Rainbow Scrap Challenge--January--Purple

I'm trying the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year. You can find out about it at soscrappy. The January color is purple.

As I cut for Bonnie Hunter's En Provence mystery, I set aside purple strings for later use. Little did I know I would dive into them so quickly!

I'm going to make string blocks of each color for an as yet undetermined project (maybe another String Crossroads). I love string blocks (and lovelovelove making them), so putting them together at the end of the year should be a lot of fun.

Thanks so much to soscrappy for hosting this challenge. 

I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday #4 and Fiber Tuesday 96 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

A Blue and White Quilt For My Niece

We've had several events in our family recently--showers, weddings, etc. One of my nieces is the "go to" person for organizing things like this--planner/helper extraordinaire! To say "Thank You," I made this quilt, and now that it is in its new home, I can show it. She once mentioned that she likes blue and white quilts, so I hope she will like this one.

(The pictures are less than wonderful, sorry, but you can get the general idea.)

Disappearing Nine-Patch Pattern

D9P (detail)

D9P (binding and backing detail)

I used yardage for the dark blue squares, the white background, the backing and the binding. The print squares were from a fabric line by Windham--Annabelle for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.


Happy sewing.

I'm linking with Jo's Country Junction UFO Progress.
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Revisiting an Experiment

About a year and a half ago, I made a bunch of string blocks for an experiment. I wasn't thrilled with the result, so I put the remaining blocks away to use later. I decided that this week was "later" enough!

The posts about these blocks are entitled Playtime at the Hacienda (Part 1) and Playtime at the Hacienda (Part 2). The finished experiment can be found HERE.



I simply wasn't happy with the broad white stripe down the center of each block, so I decided to cut them up.

Original

Cut in half down the length of the center strip

I had some other blocks without the white stripe, so I thought I'd combine the two types in the blocks.

Block without the white center strip cut in half across the strips

I tried a layout, but the arrangement of the white strips wasn't ideal.

One experimental layout

Still not satisfied, I trimmed the white strip completely off the first set of triangles and paired them with triangles from the second group in which the strips went a different direction..

I liked the result; however, a whole quilt of these blocks would likely have been a crazy-making sight! Hmmmmm............



I didn't want to go with a completely plain alternate block--the blocks are 11", so that would be too much plainness. How about an alternate block with quite a bit of plain area, but interest in the middle? I still had lot of string blocks to use, so I tried a pieced alternate block.

This friendship star block seemed to fit the bill--enough background to settle the craziness, but enough interest not to be boring. I cut the string blocks to form the star, so it ties to the rest of the quilt.


They were easy to set together--very few seams to match.

I'm pleased with the look of this. It isn't finished (I'm still thinking about a border), but I'm really glad to have put these to use. I still have string blocks left, so there may be more experimenting with them in my future!

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 95 at The Quilting Room with Mel and Jo's Country Junction UFO Progress.

Another Mystery? YES!

A friend of mine does some really great mysteries on a quilting forum a few times a year. You might think that after En Provence, I'd be tired of mysteries, but you would be wrong!


We have started with four-patches.

This is to be a three fabric quilt: my light and dark make up the four-patch, and the crazy eyeball fabric underneath is my medium (I know they aren't really eyeballs, but that is what I think of every time I look at it!).


For some reason, I find making four-patches very satisfying.


Thanks, Judy. The mystery thread on the Quilting Board forum can be found HERE. The first clue about fabric selection and amounts needed is Post #1. The second clue is at Post #143.

En Provence--Part 7

We did more QSTs, a bit more cutting, and had the reveal with this clue!

Bring in the yellow!

Cute 30s Repro Print

Someone is looking at you!

Starting to assemble the blocks

A cheerful face among the blocks!

I'm assembling this is quarters, since it is large. The smaller portions are easier to handle. I have half together, another quarter done, and one to go--then the final seam! :)

One half together

Detail of En Provence

 Thanks to Bonnie for a great mystery project again this year.

 
My previous posts about the mystery are here: En Provence--Part 1,  En Provence--Part 2, En Provence--Part 3,  En Provence--Part 4,  En Provence Part 5, and En Provence--Part 6.


I'll link with Bonnie's Mystery Monday post.

Yikes!

I did it again! 

Into my very small sewing area comes another bundle of fabrics. I did this once before with a bundle of tone-on-tones. I've been using them steadily and have enjoyed having plenty to work with.  This time, the fabrics are solids.

Seventeen 6-yard cuts of different colors

I get email from Sharon Thomas at Marshall Dry Goods Wholesale often, but since I'm only one quilter, I can't always use the huge quantities meant for fabric sellers. This bundle, however, is something I can use. Best of all, it is great quality 100% cotton and only cost me (with shipping figured in) $.93/yard!

I'd better get to work using it!


I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 94 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Twirl Around, Part 2

I'm continuing to work on Twirl Around, from Bonnie Hunter's new book. You can find more information HERE.


After trimming all the HSTs (!), I have started putting the blocks together. The quilt has two basic blocks: the Twirl Around block and an alternate block.

Twirl Around block

Alternate block

Layout

I'm enjoying this process, though trying to make sure everything is turned the right way is a bear of a job for me! I think I'm going to find a few more rusts to mix in--I think it needs a bit more variety.

More later!

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 93 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

En Provence--Part 6

This week, we pulled in the green fabric.

Quarter-square (hourglass) blocks:

Almost to the reveal!

 
My previous posts about the mystery are here: En Provence--Part 1,  En Provence--Part 2, En Provence--Part 3,  En Provence--Part 4, and En Provence Part 5.