a medium teal blue strip among the little pinwheels.

 

Now I don't know which one I prefer, maybe the second.  Both of them just happened as I went along and the pieces fell into place.   I'm planning to make more row quilts from now on. 

I hope to see what fun things all of you are doing this month. Join me for Rainbow Scrap Challenge at

soscrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at  Blossom Heart Quilts

Brave Quilter, June

I want to learn to fuse and stitch appliqué.  I am linking up with     http://www.pinkdoxies.com/  to try  to reach my goal.  I hope to fuse and stitch down appliquéd circles as balloons on the backing of my Balloon Blocks quilt for the June challenge.

RSC16 week 23

JUNE IS BUSTIN' OUT ALL OVER

On Wednesday. June 1, the first peonies, luscious pink, bloomed.  The first day lilies also opened.  Our garden is also filled with white daisies everywhere.  A beautiful start for my Wisconsin June.

I'm really excited about the color scheme of turquoise with lime green accents.  So my first block for the month is sailing along on a sweet breeze.

However, two of my major WIPs have now become flimsies except for white borders.  These are my Pinwheel Row quilts 1 and 2.  The first one was pretty much done a while back, using HSTs from a giveaway to make the larger pinwheel blocks.  I used two rows of them and added other rows and strips of little pinwheels.

I boxed up all the leftovers and forgot about them until last week.  Ahah!  Maybe I could add a good bit more to make a second one of the same size, about 42 x 42 inches.  When I unpacked the box I was really surprised to find two more complete pinwheel rows plus two extra blocks and other strip groups already done.  There were also plenty more of the small pinwheel strips.  In less than an hour I had the second top completely laid out.  Another half hour and it was all pieced, using every pinwheel block and strip.

 

Now I don't know which one I prefer, maybe the second.  Both of them just happened as I went along and the pieces fell into place.   I'm planning to make more row quilts from now on. 

I hope to see what fun things all of you are doing this month. Join me for Rainbow Scrap Challenge at

soscrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts